PREMIER LEAGUE legend Dimitar Berbatov has tipped Aston Villa to "surprise everybody" in the title race.
Unai Emery's men are enjoying a sensational season as they sit second in the table, just three points behind leaders Liverpool.
They are also into the last 16 of the Europa Conference League and the fourth round of the FA Cup.
But it is in the Premier League where they are raising eyebrows after winning 13 of their opening 20 games - a run that means they are above Manchester City and Arsenal.
And Berbatov, who won two league titles with Manchester United and is also a Spurs icon, has hinted Villa could go all the way.
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Speaking exclusively to SunSport, Betfair Ambassador Berbatov said: "I always love the underdog story. I was so happy when Leicester won the league.
"Arsenal, Liverpool, the normal big teams are circling around the top spot - the usual suspects.
"But I'm very pleased to see Aston Villa having a great season so far and I hope they will have the power and the consistency and concentration to continue until the last game of the season.
"Maybe they will surprise everybody with their final position.
"Other than that, Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, the major contenders like every year."
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Villa have lost just one Premier League game since early November - which came in a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Man Utd.
That superb run has included wins over Tottenham, Man City and Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Berbatov did not mention former club Man Utd in the title race as they are languishing in eighth.
The Red Devils have won just one league title since he departed the club in 2012 - which came the following year in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season.
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And the former Bulgarian striker does not believe Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag will manage to conduct any business in the January transfer window to help arrest their poor slide.
He added: "I don't see many ins or outs [at Man Utd] to be honest because the transfer window in January is very specific.
"Unless you are very sure exactly what you want - in the case of Spurs with Timo Werner - with United I don't see something like this.
"I think they will stay the way they are."
Berbatov also exclusively told SunSport he believes Man Utd's record scorer Wayne Rooney could still become the club's manager one day despite his nightmare stint at Birmingham.
To hear more from Betfair's Dimitar Berbatov, listen to him on this week's Football...Only Bettor podcast here: https://betting.betfair.com/podcasts/football-only-bettor/
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