Mancini's men keep pressure on title rivals
MANCHESTER CITY kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday and the champions are 9-4 to retain their title.
Like United at Aston Villa on Saturday, City had to come from behind after Steven Caulker put Spurs ahead at Eastlands and they traded at 9-2 with bet365 before Edin Dzeko’s late winner.
United are 11-10 favourites to win the league with Chelsea, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, next in the betting behind the Manchester duo at 4-1.
City remain unbeaten this season, with seven wins and four draws, and bet365 go 16-1 that they don’t lose a league game this term.
Manager Roberto Mancini is still under pressure, however, and at half-time, with Spurs leading 1-0, he was just 6-1 with BetVictor to be the next top-flight boss to leave his job. That price was eased to 8-1 after City’s comeback but Mancini is BetVictor’s third-favourite for the sack, behind Southampton’s Nigel Adkins at 5-4 and Mark Hughes of QPR, who is 9-4.
Chelsea were frustrated by a second-half comeback from Liverpool. John Terry, a 28-1 shot to score first, headed the Blues in front before injury forced him off but red-hot Luis Suarez nodded a close-range equaliser. Liverpool are 10-1 to finish in the top four and Suarez, who scored his eighth league goal of the season yesterday, is 6-1 to win the Golden Boot.
Manchester United’s Robin van Persie, also on eight goals, is the 9-5 favourite and the prolific Red Devils are 9-2 to score 100 league goals this season.
Newcastle are out to 33-1 to finish in the top four after their 1-0 home defeat to 3-1 shots West Ham. BetVictor make the Hammers 2-1 to finish in the top ten.
Hibernian beat Dundee United to stay top of the SPL as 2-7 shots Celtic were held to a 1-1 draw by St Johnstone.