EPL Previews & Predictions 16-19th Aug 2024

Manchester United vs Fulham Preview:

The new season of the Premier League will get underway on Friday evening and all eyes will be on the home side. United in the end stuck with Erik ten Hag as manager for this season after a tough campaign, but they did win the FA Cup. However the Red Devils have faced disappointment already this season as they lost out to Manchester City in the Community Shield. So far they have brought in no major signings. Fulham impressed last season and they will be unleashing £27m signing Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal. The question coming into this one is have United made any steps forward?

Prediction: 2-1 to Manchester United

Recommended Betting Tips: Manchester United to win at 1.50, Anytime goalscorer (Bruno Fernandes) at 3.00

 

Ipswich vs Liverpool Preview:

Ipswich are back in the top flight for the first time in 22 years and Portman Road is going to be buzzing with this fixture. A lot of good things have been said about manager Kieran McKenna who rejected some top jobs to stay here. It’s a new era for Liverpool with new manager Arne Slot, so how will he slot in? Newly promoted sides normally like to face the big teams early in the season, and we could be in for a surprise.Of note the Reds have not signed any major players and some golden oldies could be showing signs of wear and tear.

Prediction: 1-1 draw

Recommended Betting Tips:  Draw at 5.00, Anytime goalscorer (Liam Delap) at 4.00

 

Arsenal vs Wolves Preview:

The Gunners have looked the business for the last two seasons but an historic league title has escaped them for the past 20 years. Mikel Arteta’s side keep improving and they should be pushing champions Manchester City once again. Riccardo Calafiori has been the Gunners main signing so far and the defender comes from Bologna in a near £40m deal- that makes sense as the side attacking wise still looks dangerous. Wolves will be the major underdogs here but in manager Gary O’ Neil they have a shrewd tactican but we don’t expect many clubs coming here this season and getting anything and this is a tough ask for O’Neil’s side.

Prediction: 2-0 to Arsenal

Recommended Betting Tips:   Half Time/Full Time (Arsenal/Arsenal) at 1.66, Anytime goalscorer (Bukayo Saka) at 2.10, Anytime goalscorer (Gabriel Jesus) at 2.10

 

Everton vs Brighton Preview:

Everton were constantly in the news last season but it was all for the wrong reasons- from who will own the club to points deductions and somehow the Toffees survived and are once again in the Premier League. They have spent some money too and brought in interesting players like Jake O’Brien and Illman Ndiaye. Sean Dyche will be looking to get his team finishing much higher up the table and improving their home form. Brighton fell off last season and they have spent over £60m on players for this campaign but that could be a risk-could it back fire? Expect a cautious but physical game.

Prediction: 1-0 to Everton

Recommended Betting Tips: Everton to beat Brighton at 2.50, Anytime goalscorer (Dominic Calvert-Lewin) at 2.30

 

Newcastle vs Southampton Preview:

If Newcastle could even avoid half of the injuries they consistently faced last season then Eddie Howe would be a happy manager. While the list coming into this season has whittled down the club will still have at least seven players out. The Magpies have spent almost £50m so far with the biggest transfer going to Lewis Hall who has come in from Chelsea for £28m. You get the sense that this could be a defining season for Howe and a make or break one. Southampton are back in the Premier League and they have done a ‘Nottingham Forest’ by bringing in 15 new players so far, although the bulk of them have been in free transfers. We see only one winner here and that is the home team.

Prediction: 2-0 to Newcastle

Recommended Betting Tips: Half Time Result (Newcastle) at 1.72, Newcastle to win 2-0 or 3-0 at 8.00 and 10.00

 

Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth Preview:

Forest have been able to raise £47m with the departures of Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate both to French side Lyon. The club have been dicing with relegation since their return to the top flight a couple of years ago and manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be tasked to guiding the club to mid-table and out of danger. New transfers have concentrated on midfield with arrivals including Jota Silva and Elliot Anderson. Bournemouth have spent over £25m bringing in Dean Huijsen from Juventus and Enes Unal from Getafe. However top goalscorer Dominic Solanke has joined Tottenham although went for a big fee of £65m. It’s been 9 years over 8 games since the last time Forest recorded a win over the Cherries.

Prediction: 1-1 Draw

Recommended Betting Tips: Correct Score: 1-1 at 6.00, Under 2.5 goals at 2.10

 

West Ham vs Aston Villa Preview:

West Ham have been improving for the last couple of seasons despite that David Moyes left but in has come good experience in Julen Lopetegui. The Hammers have a good attacking squad and they have added to that this season by spending over £100m. Additions include German international forward Niclas Fullkrug and former Leeds player Crysensio Summerville. Unai Emery did a superb job for Aston Villa last season as they qualified for the Champions League. Villa have also spent over £100m bringing in the likes of Amadou Onana from Everton and Ian Maatsen from Chelsea. We expect to see a free flowing game with lots of goal scoring opportunities for both sides. 

Prediction: 2-1 to West Ham

Recommended Betting Tips: West Ham to win at 2.50, Both teams to score at 1.50, Anytime goalscorer (Niclas Fullkrug) at 3.00

 

Brentford vs Crystal Palace Preview:

Brentford have spent £60m bringing in Igor Thiago from Club Brugge and Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool. The club have remained fairly solid in the league but did struggle last season. Perhaps the best news for Thomas Frank’s team is that for now they have been able to hold onto forward Ivan Toney. Crystal Palace were one of the most impressive teams in the final few months of last season under new manager Oliver Glasner. They have lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich in a £50m deal and he has been replaced by Ismaila Sarr. 

Prediction: 2-0 to Crystal Palace

Recommended Betting Tips: Crystal Palace to beat Brentford at 2.75, Anytime goalscorer (Jean-Phillipe Mateta) at 3.00

 

Chelsea vs Manchester City Preview:

Big spenders Chelsea failed to impress last season but just as they seemed to be turning a corner they sacked Mauricio Pochettino. In has come Enzo Maresca who has been able to spend £150m this summer. Pedro Neto from Wolves heads that list in a deal worth £50m. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been snapped up from Leicester Maresca’s former club. The Blues did lose to City in a pre season friendly in America. The champions are looking as slick as ever although Julian Alvarez has been sold to Atletico Madrid. Pep Guardiola has been able to bring in only Savinho a midfielder from Troyes for £21m. Potentially this could well be the game of the opening weekend.

Prediction: 1-1 draw

Recommended Betting Tips: Draw at 4.00, Anytime goalscorer (Erling Haaland) at 2.00, Anytime goalscorer (Cole Palmer) at 3.00

 

Leicester vs Tottenham Preview:

The former Premier League champions are back in the top flight and this should prove to be an interesting journey for the Foxes. Losing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a blow but Steve Cooper’s side are hardworking and have a lot of confidence coming into this new campaign. They haven’t been able to spend much but in has come Abdul Fatawu for £14m from Sporting. Tottenham will have bigger ambitions of the two sides this season. They have bolstered their attack by signing the impressive Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth and Archie Gray has come in from Leeds for £40m. Leicester will try and surprise their visitors but we expect quality to tell in the end.

Prediction: 3-1 to Tottenham

Recommended Betting Tips: Tottenham to beat Leicester at 1.60, Anytime goalscorer (Heung Min-Son) at 2.25, Both teams to score at 1.57

 

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