Odds on United if City didn’t exist

UNITED are odds on at Betfred to win the Premier League – without City!

It is unprecedented in my 50 years as a bookie that we’ve opened up a market so early in the season on effectively who will win it if City didn’t exist. But that is the reality with Pep Guardiola’s Blues still 11 points clear at the top and 1/33 that they will be champions.

I have already paid out on City winning the title and now have United 8/11 to be top without City, Chelsea 15/8, Liverpool 6/1, Arsenal 14/1 and Spurs 16/1.

Even without star midfielder David Silva, the City’s juggernaut, or should I say Rolls Royce, takes on and beats all comers.

I expected – or more accurately hoped – Spurs would put up a better show at the Etihad but the fact is the Blues were magnificent again and it is no wonder the top team in Europe are 33/1 at Betfred for the quad!

Liverpool showed superb counterattacking skills in the 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth, which was in marked contrast to the stop-start performance of United at relegation-threatened West Brom. United were sluggish in attack and I can’t understand why they can’t get counter-attacking like Old Trafford teams of yesteryear.

After the farce of the so-called showpiece Sports Personality of the Year awards, it is time the BBC had a long, hard look at the format.

Why Anthony Joshua, the boxing champ with charisma who reminds me so much of Muhammad Ali – although obviously not as good – didn’t win is baffling.

He was odds on favourite at Betfred for at least six months.

It is absolutely remarkable that he didn’t even make the top three but that’s the great British public for you: Give them a vote and expect the unexpected.