Manchester City will still win the Premier League title despite Palace blip, claim the bookies
- Paul Okey
- 15 March 2022
Liverpool slashed to 2/1 ahead of Arsenal clash but City remain odds-on favourites to retain their crown.
The bookies still believe it is Manchester City's title to lose but they are becoming less convinced by the week.
Monday night's goalless draw with Crystal Palace - the second time this season the champions have failed to score against the Eagles - extended City's lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points. However, with Liverpool playing Arsenal on Wednesday night, the gap could be down to just a point going into the weekend.
It is justification for City boss Pep Guardiola who claimed the title race was not over in January when City opened a 13-point lead at the summit.
"In January it is impossible it is over," he said following his side's 1-0 win over Chelsea, who were then their nearest challengers.
Third-placed Liverpool were the main threats, however, having played two games less and have embarked on a seven-match winning streak to reignite the title race, if not fully convince the bookies they can snatch the title from City's grasp.
Pep's men remain favourites with Planet Sport Bet at 4/11, but having been 1/14 as recently as mid-February, it represents a pretty dramatic reappraisal by the odds compilers. Liverpool, who touched double figures in early January, are now 2/1.
Guardiola failed to make any substitutions as City drew a blank at Selhurst Park but it was the pitch rather than the players on it that drew criticism from the Spaniard post-match.
"The way we played was amazing in a difficult stadium - with the grass not perfect," he said, prompting a flurry of phone calls from City's remaining hosts to the Crystal Palace groundsman.
Liverpool still have to travel to the Etihad and City playmaker Bernardo Silva believes that will help tip the balance in their favour. That despite his side having suffered two of their three defeats this season on home soil.
"(It is) still better to be in our position than Liverpool and they still have to play in our stadium (in April)," he said.
He might not be quite so confident should Liverpool win at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.
