We preview the second week of the 2018/19 English Premier League season.
What a week! The Premier League kicked off in superb fashion with Liverpool already showing their title credentials, sitting atop the table after an emphatic 4-0 win over West Ham. Maurizio Sarri and his Chelsea team sit narrowly behind in second place after they eased past Huddersfield, comfortably beating the Terriers 3-0 at their own turf.
A couple of teams sit behind the Reds and the Blues, including the champions, Manchester City, who made it a start to the Premier League to forget for Unai Emery as City brushed aside his lacklustre Arsenal team, winning 2-0 at the Emirates. Tottenham and Manchester United also kick-started their campaign with 2-1 victories, while unsurprisingly, none of the newly-promoted teams were welcomed back to the Premier League with a victory.
Saturday 18 August
Cardiff 19/10
Draw 21/10
Newcastle United 16/10
Gameweek two of the Premier League kicks off with newly-promoted Cardiff, up against Newcastle United, who were promoted to top-flight football the season prior. Neither club got off to a winning start, but it was Newcastle who could at least take some positives from their opening game.
They caused Tottenham some problems in the match at St. James’ Park, and, with more of the new signings likely to start, the Toon Army will pose a massive threat for many pundits’ favourites to go down. Plenty of value on Newcastle, who I fancy here at 16/10 – get on!
West Ham 5/4
Draw 24/10
Bournemouth 9/4
West Ham were completely rolled over against Liverpool last Sunday, suffering an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Anfield. It wasn’t the start to his reign that Hammers boss, Manuel Pellegrini, was looking for, with not many positives to take from their encounter with the Reds.
Bournemouth were relatively comfortable in their first game of the season, but with all due respect, who wouldn’t be against a team of Cardiff’s calibre. With the players and the coach that they have, there’s no doubt that West Ham will be exciting to watch in due course. In their first home game of the campaign, I’m backing them to come out on top, for more value, take West Ham to Win & Both Teams to Score at 31/10.
Tottenham 3/10
Draw 47/10
Fulham 8/1
The first London derby for Tottenham will kick off at the city’s most prestigious stadium, Wembley, on Saturday afternoon. Much was expected of newly-promoted Fulham, but the Cottagers just couldn’t cope in their opening matchup against Crystal Palace, losing 2-0 at Craven Cottage.
Harry Kane’s peculiar inability to score in August continued as the English marksman once again failed to find the net in his hoodoo month. The good thing about Spurs is that they have goals all over the pitch, with Dele Alli getting his first of the season against Newcastle, as well as Jan Vertonghen, who headed the ball a mere nine millimetres over the goal line. Tottenham should win here, perhaps backing them on the (-1) Handicap will be more profitable at 15/20.
Leicester City 21/20
Draw 49/20
Wolves 26/10
The Foxes take on Wolves in what is certainly expected to be a cagey brawl at the King Power Stadium. Leicester City were put to the sword on day one against Manchester United, with Jamie Vardy making a late cameo off the bench to score his first goal of the season.
Wolves were impressive against Everton last Saturday, coming from a goal down twice, being the only newly-promoted side to earn a point. Ruben Neves was the star of the show and his talent will be put to the test once again when he goes up against the likes of Wilfred Ndidi and Adrien Silva. I’m expecting quite the open game here. In terms of what is the best bet for the match, I would have to go with Leicester on the Double Chance & Both Teams to Score at 5/4.
Everton 1/1
Draw 47/20
Southampton 3/1
Everton showed just why they are the team on everyone’s lips, earning a credible 2-2 draw at the Molineux against Wolves last Saturday, despite playing with a player short after Phil Jagielka received his marching orders in the first half. Multi-million-pound signing, Richarlison, who has a fantastic understanding of what Marco Silva wants from their time at Watford, proved that he is worth every penny, netting twice on his debut.
Southampton looked as flat as ever against Burnley last weekend, much like the team that scraped survival last campaign. With the likes of Yerry Mina and Bernard likely to come into the team, Everton are surely one of my favourite bets for the weekend.
Chelsea 8/10
Draw 29/10
Arsenal 33/10
Full preview to follow.
Sunday 19 August
Manchester City 1/14 |
Draw 10/1
Huddersfield 35/1
Superb, ruthless, unstoppable. Those are just a few ways to describe Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team. The bookmakers have caught up with what a force they are, and their price of 1/14 just shows that.
Huddersfield were shocking against Chelsea, losing 3-0 at home. They managed to create a few chances, but their failure to convert them, or to at least test the goalkeeper, indicates why they are also one of my favourites to go down this season. Against a side like Man City, they simply have no chance. Take Man City to Win Both Halves at 13/20.
Burnley 27/20
Draw 2/1
Watford 47/20
Burnley got their campaign to a decent start, earning a point at Southampton, despite having their crucial Europa League qualifier on Thursday at the back of their mind. That European matchup could take a lot out of them when it’s time to take on Watford, so that could benefit the Hornets, who brushed aside Brighton last weekend, winning 2-0.
It’s always a cagey affair when these two sides meet on the pitch, so I’ll be backing Under 2.5 Goals here at 5/10.
Brighton 37/10
Draw 26/10
Manchester United 8/10
Manchester United were not entirely brilliant in their opener but did manage to edge past Leicester City, claiming a much-needed 2-1 to start off on a winning note. Paul Pogba and Fred bossed the midfield, and who knows what they could do against minnows, Brighton.
The Seagulls were poor in their league opener, suffering a 2-0 defeat at Watford, but it was their inability to create chances that was even more shocking. With Romelu Lukaku likely to feature from the start, I can only see one winner here. Back the Red Devils at 8/10 and make sure to include in all multiples.
Monday 20 August
Crystal Palace 52/10
Draw 36/10
Liverpool 5/10
Crystal Palace have been lingering under the radar in the build-up to the new season but reminded us all of what they’re capable of when they’re at their best, beating Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage. They face the league-leaders from the opening round, Liverpool, in what will be one of those fixtures you look to get out of the way early. Jurgen Klopp’s men were rampant at Anfield last weekend, and despite Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge bagging the goals, Naby Keita showed glimpses of why the club so willingly handed him the number eight jersey.
He looked a different class. Keita started the attack from defence, occasionally dropped the shoulder to blitz past opponents, and knows exactly when to release the ball to play the killer pass that opens up the opposition backline. Liverpool are just too good to pass up here at 5/10, another one for the multiples.
Quad tipped at 8/1
Everton Win 1/1
Man City Win Both Halves 13/20
Manchester United Win 8/10
Liverpool Win 5/10
