12 Jun 2019
The new Premier League season is well underway, and the opening weekend did not disappoint, with new look teams laying down their intentions for the campaign ahead.
Defending champions Manchester City swept aside Arsenal in Unai Emery’s first game in charge of the Gunners and Liverpool have carried their scoring habits into the new season, putting four past a sorry West Ham outfit.
Wins for Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have shown the top teams mean business from the off this season and matchday 2 will tell us more as the season progresses.
The game of the weekend will be at Stamford Bridge as Arsenal head to west London to topple Chelsea in Maurizio Sarri’s second game in charge.
Spurs host Fulham and Huddersfield’s difficult start to the season continues with an away day at Manchester City as Crystal Palace host Liverpool on Monday night.
Here we break down the key fixtures in more detail…
Chelsea vs Arsenal
With apparent player disproval of Antonio Conte, there is a sense of renewed life at Chelsea as Maurizio Sarri has come in to steady a seemingly rocky ship.
A win on the opening day of the season at Huddersfield would have done wonders for his team’s confidence but Arsenal will pose a different threat in Chelsea’s first true test of the new campaign.
New signing Jorginho will hope to cement his position in the team after finding the net last time out and the new man between the sticks, Kepa Arrizabalaga, will be determined to justify his huge price tag of £71.6m with another clean sheet.
Unai Emery will not roll over as he has a point to prove having taken on the mammoth role of Arsenal manager - a win at Chelsea will silence any early doubters at the Emirates.
With the likes of N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard and Jorginho in midfield, we expect the Blues to have too much firepower for a travelling Arsenal - have a look at a 2-1 win here for the home side at football betting odds of 7/1.
Tottenham vs Fulham
Newly promoted Fulham played some of the best football in the Championship last season, earning praise across the country.
Their first game proved tricky against Palace as they adjusted to the Premier League’s pace and physicality, and Spurs will be another more difficult test.
Mauricio Pochettino has done a fine job at Spurs over the last few years, but he will feel pressure to now go on and win the League.
With the likes of Harry Kane in your ranks, any team is fair game, and we believe Spurs will overpower Fulham in all departments on Saturday afternoon. We expect a 3-0 win for the home side with odds of 13/2.
Manchester City vs Huddersfield Town
Manchester City are sure favourites to defend their Premier League title this season and a comfortable away win at Arsenal only furthered this prediction.
The bulking of their midfield with the arrival of Riyad Mahrez has only added goals to their arsenal, yet City have failed to find the net in their last four home league meetings with Town.
They have however never gone five consecutive home league games without a goal against a single opponent in their history and David Wagner will hope to create history with his stubborn Yorkshire side.
We see City winning this through their superior quality but expect a game on Sunday as the champions will have to prove their worth once more in the most competitive league in the world.
Through their creativity of David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Aguero, City could edge this one 1-0 with odds of 9/1.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Similar to Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp now must win substantial silverware with his exciting Liverpool side this season to maintain positive morale amongst Kopites.
A 4-0 win to kick off the season underlined their title credentials, as golden boy Mohamed Salah continued his world class scoring form, and Firmino and Mane confirmed that Liverpool have one of the most devasting attacking trios in world football.
With new boy Xherdan Shaqiri coming into the fray and Daniel Sturridge returning to the side, Liverpool must win away games against teams like Palace to really push City for the title this year.
Palace will gain confidence following their comfortable win against Fulham, but Liverpool have too much for their defence to handle. You can get a 3-0 Liverpool win with football betting odds at 17/2.
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