Champions Chelsea 6-4 favourites to retain title

CHELSEA’S domination of this season’s Premier League was completed as they won the title on Sunday and bookmakers are looking to keep the champions on side for next term.

Jose Mourinho’s team, who were backed in to favouritism last summer and eventually went off as 19-10 market leaders, are no better than 6-4 to retain the crown with the Blues currently 13 points superior to the chasing pack.

Manchester United were the last champions to repeat the feat a year later in 2009 brining up a hat-trick of titles for the Red Devils and bet365 are 8-1 that Chelsea win three consecutive Premier League battles and 10-1 they get to at least four.

Mourinho, ever the pragmatist, insisted last week the first target for 2015-16 was to finish in the Champions League qualifying positions and BoyleSports offer 10-1 about Chelsea missing out on the top four in what should be a tighter race.

Chelsea have had to face accusations of boring their way to the title and Sunday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace featured little of the free-flowing football seen before Christmas.

Eden Hazard’s rebound after his initial penalty was saved proved to be the difference against Palace.

Dethroned champions Manchester City remain second following their 1-0 win at Tottenham which came courtesy of Sergio Aguero’s 22nd Premier League goal of the campaign.

Aguero is two goals clear of the field and 1-4 to finish with the Golden Boot, while City are 3-1 to regain the title next season.