Premier League in Numbers: How the markets stand as the run-in approaches

19... Diego Costa shows us how many league goals he has

With an international break this week our resident Premier League previewer Mike Norman - who has netted 13 winners from his last 16 selections in his 3pms column - is a little bored, so we asked him to take a look at the table and dazzle us with some numbers...

1...

The position Chelsea occupy in the Premier League table as we enter the run-in. Perhaps a more significant number however is six, the amount of points by which the Blues lead Manchester City with just nine games to go (the chasers only have eight games to play).

Jose Mourinho's men have been matched at a high of 4.47/2 in the Premier League Winner market but you won't get any higher than 1.091/11 currently.

2...

The number of league wins Leicester City have achieved since 'that' win. A 5-3 victory over Manchester United way back in September resulted in Nigel Pearson's men being matched at 8.415/2 in the Relegation market, and at 44.043/1 in the Rock Bottom market, but just two wins in 24 outings since has the Foxes sitting bottom of the table, three points behind QPR and six points from safety.

As Michael Lintorn details here, Leicester look destined to finish the season exactly where they are now, but remarkably they aren't even favuorites to do so. That honour goes to QPR, 2.166/5; the Foxes can be backed at 2.546/4 to finish bottom.

4...

The number of league wins Sunderland have achieved all season, no club in the Premier League has recorded fewer. The Black Cats took the drastic action of sacking Gus Poyet last week and replaced him with veteran manager Dick Advocaat - the Dutchman's first game in charge resulting in a loss, without scoring, at out-of-form West Ham.

Sunderland have struggled for goals all season and it's hard to see that changing, so sitting just one point above the drop zone you can certainly see some value in backing them at 2.68/5 to be relegated. But don't do that! This author thinks Leicester are certainties for the drop, so back Advocaat's men at 3.39/4 with Pearson's men in the Relegation Double market.

6...

The position in the the table that will claim the last Europa League qualifying spot. It might not be the most desirable place to finish in the Premier League but while Liverpool and Tottenham still chase an unlikely Top 4 Finish the chances are that one, or both, will finish in the top six, and in doing so deny Southampton European football next season.

The Saints are the side that will perhaps be delighted to end a terrific campaign sixth (or better) and they can be backed at 1.684/6 - from a high of 28.027/1 - to claim a Top 6 Finish; Liverpool are available to back at 1.21/5, and Spurs at 1.774/5.

10...

The last position that allows a club to brag about finishing in the top half of the Premier League. We know seven of the clubs that will finish there but who will be the other three?

Swansea (43 points and available to back at 1.132/15 in the Top 10 Finish market), West Ham (42pts, 1.222/9), and Stoke (42pts, 1.282/7) are in the box seats currently, but in-form Crystal Palace, (36pts, 5.69/2), inconsistent Newcastle (35pts, 6.25/1), and improving Everton (34pts, 6.411/2) are all waiting in the slipstream.

19...

The number of goals scored by the Premier League's lowest scoring team, Aston Villa. But despite a weekend loss to Swansea, Villa appear to be on an upward curve under new boss Tim Sherwood.

Four goals at Sunderland and four in two games against West Brom suggest Villa are starting to find their feet in front of goal while the Black Cats - currently on 23 league goals - have netted just once in their last seven outings. At 4.84/1 to back then, Sunderland look a spot of value in the Team To Score Least Goals market; Villa are the strong favourites at 1.222/9.

And staying with 19...

Is also the number of Premier League goals scored by this season's leading goalscorers Diego Costa and Harry Kane.

The latter is in blistering form however, and having been matched at Betfair's ceiling price of 1000.0n/a in the Top Goalscorer market the Spurs hitman is now available to back at just 2.68/5. Costa can be backed at 3.185/40, and Sergio Aguero (17 goals) is trading at 4.1n/a.

62...

The number of goals scored by Manchester City, the highest scoring side in the Premier League. Chelsea have one more game to play than City and have 61 goals to their name, while just behind Arsenal have 58 goals.

All three sides are capable of scoring for fun, but with the Gunners in easily the best form of the trio do they represent a bit of value at 5.14/1 in the Team To Score Most Goals market? Chelsea, 2.0811/10, and City, 2.1411/10, head the market in what is now a three-horse race.

13,474...

The amount of times we've been told in the last week that the Premier League isn't one of the greatest competitions in the world. We're not about to increase that number by one.