The January transfer window always brings a flurry of expectation and activity, among football fans, punters and bookmakers alike. Though the window in 2012 did not see the same expansive spending that greeted the same period in 2011 – to the tune of around £200million – bookmakers still offered some long prices that proved tempting to the betting public. For example, Fernando Torres to return to former club Liverpool was offered at a tempting 50-1 shot, for example, exactly a year on from his deadline day move to Chelsea. With the window closed, however, bookmakers have proved that there are still many tempting markets as it comes to the business-end of the season.
Undoubtedly the big story this January was Luis Suarez’s eight game suspension for allegedly racially abusing Manchester United captain Patrice Evra in October. Eager to seize on a big story, the bookies sparked a frenzy of bets that the Uruguayan would leave Anfield in the January window. Though this did not transpire, the betting public then moved on to his return with record bets on Suarez marking it triumphantly with a goal against title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur. With free bets on victor chandler leading the charge for that outcome, many other bookies followed suit and offered prices hovering at 6-1 and 7-1. Even following Kenny Dalglish’s wary team selection against Spurs, many in-play markets still offered good prices on Suarez to nab the winner when he came on after 65 minutes.
Following the stalemate, attention again switched to outright markets, with the price of Spurs achieving their first top division trophy since 1961 dropping to 16-1. Lagging leaders and favourites Manchester City by a mere seven points, this may prove too tempting a price for punters to ignore. As for Liverpool, the draw against Spurs was their eighth in ten games at Anfield this season, leaving them at around 7-4 to clinch fourth place and the last Champions League slot.
While UK football betting may now focus on the outrights of Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup, the spectre of the European Championships looms large for England fans. As in the case of Luis Suarez, John Terry’s impending court case has influenced betting patterns in the run up to Euro 2012, with many punters going long on whether Terry will be involved at all at the tournemnt.