We are approaching the crucial Christmas period for the Premier League and one game that has had the Sporting Index traders salivating is the match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates. These sides are the only two of the Big Four with a 100% record against other members of the Big Four this season. That will have come to an end on Sunday evening and according to Sporting Index’s supremacy market at 0.1-0.3 in favour of Arsenal, there is very little to choose between them.

Buyers of the league leader’s win index will take confidence that the Reds are the only team that Arsenal have lost more games against than won under Wenger (of the sides they have played more than once). Buyers of Arsenal’s win index, set only very slightly higher, will be justifying their decision with the fact that the Gunners are unbeaten in ten at home against Liverpool. They can add to their argument Benitez’s dreadful record against the Big Four in his first few seasons, losing 12 of their first 15 away games and his side only scoring in three of those games. However, they haven’t lost any of their last four and have scored in all of these games – as I’m sure any winner on the Sporting Index supremacy spreads, win index or goals markets for Liverpool will be happy to tell you.

The fans haven’t been disappointed when watching games between these two in recent years and neither have spread buyers on the total match goals. Goals have averaged 3.8 goals per game in the last five seasons across all competitions and only one game in the last 16 has had less than two goals. Those spread bettors to have had a punt on goals between Arsenal and Liverpool previously might well have been stung if they based their assumptions on the Big Four in general – during the same period, games involving the rest of the Big Four have averaged exactly half the number of goals (1.9 goals per game).

Both early buyers of their season points total and manager Luis Felipe Scolari hope Chelsea can further their record of 11 successive away victories as they travel to Goodison Park for Monday’s match. We all know how strong Chelsea are on their travels, but buyers of their supremacy with Sporting Index will want to delve a little deeper. The Blues have now won 20 of their last 23 away from the Bridge, and 23 of 27 at top-half sides (not including the Big Four) since 2004/05. Of course, it’s Chelsea’s steadfast defence which has proved invaluable on the road. Buyers of the Blues’ supremacy in previous games and the majority of sellers of total goals will be extremely thankful for it no doubt – 10 of Chelsea’s 11 straight away wins have been to nil (five 2-0’s and two 1-0’s).

Against sides in the top half, excluding the Big Four, their ten 20 wins from a total of 20 wins to nil since 2004/05 look especially pleasing for buyers in the supremacy spread in this game, currently set at 0.8-1 in Chelsea’s favour. Before punters grab the mouse to buy the time of Everton’s first goal, they should note that the Merseysiders actually have a good history of scoring against the Big Four. In the last 20 games against the top sides, the Toffees have failed to score in just five. Although the spread betting public should be aware that three of these have been in Everton’s last six against the Big Four.

The claret and blues take on the other claret and blues at Upton Park this weekend. Sporting Index suggest Villa are the slight favourites (12-13.5 on the win index to West Ham’s 10-11.5). Buyers of total goals, at 2.6-2.8 will be delighted to learn that in the last year, two thirds (10/15) of West Ham’s home games against non-Big Four teams have produced at least three goals and six of those have seen at least four. Over the same period, 11 of Villa’s 13 away to non-Big Four teams have featured three or more goals, and six have seen at least four. Spread punters expecting a big win either way on Saturday might think again though – in nine games since Villa last triumphed here, there have been seven draws.

An interesting spread market is the corners market, allowing bettors to wager not only on the total number of corners, but also the supremacy of one team over another in terms of corners taken. Dating back to the start of last season, Villa’s away games (excluding those against the Big Four) are averaging over 13 corners per game, with two thirds of them (14/21) seeing at least that number and an average multi-corners total (number of first-half corners multiplied by number in second-half) of 42. West Ham’s equivalent home sample of games average just fewer than 13 per match (12.7), with 13 of the 22 resulting in at least 13 corners and an average multi-corners total of 39. Sellers on the spreads will therefore be hoping for a reduced amount of goalmouth action, or at least keepers holding onto the ball rather than tipping it round the post.

From the green grass to the green baize and one of the top events in the Snooker calendar, the UK Championship. Spread betting with Sporting Index is great for a wager on snooker – the points generated in breaks, frames and matches are an ideal base for numerous spread betting markets. Bettors on the frame supremacy in Sunday’s final will be interested in previous finals in this tournament and should note that of the previous four, back to 2004, the winning margins have been significant in each. Ronnie O’Sullivan won the tournament convincingly last year, beating Stephen Maguire by 10-2 in the final, whilst the previous two were won by four frames, and in 2004 Maguire won by a huge nine frames (beating David Gray 10-1). With the frame supremacy spread set to be around 0.5-1.3, both buyers and sellers are sure to be glued to the climax of snooker’s last tournament of 2008, and hoping for a very Merry Christmas.