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In our weekly feature, we will be pre-viewing all the Premier League games and picking out what we see to be good value odds. Including a brief narrative on why we’ve made these picks. These tips are for straight bets, so all odds are at least above evens.
All prices by Bet365 our favourite Bookie.
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Arsenal v Leicester
The Gunners will be in good spirits after their impressive win over Chelsea in the Community Shield last Sunday. New signings Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kalsinac both impressed on their debuts, although it will take a lot more than last weekends performance to convince me that this season, we’ll see anything but the same old Arsenal.
Leicester will go into this game with basically the same team that won the Premier League the season before last, except for one massive Kante shaped hole that is. The Foxes have strengthened well in the form of centre-back Harry Maguire and striker Kelechi Iheanacho. I’m a bit surprised that no Premier League clubs have made a move for Riyad Mahrez, despite him winning the POTY in the same year as the club’s epic title success.
This should be a nice little starter for the feast of Premier League football ahead over the weekend. Leicester are always a threat on the break but I expect Arsenal to win out in the end.
Arsenal and both teams to score 15/8
Watford v Liverpool
It will be interesting to see how Marco Silva does at Watford, he was a revelation at Hull last season despite the Tigers ultimately succumbing to relegation. The Hornet’s completed the signing of reformed homophobic tweeter Andre Gray today and may partner him with Troy Deeney to form a Mean Machinesque, all ex-con front-line.
Liverpool have bolstered their squad with the signing of left-back Andrew Robertson and pacy-winger Mo Salah over the summer. However, it’s mostly been a summer of frustration in the transfer market for Jurgen Klopp as the Anfield club have not been able to finalise deals for primary targets Virgil Van Dijk and Naby Keita. The German coach will also be without Barcelona target Phillipe Couthinho and influential midfielder Adam Lallana due to injury.
This is exactly the type of game and opposition Liverpool struggled against all last season. Marco Silva masterminded a 2-0 victory for Hull at the KCOM against Klopp’s men last year in fact, I really have the feeling the Hornet’s can spring a upset here at a inviting price of 5/1.
This prediction will greatly upset PS Football Podcast funny man Danny ”I Think, Therefore I Am” Ward who is a die-hard reds fan, which makes me hope I’m quids in, even more come Saturday afternoon!
Watford 5/1
Chelsea v Burnley
All does not seem well with reigning Champions Chelsea. Antonio Conte has cut a frustrated figure all pre-season and is clearly upset at the club’s lack of summer signings and the sale of Nemanja Matic. The Blues were shite against Arsenal last Sunday and it seems strange for a club who walked the league last year to be going into this campaign with such a negative vibe surrounding the club.
Sean Dyche and his beautiful gravely voice will rock up to Stamford Bridge minus their 2 best players from last season, Micheal Keane and Andre Gray.
It’s hard to see anything but a season of struggle ahead for The Clarets, whose squad is high on work ethic, but woefully short on quality. Alas, it seems my completely unsubstantiated theory that the Premier League side with the most Irish players always gets relegated, will prove to be the case for the Turf Moor side this season I’m afraid.
Difficult to find a decent punt above evens here, so I’m going for one of Burnley’s big fellas to trip up one of Chelseas little lads in the box.
Chelsea to score a penalty 7/2
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town
Whilst Palace’s new boss Ronald De Boer may not boast the legendary dancing skills of the club’s previous two managers Alan ”Chunky Pardew” and Big Sam Allerdici, I fancy them to do well this season.
Their attack of Zaha, Benteke, Kebab and Townsend will always get you goals. The signings of young Dutch defenders Jairo Riedewald and Tim Fosu Mensah should also help tighten up their creaky defence.
I’ll be honest lads, I know shag all about Huddersfield. There’s just so much Premier League and La Liga football on these days that I rarely have the chance to watch the Championship, but I do know they have a German Manager and that seems pretty fashionable these days. Also, after having a quick look at last year’s Champo table, I found out they finished 5th with a goal difference of -2, which means they are pretty shit at both ends of the pitch.
I fancy The Eagles in this one.
Crystal Palace and over 2.5 goals
Everton v Stoke
New Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, has put his money where his mouth is already this summer bringing in a whopping 10 players so far, with manager Ronald Koeman confirming recently he still expects another 2 or 3 big-name signings to come through the Goodison Park doors before the end of the transfer window. Davy Klaasen, Micheal Keane and Sandro Ramirez look like the players most likely to make an immediate impact for the Toffees. Despite their heavy investment it’s still hard to see the Merseyside club having enough to break the top four, for another season or two anyway.
Stoke are a side many are tipping to struggle this season and many have Mark Hughes down as their favourite to win the sack race. I read a crazy stat today, which is that Stoke have not beaten a team that finished above them in the Premier League last year since September 2016, so I can see why so many fancy them to struggle.
I’m not so sure though, I know they lost Marko Artnautovic, but I fancy Eygtian wonderkid Ramadan Sobhi, who showed flashes of his potential last season, to be one of the breakthrough stars of this campaign. Kurt Zouma will also add some steel to an already pretty solid back-line and Dazzler Fletcher is a decent upgrade on Glenn Whelan in the centre of the park.
I reckon Stoke will frustrate the home side here and come away with a point.
Draw 11/4
Southampton v Swansea City
The Saints continue to dig their heels in, over want-away centre-back Virgil Van Dijk. New signing Mario Lemina may turn out to be star but I really think Saints new boss Mauricio Pelligrino will struggle to beat Claude Puels eighth-placed finish this time round.
Swansea are another team widely tipped to struggle this season, and they will obviously be weakened when Glyfi Sigurdson finally moves to Everton.
Paul Clement is a good coach though. I expect the signings of young striker Tammy Abraham and midfielder Roque Mesa to prove to be shrewd accusations.
Honours even at St.Marys me reckons.
Draw 14/5
West Brom v Bournemouth
West Brom have struggled to add to their squad so far, which is something Tony Pulis will be looking to remedy between now and the end of the window. Not much to say about The Baggies really, they will comfortably stay up and fade away massively when they hit the 40 point mark, because that’s what the man with the magic hat does, don’t ya know.
Bournemouth have made some really good signings, and hopefully they’ll turn out to be better than most of Eddies Howe’s other purchases since the club made it into the Premier League. Surprised by that comment? Well to know more just click here.
The Cherries have always played good attacking football since their promotion however, and with defensive improvements in the shape of Asmir Begovic and Nathan Ake, I fancy them to push for a top-half finish this season.
I’m going for another draw here, which neither side will be to upset about.
Draw 11/5
Brighton v Man City
Brighton were superb in winning promotion last season, but flicking through their squad it has a very “Championship” feel to it. Like all Chris Houghton sides they be well organised and fight until the end, however I can’t see them having enough to stay up despite their best efforts.
Man City’s attack of De Bruyne, Sane, Aguero, Jesus, Sterling and Silva is quite simply out off this world. They could easily bang in over 100 goals this season and are the bookies favourites for the title.
Scoring goals is not where The Citizens struggled last season however, it was their defence which cost Pep Guardiola the Premier League crown.
He’s been backed heavily in the transfer market in order to fix their defensive woes and has been handed £427 billion worth of full backs and a goalkeeper to shore up his back-line. Although, keeping Vincent Kompany fit may actually prove to be more important than any of Guardiola’s shiny new toys.
City to win and load of goals.
Over 3 goals 13/8
Newcastle v Spurs
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez isn’t too happy with his club’s lack of signings so far, but let’s be honest, he had a Premier League squad and paid Premier League wages in the Championship last season, so with his tactical nous the Magpies will be fine on their return to the top-flight.
Everybody has been lining up to praise Tottenham Hotspurs exciting young team over the last couple of years, but their own lack of signings and the move to Wembley are starting to cast doubts on their ability to continue their admirable progress again this season. All their rivals have strengthened significantly and with the need for a large squad essential to handle the added pressure of Champions League football, many Spurs fans are worried heading into the new campaign.
One of the stars of the PS Football podcast and part time Ken Livingston voice double, Karl, is amongst that band of fans that are hoping Daniel Levy gets his finger out and signs a few players by the end of the window.
Spurs players will, I’m sure, be reminded of their horrific performance the last time they headed to Newcastle, when they were tonked 5-1 on the final day of the 2015/2016 season. However, I expect them to come out on top in a tight encounter.
Spurs win and under 2.5 goals 10/3
Manchester United v West Ham
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has invested heavily again this summer, bringing in Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindleof.
Matic and Lukaku are both Premier League proven and should improve United immediately, Lindelof on the other hand has looked shaky in pre-season, with it looking likely that he’ll need time to settle.
Mourinho has won the league in his second season with all of the clubs he’s managed, so United fans will be hoping for more of the same from the Portugeuse this time round. Quite frankly, a big improvement is needed on their dismal 6th place finish last season, although at least it’s easy to see what needed to be improved, turn those home draws into wins like the United of old and they should move up the table easy enough.
West Ham’s board are hugely unpopular with most of their fans and football fans in general actually, but they have delivered this summer. Experienced defensive reinforcements have arrived in the shape of Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta. While Marko Artnautovic and Javier Hernandez should add much needed goals in attack.
I expect ex-psfootball podcast member and massive Hammers fan Scott to be crying into his bubble machine on the commute back from Manchester come Sunday evening, but I reckon it’s written in the stars that Chiccarito will bang one in for the Hammers to leave their fans feeling optimistic for the season ahead.
Chicarito to score anytime 15/4
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