Van Persie top scorer backers celebrating early-season free bet

Robin Van Persie’s hat-trick against Southampton means that any punters to have backed him to be the Premier League’s top scorer this season will be the recipients of a free bet.

Van Persie would have been fearing the worst after missing a penalty at St Mary’s when awfully trying to replicate the dinked spot kicks of Andrea Pirlo and Sergio Ramos from Euro 2012.

But his two late goals, including the winner three minutes into injury time, must have potentially saved him from the full power of Sir Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment.

It was certainly fitting that Premier League game 1,000 for Sir Alex was marked with a winner in ‘Fergie Time’.

And punters to have backed Van Persie for the top scorer accolade will also be jumping for joy.

These punters will receive a free bet to the value of their stake on Van Persie being the Premier League top scorer, up to £100, as part of a Ladbrokes promotion.

This promotion is still running, so more free bets can be secured for punters backing a player to be the Premier League’s top scorer if said player scores a hat-trick in any top-flight game this season.

Van Persie is now 11/4 to win this accolade for the second season running after four goals in two games and will be popular now with Wayne Rooney out for another month at Manchester United.

He scored two Premier League hat-tricks last season and two goals in another six Premier League games with arguably less supply than that on offer at Manchester United.

Carlos Tevez has also made a productive start and with goals in all four Manchester City games and is 5/1 to be top scorer.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.