Premier League Game Week 1 Tips & Preview

Premier League Game Week 1 Tips & Preview

The Premier League returns just 82 days after the close of last season, with both the Euros and Olympics doing their best fill the gaping void.

Current Champions Manchester City signaled their intent to the rest of the league during the offseason with the record breaking signing of Jack Grealish, while Chelsea and United have dipped into their pockets to lure both Lukaku and Sancho back to English shores.

Watford and Norwich have successfully yo-yoed straight back into the top flight, while Brentford are set to make their first appearance since 1947!

Our Premier League Prophet has previewed all 10 Game Week 1 fixtures and provided his best betting plays below!

BRENTFORD VS ARSENAL
SGM: Both Teams to Score + Arsenal to Win $3.80

The 2021/22 EPL season gets underway at Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday morning (AEST), as the Gunners welcome the Bees back into the topflight for the first time in 73 years!

Brentford finally cracked into the Premier League after toiling away for the past nine seasons in the Championship.

The Bees’ promotion can be attributed to an attack focused team ethos, finishing the Championship in 3rd with the most goals for, spearheaded by Ivan Toney who found the back of the net a sensational 31 times (league record).

Meanwhile, the Gunners finish 8th for the second consecutive season, ensuring they’ll miss out on European football for the first time over 20 years!

Despite coming off a disappointing season, I’d advise against sleeping on the Gunners here.

Arteta has already shown he can get the best out of his emerging young stars and without the distraction of European football, I can see the North Londoners pushing for a top five finish.

I’m expecting both sides to come out firing here, with the Arsenal’s class ultimately trumping Brentford’s enthusiasm.

MAN UTD VS LEEDS
Over 2.5 Goals + Man U to Win $2.15

Manchester United will be out to close the chasm between themselves and their Sky Blue neighbours this season.

The additions of former City graduate Jordan Sancho and four time European Champion Raphael Varane can only bolster the Red Devils’ title ambitions.

We may have to temper our expectations however with both new signings as well as Edison Cavani unlikely to start against Leeds.

The Whites will be hoping to build on their end of season form, winning their last four league fixtures to claim a spot in the top half of the table.

Their last trip to Old Trafford ended in disaster, the Red Devils running away to a 6-2 victory, with Bruno Fernandes contributing to three of United’s strikes.

I’m expecting Man U’s Portuguese playmaker to be the difference again here, with United edging out the Whites in a high scoring affair.

EVERTON VS SOUTHAMPTON
Under 3.5 Goals + Everton to Win $2.60

Everton are set to play their first league fixture under the reigns of former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

Benitez is unbeaten against the Saints across four previous meetings (3W,1D) and should see this fixture as a free hit to begin his tenure at the Toffees.

The Saints will be without their biggest goal threat this season, losing Danny Ings to Aston Villa, a move that could spell the end of their time in the top flight!

Everton have only lost one of their previous 22 home fixtures against Southampton and I can’t see the second defeat coming here.

LEICESTER VS WOLVES
HT/FT Leicester/Leicester $2.75

Speaking of new managers, Wolves has wasted no time replacing Nuno Santo with another Portuguese gaffer in Bruno Lage!

Bruno himself hasn’t wasted anytime putting his personal touch on the midlands side, bringing in two more Portuguese players among others, boosting the team chemistry to heights never seen before.

Brendan Rogers has made a few astute changes himself, bringing in Zambian goalscoring machine Patson Daka, with an eye on reducing Jamie Vardy’s (34yo) workload.

The Wolves have endured a horrid spell against the Foxes, winning just once in their last 24 visits to Leicester, while scoring in just one of the pairs previous six meetings.

Leicester are coming in hot off the back of a 1-0 victory over City in the Community Shield, and I’m backing Brendan Rodgers’ side to put the Wolves to the sword here.

CHELSEA VS CRYSTAL PALACE
Chelsea to Win + Over 3.5 Goals $3.21

After being crowned European Champions last season, Chelsea are out to claim domestic honours as they continue to thrive under the watchful eye of Thomas Tuchel.

Crystal Palace bid farewell to Roy Hodgson at the end of last season and have welcomed London legend Patrick Vieira into the fold.

The former Arsenal immortal wasted no time freshening things up at Selhurst park, allowing a handful of veterans to leave on the free, while  bringing in a few exciting young prospects.

Though the future might be bright for the Eagles, the present could be very grim. With Sakho, Cahill and Scott Dan all shown the door, Vieira is expected to blood an inexperienced backline against the likes of Werner, Havertz, Pulisic and potentially Lukaku!

I’m backing Chelsea to have an absolute field day here.

 

BURNLEY VS BRIGHTON
Draw $3.10

Yawn…

The only appealing part of this fixture is that there are four other games scheduled at the same time.

Burnley finish one spot above the relegation zone last season, with goals coming at an absolute premium for the Clarets.

Brighton didn’t fair any better, claiming 16th spot, two pints above Burnley, though Graham Potter’s side played a far better brand of football than the results suggest.

Burnley have failed to add any talent to their roster during the offseason and look almost destined for relegation, though the return of fans to Turf Moor will feel like a new signing for Sean Dyche’s side.

These two sides have played out eight draws across their previous 11 meetings and I’m expecting another low scoring arm-wrestle here.

 

WATFORD VS ASTON VILLA
Watford to Win $3.25

Watford return to the top flight after topping the Championship last season, finishing with an incredible home record of 19 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats!

They play host to a refurbished Aston Villa outfit, who are looking to carve out a new identity after the record breaking departure (£100m) of their club captain Jack Grealish.

Dean Smith has wasted no time replacing his talisman, signing the highly sought after Emiliano Buendia, alongside proven goalscorer Danny Ings and electric winger Leon Bailey.

Though the Villans undoubtably look the goods on paper, I believe their pedigree might take a few matches to translate onto the pitch.

As such, I’m backing the home side to complete the first big upset of the season here.

NORWICH VS LIVERPOOL
Salah to Outscore Norwich $2.75

If history has taught us anything, it’s that we can expect the onion bag to bulge on multiple occasions across an exciting 90 minutes of football here.

The Reds have are unbeaten across their previous 14 league matches against the Canaries, outscoring their opponents 44 to 14!

Klopp will be eager to get stuck into this season after a host of injuries derailed the German’s chance of a title defence last time round.

Despite a disappointing campaign, Mo Salah still managed to find the back of the net 22 times for the Reds, one strike shy of the golden boot (H. Kane).

I’m backing the Egyptian weapon to outscore the Canaries on his lonesome, in what promises to be a bloodbath.

NEWCASTLE VS WEST HAM
West Ham $2.20

West Ham fell agonisingly shy of Champions League football last season, finishing just two points outside of the top four in 6th place.

Though David Moyes has failed to bring in any substantial signings during the off-season, he’ll be glad the club has resisted big money offers for Declan Rice.

Newcastle have also been quiet on the transfer front, with the club’s ambitions not stretching any further than survival.

Michael Antonio is the key for the Hammers this season, if he can stay fit then they’re a real chance to remain intrenched in the top half of the table.

 

TOTTENHAM VS MAN CITY
HT/FT Man City/Man City $2.55

Last but certainly not least, Tottenham play host to the current Champions and the side who hold the ability to sent their club spiralling back into irrelevancy!

City will be looking return home after relieving the Spurs of both three competition points and their most prized asset, Harry Kane.

The Sky Blues have won their last 10 Game Week 1 fixtures in the league and are short odd favourites to extend their run to 11 here.

The Spurs have endured a disrupted preseason with speculation surrounding Harry Kane’s future drowning out all other noise.

Tottenham have won their previous three home fixtures against the Citizens, though this time around they will likely be without Kane who has been absent from training.

City have only improved their already stacked squad with the arrival Jack Grealish, and should start their title defence with a comfortable win here.