Man Utd move ahead of City as title favourites after win at Anfield

Manchester United’s win at Anfield has moved them ahead of their blue neighbours as favourites for the Premier League title.

The Red Devils are now priced at 6/4 to beat Manchester City to the title who have drifted to 13/8 after their draw with Arsenal.

United can consider themselves very fortunate to have avoided defeat against Liverpool. A contentious refereeing decision let them off the hook after the Reds had dominated in the early exchanges.

Ominously for City, United got the win without playing well, whereas Roberto Mancini’s men didn’t.

It’s fair to say they deserved nothing against their biggest rivals and, if they continue to perform like that away from Old Trafford they will lose more games than they win. But, improve they will and, after a shaky start on the road, they occupy second in the table, just a point behind the early frontrunners.

The Citizens, on the other hand, looked nothing like the free-scoring side that dispatches all comers at home. Aside from the goal – which was more gifted than earned – they only had one clear opening against a defence much-criticised for their inability to defend last term.

City also looked susceptible to Arsenal’s attacking approach and they were carved open more than once, Gervinho culpable for some shocking misses that would have ensured a win for the north Londoners.

Arsenal, well-warranted their point at the Etihad, if not more, and have now shortened to 11/1 to win a fourth Premier League crown. They demonstrated that their reformed side have the credentials to mix it with the big boys, although City’s opener brought back calamitous shades of the Arsenal of old.

If they can keep defensive lapses to a minimum, the Gunners will be in amongst it come the end of the season because, with Jack Wilshire on the comeback trail, they’re only going to get stronger in the attacking third.

Chelsea, who currently top the pile, scraped a 1-0 win at home to Stoke last time out as they continue to stutter since their humbling at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup.

At 4/1, they’re too short an option to pursue as they have been far too unconvincing against inferior teams this season and have not faced one challenging fixture yet either. They’ve got Arsenal next up and their performance at the Emirates will go a long way to justifying how good a price that 4/1 is.

All odds and markets correct as time and date of publication