Premier League on Betfair: Hull relegated but race for top four still alive

Joe Dyer
14 May 2017

Daniel Sturridge was on the scoresheet as Liverpool thrashed West Hame 4-0

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With the Premier League Winner and Relegation markets now settled, the attention turns to the race to finish in the top four, with Man City and Liverpool heavy favourites to join Chelsea and Spurs...

"Liverpool, 1.121/8, will guarantee their place in the top four if they beat Middlesbrough at Anfield in seven days time."

The relegation battle was cleared up in the same week as the title with Hull dropping out of the Premier League following a 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace today.

And the battle for a Top 4 Finish gained a little more clarity, too, after Liverpool won by the same emphatic scoreline at West Ham.

The day began with an unquestionable six-pointer at Selhurst Park where 16th-placed Palace hosted third-from-bottom Hull with just one point separating the pair.

But drama was in short supply when the game went the way of the home side early on with Wilfried Zaha slotting home in the third minute after a howler from Hull's Italian defender Andrea Ranocchia.

A goal from Christian Benteke on 34 minutes settled nerves and Palace were content to let Hull dominate possession and try to find a way through thereafter before picking the opposition off with a pair of late goals. Marco Silva's side will join Sunderland and Middlesbrough in next year's Championship.

Liverpool passed their 'must-win' test in fine style thanks to the brilliance of Philippe Coutinho who created one and scored two in a largely one-sided game from the moment Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring. Divock Origi added a fourth late on.

The victory means Liveprool stay third in the table, four points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal though the Gunners do have a game in hand. Manchester City remain fourth meaning the battle to finish in the top four behind Chelsea and Tottenham will rest between these three clubs.

Man City effectively need just one more win to secure a place in the Champions League qualifying positions and are available to back at just 1.031/33 in the Top 4 Finish market ahead of games at home to West Brom (Tuesday) and away at Watford (Sunday), while Liverpool, 1.121/8, will guarantee their place in the top four if they beat Middlesbrough at Anfield in seven days time.

Arsenal are the outsiders of the trio at 7.613/2 and must win their remaining two games - at home to Sunderland and Everton - and hope that either Man City or Liverpool drop points.