Phil Foden and Manchester City are in prime position to defend their title (Picture: Getty Images)
What a bonkers weekend. Totally bizarre and unpredictable. And it swept like wildfire through numerous divisions.
There were some big winners and losers as teams with title chances in their own hands choked while others then failed to take advantage, leaving fans and punters wondering what on earth is going on.
Mind you, if you stuck the results in an acca you’re likely to be enjoying cocktails on an exotic beach and that’s why football is the beautiful game. It’s rarely bland and straightforward and there’s always twists, turns and drama just round the corner.
Let’s start with the Premier League where Manchester City, who looked a little below par not so long ago, sprang to the top of the table with a scorching 5-1 win at home to Luton.
It was surely only going to be a temporary stay as Liverpool were at home to Crystal Palace but the Reds looked tired and short of ideas as they stumbled to a 1-0 defeat which followed the shocking 3-0 Europa League loss to Atalanta last Thursday.
So oh what fun it was going to be at the Emirates where Arsenal could take a huge step towards being crowned champions for the first time in 20 years.
Unai Emery may have scuppered Arsenal’s title chances (Picture: Getty Images)
Not so fast said former Gunners manager Unai Emery as he masterminded Aston Villa’s mind-blowing 2-0 triumph.
The well-deserved victory edged the midlands club towards a fourth-place finish and definite Champions League qualification, with Tottenham having been overwhelmed at Newcastle and Manchester United stuttering once again at Bournemouth.
It was a familiar story in the Championship, where Leicester lost 1-0 at struggling Plymouth on Friday night only to breathe a sigh of relief when fellow contenders Leeds were beaten by lowly Blackburn at Elland Road and Ipswich could only draw at home with Middlesbrough.
Whatever was in the air was also prevalent north of the border where Rangers were beaten at second-bottom Ross County to hand the Scottish Premiership initiative to defending champions Celtic.
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None of the titles were decided at the weekend and there are bound to be more thrills and spills in the final few weeks but here’s a treble on the three current league leaders lifting the silverware.
Manchester City are 4/9 with Leicester and Celtic both 4/6 – all with a variety of bookmakers – which stuck in the same bet pays 3/1.
Add Villa to finish in the top four into the mix and it’s boosted to 5/1.
They look solid bets and are worth a dabble but you wouldn’t put this month’s rent or mortgage on them.
• Stefanos Tsitsipas has just won the Monte-Carlo Masters for the third time in four years and is 9/2 with StarSports and Bet Victor to take the title at this week’s ATP tournament in Barcelona.
• 2022 French Open finalist Coco Gauff can warm up for next month’s grand slam at Roland Garros by winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Slam in Stuttgart. Have an each-way flutter on the American at 8/1 with BetMGM.
MORE : Ian Wright criticises Arsenal star for ‘switching off’ during Aston Villa defeat
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