After a shortened off-season the English Premier League is back in action this weekend!
The round gets underway at Craven Cottage on Saturday night as Arsenal look to remain on top of the 2020/21 EPL Table with a result over the newly promoted Fulham.
Elsewhere, Title holders Liverpool will look to extend their unbeaten at Anfield run to 60 matches as they welcome Leeds back to the top flight after a 16 year hiatus!
Our in-house Football Fanatic has poured over all eight scheduled fixtures this week and provided the punters with his best betting plays below!
The Cottagers earned their way back into the Premier League via the Championship playoffs, seeing off a more fancied Brentford outfit.
The PL newcomers have lost their last five outings against the Gunners and their last ten against fellow London based sides.
Arsenal come into this fixture off the back of their worst PL campaign in 25 years, the Gunners finished 8th in the 2019/20 season, but things could’ve been far worse if not for the appointment of Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have won their last two competitive matches against the likes of Liverpool and Man City and should stroll past Fulham here.
Unfortunately, the second game of the season looks to be an absolute fizzer.
Crystal Palace were nothing short of pathetic at the tail-end of last season, managing to secure just one competition point from their final eight fixtures!
Alternatively, the Saints flew home, unbeaten in their last seven PL matches.
Southhampton have won their last three trips to Selhurst Park, winning to nil in the two most recent fixtures across that trip.
Danny Ings proved a pivotal cog in the Saints’ offensive machine last season, finishing the 19/20 campaign with an outstanding 22 goals, scoring on three previous occasions agains the Eagles!
The Hammers and the Toons both look to get their season off on the right foot after underwhelming 2019/20 campaigns.
Historically both sides have struggled in the opening round of the season, West Ham have lost their past four curtain raisers, while Newcastle are winless across their last seven.
Michael Antonio lifted the Hammers onto his shoulders at the tail-end of last season, scoring eight goals across the last seven game weeks, securing his sides PL survival.
The last two meeting between the pair have resulted with over 3.5 total goals and with neither side putting forward a strong case for victory, backing the overs might be the smart play here.
The Premier League winners begin their title defence against the Championship winners Leeds.
It’s been a long time between drinks for the Yorkshire club, with their last appearance in the Premier League coming back in 2004!
Surprisingly Leeds hold the best opening round record in the PL, going 12 GW1 matches without defeat.
Although, that record pales in comparison to the Reds unbeaten run at Anfield, which currently stands at 59 games!
Klopp’s side have won it’s last four season openers, scoring at least four goals in each of those fixtures.
Perennial English Football yo-yoers West Brom are back in the top flight for the fifth time, proving too stubborn to kill off permanently.
If anyone has been unfortunate to watch the Baggies play in the past, you’ll know that they attempt to bore their opponents to death before striking from set pieces.
Leicester will be looking to send a message of intent in the opening week, after looking all but certain of obtaining a UCL spot last campaign the Foxes went on an eight game winless streak to close out the season, eventually finishing fifth.
Despite this, Jamie Vardy still acquired the PL’s golden boot with 23 strikes and will be eager to knock a few past the newcomers here.
Match of the round arrives in the form of ‘The Sacked Chelsea Managers Derby’ (title is a work in progress).
Mourinho will no doubt be eager to get the 2020/21 campaign underway after getting his first preseason in with the Spurs.
The Portuguese mastermind hasn’t been afford the same war chest as he has done in the past with both Chelsea and United, despite this Tottenham have managed to secure a couple of astute purchases in Matt Doherty and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg.
Alternatively, Carlo Ancelotti has wasted no time reaching into Ardavan Farhad Moshiri’s pockets, splashing cash on a new look midfield consisting of James Rodrigues, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Unfortunately, game week 1 may come too quickly for Carlo’s new signings, who have only just set foot on the training pitch this week.
Tottenham hold a ridiculous record against the Toffees in the PL, with their last loss against the Merseysiders coming way back in 2012!
With a full preseason under his belt, I think Mourinho’s Spurs are going to be extremely difficult to break down this campaign.
The Tuesday morning action will see last year’s two biggest overachievers go head to head at Bramall Lane.
The Blades look four points away from their two fixtures against the Wolves last season and will be confident on grinding out a result on their home turf here.
Other than losing Matt Doherty to the Spurs, the Wolves look like they will start with the same side who carried them to a 7th placed finish last campaign.
Chris Wilder and Nuno Santo pride themselves on their sides defensive structures, with both the Blades and the Wolves finishing 4th and 5th respectively for least Goal Against.
I can easily see this contest finishing as a 0-0 draw.
The opening week rounds out with what could very well be a blood bath!
Lampard has sent a clear message of intent to the rest of the league by taking Roman Abramovich’s credit card to the transfer market and racking up a £400mil bill!
The Blues have brought in German striker Timo Werner alongside Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell, with the spending is set to continues as Frank searches for another shot-stopper.
Meanwhile, Brighton have brought in the injury plagued Adam Lallana and sold their best player/Aussie icon Aaron Mooy!
Chelsea could very hit double figures here, but with the ever reliable Mat Ryan in goal I’ll play it conservative with over 2.5.