Premier League Tricast

Backing the top three of last season’s Premier League to finish in the same order again this time round doesn’t require a great deal of imagination. But that’s no reason to ignore the wonderful odds of 12/1 on history repeating itself. Bet365 have the best odds on a 1-2-3 of Manchester United, Chelsea and Man City.

The case for the champions just gets stronger the more you look at it. Top dogs in four of the last five campaigns, they have strengthened again this summer. Phil Jones may be one for the future but Ashley Young is at his peak right now and the best addition may be yet to come. Dutch superstar Wesley Sneijder is currently a best price of 8/11 to be unveiled at Old Trafford by the time the transfer window slams shut - he is just 1/4 with SkyBet. He would be a big signing for Alex Ferguson in the position that United are most lacking.

Chelsea have finished in the top two seven times in the past eight seasons, and they should be runners-up again in 2011-12. With Fernando Torres surely bound to hit the goal trail soon, the Blues can continue their fine form from the second half of last season. The return of Daniel Sturridge from his loan spell at Bolton provides another major goal threat. And we haven’t even mentoned Didier Drogba.

Indeed, with David Luiz having added flair to an already formidable Chelsea defence, it was tempting to think that Andre Villas-Boas might strike gold at his first attempt. Only the long-term injury to midfield linchpin Michael Essien leads me to doubt their title credentials. Besides, if you offered Abramovich the Champions League he would take that in a shot. Maybe the west Londoners can be the ones to stop Barcelona on the continent instead.

What of Man City? They finished third last time and while the money keeps being thrown around, the title isn’t impossible. There are two key reasons why this won’t be the year for that. Firstly, there is the Carlos Tevez saga. He wants to leave and he won’t be happy till he does. If it doesn’t happen now then surely the resolution will occur in January for the sake of all our sanity! Without his goals and inspiraton, Sergio Aguero can only hope to plug the gap. The second factor is this being City’s first crack at the Champions League. Mancini’s millionaires will quickly realise what Spurs learnt last time; it isn’t easy to take three points away to Stoke inbetween a couple of glamorous continental ties.

So that’s the top three. Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal will give them a run for their money but all of them have weaknesses and too much progress to make. Back United to make it 20 titles and be separated from their neighbours by Chelsea once again. The odds of 12/1, courtesy of Bet365, represent great value.