Premier League Top 6 odds: Can West Ham Be Dark Horses?

The 2022/23 Premier League season is well underway and the table is already beginning to take shape. The ‘big 6’ make-up six of the top seven positions, with Brighton currently gate-crashing the party following their excellent start to the campaign. However, who’s expected to occupy the top 6 places come May?

Usual suspects

Obviously Manchester City are widely expected to finish in the top six once again this season. It would need a miracle for the defending Premier League champions to miss out, so it’s no surprise that the australian‌ ‌casino sites and bookmakers are only offering 1/1000 on City finishing in the top 6. The vast majority of betting sites aren’t even offering odds at all.

Liverpool have endured a difficult start to the season with Jurgen Klopp’s injury-plagued squad sitting seventh after winning just two of their six matches so far. However, the Merseysiders are still a quality side and will be extremely confident of finishing in the Champions League qualification places, meaning a top six position is virtually guaranteed. Liverpool are priced at 1/66 with some bookmakers so it seems them and City are dead certs.

Arsenal have perhaps been the surprise package so far this season. The Gunners won their opening five matches and still sit top of the table despite seeing that winning streak end at Old Trafford. Before the season begun, some pundits thought Arsenal could drop out of the top six this season but Mikel Arteta’s men are 1/10 to finish in the top six positions following their terrific start.

Tottenham are also widely fancied to finish in the top six once again with best casinos online usa offering odds of 1/10. Antonio Conte has built a strong squad in north London and they’ve looked solid so far having picked up 14 points from their six matches – enough to see them joint second in the table along with Man City.

Chelsea have sacked Thomas Tuchel following their disappointing start to the new season. The Blues are sixth on 10 points so it’s hardly been a disaster but it’s enough for owner Todd Boehly to relieve Tuchel of his duties. The new incoming manager will have a quality squad at his disposal and Chelsea should be confident of finishing in the top six with betting sites pricing them at 1/4.

Manchester United have recovered from a poor start and are now fifth in the table after beating leaders Arsenal recently. Erik ten Hag’s side are a work in progress but they’re still expected to make the top six with bookies pricing the Red Devils at 4/11.

Outsiders

Based on the odds, the betting markets believe we’ll see the usual ‘big 6’ occupying the top six positions at the end of the season. Man Utd look the most vulnerable to miss out, with Newcastle United priced at 2/1 to take advantage. Brighton are 3/1 after their excellent start that sees them currently sitting fourth in the table.

However, what about West Ham? Could they be the dark horses to snatch a top six place if one of the big football teams endure a season to forget? The Hammers are 9/1 to finish in the top six following their poor start to the new season so some diehard fans may be tempted to have a punt.

David Moyes’ side were right in the mix for the top six last season but fell away during the closing stages as they switched focus to the Europa League. Their European adventure ended with a heart-breaking semi-final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham never really recovered. A poor final few results saw the club finish seventh – just two points behind Man Utd.

So West Ham certainly have the quality to push the likes of United close for the top six. The Irons are currently 18th after winning just one of their six games so far, leaving them six points adrift of sixth-placed Chelsea. Therefore, they’ll have to start putting a winning run together soon if they want to be challenging for the European qualification spots again this season. - Ed