Geordies 4-6 to be relegated under Shearer

ARSENAL surely dealt a terminal blow to Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes last night and the Merseysiders are now out to 6-1 to wrest the crown from arch-rivals Manchester United.

Liverpool’s second 4-4 draw in the space of a week underlined defensive frailties exposed by an out-of-character gung-ho approach under Rafa Benitez.

Still, United fans won’t be complaining and three points at home to Portsmouth tonight would put the Reds in a position of huge strength.

United, 1-6 to win the title for a third successive year, are 1-4 to win at Old Trafford, with the draw at 9-2 and Pompey almost unconsidered at 14-1.

Chelsea, 16-1 shots for the title, entertain Everton knowing that they need to win every remaining league fixture if they are to have any hope of catching United.

At the other end of the table, West Brom are doomed and it’s not surprising they are 150-1 ON to be relegated.

Middlesbrough are also heading for the trapdoor, according to the bookies, who make Gareth Southgate’s men 1-4 to go down.

After that, it’s a bit more tricky, but Newcastle look a pretty poor side to me and, even with Alan Shearer’s influence, the 4-6 about them going down seems quite generous.

After that it’s Hull (11-8), Blackburn (6-1), Sunderland (13-2) and Portsmouth (20-1).

The aforementioned Everton, recommended in this column at 28-1, are a best-priced 15-8 to win the FA Cup after reaching the final at Manchester United’s expense on Sunday.

Chelsea, who saw off Arsenal, are hot favourites at 1-2.




SUCH is the mercurial talent of reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan that the rest of the field in the current World Snooker Championship may as well stay at home if The Rocket has his head screwed on right.



O’Sullivan is, in my view, comfortably the best player ever to lift a cue and although his results don’t always show that because of his fragile temperament, he is nigh on unbeatable when anywhere near his best.

If you are willing to trust O’Sullivan to stay calm and focused, then take the 7-4 on offer about him winning the tournament.

Those who feel he could implode may wish to look elsewhere, starting with the 7-1 about Mark Selby.

Stephen Maguire is 8-1, Ali Carter 10-1, John Higgins 12-1, and Shaun Murphy and Ding Junhui 14s.




THE most amazing Formula 1 season in recent memory is being dominated by drivers and teams who at one stage were considered outsiders.



England’s Jenson Button, with two wins and a third to his credit, is a best-priced 13-8 to become world champion, while the Brawn GP team he fronts is even money to win the constructors’ championship.

Sebastian Vettel, who won in China last weekend, is 4-1 second favourite for the individual title, with Lewis Hamilton 9-1 and Rubens Barrichello 12s.

Vettel’s Red Bull team are 3-1 second favourites for the constrictors’ title, while who would have thought that McLaren and Ferrari – who have dominated in recent seasons – would be as big as 10-1 and 14-1 respectively?




I KNOW it is hard to take in, but the start of the cricket season has coincided with some rather nice weather.



Let’s hope it continues into the summer for there is some fantastic international fare on offer, starting with the England-Windes rematch next month.

England lost 1-0 in the Caribbean during the winter, but despite some poor individual performances, they really ought to have secured at least a draw.

The bookies reckon they will make no mistake in the two-Test series against Chris Gayle’s men, pricing the hosts up at 4-5, the draw at 11-5 and the tourists 6-1.

Looking further ahead, England are 9-4 to regain the Ashes when they take on an Australian side in transition.

The Aussies, who are a bit hit and miss at the moment, are poor value at 4-5, while the draw is 11-2.

If England, traditionally strong on home soil, can keep Andrew Flintoff fit and get Steve Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom firing on all cylinders, they must have a huge chance of emulating their 2005 victory over the old enemy.