I take a look at four matches over the course of the first weekend of the return of the Premier League. Our new expert tipster Alex Lawes will be covering individual match previews from the main televised games each week and I’ll select the best of the rest to select bets in. I’ll pick out the best bets on each match and then give you the reasoning behind my decision to make those picks below. You can see all of the Premier League tips this weekend on our main site.
Bournemouth vs West Ham – 3 pm, Saturday, 12th August
Both of these two teams have the potential to struggle this year but West Ham are finally putting their hand in their pocket. They’ve signed Edson Alvarez from Ajax and they’re about to confirm Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse. I think that tips this match in their direction. I think Bournemouth will score though and in Dominic Solanke, they have a player that could get them a good number of goals. However, I’m not convinced that the new manager, Andoni Iraola, and the team’s players available go hand-in-hand. I think they’ll come unstuck fairly often.
BTTS & West Ham to Win @ 4/1 with Bet365
Brighton vs Luton – 3 pm, Saturday, 12th August
Brighton are many people’s idea of a team that can break into the top 6/7 this season. It’s with some caution that I think they’ll do well this season because they have lost players and they’ll likely lose more in the shape of Moises Caicedo for example. They also have a few players that have come in that we’re unsure will settle or hit the ground running.
However, I think they win their first match against Luton with a few goals to hand. Luton have yet to even get their stadium sorted and could potentially face a really tough season and one that’s a baptism of fire. Brighton have a lovely start to the season with favourable fixtures and I think they’ll kick off with a 2-0/3-0 victory. I’m backing one of their new signings in striker Joao Pedro to get off the mark in this game.
Anytime Scorer: Joao Pedro @ 6/4 with Bet365
Brentford vs Tottenham – 2 pm, Sunday, 13th August
A difficult one, this. If we were at the back end of last season then this would be an easy bet for me. Spurs looked quite poor at the end of last season and especially away from home. Brentford, on the other hand, were very good at home, especially defensively.
The Bees have looked a bit dodgy in their pre-season friendlies and that puts me off them somewhat, this season. However, they’re friendlies and I’ll give them a chance here to put that right.
One aspect of this bet that I really like is that Spurs’ new boss, Ange Postecoglou, has them all-out attacking right now and that plays right into Brentford’s hands. Thomas Frank’s side beat Manchester City home and away last season just sitting back, soaking it up, and hitting on the counter.
Brentford to Win @ 9/5 with William Hill
Manchester United vs Wolves – 8 pm, Monday, 14th August
The final match and selection is for Manchester United to beat Wolves to nil. I’ve said in my Premier League Predictions – Part Five (4th – 1st) preview that I really fancy Erik ten Hag’s men to do well this season and get closer to Manchester City. I think they’ll push them this season. I also think that Wolves will struggle. It’s never the best start to a season when the gaffer departs just days before the season opener with the outgoing Julen Lopetegui being replaced by former Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil.
It’s an easy pick for me with those aspects in my mind. I expect the Red Devils to put on a show here and win with ease. Hopefully with goals from Marcus Rashford and a clean sheet. As a side bet, it’s worth looking at a double of Rashford to score anytime and Andre Onana to keep a clean sheet at 3.5/1 with Bet365.
Manchester United to Win & BTTS No @ 21/20 with 888Sport
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
