Paddy Power Pays Out on Liverpool to Win EPL Before Season Starts

by Mark Pearson Monday, August 1, 2022

Usual cheekiness

Dublin-based sportsbook Paddy Power is up to its usual cheekiness after it announced it would pay out on Liverpool winning the 2022-23 English Premier League (EPL) a week before the season kicks off.

decision came just before the final whistle

Paddy Power’s decision came just before the final whistle in Liverpool’s 3-1 Community Shield win on Saturday. The traditional curtain-raiser saw The Reds totally outplay the disjointed current EPL title holders, Manchester City. The sportsbook took to Twitter with an ad featuring a beaming Liverpool manager flanked by disgruntled looking peers entitled “The Kop Out”:

To rub salt into the wounds of the Manchester City faithful leaving Leicester’s King Power after the Liverpool defeat, digital ad-vans placed outside the stadium displayed the impertinent ad.

Known for its disruptive marketing stunts, the sportsbook said unlike others, it didn’t see the Community Shield as a “glorified friendly.” It said it took the match “so seriously” that it decided to be “ultra-generous and hit the big red button marked ‘Pay Out’.”

Crystal-ball time

UK radio station Talksport said Paddy Power was paying out “ludicrously early” and that Reds’-backing bettors would receive their winnings nearly nine months ahead of time.

This isn’t the first time the Irish sportsbook has closed its books early. For the 2020-21 season, Paddy Power paid out on Fulham getting relegated from the EPL after just three games into the campaign. The gamble paid off as Fulham failed to stay in the EPL, and, as Paddy Power reminded bettors in a news release Monday: “we got it right before.”

While Paddy Power admitted it “could end up with egg on [its] face,” it told Liverpool-backing bettors that “your winnings are already winging their way to you without a ball even being kicked in the top flight.”

Sky Blues are favorites to take the title at odds of -175

The sportsbook had Liverpool as the second-favorites for the EPL at a general +200 shot. Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues are favorites to take the title at odds of -175. According to reports in the UK media, The Kop Out payout has cost Paddy Power a six-figure sum.

Season of change

While Liverpool was impressive against Manchester City, scoring through Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, and Sadio Mane’s £85m ($104m) replacement Darwin Núñez, they did lose 4-0 to Manchester United (+2500) in a July pre-season friendly in Thailand.

With United embroiled in a Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga and Chelsea (+1300) yet to convince their own manager they’re ready, a revitalized, super-fit Tottenham Hotspur (+1400) and an increasingly effective Arsenal (+3300) could be worth a wager.

All in all, it’s a significant season of change for the EPL amid an ongoing wrangle over betting sponsorships. At least Paddy Power always sees the funny side, even if the joke might ultimately backfire.

The post Paddy Power Pays Out on Liverpool to Win EPL Before Season Starts appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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