Premier League on Betfair: Everton hand the title to Manchester United

16Mar 2013

Betfair

Wins for Everton, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Southampton have major implications at both ends of the table. Mike Norman brings us the In-Play odds matched from today's Premier League action...

Almost 12 months after securing a 4-4 draw at Old Trafford - a result that many viewed as the reason Manchester United didn't win the Premier League - Everton have effectively handed Sir Alex Ferguson's men the title by beating Manchester City 2-0 today.

Everton were booed off after losing 0-3 at home to Wigan last weekend but it was a completely different atmosphere when the final whistle sounded at Goodison Park in the early kick-off.

Leon Osman put The Toffees ahead with a fantastic drive from outside the box in the first half but Everton's task was seemingly made more difficult when Steven Pienaar received his marching orders for two bookable offences. However, a late Nikica Jelavic goal sealed the win for David Moyes' men meaning City's title defence is all but over.

Everton were matched at 4.1 for the win, while the 2-0 Correct Score was matched at a high of 30.0 In-Play. Osman was backed at 28.0 to open the scoring prior to kick-off.

Elsewhere today Aston Villa took a giant step to relegation safety with an entertaining 3-2 victory over bottom-of-the-table QPR.

Jermaine Jenas - matched at 40.0 to score first - put Rangers in front but they were pegged back right on the stroke of half-time meaning those who backed them at 1.03 in the Half Time market were left with burnt fingers.

But in an exciting second half it was Paul Lambert's men who prevailed (matched at 8.6 to win the game) with the 3-2 Correct Score being matched at 55.0.

Staying towards the bottom of the table, Southampton sprung a minor surprise by beating Liverpool 3-1 at St Mary's. The Saints were matched at 4.9 to take the three points, while Morgan Schneiderlin touched a high of 50.0 before opening the scoring. The 3-1 Correct Score was backed at 55.0.

Arsenal recorded their second 0-2 victory of the week by beating Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. In what turned out to be another huge price first goalscorer - the biggest of the day in fact - Gunners' full-back Nacho Monreal (70.0) made the breakthrough late in the second half.

Gervinho scored in injury time to wrap up the victory; the 0-2 Correct Score being matched at 22.0.

In the day's other game Stoke and West Brom played out a dull 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium - the scoreline never touching higher than 10.5 In-Play.

At the bottom of the table three clubs - QPR, Reading, and Wigan - are starting to get cut adrift from the others and are not surprisingly strong favourites in the Relegation market - available to back at 1.21, 1.09, and 1.69 respectively.