Premier League Betting Tips: Who's going to start with a win this weekend?

The Premier League is back! Andy Schooler previews the key TV encounters on the opening weekend – check out his best bets.

Manchester United v Fulham

Friday, 20:00
Sky Sports

The days of being able to rely on United are long gone – they lost six times at Old Trafford last season and conceded 28 goals, a figure only beaten by the bottom six.

Yet amid the uncertainty, Bruno Fernandes has proved to be Mr Reliable and things would certainly have been a lot worse without him last term.

Fernandes finished 2023/24 in style. Goals were plentiful but so were assists – four in his last six games. And he’s already up and running on that front this season following the Community Shield.

The Portuguese played more balls into the penalty area than any of his colleagues last season (216, next best 79) and that should continue.

In this game, United face a Fulham team who come into the season with defensive concerns. They are seeking a new centre-back (or two) having lost Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream, while defensive-midfield king Joao Palhinha has also gone.

These are areas Fernandes can exploit and backing him for an assist looks the way to go.

Prediction: Bruno Fernandes anytime assist @ 2.98

Ipswich v Liverpool

Saturday, 12:30
TNT Sports

Ipswich’s journey under Kieran McKenna has been incredible but this looks an awfully-tough return to the Premier League, one which could quickly see the size of the survival task they face become crystal clear.

Liverpool have been flying in pre-season, beating Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla under new boss Arne Slot.

One man who’s certainly caught the eye is Diogo Jota and, with his team a very short price to win the game, he’s the man worth turning to here.

The Portuguese has sparkled in those warm-up games, scoring a terrific goal last weekend.

He struggled with injury for much of last season but when he did play, impact was made – 15 goals in total with one coming every 114 minutes on the pitch.

While there’s plenty of competition for places in the Reds’ forward line, Jota looks set to start at centre-forward in this game against a side the bookies expect to be relegated.

Back him to score first.

Prediction: Diogo Jota first goalscorer @ 4.9

Brentford v Crystal Palace

Sunday, 14:00
Sky Sports

There was much to like about Palace under Oliver Glasner at the back end of last season.

They won seven of their last 13 and were turning into a real attacking force, in stark contrast to many recent years.

Losing Michael Olise is a major blow but other key players remain, at least for now, while signings such as Daichi Kamada look to have potential.

The Eagles have been flying in pre-season, although they’ve also conceded in every game and that hints at an angle here.

Brentford have been iffy ahead of the new campaign and have already lost marquee summer signing Igor Thiago to injury.

Thomas Frank always wants his side on the front foot and I can see this being an entertaining, goal-filled contest.

Palace may edge it and I’m happy to back them to win and both teams to score at 5.4.

Prediction: Palace to win and both teams to score @ 5.4

Chelsea v Manchester City

Sunday, 16:30
Sky Sports

Given their super-sized squad, I found Chelsea hard to get a handle on last season and little has changed over the summer.

In fact, even more players have joined the overflowing changing rooms at Cobham, but despite all the transfer activity, they still look vulnerable at the back. The Blues conceded 63 times last season – their worst record in PL history – and this time around centre-backs Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo don’t scream watertight.

There’s better news at the other end of the pitch. Cole Palmer was one of the standout players of last season, while Christopher Nkunku’s return from injury has the potential to be a major boost. For all his critics, Nicolas Jackson still scored goals.

They should trouble a City side who have scored and conceded plenty in pre-season.

Pep Guardiola’s team are almost certainly undercooked and we’ve seen slow starts to seasons before from them.

Several of their Euro 2024 players only returned to training this week, one which saw Julian Alvarez leave for Atletico Madrid and Oscar Bobb break his leg.

There were eight goals in this fixture last season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see several more.

The markets are clued up though and so my approach will be to back City not to win which can be done via the double-chance market.

Prediction: Chelsea/Draw double chance @ 1.92

Leicester v Tottenham

Monday, 20:00,
Sky Sports

They lost their manager in the summer - and arguably their best player – while a points deduction looks a near-certainty. Has a team ever come into a new Premier League season under such a cloud?

Things might be about to get worse too with a free-scoring Spurs side ready to make the most of the chaos and claim three early points.

Over 2.5 goals landed in a massive 79% of Tottenham’s games last season, while they scored 2+ goals in 13 of their 19 away games, including against all of the top four and, more relevantly, five of the bottom six. The odd one out came against Luton when they played more than half the game with 10 men.

After his excellent season with Bournemouth last term, Dominic Solanke looks a good addition to the frontline and it’s not hard to see Ange Postecoglou’s men scoring a few here.

The goal markets are giving little away so I’m going to back Spurs on the handicap where you’ll get 2.54 about them winning by two clear goals.

Prediction: Spurs (-1) to win on the handicap @ 2.54

Recommended Bets

Bruno Fernandes anytime assist in Man Utd v Fulham @ 2.98
Diogo Jota first goalscorer in Ipswich v Liverpool @ 4.9
Palace to win and both teams to score v Brentford @ 5.4
Chelsea/Draw double chance v Man City @ 1.92
Spurs (-1) to win on the handicap v Leicester @ 2.54