2024/2025 EPL Week 1 Preview

The Premier League is back in session, and we’ll be treated to a full schedule of TEN games from the world’s foremost football competition in Week 1.

Manchester City are chasing an historic fifth-consecutive Premier League title in Season 2024/25, but the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and perhaps even Manchester United will be snapping at their heels once again.

Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton have gained promotion at the expense of Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United.

Read on for our complete Premier League Week 1 tips!

United can open their campaign positively when they take on Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday morning.

It was a campaign similar to those that United have produced since Sir Alex Ferguson left; they won slightly more than they lost, and it was enough to see them finish eighth and qualify for the Europa League (after winning the FA Cup).

Fulham finished thirteenth, thirteen points adrift of their 2024/24 Week 1 opponents and looks set for a similar result this season. The return of prodigal son Ryan Sessegnon has produced plenty of hype at Craven Cottage, but will that be their highest point of the campaign?

Back United Half Time/Full Time @ $2.25

Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League, and they face a baptism of fire in the form of Liverpool.

Town have enjoyed some terrific seasons recently and find themselves in England’s topflight following consecutive promotions from their position in League 1 for the 2022/23 season. It’s exciting for Aussie fans with Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess both confirmed in the squad for 2024/25.

Liverpool begin a new life of their own this season, with long-term manager Jurgen Klopp departing the club and Dutchman Arne Slot taking the reins.

Everything points towards this being a one-sided affair.

Back Darwin Nunez to Score at Anytime @ $2.10

Is this the season that the Gunners FINALLY win the Premier League?

They’ve gone agonizingly close a couple of times under the care of Mikel Arteta and again, they loom as the biggest threat to four-time reigning champions, Manchester City.

They open their campaign at The Emirates against Wolves, who have undoubtedly dipped in recent seasons and do look as though they will battle through another campaign.

I’m tipping Arsenal to make an immediate statement.

Back Arsenal to Win 4-0 @ $9.50

For the second time in as many season, Everton were very lucky to survive the drop in 2023/24, but they’re offered a clean slate and kick off their season at home against Brighton.

Meanwhile, Brighton have turned in some fine seasonal performances recently, though their last campaign did peter out just a little.

I’m backing the Week 1 upset here – I’ll just need to see something from everything before I trust them from a betting perspective.

Back Brighton to Win @ $2.70

Newcastle will look to fight back into the Premier League’s Top 4 this season, and the first club in their crosshairs is the newly promoted Southampton.

It has been a far better time for the North England club since Eddie Howe’s arrival, but it is fair to say that they did not meet expectations in finishing seventh and missing a European berth last season.

The Saints return to the topflight after a commendable season in The Championship which ultimately resulted in their promotion via the play-off Final.

This early in the season, they are probably two completely different classes of side.

Back Both Teams to Score ‘No’ @ $2.10

Betting suggests that one of the better contests of the week will materialise between Forest and Bournemouth.

Both clubs languished towards the bottom of the table throughout the entirety of last season, and early victories will almost certainly be crucial to their respective chances of surviving another season.

In Week 1, this has drawn written all over it.

Back the Draw @ $3.40

Two clubs that looks as though they will be around the mark again this season at West Ham and Villa.

The Hammers won 14 games and lost as many to finish ninth in 2023/24, while Villa turned in their best performance for some time under the guidance of Unai Emery, finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League.

At the home of West Ham, I can understand their favouritism in the market, but it has just allowed for a better price for Villa in my opinion!

Back Villa to Win @ $2.70

Brentford hosts Crystal Palace is what shapes as another potential draw.

Both clubs finished in the bottom half of the table in 2023/24, the latter only a couple of positions above the drop zone.

At Selhurst Park I would almost certainly side with Palace, but it being at Brentford does bring them more into the contest in my opinion.

Back the Draw @ $3.40

Heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester City step out at Stamford Bridge in Week 1’s penultimate fixture.

This is a probably a dream Week 1 scenario for Chelsea. They either come out and lose to the Champions immediately, put it behind them and move on, or they pull off an enormous upset and begin the new campaign on an incredible note.

City maintain their position as one of the best clubs in the world and they will start this match as favourites in the market.

Their incredible record under Pep Guardiola means that they pick themselves this week.

Back City to Win @ $1.82

Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs travel to Leicester in Week 1 and will start favourites in this clash with the Foxes.

Spurs flew the barriers in Ange’s first season in charge, but a midseason slump ultimately saw them finish fifth, and there is no doubt that breaking into the Top 4 and requalifying for the Champions League is the ultimate goal this season, with one eye on some silverware.

This is Leicester’s return to the Premier League after one season in the Championship, and they maintain a strong and competitive squad.

Same Game Multi: Spurs to Win & Son Heung-Min Anytime Goal

2023/2024

It barely feels like we have had an offseason but less than three months after Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions, we’re ready to do it all again, 380 times.

The new season kicks off early Saturday morning (AEST) with a master and apprentice duel of sorts with Pep Guardiola’s side travelling to face a Burnley side managed by City’s former club captain Vincent Kompany.

Following on from that, we have the first of many long Saturday nights starting with Arsenal taking on Nottingham Forest.

Sunday night’s action promises plenty of intrigue with Ange Postecoglou’s proper Spurs debut followed by an early heavyweight tussle between Chelsea and Liverpool.

We’re previewing every match of the 2023/2024 Premier League season starting with Matchweek 1 below so read on and find out best bets.

Even though the Premier League fixtures are done by a computer, someone at HQ clearly has a sense of humour giving Burnley this tough first up assignment.

It is going to be a baptism of fire for Vincent Kompany although if any manager is well placed to frustrate City, it’s him.

Even though Burnley were excellent in the Championship last season, this is not going to be their night, the gulf in class between the two sides is massive.

City might not get out of second gear but they should be able to produce a workmanlike effort to start the season on a winning note.

Man City to Win to Nil @ $2.15

After last season’s collapse, the Gunners have addressed some of their shortcomings ahead of the new campaign as they seek to close the gap on City.

Declan Rice brings a strong presence in midfield and Jurien Timber will help shore up the defence but there are still questions to be answered up top.

Gabriel Jesus will miss the start of the season with one of Kai Havertz, Eddie Nketiah or the wantaway Flo Balogun set to take his place.

Forest have shored up their squad and will have the confidence of a 1-0 win over the Gunners at the end of last season although they were in a far more desperate situation.

Arsenal will want to hit the ground running but their issues up top might stop them running away with the result.

Arsenal to Win and Under 3.5 Goals @ $2.25

The market for Bournemouth and West Ham is having a hard time splitting the two teams and on paper at least, there’s not a lot between them.

West Ham have reportedly made a couple of late signings to bolster their squad but it’s uncertain how much of a role James Ward-Prowse or Harry Maguire will play here.

Were they fit and firing, that might be enough to split these teams but as it stands, with some early season rust might make this a bit of an arm wrestle as they work their way into the new season.

Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.95

For the first time in over 15 years, Luton and Brighton will face off in league action, having last met in England’s third tier in April of 2008 with only a couple of friendlies and cup matches since.

It’s fair to say that Brighton will go into this match feeling far more confident of the two, having secured European football for the coming campaign whereas Luton have just won promotion.

Punters should not be surprised then to see the Seagulls as short priced favourites on the back of a testing preseason run of fixtures.

This one probably won’t be that close and Brighton should find a way to cruise to victory.

Brighton to Win -1 Goal @ $1.91

Everton just survived another dalliance with the drop zone last season and the hope at Goodison Park is that their squad will finally live up to its potential and at least drag themselves into mid-table mediocrity.

It’s tough to read too much into the preseason results but with four wins and a draw from five outings, at least Everton has found a way to win some matches, even if they aren’t overly competitive.

Fulham brought in Raul Jiminez to lead the line but the signs of a drop off from last season’s top half finish are there to see.

This is another match that is hard to split on paper and thanks to the option of backing the draw, you don’t have to try and pick a winner.

Draw @ $3.30

A new era begins at Crystal Palace this season with the squad set to be without Wilfried Zaha for the first time in nearly a decade.

There is no shortage of candidates within the Palace squad to help fill the void but the obvious choice is Eberechi Eze who, despite being a midfielder, is going to be the chief playmaker.

As for Sheffield, it’s not a good sign when the manager is saying before a ball is kicked that his side is “well short” of the quality and quantity needed to survive a Premier League campaign.

On the plus side they have a solid attacker in Benie Traore who should be able to lead the line and there are strong attacking options on both sides.

With teams still needing to gel, this has the makings of a match where neither team is able to keep a clean sheet.

Both Teams to Score @ $1.87

Back in April, Newcastle went to Villa Park in what was at the time a clash for a top four spot in the Premier League.

Villa prevailed on the day 3-0 but Newcastle had the last laugh, finishing the season in fourth place while Villa dropped down to seventh.

The Magpies have added some talent to their squad over the offseason and they look better equipped to handle the challenge of Unai Emery’s side.

Working in their favour as well is the fact the home side has won the last four head to head meetings and that’s who I’ll be taking here.

Newcastle to Win @ $1.75

One way or another, Spurs are going to be must watch TV this season with Ange Postecoglou at the helm.

It’s only preseason and there’s only so much you can take from it, but it seems like we are going to see more of the same from the manager in terms of the style he gets his team to play.

Brentford’s stadium has claimed its share of victims over its two years of existence, but Spurs should find a way to come out on top.

The market is favouring a low scoring match, which puts the price on Spurs to score twice at a decent number.

Tottenham have scored at least two goals in all of their preseason matches including against Barcelona with what was essentially a B team.

Look for more of the same here.

Tottenham to Score 2+ Goals @ $2.00

It’s an early season blockbuster clash at Stamford Bridge where we should get an early indication on the big question surrounding the Blues.

After a calamitous season which saw them finish in 12^th spot, most are expecting Chelsea to be much better this time around.

There are still plenty of areas for Mauricio Pochettino to address but just on talent alone, they look much better positioned to compete and return to the top four.

Standing in their way first up on the pitch (and on the table for most of the season) will be a Liverpool side rolling out a new midfield.

Henderson, Fabinho and Milner are gone, as is Roberto Firmino but there is still plenty of talent for Jurgen Klopp to call on.

Despite all of the attacking prowess on display, I’m looking at the under in this match, a play that has hit the last four times these sides have faced off and in seven of the last eight.

Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.25

Matchweek 1 wraps up at Old Trafford with United set to take on a Wolves side I’m expecting to struggle this season.

The departure lounge at Molineux was full over the transfer window with a number of first team players leaving and only a couple of additions made.

That’s not to say they are totally devoid of talent but Wolves just don’t have the look of a team that will be competitive in the early part of the season.

United should find a way to strike early and go on with the job from there.

Man United HT/FT Double @ $2.00

2022/2023

A new Premier League season begins this weekend with newfound optimism, new hope and we’d like to say a wide open title race but it’s probably a two horse race once again.

Crystal Palace and Arsenal have been given the honour of opening the campaign when they face off in the early hours of Saturday morning (AEST).

Plenty of eyes will be on Old Trafford on Sunday night as well as the Erik ten Haag era begins with its first competitive fixture.

We’ve made our season predictions here and every week you can find our best bets for every Premier League match here on the Ladbrokes Blog starting with the first 10 games below.

12 months ago Arsenal opened the season away from home and a depleted side was stunned by Brentford.

At the back end of last season, the Gunners also travelled to Selhurst Park are were knocked off by the Eagles 3-0.

Since then Mikel Arteta’s side has significantly improved with some key signings, most notably Gabriel Jesus but they do appear to be a bit short at the back, with injury clouds over Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Selhurst Park will be rocking and Arsenal’s overhauled squad might need a few games to find their groove.

Back Crystal Palace to Win @ $4.40

The people that set the Premier League fixtures did Fulham no favours, with Liverpool their first assignment.

On the plus side it gets this match out of the way early on, but when they are hoping to build some momentum at the start of the season, a likely battering from the Community Shield winners won’t help.

Having already had that match against City last weekend, I’ll be expecting the Reds to be a bit sharper than Fulham right from the outset as Klopp’s side begins its title (and possible quadruple) assault.

That’s not to suggest that Fulham’s fortunes will be dictated by a rough outing on opening day, but they might get a good idea about how far the gap is between them and the competition’s elite.

Back Liverpool Halftime/Fulltime @ $1.87

This one is shaping up as a fascinating contest between two clubs that could turn out to be very evenly placed by the end of the season.

Bournemouth enjoyed a successful season in the Championship, earning automatic promotion and Villa should provide a good litmus test on opening day.

The Cherries look a little light at the back right now, which is going to be music to the ears of Ollie Watkins and company.

We should see a few goals in this one and both sides should be able to find a way to get on the scoresheet.

Back Both Teams to Score @ $1.75

Perhaps it is looking too deeply into how the respective clubs finished last season, but it’s tough to understand how Leeds are favourites in this one.

American boss Jesse Marsch has had a full preseason to build up his squad after joining in the middle of the previous campaign, but questions still linger over their stability at the back.

Factor in a lengthy list of unavailable players including Stuart Dallas, Junior Firpo and Dan James and they are heading into this one severely undermanned.

It’s not all smooth sailing for Wolves either with striker Raul Jiminez set for an extended stint on the sideline after a preseason knee injury, but they were one of the better defensive teams for the better part of last year.

Scoring was an issue but if they can pin Leeds down and hit them on the break, they should be able to get a big three points to start the year.

Back Wolves to Win @ $3.20

After last season’s big money ownership takeover, we’ll get to see the mega-rich Newcastle side for a full season as they chase a return to Champions League football.

Despite having all of that money at their disposal, they have failed to really strengthen their squad ahead of Matchday 1 in the manner in which we would have expected.

The big signings to date are all addressing their defence but they should be able to get by with their existing strike force at least in the short term.

Callum Wilson has scored in preseason and looks ready to lead the line in the new campaign.

Forest had a solid defence last season but it’s tough to see them holding out the Magpies and Wilson for 90 minutes.

SGM: Newcastle to Win and Callum Wilson Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.23

Is this the season Spurs find a way to mount a challenge for the Premier League title?

Whether or not they can sustain it is the big question, they are well positioned to give it a serious push in spurts, starting with this weekend’s match against Southampton.

Chances are they will go as far as their star strike duo Harry Kane and Son Min-Heung will take them and with both players looking to carry the best possible form into November’s World Cup.

A home game with Southampton could be the perfect launching pad for all of those ambitions and I’ll back both players to score in a Spurs victory here.

SGM: Tottenham to Win, Kane and Son Anytime Goalscoreres @ $4.42

One of the few highlights in last season’s disastrous campaign for Everton was a late season win at home to Chelsea to help survive relegation and while the stakes are significantly lower in this instance, they will surely want to draw on those memories here.

Unfortunately it’s tough to see exactly how this side has improved with their main attacking threat Richarlison now at Tottenham and a lengthy injury list including star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Chelsea’s preseason did offer up some warning signs with Thomas Tuchel calling out his players after a loss to Arsenal, but on paper this is a side still very capable of making the top four with ease.

New signing Raheem Sterling looks set to light up Stamford Bridge this season and Goodison Park this weekend and they should have the firepower to see off Everton here.

Back Chelsea to Win -1 Goal @ $2.75

There’s an upset potentially brewing at the King Power Stadium this weekend with some worrying signs over Leicester’s stability heading into the new season.

After all, they are yet to make a signing and could yet lose a number of key players from their squad with Brendan Rodgers also battling to settle on a first choice starting 11.

Having this level of uncertainty will only destabilise the Foxes early on, at least until the transfer window closes and it could leave them vulnerable against a well organised and determined opponent.

Brentford has the players to cause trouble for Leicester and as we saw last season, they are more than capable of challenging the heavy hitters.

While the prices for this match look right on paper, seeing Leicester in all sorts so close to the season has me leaning towards the visitors.

Back Brentford to Win @ $3.60

It must be a strange feeling following Manchester United right now, there has been a lot to like from the early stages of the Erik ten Haag era but there is still the massive cloud hanging over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.

One minor positive that can be taken from that mess is the fact that if he is called on, Ronaldo will still go out and try to score 457 goals per 90 minutes.

Without him however, the rest of the United squad has shown the ability to lift their collective game and put themselves in a great position to open the season with three points.

Sometimes you just have to play it a little bit conservatively but getting this price for United at home is more than enough for me without trying to over complicate things.

Back Manchester United to Win @ $1.62

We’ve seen this storyline and betting strategy many times before, so why not keep it rolling, how much do you expect the reigning champions of England to win by?

While there were a handful of moments in the Community Shield to remind you that City won’t win the title in a canter a la Bayern Munich or PSG, there is a reason they are at $1.67 to lift the trophy once again.

In defence of the Irons they are a decent side and will set out to make City’s life tough, but they just won’t be able to match them for 90 minutes.

Back Manchester City to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

2021/2022

The Premier League is back for another season!

After 83 days, one Euro tournament and a whole lot of money being exchanged in transfers the new season begins in earnest.

Manchester City is the undisputed title favourite in our Premier League markets and despite the departure of Sergio Aguero, they still have the best squad on paper.

Chelsea, United and Liverpool are all looking to take the crown away from the Etihad while at the other end of the table, recently promoted Watford, Norwich and Brentford will be out to ensure their time in the top flight extends beyond this season.

The latter kick off the new campaign at home against former superpower Arsenal and we have our previews for all 10 matches this weekend right here!

After nine playoff failures, Brentford will end a 74 year absence from the English top flight when they begin the 2021/2022 season at home to Arsenal.

In terms of opening matches, there are worse outcomes than hosting an Arsenal team that is a shell of its former self and anyone who has watched the Gunners in the last few years will tell you the Bees have a shot in this fixture.

On paper this should be an easy win for Arsenal but we know they just don’t do things easy and you do wonder just where their goals are going to come from this year.

Brentford was the top scoring side in the Championship last season and they should be able to put a couple of goals past a Gunners side that is still adapting to its new setup.

Even with the questions surrounding their attack I still like the Gunners chances of scoring at least once as well and I’ll dip into the goals markets for the first play of the new campaign.

Back Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.20

It’s fair to say that Leeds’ first Premier League trip to Old Trafford in almost two decades did not go to plan last season.The good news is their second trip cannot go much worse than being on the wrong end of a 6-2 hammering.

While we may give more weight to the stats and numbers when it comes to finding a play, sometimes a gut feeling is too strong to ignore.

The mad scientist Marcelo Bielsa will have spent his summer coming up with something special for this match and Leeds will get after United.

Unfortunately for them the home side is probably going to be too good to ignore.

SGM: Manchester United to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.06

If you read the Premier League Season Preview post on the blog, you will know I’m not that keen on either team’s prospects.

Perhaps it is fitting then that they commence a season long relegation battle against one another in a game that may well struggle to fill a three minute highlights package.

It would be a massive surprise to see this game reach any great heights and I’ll back accordingly.

Back Under 1.5 Goals @ $2.55

The only thing that will stop the reigning European champions from putting up a rugby score on Palace here is fatigue from the UEFA Super Cup on Thursday morning (AEST).

Thanks to a recruitment strategy that can only be described as “hoarding”, Thomas Tuchel will have plenty of depth to call upon for this Premier League encounter.

In fact their bench from the Super Cup could probably go out and pick up all three points in this fixture.

I’ll follow what was a successful strategy last season in this matchup and back Chelsea to win by at least two goals.

Back Chelsea to Win -1 Goal @ $1.80

Everton is eyeing off a run at a Champions League place, Southampton is hoping to avoid a relegation battle.

This one should not be all that close.

New manager Rafa Benitez will be out to make the Everton faithful forget his time at the “other” Merseyside club and he has a very talented squad to call upon.

Take the Toffees to open their season on a winning note.

Back Everton to Win @ $1.75

Out of all of the midnight games this is definitely the best of the bunch with both of these clubs looking to start their season on a good note.

The Foxes are eying off a top four spot while Wolves will be eager to bounce back after a dire effort last year.

Mexican striker Raul Jiminez is set to return after fracturing his skull last November and showing encouraging signs in preseason, their previously flat attack should receive a real boost.

We could be in for a goal fest in this one with both sides possessing plenty of attacking talent and that is where I will be backing.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.00

Let’s not pretend that losing Jack Grealish to Manchester City won’t impact Villa’s ambition this year but it would also be unfair to say he was a one-man team.

There is still plenty of talent in that squad and they should be able to defeat a Watford side that is making its Premier League return.

Villa is well over the odds here and I’ll happily take them at that price.

Back Aston Villa to Win @ $2.30

Right, so Liverpool to win by how much?

Norwich might have belted all comers in the Championship last year, finishing six points clear on top of the table when all was said and done.

But our last memory of them in the top division is a side that was 14 points off safety and well behind the Reds in terms of quality.

Last season was horrendous for Liverpool (by their standards), but with Virgil Van Dijk back healthy and a side out for redemption, I’m ready to start treating them like one of the Premier League’s elite once again.

Back Liverpool to Win -1 Goal @ $1.85

Before European football inevitably derails their campaign it is imperative for West Ham to get as many runs on the board as they can.

Newcastle is no easybeat but still a side that West Ham should take care of in this season opener.

While the absence of Jesse Lingard will limit their options in attack this season, I still like them to win at this head to head price.

Back West Ham to Win @ $2.20

These clubs could just save us a whole lot of time (and column inches on the internet) by agreeing that the winner of this game will secure Harry Kane’s services for the upcoming season.

With the English captain seemingly determined to force his way out of White Hart Lane he may just show up to this game in full City kit.

Even with Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden set to miss this match (at the time of writing), City still has more than enough front line talent to take care of business.

With Jack Grealish likely making his debut along with the rest of a very talented squad that did win the Premier League last season in a canter, take City to get the job done.

Back Manchester City to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ $1.91

2020/2021

It’s almost like it never left, the English Premier League is back for another season not even seven weeks after the previous campaign ended.

Fulham and Arsenal get the season underway at Craven Cottage with the hosts making their Premier League return after a season in the Championship.

Only eight matches are on the calendar this weekend though with Manchester United and City allowed later starts after their seasons were extended thanks to their progression in the Champions League and Europa League.

We’re previewing all eight matches on this weekend here so read on for our bets and breakdowns.

MATCHES TO BE MADE UP AT A LATER DATE

It’s almost like it never left, the English Premier League is back for another season not even seven weeks after the previous campaign ended.

Fulham and Arsenal get the season underway at Craven Cottage with the hosts making their Premier League return after a season in the Championship.

Only eight matches are on the calendar this weekend though with Manchester United and Chelsea allowed later starts after their seasons were extended thanks to their progression in the Champions League and Europa League.

We’re previewing all eight matches on this weekend here so read on for our bets and breakdowns.

For all of the drama that seems to follow this club, Arsenal has enjoyed a relatively successful last couple of months, claiming the FA Cup and Community Shield.

There are still plenty of questions about whether or not they can produce consistently enough for a top four finish but they are more than capable of coming away with three points to open the season here.

When they last visited Craven Cottage two seasons ago, they trounced Fulham 5-1 and with club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reportedly set to sign a new deal, he will be eager to get the new season off to a winning note as well.

We’ll back the Gunners marksman to open his account in a season opening win.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Score & Arsenal to Win @ $2.05

We’ve got a less than inspiring clash second up this season with two sides you would expect to be battling to avoid relegation this time facing off.

The Saints finished last season strongly, picking up 37 points from their final 21 matches to give them some momentum heading into this campaign.

Palace on the other hand remain predominantly a one-man side with Wilfried Zaha their lone threat going forward.

Goals will be at a premium in this clash and with not a lot between either team, the draw is the value play to take.

Back the Draw @ $3.10

Liverpool’s title defence gets underway with a tantalising clash against newly promoted Leeds, who many are expecting to make a lot of noise in their return Premier League campaign.

On the touchlines it’s a clash between the mad scientist Marcelo Bielsa against the mad German Jurgen Klopp and that is setting up for a high scoring affair between two sides that love to rack up the goals.

Leeds will leave themselves far too open with Bielsa’s attack at all costs mentality but it should lead to an excellent contest between these sides.

SGM: Liverpool to Win, Both Teams to Score, Mo Salah Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.06

Sometimes you have to admit when you are wrong and Newcastle stunned me last season, finishing well clear of the relegation zone and have strengthened this season adding the likes of Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser.

West Ham should be better than their 16^th placed finish last season based on their squad but this side seems destined for another relegation battle in this campaign.

We should see plenty of goals in this fixture with nine goals in their two meetings last season.

With that in mind, I’m willing to take a punt on Newcastle’s attacking lineup hitting the ground running and getting them over the line.

Back Newcastle to Win @ $3.50

Any time you can get Leicester at almost $2 against a newly promoted side you have to jump on that.

The Foxes enjoyed their most successful season since 2015/2016 last season finishing in fifth place and booking a spot in the Europa League.

West Brom on the other hand got promoted after finishing as runners up in the Championship but you do question whether or not they have the squad to really challenge in the Premier League.

Leicester might not have had the strongest finish to last season but they are more than capable of winning here and look way over the odds.

Back Leicester to Win @ $1.95

Of the eight matches set to go ahead this weekend, this is probably the feature contest.

Spurs and Everton will both enter the season with high expectations and after the Toffees went on a spending spree, signing James Rodriguez among others, this is a real make or break season for Carlo Ancelotti.

The same could be said for Jose Mourinho at Spurs but he has opted for mostly minor changes to a squad that 15 months ago played in the Champions League Final.

On the balance of the squads, the head to head market looks spot on in terms of pricing but Harry Kane to score is where the value lies here.

Back Harry Kane Anytime Goal Scorer @ $2.05

Wolves have to be one of the most interesting sides to watch this coming season as they continue their quest to become part of the European footballing elite.

Sheffield’s season last year was (mostly) memorable claiming several massive scalps and only just falling short of European football.

But everything about this side screams regression and there could be some value to be had backing against them early if they continue on their worrying conclusion to last season.

Even with Wolves as road favourites, their price still appears to be a little bit high so I’m happy to take the value on offer here.

Back Wolves to Win @ $2.38

Don’t look now but it sure seems like Chelsea is preparing a title challenge this season.

With Frank Lampard spending like a kid with a no-limits credit card at the Boxing Day sales, this Chelsea side has to be looked at on the same level as City and Liverpool.

They have to get things off to a strong start here and a thumping victory over Brighton would go a long way to establishing those credentials on the pitch.

Head to head they are at a surprisingly decent price but I’ll push for some extra value and take them to win by two or more goals.

Back Chelsea to Win -1 Goal @ $2.70

2019/2020

The Premier League is back and how did we survive the last two and a bit months without it?

In the early hours of Saturday morning, European champions Liverpool kick off the season at home to promoted side Norwich before defending English Champions Manchester City get their campaign underway in London against West Ham.

A huge opening weekend closes out with Manchester United and Chelsea facing off at Old Trafford in Frank Lampard’s managerial debut with the club he made his name with as a player.

We have taken a look through the opening weekend and found our recommended betting plays for your convenience below.

Norwich could not have asked for a tougher return to the Premier League after three seasons in the Championship.

On the plus side they do get their trip to Anfield out of the way first up and perhaps they will be able to catch Liverpool flat after the high note last season ended on.

Remarkably they did manage to steal a draw on their last trip to Merseyside holding the Reds to a 1-1 scoreline in September 2015, although there’s been a significant evolution for the home team since then.

Looking for a value play, the best option here is to back Liverpool in a high scoring affair, even though they return the likes of Virgil van Dijk they could very easily get caught napping although Norwich’s defence should see them give up a few as well.

Back Liverpool to Win and Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.15

https://youtu.be/Pu4N4zjJ7NI

Be prepared for a long season of betting on Manchester City to find a lot of reasonable plays and they could be one of those teams where a Same Game Multi is an appealing option.

Forget the 4-1 preseason matchup between the two sides, in four of their last six games with meaning, City have won while keeping West Ham goalless.

For all of the focus on the loss of Vincent Kompany and the leadership hole that will leave, it’s not like he was a regular on the pitch for City making just 17 Premier League appearances last year and they had no problems keeping clean sheets without him.

Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling is coming off a goal in the Community Shield and has scored five goals against West Ham in his career so he’ll be the Anytime Goalscorer play to add value.

SGM: Manchester City to Win to Nil & Raheem Sterling Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.59

Quite a bit has changed since these two sides last met in February 2013.

The most obvious thing is the fact both sides have advanced up the tables and are now both in the Premier League with Sheffield back for the first time since 2006/2007.

It would not be at all surprising to see both sides battling for a similar finishing position but in this instance you have to give the edge to the side not making their Premier League return.

At home around even money, Bournemouth is the play.

Back Bournemouth to Win @ $2.00

https://youtu.be/yTMON0dEseU

Out of all the midnight kickoffs in this weekend of Premier League action, this is one you can probably just wait to catch the highlights of.

Historically these two at least play out close matches with three straight draws in the last 18 months and a grand total of four goals in that time.

If you have to give an edge to one side here it would probably be Burnley but with the history of draws and the uncertainty about both sides and their ability to start strong, back the value of a low scoring draw with a Same Game Multi.

SGM: Draw and Under 2.5 Goals @ $4.05

Barring a miraculous turnaround on deadline day, Palace are a much more interesting prospect this season with their unlikely retention of Wilfried Zaha.

He at least gives them a steady outlet going forward and a top attacking weapon.

Everton on the other hand has spent to make an assault on the top six and really can’t afford a slow start like last year when they won just one of their first six.

The remarkable thing is these sides still have transfer business to unfold with each other with Everton making a late move for Zaha while James McCarthy could be moving from Merseyside to London.

If the Zaha move does unfold, it will further strengthen an Everton side that is already looking pretty formidable and should be able to pick up three points to start the season.

Back Everton to Win @ $2.40

These sides gave up 119 goals between them last season so don’t be too surprised if this one bucks the recent trend of low scoring clashes between the them.

Each of the last eight meetings between the two sides have had two or fewer goals but this has the makings of a slightly more free flowing encounter.

Generally speaking, Brighton just aren’t that good defensively having only kept seven clean sheets last year and will have a hard time keeping Watford at bay.

I’ll back the stable Watford squad to get off to a fast start and score a few goals.

SGM: Watford to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ $3.30

At some point Tottenham’s trophy drought will come to an end and with the reported interest in Paulo Dybala it would be a huge statement of intent and help offset the reported loss of Christian Eriksen.

Regardless of which players leave or arrive in the next couple of days, they should be able to dish out a rough Premier League welcome to Villa.

With a mismatch such as this, it’s worth dipping into the Same Game Multi well for a bet here and back a Spurs win and their leading marksman Harry Kan for a brace.

SGM: Tottenham to Win, Harry Kane To Score 2+ Goals @ $5.98

https://youtu.be/IYb6sX4Tpv8

If both of these clubs live up to their potential this season, this contest has the potential to be really entertaining.

They will have their sights firmly set on a top six finish and a good start will help that cause.

All three results certainly look like they could be in play here so instead of trying to force a play in a market that could go either direction, I’m going to look elsewhere.

When these sides met back in January it was one of the games of the season as Wolves won a 4-3 classic with Diogo Jota scoring a late winner.

With Brendan Rodgers now in charge at Leicester and the attacking prowess on both sides I’m backing a very high scoring encounter.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $3.90

https://youtu.be/P_DXct3b3Dk

Newcastle have had a horrendous offseason and there really isn’t a lot of reason to feel confident in anything going on at that club right now.

Steve Bruce has had a few moments as a manager but getting anything out of this squad could be his finest moment.

It hasn’t been all roses for Arsenal this offseason but they have a squad that as it is currently constructed could score five in any given week… and also concede five.

The Gunners road woes are also very well documented but they should be able to get through this game with a win on individual effort alone.

I’ll take a simple Same Game Multi here and back an Arsenal win with at least two goals scored.

SGM: Arsenal to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ $2.08

Don’t expect too many goals in this one as Frank Lampard takes charge of his first competitive fixture as Chelsea boss.

He duelled with United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the early 2000’s as players at their respective clubs but now they will be slightly better dressed as managers on the touchline, duelling with tactics instead of athleticism.

What probably won’t change is the history of low scoring encounters between the two sides, just four of the 17 matches since April 2013 have seen more than two goals scored.

United have won just three times in that span with six draws although it’s asking a lot for Lampard to have this Chelsea squad firing from the outset.

What does seem like the most likely scenario is a cagey, low scoring encounter so as a value bet it’s worth backing under 1.5 for this one.

Back Under 1.5 Goals @ $3.20

2018/2019

Four weeks after the end of the World Cup, football’s biggest domestic league is back underway and there are a lot of questions surrounding every club from top to bottom.

How will the new managers go at Arsenal and Chelsea?

Will Jose Mourinho buck his third season trend?

Can a club bust into the top six?

Will all three promoted clubs survive the drop again?

Perhaps most importantly, will anybody knock Manchester City off their perch?

Read on for our Premier League Round 1 tips including our Same Game Multis, which are now available on every single English Premier League clash!

Leicester are involved in the opening match of the season for the third year in a row and if this is a similar contest to last year’s 4-3 classic against Arsenal, we will be in for some entertainment.

Jose Mourinho is already in full Season 3 mode playing down Manchester United’s chances this season, but he still has a very talented squad at his disposal.

United have won both season openers under Mourinho and the year before that under Louis van Gaal as well.

Leicester on the other hand have lost their last two including the 2016/2017 opener as defending champions.

There have been plenty of goals in the opening round for both sides as of late and the over is the recommended play here while a Manchester United win adds some value for the same game multi.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

Same Game Multi: Manchester United to Win & Both Teams to Score @ $2.52

For the second season in a row, Newcastle opens up the season with a visit from Tottenham as Spurs spend the first month of the season waiting for their new stadium to open.

In the past six seasons, Premier League meetings between the two clubs have been split evenly between these sides, with Tottenham winning three matches at St James’s Park.

There have been some concerning signs for Tottenham during preseason with some surprising losses and a lack of signings to bolster a top-heavy squad.

With the uncertainty over some of Tottenham’s English stars, it would not be at all surprising if a few players are left out but even so, they should still have the quality to see off Newcastle here.

Back Tottenham to Win @ $2.00

Same Game Multi: Back Tottenham to Win & Tottenham to Score Over 1.5 Goals @ $2.88

Bournemouth are looking for their first opening round win in their current Premier League stint having lost to Aston Villa, Manchester United and West Brom in the past three seasons.

Cardiff are making their Premier League return after their lone campaign in 2013/2014 where they lost their opening match against West Ham.

Both sides are expected to be in the relegation mix this season and while it would be jumping the gun to call this a six-pointer that will be pivotal to both seasons, surely both would like to win this and start off the season well.

That being said this game is a bit too hard to split so take the draw here.

Back the Draw Halftime/Fulltime  Double @ $3.30

Same Game Multi: Draw and Under 1.5 Cardiff Goals @ $4.68

Palace have not fared well on the opening weekend losing three of their last four games, including a 3-0 demolition by Huddersfield last season.

They face another promoted side in Fulham who are re-entering the Premier League after four years in the second division.

The last time these two sides were in the Premier League together, Fulham won at Selhurst Park and drew at home and that trend could very well continue with a strong side set to take to the pitch.

Back Fulham to Win @ $2.35

Same Game Multi: Fulham to Win and Score Over 1.5 Total Goals @ $3.31

Huddersfield were very happy after their Premier League debut last season, crushing Palace 3-0 and sitting (albeit briefly) on top of the table.

They were humbled by Chelsea at John Smith’s Stadium last year going down 3-1 with a consolation goal in the 90^th minute.

Chelsea will come into this match somewhat underdone with new manager Maurizio Sarri only having a month to embed his system in the team.

With an uncertain lineup set to take the field for the Blues, not to mention the uncertainty over Thibault Courtois this is a stay away right until kickoff and even after at their current price.

However, if you are interested in a long-shot same game multi play, back another Chelsea demolition.

No Bet.

Same Game Multi: Chelsea Win and Chelsea to Score Over 3.5 Total Goals @ $9.22

Watford begin their fourth consecutive Premier League campaign (and sixth overall) on the back of three straight opening day draws.

Those games finished 2-2 against Everton, 1-1 against Southampton and a 3-3 classic against Liverpool last year.

Brighton’s opening fixture is considerably easier this time around having been handed a debut against Manchester City last season, which, they unsurprisingly lost.

This is going to be a low scoring affair with chances few and far between, there is a bit more pressure on Watford to start off the season well here but this looks like both sides cancelling each other out.

Back the Draw @ $3.10

Same Game Multi: Back the Draw and Under 1.5 Brighton Goals @ $4.31

After six seasons away, Wolverhampton are back in the Premier League and ready to make a statement after topping the Championship last season.

They bring a very talented squad to the top flight and have plenty of scoring potential in their lineup and should give Everton a real early test.

In the blue half of Merseyside opinion is split on the potential of this club but an opening day win would ease some nerves.

Wolves have the unknown factor about their squad and should be able to win one of the weekend’s more intriguing contests.

Back Wolves to Win @ $2.35

Same Game Multi: Wolves to Win and Over 2.5 Total Goals @ $4.64

“Can Liverpool back up last season’s remarkable form?” is the question on a lot of minds as Jurgen Klopp’s side prepare to kick off their 27^th Premier League campaign.

West Ham have quietly built an impressive squad driven by Manuel Pelligrini and will be an interesting test for Liverpool first up.

The Hammers open up the season with a Champions League opponent for the fifth straight season having won just one of their previous four opening day matches.

A straight Liverpool win does not offer a lot of value here but a West Ham goal to add some value makes it a worthwhile play.

Back Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.80

Same Game Multi: Liverpool Win, Over 3.5 Total Goals and West Ham Over 0.5 Goals @ $4.09

Burnley were the surprise of the season last year, managing to finish seventh on the back of some resolute defensive performances.

Goals were at a premium when Burnley played with 36 goals scored and 39 conceded in their 38 matches last season.

Southampton were the last team to secure Premier League survival and are in for another rough season.

Burnley were a great value play in the early part of last season and while they do face the added burden of Europa League qualifying they should be able to spring an upset here.

Back Burnley to Win @ $4.80

Same Game Multi: Burnley to Win & Under 1.5 Southampton Goals @ $5.75

“Welcome to the Premier League Mr Emery, your first competitive fixture comes against a side that was one of the most dominant teams in Premier League history.”

When new Arsenal boss Unai Emery received the draw, he presumably heard something along those lines.

You can throw out a lot of their history in the Premier League as they embark on the first game of the post-Wenger era.

City have won each of their last five season openers but this will be their toughest test travelling to an optimistic Emirates side.

It is too hard to back against Manchester City however and they should be able to see off Arsenal here.

Back Manchester City to Win @ 2.00

Same Game Multi: City Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.94

2017/2018

The English Premier League is back and we are set for a highly intriguing first week of action in the 2017/2018 season.

The season gets underway with a Saturday morning clash between Arsenal and Leicester City before Watford host Liverpool in the early game on Saturday evening.

There is betting interest in every game set to take place this weekend and you can find our complete EPL Week 1 tips below!

This is an interesting way to start the season and it is Arsenal that will start this clash as clear favourites.

The Gunners missed the top four last season and at this stage have maintained the main core of that side while adding Alexandre Lacazette up front and Sead Kolasinac at the back.

It was at Emirates Stadium where Arsenal thrived last season and they won 14 of their 17 games as home favourites for a big profit.

Relegation looked like a distinct possibility for Leicester City last season, but they bounced back under Craig Shakespeare to finish a credible 12th.

Leicester City go into this season with a very similar side to last year, but motivation levels are likely to be much higher than they were at this stage 12 months ago.

Winning away from home was an issue for Leicester City last season and they won only one of their 13 games as away underdogs.

Arsenal should win this game, but it would not surprise if they are a touch slow out of the blocks and the $4 for the Draw/Arsenal Half Time/ Full Time Double really does appeal.

Back Draw/Arsenal Half Time/ Full Time Double @ $4.00

Liverpool returned to the top four last season and there is a fair amount of confidence surrounding Jurgen Klopp’s men this season.

Defence was the issue for Liverpool last season and they haven’t done a great deal to try and improve that in 2017, with winger Mohamed Salah their only big-name transfer.

Liverpool’s record away from home was strong last season and they won nine of their past 15 games as away favourites for a profit, but it was sides like Watford that did trouble them last season.

Watford were strong out of the gates last season, but they finished the year with six straight defeats which saw them slip to 17th on the ladder.

The Hornets generally produced their best football in front of their home fans and they won three of their nine games as home underdogs for a big profit.

There really should be plenty of goals in this game – over 3.5 goals were scored in 13 of Watford’s 19 home games last season and backing Over 3.5 goals was a profitable betting play in all Liverpool games last season.

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.88

Chelsea start their English Premier League title defence against Burnley and they are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend.

Antonio Conte has added Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata to his squad and there is every chance that Chelsea will be even better this season.

Chelsea won 17 of their 19 games at Stamford Bridge last season, but it should be noted that they were unable to beat Burnley at Turf Moor.

Burnley rode a most impressive home-ground record to a safe finish in the English Premier League last season, but their form away from home was nothing short of dreadful.

They won only one of their 19 games last season and they simply were not the same team when they were away from Turf Moor.

This is a game that Chelsea really should win comfortably and the $1.87 for them to win to nil does represent genuine value.

Back Chelsea To Win To Nil @ $1.87

There will be plenty of Australian interest in the progress of Huddersfield Town this season as they completed the signing of Aaron Mooy in the off-season.

Mooy played a key role in leading Huddersfield Town into the English Premier League and he will need to play just as well if they are any chance of survival.

It is fair to say that Huddersfield Town may have been a touch lucky to secure promotion and their attacking style of football will be tough to replicate in the English Premier League.

Crystal Palace never looked overly impressive last season, but they went on a winning run towards the back end of their campaign that ensured their survival.

They have not really strengthened their side, but they have maintained both Christian Benteke and Wilfred Zaha, which should ensure that scoring goals is not an issue for Crystal Palace this season.

Crystal Palace won only four of their 11 games as home favourites last season and they are a very tough side to trust in this scenario.

It is tough to get a read on Huddersfield Town ahead of the new English Premier League season and this is a game that I am keen to stay out of from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

There will be no Romelu Lukaku for Everton, but they will still go into this clash with Stoke City as clear favourites.

Everton were one of the busiest teams in the transfer market during the off-season and they added a host of talent to their squad including young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, Barcelona product Sandro Ramirez and the prodigal son Wayne Rooney.

Everton had an excellent record at Goodison Park last season and they won 11 of their 13 games as home favourites for a big profit.

It was another fairly predictable season from Stoke City and a repeat really does look likely – they will survive without reaching any great heights.

Stoke City won only two of their 17 games as away underdogs last season for a huge loss and it is tough to make a case for them in this clash.

Everton can maintain their stellar record at Goodison Park with a very comfortable win.

Everton To Beat The Line (-1 Goal) @ $2.90

Southampton were fairly inconsistent during the 2017/2017 English Premier League season, but they still finished eighth and will be eyeing an improved performance under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

This is the first time in a number of seasons that the Southampton squad hasn’t been decimated by some of the bigger clubs in the English Premier League and they go into this season with a fairly stable squad.

Southampton were unable to turn St Mary’s Stadium into a fortress last season and they won only six of their 14 games as home favourites for a clear loss.

Swansea City finished the 2016/2017 English Premier League season with a very wet sail and they were excellent in the second half of the season under Paul Clement.

There is no reason that Swansea City can’t build on that this season and push for a top ten finish, but they will need to improve their record away from home as they won only two of their 17 games as away underdogs last season.

Both these sides were low-scoring outfits in 2017 and a fairly dour game does look likely in this one.

Back Under 1.5 Goals @ $3.40

The market suggests that this will be one of the most competitive games in the opening weekend of the 2017 English Premier League season.

West Bromwich Albion were nothing short of horrendous in the final couple of months of the English Premier League season, but they made such a strong start that they were still able to finish the season in tenth.

They will go into this clash with Bournemouth as favourites and this was a position in which they thrived last season – they won seven of their nine games as home favourites for a big profit.

Bournemouth continue to be something of a revelation in the English Premier League and they overcame their comparatively small budget to finish in ninth position.

The Cherries were not particularly convincing away from home last season and they won only two of their 16 games as away underdogs, but they did draw six games in that scenario.

Home ground advantage really does give West Bromwich Albion the edge in this one and they do look like an excellent bet in this clash.

Back West Bromwich Albion To Win @ $2.40

It is a tough initiation to the English Premier League for both Brighton And Hove Albion and Matt Ryan as they take on Manchester City.

Manchester City never really lived up to the hype under Pep Guardiola last season, but they still go into this campaign as clear favourites to win the English Premier League title.

No team has recruited better than Manchester City this season and they have added the likes of Bernardo Silva, Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, Danilo and Ben Mendy to what is already one of the strongest squads in the competition.

Manchester City actually produced some of their best football away from home last season and they won 11 of their 16 games as away favourites.

Brighton and Hove Albion finally secured promotion to the English Premier League after going close on a number of occasions in recent years and it will be a big achievement if they are able to survive the drop.

This really is a difficult way to start their English Premier League campaign and if Manchester City turn up to play, Brighton simply don’t have the quality to compete with them.

Manchester City should win this game and do so comfortably.

Back Manchester City To Beat The Line (-2 Goals) @ $3.75

Newcastle United are back in the English Premier League after a season in the English Championship and they start the season with a tough task against Tottenham.

It was expected that Newcastle United would spend big during the off-season, but that really didn’t eventuate and manager Rafa Benitez is reportedly upset with the lack of new blood in his side.

Winning at home was something of an issue for Newcastle United in the Championship and it will only be tougher to win at home in the English Premier League.

Tottenham did everything but win the title last season and there is no reason why they can’t be in the conversation once again.

Kyle Walker is the only major loss for Tottenham, but he is probably a touch overrated and long-term will be more than adequately replaced by Kieran Trippier.

Tottenham won nine of their 14 games as away favourites last season for a profit and they simply didn’t drop games like this one.

Spurs are clearly the side to beat in this one and they really should be shorter than their current quote.

Back Tottenham Hotspur To Win @ $1.73

Manchester United missed the top four once again last season, but Jose Mourinho’s sides always improve during his second year in charge.

Manchester United have made some interesting signings in the off-season and it really will be interesting to see how the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic fit into this team.

It was these sort of games that Manchester United struggled in badly last season and they drew 10 of their 18 games as home favourites for a truly massive profit.

2016/2017 was not smooth sailing for West Ham, but they were able to bounce back in the second half of the season and finished in a solid 11th.

West Ham have added plenty of quality to their side in the form of Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez and with that sort of talent in the side they really should be able to finish in the top ten.

The Hammers took a point from nine of their 17 games as away underdogs last season and they are more than capable of giving Manchester United a scare.

Backing a draw in Manchester United games has proven to be a very profitable play and there is no reason to jump off this season.

Back The Draw @ $5.25

2016/2017

The 2016/2017 English Premier League season gets underway this weekend and we are set for one of the most anticipated campaigns in recent memory following the fairy tale victory of Leicester City last season.

Leicester City start their title defence against the newly promoted Hull City and the Foxes will fancy their chances of making a winning start to the season.

Zlatan Ibrahimović is set to make his long awaited English Premier League for Manchester United against Bournemouth, while the match of the weekend will take place at Emirates Stadium when Arsenal host Liverpool.

This will be the first game that Leicester City play as the defending English Premier League champions and the first game that Hull City have played in the top flight since 2015.

The incredible story of Leicester City’s victory in the EPL has been covered extensively in recent months, but it should not be understated just how unlikely their title success was.

Leicester have been able to  keep the majority of their title winning squad together – at least at this stage – and it is no surprise that they will start this clash against the newly promoted Hull City as clear favourites.

The Foxes were very impressive as home favourites last season and they won five of their seven games in this scenario, while drawing the other two.

Hull City earned promotion back to the English Premier League after winning the Playoffs, but they have not had a positive off-season and they will likely be trapped in the relegation battle again.

Leicester City were an outstanding betting team for punters last year and there is no reason to jump off them at the start of the EPL season.

Recommended Bet: Back Leicester City To Win @ $2.05

Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion both had fairly middling seasons in the English Premier League last campaign and both will be keen to improve this season.

It is Crystal Palace that will start this clash as favourites and they won six of their 12 games as home favourites for a very narrow profit, while drawing just two of these clashes.

West Bromwich Albion did not win a game in the last two months of last season, but they did draw plenty and they finished the year with a record of 4-8-7 as away underdogs.

These are two teams that are very tough to assess without seeing in action and this is the type of opening week fixture that I am more than happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

Manchester City have won their past five clashes against Sunderland and they will start this fixture as very short-priced favourites.

This is the start of the Pep Guardiola era for Manchester City and it could be the start of big success, with Manchester City our pick to win the 2016/2017 English Premier League season.

Manchester City won 12 of their 19 games as home favourites last season for a narrow loss, but I expect that to improve this season and Pep will help this side turn Etihad Stadium back into a fortress.

Sunderland looked all but certain to be relegated at the end of last season, but they showed plenty of toughness in the final few weeks to avoid the drop.

Sunderland won just three of their 17 games as away underdogs last season and drew five, but they generally struggled against the very best teams.

Manchester City should really have no problems getting the job done, but the $1.22 currently on offer is a touch short and this is another game I am keen to avoid.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

Middlesbrough have returned to the English Premier League for the first time since 2009 after a lengthy stint in the English Championship and they have put together an exciting squad.

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has signed a bunch of talented footballers – including central midfielder Marten de Roon – and hopes are high for the side this season.

They are set to start this clash as clear favourites and it will be very interesting to see how they perform against a EPL gatekeeper like Stoke City.

Stoke City had an up and down English Premier League campaign, but they are another outfit with a strong squad and a surprising amount of attacking firepower.

Stoke had a strong record away from home last season and they finished the season with six wins and five draws from 17 games for a very healthy profit.

I understand that Middlesbrough have plenty of upside, but the step-up to the English Premier League is always a tough one and the $3.60 on offer for a Stoke City victory is excellent value.

Recommended Bet: Back Stoke City To Win @ $3.60

Burnley have returned to the English Premier League after winning the Championship last season and they start their return to the top flight with a tricky fixture against Swansea.

It could well prove to be a tough start to the season – Burnley have done very little in the transfer market and the side that they take into this game on Saturday will actually be weaker than the one that earnt them promotion last season.

The 2016/2017 English Premier League season went far from swimmingly for Swansea City, but they came good in the second half of the season and they captured a number of big scalps in the run home.

Surprisingly, Swansea City will go into this game as underdogs and this is a position in which they were actually a profitable betting side last season – they won just three of their 16 games as away underdogs, but those wins came at a big price and punters who backed them in that position finished with a big profit.

I am more than happy to take on Burnley at their current price and the $2.80 on offer for a Swansea City victory is great value.

Recommended Bet: Back Swansea City To Win @ $2.80

Both games played by Everton and Tottenham last year ended in draws and I expect another tight contest this weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur’s season did finish in disappointment as they were leapfrogged by Arsenal and finished third, but there were still plenty of positives to come from the season and plenty to build on going forward.

The Spurs will start this game as favourites despite being away from home and their record as home favourites last season was nothing short of excellent – they won seven out of their ten games in this scenario for a nice little profit.

It was tough to know what to make of Everton last season – they finished a more than credible 11th, but their was plenty of disharmony in the ranks and they looked like an outfit that was in need of a rebuild.

Everton struggled in front of their home fans at Goodison Park last season and they won just a single game as home underdogs last season for a big loss.

This looks like a nice way to start the season for Tottenham and I expect them to make a winning start to what will be a very interesting campaign.

Recommended Bet: Back Tottenham To Win @ $2.40

Southampton start the English Premier League season with a new manager in the form of Claude Puel and it will be very interesting to see if the Frenchman is the man to lead the Saints to the next level.

Southampton finished the 2015/2016 English Premier League season in sixth position and after seeing the struggles of the traditional big clubs last season will fancy their chances of continuing to climb up the ladder.

The Saint’s will start this game as fairly short-priced favourites after finishing last year with four wins on the trot and they proved to be a profitable betting team as home favourite.

Southampton won nine of their 15 games last season as home favourites for a comfortable profit and were a strong betting side across the majority of betting metrics.

Watford were another team that overachieved in their first season back in the English Premier League and they will also have a new manager in the form of Walter Mazzarri.

Mazzari has a strong foundation to build on and it will be very interesting to see what the Italian can add to this side.

Watford won five of their 17 games as away underdogs last season, but only made a small profit for punters in this situation and they were beaten by Southampton at St Mary’s last season.

Southampton are a side that I have high hopes for this season and they should prove too strong for this Watford outfit.

Recommended Bet: Back Southampton To Win @ $1.73

Bournemouth recorded one of the biggest upsets of the 2015/2016 English Premier League season when they upstaged Manchester United in their first meeting last season, but Jose Mourinho is on hand to avoid a repeat this season.

Mourinho is not the only big name to join Manchester United in the off-season – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan will all wear red this season in squad that has a great deal of star-power.

It should come as no surprise that Manchester United will start this game as clear favourites, but their record away from Old Trafford was only average last season and they finished with just five wins as home favourites from 14 games for a loss.

The majority of English Premier League experts predicted at the start of the season that Bournemouth would struggle to adjust to the English Premier League, but they defied all expectations to finish out of the relegation zone.

Whether they can replicate that finish this season is the big question and many teams are suffered somewhat from second season syndrome.

Bournemouth can never be ruled out at Dean Court and they won two of their six games as away underdogs last season for a narrow profit, but clearly face a tough challenge against Manchester United.

The market seems to have got the price just about right for this fixture, but I expect there to be a fair few goals and the $2 available for over 2.5 goals is a solid bet.

Recommended Bet: Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $2

A great deal is expected of both Arsenal and Liverpool this season and this will be an early test of how good both teams can expect to be.

Arsenal finished the 2016/2017 English Premier League season in second position, but it was a case of what might have been for the Gunners.

Optimism is not particularly high at Emirates Stadium after they failed to make a splash during the transfer window, but they will still start this clash as favourites.

Arsenal were a fairly safe bet as home favourites last season and they won 12 of their 18 games in this scenario.

Liverpool are expected to improve with a full off-season working with Jurgen Klopp under their belt and this will be a very interesting game for the.

Klopp’s men were actually a fairly solid betting proposition last season and they finished the year with three wins from seven games as away underdogs for a big profit.

It would not surprise to see these two teams treat each out cautiously in the first week of the season and the $3.40 on offer for a draw does appeal.

Recommended Bet: Back The Draw @ $3.40

There is no love lost between the fans of these two London-based clubs and it was West Ham that had the edge over Chelsea last season when they upstaged their rivals in the first half of the season.

It is no secret just how bad Chelsea were last season, but Antonio Conte is confident that he can turn around the club and they will start this clash as dominant favourites.

Chelsea were a disastrous betting play as home favourites last season and they finished with a record of 5-8-5 in this scenario, which they did not improve towards the end of the season.

West Ham surpassed all expectations in the English Premier League this season and they still have a very strong squad – including the outstanding Dimi Payet.

The Hammers were one of the best betting teams in the English Premier League last season and they finished the year with five wins from 15 games as away underdogs for a simply massive profit.

Chelsea are extremely short-priced favourites for a team that struggled badly last season and I am more than happy to take them on at that current price.

Recommended Bet: Back The West Ham And Draw Double Chance @ $2.25