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Chelsea’s Premier League Odds +10000, Top 4 Listed at +250 After Sacking Frank Lampard

Gary Gowers

by Gary Gowers in Soccer News

Updated Jan 25, 2021 · 10:49 AM PST

Frank Lampard
FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 file photo, Chelsea's head coach Frank Lampard walks during the warm up before the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England. Lampard has been fired by Chelsea halfway through his second season in charge of the London club on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 after being unable to replicate his success as the club’s record scorer in his first Premier League managerial job. Chelsea has lost five of its last eight Premier League games and dropped to ninth place, despite Lampard benefiting from nearly $300 million on new players for this season. (AP Photo/Jon Super, Pool, File)
  • Chelsea just sacked manager Frank Lampard this morning with the Blues sitting just ninth in the EPL
  • Former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel looks set to take over at Stamford Bridge
  • We look where it went wrong for Lampard, Tuchel’s chances of success and a best bet for top four

Earlier today, Chelsea sacked manager Frank Lampard after him being in the post for 18 months. The Blues have been struggling and sit ninth in the table, all of which was considered not good enough by owner Roman Abramovich, who pulled the trigger. Former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel looks set to take over.

We will take a look at how and why it all went wrong for Lampard, see if Tuchel has what it takes to turn things around at Stamford Bridge and examine if they are still capable of getting in the top four and earning a lucrative Champions League spot. We will also take a look to see if anyone else is offering value for one of the top four spots in the Premier League odds.

English Premier League 2020-21 Odds

Team Winner Odds Top 4 Odds Top 6 Odds
Manchester City -225 -10000 N/A
Manchester United +500 -500 -3335
Liverpool +700 -100 -2000
Leicester City +1800 +100 -455
Tottenham +2500 +120 -335
Chelsea +10000 +250 -190
Everton +10000 +600 +160
Aston Villa +10000 +900 +250
Arsenal +20000 +1400 +400
West Ham +30000 +2000 +600
Southampton +50000 +2500 +650
Wolves +75000 +15000 +5000
Leeds United +75000 +6600 +2500
Burnley +200000 +75000 +25000
Newcastle United +200000 +75000 +50000
Brighton +200000 +50000 +25000
Crystal Palace +200000 +50000 +20000
Fulham +250000 +75000 +50000
Sheffield United +500000 +300000 +200000
West Bromwich Albion +500000 +300000 +200000

All odds taken Jan 25 at DraftKings

Frank Lampard Exits Stage Left

Frank Lampard was sacked by Chelsea less than 24 hours after the club’s FA Cup win over Luton Town. Despite spending a lot of money in the summer, Lampard’s team lacked consistency and some of the big-money signings are yet to deliver. Despite being one of the favorites for the chopping block this month, there was a feeling that, as one of Chelsea’s favorite sons, he would be given time by the club’s owner to turn things around.

But Roman Abramovich’s patience had run thin and he went on to take the unprecedented step of explaining his decision in a club statement; something he has never done before. He explained how he had to see past the “excellent personal relationship” he has with Lampard and how he respects him as a man and as an employee but “under the current circumstances, we believe it is best to change managers”.

Top Four Still the Target

Abramovich’s reason for pulling the trigger was a concern that by not acting now the chance of a top-four place would disappear from sight and also a belief that Chelsea was getting no closer to challenging Manchester City and Liverpool – the owner’s target for Lampard at the start of the season. Part of Lampard’s perceived failure was the inability to get the best out of his two expensive German signings in the summer – Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.

No sooner had Lampard’s departure been announced and explained by the owner, then very strong rumors started of former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel being handed the Stamford Bridge reins, part of the thinking here from Abramovich being that the German may be able to succeed where Lampard failed by getting the best out of the misfiring German duo.

Misfiring Germans at the Bridge

So far, both Werner and Havertz have made only modest impacts in west London and despite a slightly improved performance, Werner’s most notable contribution to his team’s FA Cup win yesterday was to miss a second-half penalty. Havertz only appeared late on as a substitute. Once Tuchel is confirmed, one of his first tasks will be to find out what makes those two tick, but there are plenty of other under-performers for him to address.

And there is also the small matter of Tuchel usually having difficult relationships with those who employ him, with his bosses at FC Augsburg, Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund and PSG all finding him a difficult individual to work with. We should expect fireworks between him and Abramovich!

The Big Prize Is There for Tuchel

But, and it remains a big but, if Tuchel can somehow get Chelsea into the top four it will have been a worthwhile appointment and at +250 a good bet. He has an enormous task on his hands, though, to reinstil belief in a squad that has talent but lacks consistency. Especially when compared to their main rivals for fourth spot – Leicester City, Tottenham, Everton, and, even, West Ham.

Leicester looks likely to take the battle for fourth all the way but there is little value in the +100 on offer and even less in inconsistent Tottenham’s +120, although both are well in the mix. For me, and for those who love a gamble, the interesting one is Everton at a juicy +600. The Toffees are exceptionally well managed by Carlo Ancelotti, have some outstanding players like James Rodriguez, and a top goalscorer in Dominic Calvert-Lewin. That is most definitely where the value lies.

Pick: Everton to make top four (+600)

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