Upcoming fixtures make Spurs’ Defoe value for top scorer
Published:With only six goals separating the top 15 players in the race to be Premier League top scorer, there looks to be some betting value to be found in this market and based on the upcoming six rounds of fixtures, Jermain Defoe heads the options at 9/1.
Swansea’s Michu currently leads the way with 12 strikes and can still be backed at 8/1 to remain there come the end of the campaign.
However, it is hard to see a midfielder claiming the award and although Michu has operated as a striker for large parts of the past few months, there is a strong possibility that this will not be for the whole season.
Furthermore, Swansea still have to play five of the current top six, and Liverpool, away from the Liberty Stadium, their fixture list does not look as easy on paper as other top-scorer contenders.
Of the big guns, Robin Van Persie is the obvious pick, given that he is one behind Michu and the chief striker at table-toppers Manchester United, while he is proven having surged away with the award last season.
As strong as his case is, Van Persie offers little value at 13/8.
Given he is Liverpool’s only striker, Luis Suarez must enter calculations at 10/3, but Defoe at 9/1 is the preferred choice.
Wigan are the only team so far this season in the Premier League to prevent Tottenham scoring and they have scored at least two in four of their last five outings.
Their upcoming fixtures also provide a good opportunity for goals, as they face four of the current bottom five in their next six games, alongside home encounters with Stoke and Swansea.
Looking at the next six games in the top flight, no club arguably has an easier run, providing Defoe with the chance to build substantially on his tally of nine goals.
It is almost certain that Defoe will be shorter than his current price at the end of the month.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
