Chelsea backed to defend New Year's top spot

Tagged under: Premier League

Chelsea have been cut from 10/11 to 5/6 with Sportingbet after their fortuitous win over Fulham put them top of the Premier League at the end of 2009. The men from Stamford Bridge, who needed a Chris Smalling own-goal to seal a comeback against their local rivals, are odds-on favourites to go on and win their third Premier League title, with rivals Manchester United at best price 5/2. Even the impending loss of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien to the African Cup of Nations doesn’t seem to have deterred the bookies from backing Chelsea, who sit five points clear of United although the champions do have a game in hand. The New Year table is often held up by pundits as a good indicator of a team’s title credentials and Chelsea have a tendency to buck the trend in that regard, having won their two Premier League titles after being top of the league on New Year’s Day. In the 17 years of the Premier League since in the 1992-1993 season, the team top of the league at the start of the New Year has gone on to win the championship on just seven occasions, with Chelsea (2004-2005 and 2005-2006), Manchester United (2006-2007, 2000-2001 and 1993-1994), Arsenal (2001-2002) and Blackburn (1994-1995) successfully defending their position. In that period, Liverpool (2008-2009 and 1996-1997), Leeds United (1999-2000), Aston Villa (1998-1999), Newcastle (1995-1996) and Norwich (1992-1993) have all topped the Premier League at New Year in that period without winning a single Premier League.

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