The new English Premier League season gets underway on Friday 15th August and we highlight a few bets for Gameweek 1 including Sunday's clash between Manchester United and Arsenal
Before we get into the preview a reminder that all are welcome to join our Fantasy PL mini league. It's free and just for fun, click on the auto join link before the deadline for Gameweek 1 on Friday and your team will be added.
FPL Mini League, Goodforthegame
https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/lb2k02
Let's move on to the preview
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.
Friday 15th August
Last season's title winners Liverpool (3/10) get the season underway at home to Bournemouth (8/1). New recruits Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike all played in the Community Shield against Palace last weekend, a game which finished 2-2 with Palace going on to win the penalty shoot out. The spending may well continue and Slot's team are 1.75/1 favourites to defend the title.
Kerkez is one of 3 defenders who were so impressive in 2024/25 to leave Bournemouth in this transfer window. Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen moved to PSG and Real Madrid respectively and I think they will be hard pushed to get anywhere near last season's ninth place finish and points tally of 56.
Bets: Player shots on target, Hugo Ekitike 2+ at 1.55/1 with Sportingbet
Saturday 16th August
The early kick off sees Aston Villa (13/10) host Newcastle (26/10). Last season goal difference saw Newcastle finish fifth and qualify for the Champions League, edging out sixth place Villa who will compete in the Europa League. Both sides have had their struggles in the transfer window. Villa have been hampered by PSR and Newcastle have failed to land a number of first choice targets in addition to the drama surrounding Isak's future. Tielemans could well be on penalty duties for Villa and he is also more than capable of trying his luck from range.
Bets: Youri Tielemans shots on target 1+ at 1.55/1 with Sportingbet
Brighton (9/10) start their campaign at home to Fulham (29/10). The home side have lost the services of Joao Pedro who has joined Chelsea but despite a number of ins and outs transfer wise, not much else stands out. Meanwhile Fulham have been extremely quiet in terms of their transfer business.
I'm shying away from this one. No bet here.
Sunderland (21/10) are back in the top flight and with a new look, expensively assembled team which starts at home to a West Ham (5/4) side who were pretty average for the bulk of last season. A price of 7/20 for Sunderland to be relegated pays scant respect to their outlay in the transfer market which includes the purchase of Granit Xhaka who will have a key role in what is largely a young side and he takes a mean free kick.
Bets: Player shots on target, Granit Xhaka 1+ at 1.87/1 with Sportingbet
Spurs (4/10) host newly promoted Burnley (7.25/1) on the back of a late collapse against PSG in the Super Cup in midweek where they surrendered a 2-0 lead and lost on spot kicks. However they played well for the bulk of that game and although Son has left and Maddison is out long term they look set for a much improved league campaign under Thomas Frank. Burnley have busy enough in the transfer market but are favourites to finish rock bottom.
I'm with Spurs to edge this one by a single goal.
Bets: Winning Margin, Spurs by 1 goal exactly at 2.65/1 with Betway
Wolves (4.75/1) host Manchester City (11/20) in Saturday's late kick off. Two key players (Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait Nouri) who helped Wolves recover from a poor start last season to comfortably survive have moved to Man United and Man City respectively and I wouldn't be surprised to see them struggle. City are third favourites behind Liverpool and Arsenal to the title, trading at around 7/2. De Bruyne and Kyle Walker head the departures and most of new recruits are young and presumably very promising players. City's Fifa Club World cup campaign in mid year was looking promising before a shock exit to Al Hilal.
City might be a touch undercooked but should still have too much for Wolves.
Bets: Man City total goals, over 2.5 at 1.45/1 with Sportingbet
Sunday 17th August
Chelsea (6/10) host Crystal Palace (4.25/1) on Sunday. Chelsea were crowned Fifa Club World Cup champions last month and predictably there have been a whole host of big money arrivals, and departures and they are trading at around 9/1 to win the title. Palace recovered from a poor start to claim the Community Shield against Liverpool last weekend and their season depends on them hanging onto their star players such as Eze and Guehi.
I fancy both teams to score and then one more.
Bets: Both teams to score? And total goals. Yes and over 2.5 at even money with Sportingbet
Notts Forest (11/10) host a Brentford (5/2) side who have lost coach Thomas Frank and some top players. Forest came within a point of the top 5 last season, Elanga has moved on and they are now start to get busy in bringing players in. Brentford need the replacements for the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard, Mark Flekken (and presumably Wissa) to fire if they are to avoid a season of struggle.
Bets: Goal range 2-3 at 21/20 with Betway
Man United (5/2) host Arsenal (11/10) in the later Sunday kick off. Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko are the big money arrivals, Rashford has joined Barca on loan and a number of high profile players are looking for new clubs. Surely they can only improve on a disastrous 2024/25 season. The Gunners finally have their out and out striker in the shape of Viktor Gyokeres and they are second favourites to win the title at around 5/2. I don't quite know what to expect from Man Utd but I'm with both teams scoring in a game of 3 or more goals.
Bets: Both teams to score? And total goals. Yes and over 2.5 at even money with Sportingbet
Monday 18th August
Leeds (15/10) are the last of the newly promoted sides in action and they start at home to Everton (18/10) in an open looking betting heat on Monday night. Of the trio that came up Leeds' odds for relegation (12/10) suggest they have the best chance of avoiding the drop although to date they haven't been quite as busy as Sunderland or Burnley in terms of transfers.
After a poor start last season Everton turned to David Moyes and his return sparked a marked improvement and they pulled away from what had looked set to be a relegation battle to finish with 48 points. Very recent incomings include Jack Grealish on loan and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall whilst Thierno Barry is a new striker worth keeping an eye on.
I will come back to this one on Monday morning.
Bets: to follow
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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