2 CommentsLeicester to win the title
One year ago Leicester were bottom of the Premier League with 10 points from 17 games, today they sit top, 28 points better off with 38, and are the third favourites for the title.
Opening day of season: 5,000/1
Now: 10/1
Now: 10/1
Where do Xmas leaders finish?
Leicester to be relegated
One year ago Leicester were five points from safety and facing relegation, today the Foxes are 23 points clear. A win on Boxing Day at Liverpool will match their points total from last season with 20 games remaining.
Opening day of the season: 3/1
Now: 3,500/1
Now: 3,500/1
Where do teams bottom at Xmas finish?
Jamie Vardy top goalscorer
Before this season, Jamie Vardy had scored just five Premier League goals in his career, but in just 17 games this season he has trebled that total and is now favourite to finish as the Premier League’s top goalscorer. Vardy would be the first Englishman in 16 years to achieve such a feat, when Sunderland’s Kevin Phillips topped the charts with 30 goals.
Opening day of the season: 500/1
Now: 7/4
Now: 7/4
Jamie Vardy PFA player of the season
Not even priced up as a contender before the season, Vardy is now the favourite to collect the Premier League’s most prestigious individual award, though he faces strong competition from his teammate Riyad Mahrez, who is also in stunning form.
Start of the season: N/A
First priced up November 24: 5/1
Now: 9/4
First priced up November 24: 5/1
Now: 9/4
Who would have guessed that Jamie Vardy would have crisps named after him
Eden Hazard PFA player of the season
It has been a staggering fall from the grace for the reigning PFA Player of the Year; Eden Hazard’s performances have epitomised Chelsea’s struggles this campaign with the Belgian so far goalless in 14 appearances.
Start of the season: 4/1
Now: 100/1
Now: 100/1
Eden Hazard has practically zero chance of winning this trohy again this season
Wayne Rooney PFA player of the season
Despite surpassing Bobby Charlton’s England goalscoring record with his 50th international goal against Switzerland in September, Rooney has struggled badly for Manchester United, scoring just twice in the league.
Start of the season: 16/1
Now: 100/1
Now: 100/1
Romelu Lukaku PFA Young player of the season
Romelu Lukaku is now the favourite to pick up the Young Player of the Year award after a stunning seven-game scoring streak. The former Chelsea striker has struck up the league’s most lethal partnership with Gerard Deulofeu, with the Spaniard assisting him a league-high six times.
Start of the season: 20/1
Now: 11/4
Now: 11/4
Romelu Lukaku is firing on all cylinders
Riyad Mahrez PFA player of the season
Vardy initially took all the headlines, but it is Riyad Mahrez who is fast emerging as the league’s best player. Nobody has more goals and assists combined than the Algerian, with 13 goals and seven assists.
Start of the season: N/A
First priced up November 24: 28/1
Now: 9/2
First priced up November 24: 28/1
Now: 9/2
Riyad Mahrez top goalscorer
Mahrez is joint-second in the race to be the league’s top goalscorer, two behind teammate Jamie Vardy; with six in his last three games and a share of penalty duties, he is a real contender.
Opening day of the season: N/A
First priced up on August 20: 250/1
Now: 10/1
First priced up on August 20: 250/1
Now: 10/1
Premier League top goalscorers 2015/16 (hover over pie chart)
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Romelu Lukaku top goalscorer
Currently enjoying a seven-game goalscoring streak with nine goals in that time, Romelu Lukaku is the league’s hottest striker and will be confident of overhauling Vardy, who is two goals clear of the Belgian.
Opening day of the season: 25/1
Now: 9/4
Now: 9/4
Lukaku has 13 Premier League goals this season
Sergio Aguero top goalscorer
Injuries have curtailed Sergio Aguero’s season, with the Argentine only playing in 11 of Manchester City’s 17 games. Despite scoring seven times, he has his work cut out to defend his goalscoring crown.
Opening day of the season: 3/1
Now: 6/1
Now: 6/1
Diego Costa top goalscorer
One of only three players to score 20 Premier League goals last season - with Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane - Diego Costa has struggled to replicate his goalscoring form this season due to a combination of suspension and poor fitness, meaning just three goals in 14 appearances.
Opening day of the season: 6/1
Now: 150/1
Now: 150/1
Diego Costa likes fighting more than scoring this season Photo: REUTERS
Odion Ighalo top goalscorer
Odion Ighalo spurned the riches on offer from Chinese side Hebei China Fortune last summer to stay with Watford in the Premier League and it appears to have paid off with the Nigerian leading the Hornets’ bid for survival with 12 goals.
Opening day of the season: 100/1
Now: 10/1
Now: 10/1
Chelsea to win the title
The favourites to defend their title this season after finishing eight points clear of their nearest rivals last campaign, Chelsea have endured the worst defence as champions in Premier League history and are languishing in 15th place, 20 points behind Leicester at the top.
Opening day of the season: 11/8
Day Mourinho sacked: 200/1
Now: 100/1
Day Mourinho sacked: 200/1
Now: 100/1
Chelsea to be relegated
It would have been inconceivable at the start of the season, but until the sacking of Jose Mourinho Chelsea found themselves in a relegation battle, just one point from the bottom three. Roman Abramovich’s move to sack the Portuguese appears to have ended any danger of relegation now though.
Opening day of the season: 5,000/1
Day Mourinho sacked: 40/1
Now: 100/1
Day Mourinho sacked: 40/1
Now: 100/1
Chelsea to finish in the top four
Almost a certainty at the start of the season, Chelsea’s wretched start to the season has all but eliminated them from contending for a place in the top four with interim manager Guus Hiddink tasked with overcoming an 11 point gap.
Opening day of the season: 1/50
Now: 8/1
Now: 8/1
Aston Villa to be relegated
The high of survival under the guidance of Tim Sherwood brought optimism to Villa Park ahead of the new campaign, but that quickly evaporated with poor form and the Englishman was sacked in October. His successor, Remi Garde, has not had the desired effect yet and Aston Villa now appear certain to be relegated.
Opening day of the season: 5/1
Now: 1/11
Now: 1/11
Villa boss Remi Garde has an impossible job
Watford to be relegated
Despite momentum from their play-off final victory last May, and significant investment from owner Giampaolo Pozzo, it appeared as if Watford would face a relegation battle this season, but Quique Sanchez Flores has guided them to within a point of the top four and survival is almost certain now.
Opening day of the season: 4/6
Now: 80/1
Now: 80/1
Watford are only a point behind fourth place Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Bournemouth to be relegated
Despite having to contend with serious injuries to key players Tyrone Mings, Max Gradel and Callum Wilson, Bournemouth find themselves four points clear of the drop after a five-game unbeaten run.
Opening day of the season: 8/11
Now: 6/1
Now: 6/1
Bournemouth are above Chelsea in the league Photo: © BNPS
Leicester to finish in the top four
Few seem ready to label the Foxes as title contenders, but a place inside the top four and qualification to the Champions League appears likely now after Claudio Ranieri’s side opened up a nine-point gap to Manchester United in fifth place.
