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The Premier League is now well underway and, as ever, that means the fortunes of the top (and bottom) teams is now under the spotlight. Although it’s far too early for teams to rejoice (or panic), the bookmakers, fans and everyone else in between are now offering their thoughts on who will win this year’s race.
By far one of the biggest stories of the season so far is the 2-2 draw between defending champions Chelsea and Swansea. Despite being one of the richest clubs in the world, Chelsea was able overcome one of the English domestic league’s smaller sides.
Of course, since graduating to the Premier League, Swansea and its consortium of owners have achieved big things. However, despite this relative success, Swansea still aren’t a side mentioned in the same breath as teams such as Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal.
Chelsea Take a Knock from the Bookies
Because of this, the draw with Chelsea on the opening day of the season was not only big news for Swansea fans, but the Premier League betting market. Naturally, given the unexpected slip by the champions, the betting markets have gone into overdrive with many now speculating that Chelsea are already out of the running. A quick survey of the latest odds offered by online sports betting site 32Red reveals that Chelsea are currently 21/10 second favorites for the title.
Leading the way on 32Red’s book is Manchester City as 9/5 favorites and this sentiment is echoed across the Internet with operators such as Unibet, Titan and Ladbrokes all offering odds close to 7/4 on Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
So why does Chelsea’s manager believe that his side were unable to overcome the relative minnows that are Swansea? Immediately following the match Jose Mourinho was critical of team doctor Eva Carneiro and her treatment of Eden Hazard.
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Pulling the player from the pitch late in the game meant Chelsea were down to nine players for a brief period and that, according to Mourinho, was one of the reasons his side were held to a draw.
Foreign Investment Closes Premier League Gap
Away from the Swansea debacle, Mourinho believes the influx of foreign investors into the Premier League has made it tougher than it ever was. Taking to the media before the start of the season, Mourinho accused his rivals of <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3175145/Chelsea-manager-Jose-Mourinho-accuses-Premier-League-rivals-buying-title.html">essentially “buying” the Premier League title</a>. Despite failing to acknowledge that Chelsea was the first club to start this trend of using a billionaire’s wealth to create an unbeatable team, Mourinho now feels things are getting out of control.
Naturally, such accusations have been shrugged off by clubs and supporters across the country, but there’s no doubt the influence of foreign investment has helped some unsuspecting clubs break into the upper echelons of the game. Indeed, teams such as Southampton are now being offered as short 16/1 by 32Red to finish within the top four.
Of course, this changing of the guard in the Premier League might not be something Mourinho is keen to see, but it’s certainly something fans have been anxious for. Although smaller clubs such as Southampton and Swansea might not yet be in a position to really challenge for the title, the recent result at Stamford Bridge proved that the league is now more competitive than ever.
The Resurgence of the Best League in the World
In years gone by it used to be the case that the top five sides would dominant week in and week out and that meant just a few clubs vying for the title. However, as the financial gap between clubs has narrowed, so too has the skill differential.
It’s often been said that the Premier League is the best football league in the world. Although many have contested this and asserted that it’s probably the best football business in the world, the recent shakeup of form would suggest it may now have a legitimate claim to this tag. While the opening game of the season is always tricky for the top clubs, the result at Chelsea certainly proves that anything can happen in the Premier League. Although the bookmakers are yet to write-off Chelsea, it does seem that things on the pitch will be a lot more competitive this year and, for fans, that can only be a good thing.

Chelsea's rough start: Why anything can happen in the Premier League

Chelsea's rough start: Why anything can happen in the Premier League - World Soccer Talk

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Chelsea's rough start: Why anything can happen in the Premier League