Andy Carroll Looks Value In Most Open Top Scorer Betting Market In Years

By Sam Darby on 01/08/2011 15:55

Predicting the top scorer in the Premiership is never easy but it should never be too hard either, the top scorer usually players for a top four side and is the main goalscorer for that side (and often the penalty taker) which really narrows the options down.

The early favourite in the top scorer betting is Man Utd’s Javier Hernandez who really hit top gear in the second half of his debut season, with Wayne Rooney teeing him up on many occasions he is sure to score plenty of goals but the problem for him could be that he will also share many of United’s goals with his striker partner, who is also the second favourite in the top scorer betting currently. Out of the two Hernandez is likely to be played more as the out and out striker so with little between the pair in terms of odds it is Hernandez who is Man Utd’s most likely top scorer.

Fernando Torres is the third favourite despite a very slow start to his Chelsea career, he carried over his form from his latter days at Liverpool and it remains to be seen if he is ever going to regain his form considering the fact that he has also been poor for Spain when he has played. A better bet for Chelsea could be Didier Drogba who is around twice the price with some bookies, he will have a chance to prove that he is still top dog at Stamford Bridge despite his age and the arrival of Torres but at his current odds he represents very good each way value.

Robin Van Persie is around the same sort of price as Torres and if Van Persie could stay fit then he would be an amazing bet, he managed to finish the third top scorer last season just from his goals in the second half of the season after he recovered from injury. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem able to stay fit so is overlooked.

Darren Bent has always brought goals to the teams he has played for and in past seasons he has always offered good value but his price seems a bit short this season, especially as the service might not be so good this year without Stuart Downing and Ashley Young.

Liverpool have two strikers capable of being the top scorer this season in Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll and the bookies may have these two the wrong way around. It is likely Suarez will play off Andy Carroll this season and Carroll showed what a good goalscorer he can be at Newcastle, if he stays fit expect plenty of goals.

Man City produced the joint top scorer last season in Carlos Tevez but his future remains up in the air, Sergio Aguero has been signed as his replacement but City also have Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko available to play up front. Dzeko didn’t start his City career well but he also took time to settle at Wolfsburg and he may be the best bet at City but the strikers are likely to be rotated so it could be worth ignoring all the City strikers as they probably won’t play enough games to be the top scorer.

At the current odds the best bets appear to be Didier Drogba and Andy Carroll this season, Drogba will get his fair share of games but probably won’t play as many as Carroll so he gets the nod in a year where there is no one outstanding contender.

Recommendation: BACK ANDY CARROLL TO BE PREMIERSHIP TOP SCORER