Bookies appear to write off Chelsea’s title hopes after they suffer Hammer blow

Paul Okey
6 December 2021

Blues out to 5/1 to win the Premier League as Manchester City and Liverpool leapfrog them in the table.

Thomas Tuchel is facing his first real test as Chelsea manager following the Blues' 3-2 defeat to West Ham on Saturday.

Arthur Masuaku's freak 87th-minute winner condemned Chelsea to their first league defeat since September 25.

However, Tuchel's side have now won just two of their last five, and the most recent of those required a late, late winner to see off Watford, a result the German manager described as "lucky".

League leaders at the start of play, Chelsea finished the weekend in third and the bookies reacted by easing their odds on winning the title from 11/4 to 5/1.

"We give easy goals away," admitted Tuchel who said the trait had been a feature of their last three games.

And while Chelsea conceded a late goal to go down to the Hammers, Liverpool scored one of their own to see off the challenge of Wolves.

Divock Origi's superb 94th-minute strike wrestled all three points from Molineux to rack up a fourth straight victory for Jurgen Klopp's side.

It saw Planet Sport Bet cut their odds on winning the title from 7/2 to 11/4.

Manchester City remain favourites, however, with their emphatic 3-1 win over Watford taking them to the Premier League summit for the first time this season.

Bernardo Silva scored twice for City whose odds on retaining their title were cut from 4/6 to 8/13 - City are six points better off at this stage of the season than they were last year.

There was also movement in the top-four betting, with West Ham's second 3-2 victory over one of the top three - they beat Liverpool by the same scoreline in November - seeing them cut to 10/3 to finish inside the Champions League berths.

Tottenham are also 7/2 following their third successive league win under Antonio Conte.

Manchester United remain favourites to grab the fourth spot, however, at 10/11 having eked out a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in Ralf Rangnick's first game in charge.