Manchester 13 North London 3

It’s only August and yet the bookies have already seen enough to think that the Premier League title is heading to Manchester - but will it be to United or City?

Mancini’s millionaires made their biggest statement of intent to date when they ran out astonishing 5-1 winners away to Tottenham. City are now a best price of 9/4 with Coral after Edin Dzeko ran amuck at White Hart Lane, grabbing four goals for himself. The Bosnian, who took his time to settle in English football, has now notched six in three league games this season to make him a best price 4/1 with Boylesports to end the season as top scorer in the division.

But the former Wolfsburg striker only finds himself joint-favourite in that category after Wayne Rooney bagged a hat-trick of his own in a staggering 8-2 win for United over hapless Arsenal. The England striker now has five for the season and he is 4/1 to be leading marksman with Coral. More importantly, his team have been cut to a best price of 13/10 for the title with SportingBet.

As a knock-on effect from the Mancunians’ dazzling displays, Chelsea have been pushed out to 5/1 for the title with VictorChandler - and that followed a weekend in which Villas-Boas’s side also won! However, the 3-1 home victory over Norwich was another unconvincing display from the 2009-10 champions who are two points off the pace. Liverpool are another team on seven points after a 3-1 victory over Bolton. The Anfield side are 16/1 with Totesport to bring the league trophy back to Merseyside.

Beleaguered Arsenal are now 50/1 for the title having been as short as 7/1 with one firm earlier in the month. Perhaps of greater concern, realistically, the Gunners are now 15/8 with Bluesquare just to finish inside the top four, and re-qualify for the Champions League.