Cape Town - Defending champions Manchester City have been backed to retain their English Premier League title next season.
Leading bookmakers Justbet have installed City as 12/10 favourites for the 2012/13 season, ahead of bitter cross-town rivals Manchester United (22/10).
Defending Champions League winners, Chelsea, are next best at 4/1, followed by Arsenal at 8/1.
City won the English Premier League title, their first league title in 44 years, in dramatic circumstances earlier this year, when Sergio Agüero scored in injury time to give City victory over QPR and tie United on 89 points for the season. City were crowned champions thanks to their superior goal difference.
The 2012/13 season starts on August 18 with City at home to newly promoted Southampton.
Opening weekend English Premier League fixtures:
Arsenal v Sunderland
Everton v Manchester United
Fulham v Norwich
Manchester City v Southampton
Newcastle v Tottenham
QPR v Swansea
Reading v Stoke
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool
West Ham v Aston Villa
Wigan v Chelsea
Leading bookmakers Justbet have installed City as 12/10 favourites for the 2012/13 season, ahead of bitter cross-town rivals Manchester United (22/10).
Defending Champions League winners, Chelsea, are next best at 4/1, followed by Arsenal at 8/1.
City won the English Premier League title, their first league title in 44 years, in dramatic circumstances earlier this year, when Sergio Agüero scored in injury time to give City victory over QPR and tie United on 89 points for the season. City were crowned champions thanks to their superior goal difference.
The 2012/13 season starts on August 18 with City at home to newly promoted Southampton.
Opening weekend English Premier League fixtures:
Arsenal v Sunderland
Everton v Manchester United
Fulham v Norwich
Manchester City v Southampton
Newcastle v Tottenham
QPR v Swansea
Reading v Stoke
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool
West Ham v Aston Villa
Wigan v Chelsea