Betting on the Premier League from Ireland - Who are the big favourites in Ireland? | OneFootball

In Ireland, the Premier League is more than a foreign football competition, it’s a way of life. From the lively pubs of Dublin to the quiet bars of Kerry, every matchday buzzes with anticipation and the chances are if you are in one of these places you will be sitting near a Manchester United or Liverpool fan.

A 2020 survey by the Irish Times estimated that around 66% of Irish football fans back either United or Liverpool, a figure echoed by more recent polls. A quick look at the leading Irish bookmakers shows that Premier League Fixtures are front and centre, showing just how big the league is in Ireland. In fact, more than 50% of bets placed in Ireland are on the Premier League, according to figures from Irish bookmaker Betfree.

Data from Adaptive and Co suggests Liverpool have a slight edge, with around 445,000 supporters in the Republic compared to United’s 440,000. The numbers are close, but the rivalry burns bright, from Belfast to Galway.

A Nation Divided: Ireland’s Love Affair with Liverpool and Manchester United

And it is easy to see why. For Liverpool there is the ferry connect. During the industrial age, a large number of Irish settlers made the move from the Irish capital to Merseyside in order to get work, it's why such a large percentage of Irish football fans support Liverpool.

Then there is success. Liverpool dominated in the 1970s and 1980s and that helped grow the supporter numbers over in Ireland. As did the success that Manchester United had during the Alex Ferguson era at the club.

Roots of Rivalry: History, Heritage and Heroes

For Manchester United fans there is also a strong link to Ireland due a past history with players coming from there. From George Best in Northern Ireland to Roy Keane and Dennis Irwin in Ireland, the club has strong connections when it comes to players and that leads to a strong fan base. And those fan bases look like they are in for different seasons once again this year.

That is because Liverpool are once again tipped to fight for the title this season. Bet365 have them at 11/4 to retain their title as they are expected, what with all their transfer dealings in the summer, to once again be up there come what May.

Different Fortunes: Liverpool Flying High, United in Turmoil

For Manchester United fans in Ireland the outlook is not so bright. They are out at 66/1 with Bet365 and are even 100/1 with some bookmakers to win the league as the feeling is Reuben Amorim is more likely to get the sack than lift the Premier League Trophy at the end of the campaign, and that might not be down to the players that he has at his disposal.

Amorim is currently fighting for his job at United, and Irish fans of the club might have mixed emotions if he does go, as the Portuguese boss has always been seen as someone who will need time to put his mark on the team. But unfortunately the time he has had so far has been dominated by player fall-outs and an obsession of formation over anything else as his famous 3-2-3-1 style has led to many questions about whether the boss has what it takes to get the best out of the players at his disposal.

For one does Bruno Fernandes, arguably the best player Manchester United have, fit into the system now that they have signed some capable attack-minded players further forward?

How can you get Kobbie Mainoo playing like the England star he once was again?

Irish fans might have their own answers, but after last weekend’s 2–1 defeat to Liverpool, Amorim might not be around long enough to find them out for himself. For Liverpool there is no chance Arne Slot will leave now — far from it, the Dutchman came in and won the league in his very first season on English shores. But that does not mean he is immune from pressure, as after spending £400 million plus on new signings this summer, Liverpool seem to have gone backwards this season.

True, they got off to a hot start, winning all of their opening matches, but before the international break they lost three in a row, with defensive lapses under the glaring spotlight.

Obviously Slot knew about his defensive weakness — that is why Liverpool tried to get Marc Guehi this summer — but they left it far too late and the deal did not go through. Instead, Liverpool got deals for more attacking players over the line first, such as Alexander Isak, and trying to fit in these new players is causing a few headaches for the Liverpool boss.