Newcastle United's odds on finishing in the top four of the Premier League and bagging a Champions League slot are shortening with some of the bookmakers.
Last week, the bookies had Tottenham Hotspur as the favourites to finish ahead of United and secure one of the coveted top four positions. But after Newcastle made it back to back wins in the top-flight and Spurs dropped two massive points in stoppage time during a 3-3 draw at Southampton, things have changed.
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Before Spurs malfunctioned in the last 13 minutes at St Mary's Stadium, where they threw away a 3-1 lead, the bookies believed that Antonio Conte's men were favourites to finish at least fourth. But their meltdown on the South Coast, which also saw Conte unleash a furious Press conference rant, seems to have put Newcastle back in the box seat.
Betway have since shortened Newcastle's odds to just 11/10 to get fourth place and return to the Champions League. And with the same bookie, Spurs have drifted to 2/1 after their failure to net three points against the Saints.
Paddy Power, Sky Bet, William Hill and Coral all expect Newcastle to snatch fourth place from Spurs in the run-in. Meanwhile, fallen top four outfit Chelsea have odds as long as 80/1 with Spread Ex to get back in the race for the Champions League!
Newcastle's two games in hand on Spurs could be the key to success for Eddie Howe and there is still a home game to come against Conte and co next month. Success in all three of those fixtures could mean a place at Europe's top table again.
In a further blow for Tottenham, the bookies also reckon that Liverpool could even pip them to fifth place and steal a Europa League slot ahead of them! The Reds' odds for the top five were shortened over the weekend by Betfair and Matchbook.
Jurgen Klopp's side also have two games in hand on Spurs and also have to face them at Anfield. Conte has essentially challenged his chairman Daniel Levy to sack him and hand him a huge pot of compensation with Spurs managing yet another crisis over the weekend.
If Newcastle can hold their nerve in the last two months of the season, the top four is there for the taking.
