Sunderland keep up their bid to be relegated at Portsmouth

2008-09: The season where nobody can be bothered to survive

The table above shows the average number of points each Premier League club have taken from their last 11 games, with an unprecedented seven clubs all taking less than a point a game. That includes each of the bottom five, who seem to be doing everything in their power to be relegated, while Aston Villa and Wigan are plodding along with very little left to play for.

This is a far cry from the last five seasons, where no more than four teams have averaged under a point a game from matchday 27 onwards. In the last two campaigns, first West Ham and then Fulham have produced some of their best ever form to save themselves from their certain relegation:

2006-07

Posted: May 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Positive signs for Liverpool, Rangers poised for the SPL

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Victory over West Brom guarantees Liverpool their best points finish (83 possibly rising to 86) since taking 90 in 1987-88.

2. Barring a very unlikely set of results next week, it is also likely to be the first time in 19 seasons that Liverpool have finished the season with the strongest goal difference in the division.

3. Nine teams have failed to beat a Big Four side in the Premier League this season, an improvement on last season’s 11 and Sunderland still have a chance to strike themselves off that list against Chelsea next weekend.

Posted: May 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Stats for all of this weekend’s Premier League matches

For Man Utd/Arsenal stats, check out our Correct Score wizard

Baffled by Sky’s decision to broadcast a nothing match between Chelsea and Blackburn over games that will have a huge impact on the relegation battle and the race for seventh, we’ve decided to instead publish a stat for every league match taking place this weekend:

Bolton v Hull
Gary Megson’s side are unbeaten at home to sides below them in the table and have won their final league game at the Reebok in three of the last four years.

Everton v West Ham
The Toffees have lost just one of their last 13 home games in all competitions while West Ham haven’t beaten a top-six side all season.

Middlesbrough v Aston Villa

Posted: May 15th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Everything you need to know about Man United v Arsenal

Man Utd/Arsenal, Saturday 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1, £25 Free Bet

Manchester United need just a point to claim their 11th league title in 17 years and Arsenal have won just two of their last seven games and one of their last six clashes with the league leaders. Check out the Interactive Wizard we produced with Betfair to figure out what the final score will be.

Posted: May 15th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Eleven superfacts about the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Click here for a £25 no loss bet when opening a Betfair account

» Favourites Norway were given a good draw - 20th out of 25 - for the final. In six of the last eight years, one of the final eight acts on stage have won.

» Nine of the last ten winners have sung in English, with the only exception being Serbia in 2007.

Click here to check out the full preview we produced for Betfair

» The last eight Eurovision Song Contests have all been won by countries who had never previously tasted victory. This year, Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the pick of the nations never to have triumphed, although Malta and Iceland could also challenge.

Posted: May 15th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Paddy Power offer Stoke fans free ice cream for staying up

Bookmakers make amends for “relegating” Stoke after one game

Paddy Power paid out on Stoke being relegated after they lost their first Premier League match 3-1 at Bolton, justifying the decision by saying that “if you’re getting tonked by Bolton on the opening day you’re going to struggle”.

However, after being proven spectacularly wrong they have decided to head down to the Britannia Stadium for the Potters’ final home game of the season against Wigan to serve 8,000 scoops of “humble pie flavoured” ice cream.

Click here to claim a £25 bet with Paddy Power. Stoke fans can back their side to win the league next season at 3000/1, although we don’t see them paying out early on that one!

Posted: May 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment