Matchweek 25 of the 2022-23 EPL season saw two heavyweights continue to struggle, while there were conversely no slip-ups at the pointy end.
Here’s how it looked for punters:
Potter no wizard
There were always questions of how Graham Potter would handle things at a so-called ‘big club’. Could the former Brighton manager deal with the on and off-field politics of a multi-billion dollar EPL outfit? And coule he get them to even overachieve as he had done on the south coast? The answer, so far, has been a resounding ‘no’. Not because Potter is a poor manager — his record at Brighton, by contrast, is widely respected. But he has simply not got this talented and very expensive Chelsea outfit humming. Starting $2.54 favourites away to London rivals Tottenham on Sunday, this was further underlined as the Blues went down 2-0. Harry Kane tapped in to put Spurs out of reach and see -1.0 handicap punters collect $6.75.
Potter’s men have now won just one EPL game in their last nine. Any European football next season, let alone Champions League, looks out of reach at this stage. To put it into context, starting the season as $1.67 Top 4 hopes with Palmerbet, Potter’s men are now out to $151 in that market. He is hanging on by a thread.
Graham Potter on his future at Chelsea: “I haven't done enough at this club to have too much good faith”, he said via @SJohnsonSport 🚨🔵 #CFC
“My focus is on next match vs Leeds and that is what I'll think about. We need to find a good feeling, a nice game, three points”. pic.twitter.com/Z4uQpNQvQy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 26, 2023
Klopp feels the heat
Just like Potter, Jurgen Klopp is feeling the heat. While the German had some respite from back-to-back wins in recent weeks, that proved to be the exception rather than the rule this season as they yet again dropped points despite starting $1.70 favourites away to Crystal Palace. In one of the most dire matches of the EPL season to date, both sides struggled to create chances in the 0-0 result. Highlights shows might’ve been scratching their heads for content. Perhaps underlining Liverpool’s woes (after losing 5-2 to Real Madrid mid-week) was that a well-worked free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold looked for all money to be heading towards the back of the net before it was blocked by teammate Jordan Henderson.
Just like Chelsea, Liverpool’s European hopes are dropping by the week. Starting the season as almost unbackable $1.06 Top 4 hopes with Palmerbet, the Reds are now nine points outside the Champions League spots and now out to $3.30 to edge their way back in by the end of the EPL season. Some, however, think they’ll make it.
"I think they'll still get in the top four"
Jamie Redknapp believes Liverpool will still attract players they need and will be challenging again next year 💭 pic.twitter.com/aYb9bZxy2Q
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 25, 2023
No slip-ups from title contenders
In stark contrast to the struggles of Chelsea and Liverpool, title favourites Arsenal and Manchester City had no such issues over the course of the weekend. While the Gunners ($1.58 favourites) had to settle for a 1-0 win at Leicester, City ($1.35) filled their boots away to Bournemouth, walking away 4-1 victors. After a somewhat dry spell for his lofty standards (having scored just once in his last six appearances for City) Erling Halland returned to the scoresheet for the Sky Blues and remains the heavy $1.04 top goalscorer hope for EPL season 2022-23.
With both sides picking up three points, Palmerbet’s title market remains neck-and-neck. Two points ahead with a game in hand, Arsenal remain $1.90 favourites, with City just behind at $2.00. With almost two-thirds of the season played, it’s shaping up as an intriguing run-in.
Arsenal: W
Man City: WThis title race 🏎️ pic.twitter.com/ej1sWsBgtS
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 25, 2023
