Weekend Review: Punters come out on top thanks to Premier League title chasers

Dramatic scenes at Anfield on Sunday, in which Manchester City (2/1) left it late to see off Liverpool (5/4), capped off a weekend in which punters profited at the expense of operators.

Liverpool scored with 15 minutes remaining through Dominik Szoboszlai, only for Bernando Silva and Erling Haaland to score in the 84th and 93rd minute, respectively, sealing the win for City.

City’s win ensured they finished the weekend six points behind leaders Arsenal (1/4), who ran out comfortable winners against Sunderland (9/1) on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s early kick-off saw Manchester United (3/5) win their fourth game in a row, beating 10-men Tottenham 2-0 (4/1) after captain Cristian Romero was sent off in the first half.

Chelsea (3/5) also kept the top-four race tight, beating relegation-destined Wolves (4/1) 3-1.

Despite Aston Villa (7/5) drawing to Bournemouth (7/4), Fulham (11/10) losing 2-1 to Everton (5/2) and Brentford (5/2) overcoming Newcastle (9/10) 3-2, operators were left ruing victories for City, United and Arsenal.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth remarked: “The Gunners appeared to be on course for a 1/10 quote to win the Premier League, but a box office ending at Anfield saw Manchester City, who had been trading at 40/1 for an in-play victory, fight back to win 2-1.

“In fact, from a goals perspective, we were particularly relieved it didn’t finish 3-1.

“Arsenal, the shortest-priced favourite on the Premier League coupon, avoided the banana skin that is Sunderland with a cosy 3-0 success.

“Backers of Gabriel Jesus to score anytime (9,032 pre-game wagers) and those who backed 2+ must have been delighted to see substitute Viktor Gyökeres score twice, triggering our ‘Sub On Play On’ offer.

“We had 432 pre-game bets on Cristian Romero to see red at 33/1 at Old Trafford and his backers didn’t have long to wait after yet another rush of blood, allowing favourites Manchester United to coast to another victory under Michael Carrick.”

Adding to the Premier League action across the weekend, Betfred’s Alan Firkins focused on the battle for top-spot as well as the race for the Champions League spots.

He said: “Clashes between Liverpool and Manchester City have provided some magnificent entertainment over the years, and Sunday’s latest instalment at Anfield was right up there with the best of them.

“Even some late tragi-comic VAR drama couldn’t take the gloss off proceedings, as City just about kept themselves in the title race, six points adrift of Arsenal who thumped Sunderland 3-0 at home.”

Midnite’s Alex Firth pointed out Spurs are now 10/1 to be relegated to the Championship, with Saturday’s loss and results elsewhere meaning they are six points from safety.

He said: “Tottenham are now winless in seven Premier League games, having lost a man and the match 2-0 to Man United on Saturday.

“Thomas Frank looks under serious pressure with his side sitting just six points above the relegation zone – Spurs are now 10/1 to be relegated this season.”

BOYLE Sports’ Brian O’Keefe added: “The Gunners remain strong favourites (1/5) to lift the Premier League after a routine 3-0 win over Sunderland, yet Manchester City are 4/1 to lift the title.”

In Spain, Barcelona (1/10) maintained their lead at the top of La Liga thanks to a 3-0 win over Mallorca (11/1), though Real Madrid (3/5) also secured three points away to Valencia (4/1).

In France, PSG (2/5) beat rivals Marseille (5/1) 5-0 to keep their lead at the top to two points and add further misery for bet365 thanks to goals from Ousmane Dembélé.

Over in Italy, Inter (2/5) finished the weekend eight points clear over rivals AC Milan thanks to a 5-0 win over Sassuolo (6/1) – though the latter have a game in hand.

Napoli (1/1), in third, needed an injury time penalty to beat Genoa (3/1) 3-2, while fourth-placed Juventus (2/5) secured a 2-2 draw (7/2) against Lazio (7/1) after falling behind 2-0.

Freeth noted: “In Serie A, Inter extended their lead to eight points with a comprehensive 5-0 victory at Sassuolo.

“Third-placed Napoli fell 1-0 behind at Genoa before Rasmus Højlund and Scott McTominay put them 2-1 up, and then the Danish forward hit the 95th-minute winner from the spot for a 3-2 success.

“Barcelona secured a comfortable 3-0 home victory against Mallorca with goals from Lewandowski, Yamal and substitute Marc Bernal. The young midfielder replaced Dani Olmo, who had earlier supplied both assists.

“Consequently, the 1,843 pre-game bets on Olmo to score anytime were settled as winners due to our ‘Sub On Play On’ concession, with Bernal scoring his first Barcelona goal on 83 minutes.

“Real Madrid closed the gap on Sunday with the ever-popular Kylian Mbappé waiting until the 91st minute to get among the goals.

“Odsonne Édouard and Allan Saint-Maximin helped themselves to a goal each as Lens took top spot in Ligue 1 with a 3-1 victory over Rennes.

“PSG completed the set of popular odds-on shots to score five on Sunday, securing a 5-0 win over Marseille to return to the top of the league. An Ousmane Dembélé brace before half-time sealed a memorable weekend for bet365 customers both at home and abroad.”

In the weekend’s horseracing at Newbury, Denman Chase favourite Haiti Couleurs won the race by seven lengths.

L’Homme Presse put up a fight heading into the straight but was no match, with the victor now 7/1 for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham next month.

Firth said: “In racing, the feature of the weekend was from Newbury where Haiti Couleurs ran out a gruelling winner of the Denman Chase to boost his Gold Cup chances.

“Lulamba went out of Novice Company, charting a similar path to the Arkle via Newbury as Altior once did for Nicky Henderson and, despite some mistakes, he came through to power home by more than six lengths.”

The culmination of the 2025 NFL season saw Super Bowl LX favourites Seattle Seahawks get revenge from the memorable Super Bowl XLIX defeat to the New England Patriots, this time beating them 29-13.

“Super Bowl LX from Santa Clara featured the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks,” said Firkins, “and it was narrow favs the ‘Hawks that prevailed, with a degree of comfort, 29-13.

“The Pats’ offence, and quarterback Drake Maye in particular, never got out of first gear courtesy of an inspired, quite brilliant Seattle defence.

“Poor Maye has had a modest post-season despite making it to the big one, and the game was a very one-sided affair.”