Brentford v Arsenal: Gunners too short to support
Brentford v Arsenal
Friday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports
The new season gets underway on Friday night as newly-promoted Brentford begin their Premier League campaign with a London derby at home against Arsenal.
Mark O'Haire says: "Brentford 4.30100/30 suffered only two league losses across their first full campaign at their new Brentford Community Stadium (W12-D9-L2). The hosts have actually been turned over here just once since October 2020, and also enjoyed a reasonable return when taking on fellow top-six clubs in last season's Championship (W4-D4-L2).
"Arsenal 1.9420/21 posted W14-D5-L5 in their 24 Premier League fixtures from Boxing Day to conclude 2020/21 in-form. The Gunners also produced the majority of their best work away from The Emirates, posting W10-D3-L6 on their travels. Mikel Arteta's outfit also managed 19 points from a possible 21 when playing away to bottom-seven sides (W6-D1-L0)."
Mark's bet: Back Brentford +0.5 & +1.0 at 2.0521/20 in Brentford v Arsenal
Man United v Leeds: Start the season with goals at Old Trafford
Manchester United v Leeds
12:30
Live on BT Sport
We should see an entertaining first match of the season at Old Trafford when two of English football's fiercest rivals meet.
Paul Higham says: "The hosts are about the second-shortest home bankers of the weekend at 1.68/13 with Leeds a whopping 6.05/1 no doubt due to their woeful Old Trafford record. The draw is 4.77/2 but the visitors don't do away draws - they literally had none last season (W10 L9).
"There could be value in the visitors though if Man Utd's poor home form continues. Having fans back should help improve a United home record that read W9 D4 L6 last season but it is a concern. As was them conceding 28 goals, the most since the early 1960s."
Paul's bet: Back over 3.5 goals in Man Utd v Leeds @ 2.77/4
Peterborough v Derby: Goals on the agenda at London Road
Peterborough v Derby
12:30
Live on Sky Sports
Newly-promoted Peterborough meet crisis club Derby in Saturday's early Championship kick-off in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Mark O'Haire says: "Peterborough 2.226/5 have endured a difficult start to 2021/22. Posh fans will point to last season's poor opening encounters for hope and Darren Ferguson is still waiting for key players to return from injury, new arrivals to strengthen weakened areas of the pitch and bodies to help bulk up a threadbare squad. However, a response is expected on Saturday.
"Derby 3.4549/20 defied pre-season predictions of doom to avoid defeat in their Championship curtain-raiser last weekend yet the Rams offered little against a Huddersfield squad hit by COVID. County generated just 0.38 Expected Goals (xG) at Pride Park in their opener and Wayne Rooney's stretched resources make a major overhaul nigh-on impossible."
Mark's bet: Back Both Teams To Score at 1.855/6
Leicester v Wolves: Rodgers' Foxes to make fast start
Leicester host Wolves in a first game in charge for Bruno Lage but Simon Mail expects it be Brendan Rodgers' side that make a winning start.
Simon says: "Leicester are 1.728/11 favourites to start the season with a win and it is hard to argue with this. The Foxes have finished fifth for the last two seasons after spending most of the campaigns inside the top four. Leicester's squad is settled and their team looks much stronger than their opponents. Leicester have lost just one of their last 24 home league games against Wolves.
"Wolves are 5.85/1 outsiders for this match at the King Power Stadium and there is no appetite to side with the visitors. Wolves ended last season with three successive defeats and could take a few games to settle under their new coach."
Simon's bet: Back Leicester to win and under 3.5 goals at 2.255/4
Chelsea v Crystal Palace: Werner key to fast-starting Blues
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
15:00
The Champions League winners are 6.05/1 second favourites to win the Premier League in 2021 and a good start is probably a necessity for Thomas Tuchel's men. Will they get it against Crystal Palace?
Jamie Pacheco says: "With Bet Builder, I'm going to take a 4/6 punt that Chelsea will be leading at half-time. Palace will struggle to find their feet straight away, all things considered, and an away trip at a strong Chelsea side, who finished last season in style, maybe too tough a test for the Eagles. Go with Chelsea to be leading at the break.
"By his standards, Timo Werner had a poor season last time out. He played plenty (2,589 minutes) but only scored six goals. However, his 12 assists paint a better picture of his all-around contribution to the team. I think he'll have a far better season this time around and this could be one of his last chances to get a game through the middle before Lukaku takes over. Against a Palace defence that may not be so trustworthy, that 13/10 on Werner scoring looks decent enough."
Jamie's bet: Back Chelsea to be leading at half-time (4/6) + Timo Werner to score (11/8) @ in Chelsea v Crystal Palace @ 3.259/4
Saturday 3pm Championship Tips: Cottagers to secure first Championship victory
There's another terrific set of Championship fixtures this weekend and Jack Critchley has picked out the best bets from the 10 games that kick off at 3pm. Find out how he's approaching promotion favourites Fulham's trip to Huddersfield.
Jack says: "The west Yorkshire side have been widely tipped for relegation this season and their 2021 form makes fairly grim reading. Since the turn of the year, they've recorded just three wins, and have a goal difference of -18. They've lost each of their last three opening home fixtures and they will be desperate to improve upon their dreadful record against Fulham.
"The Cottagers have won 12 of their last 16 games against Huddersfield in the second tier, and despite dropping points last weekend, there is still plenty of confidence within the camp. The West Londoners spurned numerous chances against Middlesbrough six days ago, and their wastefulness in front of goal was duly punished. They have several match-winners within their squad and summer signing Harry Wilson is already off the mark for the campaign."
Jack's bet: Back Fulham to beat Huddersfield @ 1.9310/11
Norwich v Liverpool: Goals on the agenda again
Norwich v Liverpool
17:30
Live on Sky Sports
Newly-promoted Norwich start their Premier League campaign with a tough assignment at home to Liverpool and Steve Rawlings fancies goals are on the agenda between two sides who usually produce an entertaining contest.
Steve says: "Liverpool have a quite remarkable record of featuring in a high-scoring seasonal opener and since they began the 2015-16 campaign with a cagey 1-0 away win at Stoke, it's been goals, goals, goals. Liverpool's five opening Premier League matches of the season under Jürgen Klopp have seen 29 (19 for and 10 against), with the Reds unbeaten in all five (W4 D1) despite conceding three in three of those five games: 4-3 vs Arsenal in 2016-17, 3-3 vs Watford in 2017-18 and 4-3 vs Leeds in 2020-21.
"These two teams met in the first game of the season two years ago when Liverpool beat Norwich 4-1 at Anfield and this fixture often produces goals. It ended in a 1-0 win for the visitors on the last occasion the teams met, in February 2020, but there have been at least five goals scored in five of their last eight Premier League encounters and that's where the value lies on Saturday evening."
Steve's bet: 1 pt Over 4.5 Goals @ 4.3100/30
Bundesliga Correct Score Predictor with Infogol: Rose to win first BuLi game with Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt
Saturday, 17:30
Watch on Betfair Live Video
Using Expected Goals (xG) data from Infogol Tom Victor provides Bundesliga scoreline predictions as new managers and new signings begin the season. Get his prediction for the big match at Signal Iduna Park...
"Marco Rose is finally ready for his first league game as Borussia Dortmund manager, having been confirmed months ago, and he takes on another new manager in Frankfurt's Oliver Glasner. The hosts finished last season with seven straight wins, overcoming the xG numbers in certain cases, and Infogol's model expects a season-long 1.94 xGF per game last term to translate into a home win."
BTTS? Yes
Over/Under 2.5? Over
Tom's bet: Back the 3-1 @ 12.0011/1
Swansea v Sheffield United: Sharp Blades could expose Swans
Swansea v Sheffield United
20:00
Recently-relegated Sheffield United aim to get their campaign back on track, after losing their opening match, when they travel to Swansea on Saturday night in the Championship.
Mark O'Haire says: "Swansea 3.1511/5 have endured a difficult summer with pre-season plans thrown into disarray following the departure of head coach Steve Cooper. Russell Martin's arrival should ensure long-term stability at the Liberty Stadium, although his options are limited without last season's key loan signings in situ, and star forward Andre Ayew having departed for Qatar.
"After tabling a ninth-place finish on their return to the Premier League, second season syndrome hit Sheffield United 2.526/4 hard last term; the Blades' poor results spiralled out of control and relegation appeared imminent as early as Christmas. Serial promotion-winner Slavisa Jokanovic has been given a remit to get United back in the big time at the first attempt."
Mark's bet: Back Sheffield United Double Chance and Over 1.5 Goals at 1.824/5
La Liga Correct Score Predictor with Infogol: Madrid to begin Ancelotti era with away win
Alavés v Real Madrid
Saturday, 21:00
Watch on Betfair Live Video
Using Expected Goals (xG) data from Infogol, Tom Victor provides La Liga result and scoreline predictions for gameweek one in La Liga. Saturday rounds off with the beginning of a new era for Los Blancos...
Tom Victor says: "It's been a summer of changes in Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti arriving as manager and centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane moving on, but a new season offers an opportunity to get off to a flying start against an Alavés side who they beat 4-1 on the road last term. Los Blancos had La Liga's best away record under Ancelotti's predecessor Zinedine Zidane, and Infogol expects this to continue for now at least.
BTTS? No
Over/Under 2.5? Under
Tom's bet: Back the 0-2 @ 7.006/1
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