Sports Betting: Premier League Preview

Manchester City have emerged as the fifth big club in betting odds for the 2009-10 Premier League season, but cross-town rival Manchester United remain the team to beat.

Defending premiers Man United, fresh off the back of an 11th premier league title in 17 seasons, go into the new season as favorite, despite the loss of star players Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. The Red Devils are an outright 3.00 favorite at Ladbrokes and equal 3.00 favorite at William Hill Sports.

Perpetual challengers Chelsea are hot on United's heels, sharing favoritism at William Hill, but slightly adrift at 3.20 with Ladbrokes. Since becoming champions in 2005 and 2006, the Blues have finished top three in all of the last three seasons while Man U has taken home the trophy.

William Hill Sports currently offers a Bet One Get One Free promotion.

Ladbrokes offer a £10 Free Bet for New customers.

Liverpool, which stormed home late last season to almost take its first English title in 19 years, completes a treble of teams that are hard to split, with Ladbrokes offering odds of 3.60 and William Hill odds of 3.75.

Arsenal is 9.00 at both Ladbrokes and William Hill, a sign of how far they slipped last year in comparison to their three rivals.

Man City, 13.00 at Ladbrokes and 12.00 at William Hill, is expected by many to knock Arsenal out of the top four and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. With high-profile signings such as Carlos Tevez from Man United and Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal, City will be the first team in years to genuinely threaten the big four.