Title done? Betfred pays out early on Liverpool winning the Premier League

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Betfred has shelled out over £1m in early payouts on Liverpool winning the Premier League this season, despite the leaders still having 11 matches to play. 

This followed Paddy Power doing the same on Sunday, on Premier League outright winner bets placed before Saturday 22 February 2025.

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A 2-0 victory over reigning champions Manchester City saw Liverpool extend their lead to 11 points on Sunday following Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to West Ham a day before. 

Liverpool also remain in the hunt for more trophies, having secured a spot in the Carabao Cup final next month. They also face French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16. 

Second-placed Arsenal still have a game-in-hand over their Merseyside rivals and travel to Anfield to face the leaders on 10 May, yet the UK-based bookmaker has decided the title race is already a foregone conclusion. 

This comes after Betfred offered an industry-best price of 9/1 for Liverpool to win their second Premier League title before the season started. 

The bookie has now paid out early on the English top-flight winners for a third season running, having done the same for Manchester City in the previous two seasons. They were right on both occasions. 

The announcement marks the tenth time Betfred has made early payouts since it was founded in 1967. Seven of the previous nine proved to be correct.

The only exceptions came in 1998 and 2012. Both involved Manchester United, who co-founder Peter Done backed to win on both occasions only to see them lose out to Arsenal and then Manchester City.

On the decision to pay out early this season, Done said: “As a lifelong Manchester United fan, it pains me having to pay out on Liverpool winning the Premier League title for a second time [after 2020].

“After this weekend’s results, I believe the writing is on the wall and Liverpool will convincingly win the league this season. To anybody who’s backed them to win the title with us, go and collect your money.”

Seven of Liverpool’s remaining 11 league matches take place on home soil, including Wednesday’s meeting with top four-chasing Newcastle. 

A win could see them extend their lead to 14 points, depending on Arsenal’s result at Nottingham Forest on the same night. 

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal also face tough matches against Manchester United and Chelsea in their following two league outings. 

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s next two matches after the Newcastle game see them host bottom of the table Southampton and city rivals Everton at Anfield. 

The 2024/25 campaign is manager Arne Slot’s first in charge since replacing Jurgen Klopp at the Anfield helm in the summer. 

Victory will see the Dutchman join an illustrious list of managers to win the title in his debut season, alongside Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte. 

Arteta is also chasing silverware, winning only one FA Cup in his five years in charge at the Emirates Stadium. 

Having already been knocked out of both domestic cups, Arsenal will hope for glory in the Champions League ahead of their knockout tie with PSV next month.