Where's the mid-season value in the Premier League and EFL markets?

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the Premier League, Championship, League One & League Two.

Best bets

Leicester top-six finish in Premier League
2pts 5-6 Betway
Brighton to be relegated from Premier League
1pt 4-1 general
Rotherham to be relegated from Championship
2pts Evs general
Sunderland to be promoted from League One
1pt 7-4 bet365

Premier League

After ending their 30-year title drought by winning the Premier League last season, Liverpool will celebrate another Christmas at the top of the tree and they are odds-on to retain their crown having built up a four-point cushion on the chasing pack.

Liverpool have brushed aside a host of key injuries and bounced back from some poor away performances - they lost 7-2 at Aston Villa and have won only two of their seven road fixtures - to resume control in the title race.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have won all seven of their home league games this season and as they look unlikely to drop many, if any, points at their Anfield fortress, and with no standout challengers, the silverware appears at their mercy.

If Manchester City win their game in hand they would be five points behind Liverpool but the Citizens are the lowest scorers in the top half of the Premier League and with goals harder to come by, they are proving more vulnerable, as seen when West Brom held them to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.

While Liverpool are fancied to scoop the top prize, the scrap for Champions League qualification is captivating and only four points separate Leicester in second and City in eighth.

The recent faltering steps of Chelsea and Tottenham have seen Manchester United, five points off top with a game in hand, emerge as Liverpool’s chief threat.

But while the Red Devils, a perfect six from six on the road, have shown massive improvement in recent weeks, their single-figure title odds look an overreaction.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are on a good run but it doesn’t take much for him to come under the managerial microscope and a tricky set of Christmas fixtures - their next four games see them face Leicester, Wolves, Aston Villa and Liverpool - may see them found out.

In a season full of twists and turns, the top-four puzzle takes some working out and while Leicester may fall just short, Betway's quote of 5-6 that they finish in the top six look more than fair.

The Foxes, like Liverpool, have won nine of their opening 14 games and, also like the Reds, they have had to deal with injuries to influential players.

Brendan Rodgers’ squad is stronger now than at any point of the campaign and with Jamie Vardy supplied by the super service of James Maddison there is no concern about where the goals are going to come from.

Leicester have shown a liking for the big occasions having won against Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham and with the quality and spirit in their squad they can maintain the lofty standards they are setting.

Bookmakers appear fairly confident that Sheffield United and West Brom will be relegated from the Premier League and that either Fulham or Burnley will join them.

While it is hard to disagree with the layers’ views on the blunt Blades and Baggies, Fulham and Burnley are improving and their relegation odds look too short.

The Clarets have lost only one of their last seven games, keeping four clean sheets, and have got back to doing what they do best. Scott Parker has also found a nice balance at Fulham, who have suffered one defeat in five with Ademola Lookman, Joachim Andersen and Andre Zambo Anguissa sparking significant improvement.

Newcastle may be dragged into the relegation dogfight, but Brighton, who have accrued six fewer points, make more appeal at the same price of 4-1.

The Seagulls continue to be praised for their performances but with only one win in 12, their points tally isn’t reflecting their promise.

Graham Potter’s side are only two points clear of the relegation zone and they have won only two of their last 20 top-flight home games, failing to win in seven attempts at the Amex this season.

Brighton have failed to beat West Brom, Sheffield United, Burnley and Fulham this term and their fixtures are going to get tougher.

Championship

Norwich and Bournemouth have made solid starts in their pursuit of an immediate return to the Premier League, with the Canaries in pole position to be crowned champions.

They are hitting all the right notes and have built up a five-point lead on second-placed Bournemouth after recording five straight successes.

Even at this early stage, it would be a surprise if Norwich or Bournemouth, who have kept five straight clean sheets, don’t land the spoils given the squad depth at their disposal.

There is some concern for Watford backers, however, after the Hornets sacked Vladimir Ivic as they lay fifth and nine points off the pace after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield.

Less than 24 hours later, Watford replaced Ivic with rookie boss Xisco Munoz, who became their fifth head coach in just over a year after leaving Georgian champions Dinamo Tbilisi.

Brentford are quite comfortably best of the rest but there is little juice in their promotion price of 6-5, especially as they may have to settle for a playoff place.

Wycombe have a tough task on their hands to avoid the drop, and Rotherham may be one of the two sides who join them.

Rotherham are fourth from bottom, level on points with Derby, but while the Rams are improving and have plenty of Championship quality in their squad, the Millers have collected four points from their last eight games and can’t call upon the same talent.

League One

League One is the most competitive of England’s four divisions and there are only seven points between leaders Portsmouth and 11th-placed Sunderland, who have two games in hand.

Hull, Peterborough and Charlton are sandwiched between that pair and they may all have a say on a cloudy promotion picture, but punters shouldn’t be too quick to write off the chances of the Black Cats.

Sunderland, who recently appointed former Bristol City manager Lee Johnson, have suffered the fewest defeats in the division with just three losses in 17 games and if they can start turning draws into wins, they can make their presence felt.

Aidan McGeady was left in the wilderness by former boss Phil Parkinson but his return significantly bolsters a Sunderland attack which also includes Charlie Wyke, Chris Maguire, Will Grigg and Aiden O’Brien.

Sunderland, who have shipped just 14 goals, boast the best defence in the third tier and with the talented Johnson in the dugout there is plenty to like about their promotion chances.

Value in the League One relegation betting is hard to find with Burton, Wigan, Swindon and Northampton all justifiably odds-on for the drop.

League Two

It is still 7-2 the field in the League Two title race and it is easy to see why with only two points splitting the top three.

Newport are leading the way, closely followed by Forest Green and Carlisle, with Cheltenham, Exeter and Salford also single-figure odds for fourth-tier glory.

In such a congested table, with many contenders and none with standout credentials, the market looks best left alone.

Few firms are offering prices on League Two relegation but with just two defeats in six, Southend are improving and Stevenage may be in bigger trouble.

Boro survived relegation last season only because of Macclesfield's demise and their struggles in the final third - just 11 goals in 17 games - make a bottom-two finish highly likely.

Fellow strugglers Bradford and Mansfield were among the pre-season promotion favourites and have the talent to fire themselves away from danger, while Barrow (26 goals in 30 games) are the third highest-scorers in the bottom half.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits.

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport