Betting Frenzy In Store as New Premier League Season Starts

This coming weekend sees the resumption of hostilities in the Premier League as the 20 teams compete against each other to be named Premier League Champions. Last season, Pep Guardiola navigated his Manchester City side to a record-breaking season, winning the Premier League with the most number of points accumulated (100) as well as the most number of goals scored in a season (106).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Manchester City remain the firm favourites to win the Premier League once again this season, with bet365 Sport having them as the 4-7 short-priced favourites to win back-to-back titles. When you consider their performance last season, and the signing of players of the calibre of Riyad Mahrez to add to an already massively talented squad, you can certainly understand why the bookmakers have them such a short price.

But how will each of the team’s perform this season? Who is worth a punt on to perhaps oust Manchester City at the top of the table, or if not, finish as runner up behind them? Will City perform well below expectation and allow a totally different team take the title?

Outlined below is my take on how I see the 2018-2019 season finishing together with the odds for winning the title as provided with Bet365.

• Champions – Manchester City – 4/7

It’s difficult to see how City could be beaten enough times during the season to make them drop out of top spot. Pep Guardiola’s team were comfortably the strongest team in England this season and they have only strengthened that squad in the off-season. An opening day trip to Arsenal will be a test for them, but if they win at the Emirates, then I think you’ll see their price come in even shorter to win the title once again.

• 2^nd – Liverpool – 5/1

With Emre Can gone, Liverpool have signed up Naby Keita and Fabinho to strengthen midfield but in truth, Liverpool fans will be desperate to see a goalkeeper signed after Loris Karius mistakes in the Champions League final and also in the first two friendly games of the season. If Klopp bites the bullet and brings in a goalkeeper, then I can see Liverpool finishing second. If not, then I think they will be battling for a place in the Champions League places.

• 3^rd – Manchester United – 13/2

It’s been a relatively quiet pre-season for United thus far, though that may change once the World Cup has been finalised and we reach the last few weeks of pre-season. Mourinho hasn’t quite got it right at United as yet, but he has improved the team a great deal and I think although this represents a drop of one place in the table for them, they will be much closer to City this season.

• 4^th – Tottenham Hotspur – 16/1

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs team have performed well over the course of the past few seasons but without winning the title. I can’t see them doing that this season, but I think moving back into their own ground will help them, especially in big games against title rivals.  They’ll be the strongest of the London clubs.

• 5^th – Arsenal – 25/1

The Wenger era is over and the Unai Emery era begins at Arsenal and I think it will be a relatively decent season for the Gunners. I like the moves they have made in the transfer market so far and with Aubameyang and Mkitaryan in tandem for the whole season, plus having a pre-season behind them, I think the Gunners will improve on last season.

• 6^th – Chelsea – 14/1

With speculation over the futures of Courtois, Hazard and manager Conte at the time of writing, I think Chelsea’s situation is far more grave than many realise. PSG want Kante and there are no big name signings on the horizon nor any news on a new manager so far. For me, this is the season Chelsea will implode unless they take some big decisions, which they have not looked like doing up until now.

• 7^th – Everton – 200/1

The toffees may have been saved from the drop by Sam Allardyce but his brand of football was unpalatable to many Evertonians. Marco Silva, the man Everton wanted initially before appointing Allardyce, is a talented young manager and with a decent squad at his disposal, he should improve Everton’s fortunes this season.

• 8^th – Leicester City – 300/1

If Leicester keep hold of Claude Puel and invest the £60m they received from Manchester City for Riyad Mahrez sensibly, then I can see them pushing hard for a European spot this season. It will be interesting to see if they can fend off the inevitable interest that will follow Harry Maguire’s stellar performances for England in the World Cup this summer. If they can, then a top half finish is within reach.

• 9^th – West Ham United – 500/1

They were slated by their own fans last season but I think the West Ham board have made some good changes at the club this summer. Manuel Pellegrini coming in is a clever move and the signings of the likes of Yarmolenko and Wilshere are shrewd. The key for the Hammers will be holding on to Arnautovic. If they can, then they should not have any relegation worries this season.

• 10^th – Newcastle United – 500/1

Holding onto Rafa Benitez is a fundamental for Newcastle and at least their board realise that, but without significant investment in the squad, the best the Geordies can hope for is a mid-table finish, which is what I think Benitez will deliver for them once again. That could improve if new owners come in and offer Benitez the cash he needs to improve this squad.

• 11^th – Bournemouth – 1000/1

I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe and I think he is a talented manager. He has made Bournemouth a safe Premier League club over the past few years and I think once again, he will lead this team to a mid table position, well away from the drop zone.

• 12^th – Wolverhampton Wanderers – 250/1

The significant investment in main Portuguese players has paid dividends for Wolves as they won the Championship strongly last season. The Premier League is a massive step up in class though and though I feel they won’t be relegation threatened, I can’t see a top half finish for them just yet.

• 13^th – Crystal Palace – 750/1

If Palace can hold on to Wilfred Zaha, and perhaps bring in a couple of players to sort out their back line, then I think Roy Hodgson’s men can improve on last season and secure safety for themselves relatively comfortably and look on towards a top half finish next season.

• 14^th – Burnley – 500/1

I think the added pressure of Europa League football will take its toll on Burnley this season and that could see Sean Dyche’s side finish lower than their lofty position of last season. That said, I still think Dyche will steer his team well clear of the drop zone with plenty of games left in the season.

• 15^th – Fulham – 1000/1

The Cottagers will be looking for a decent showing on their return to the Premier League and I think a 15^th place finish would be more than acceptable for Slavisa Jokanovic and his team. However I do feel their success depends on them keeping hold of Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon.

• 16^th – Watford – 1000/1

Javi Gracia knows that he doesn’t have too much time to get it right at Watford and I think if the Hornets get off to a poor start, Gracia could be one of the early candidates for the chop. That said, this is a talented squad and I think they will do just enough to steer clear of the drop.

• 17^th – Southampton – 400/1

Mark Hughes may have saved Southampton from the drop, but I think that was more luck than judgement, based on what happened to Stoke City. I think that was a false dawn and in truth with a lack of goals throughout the side, I feel it will be a real struggle for Southampton once again.

• 18^th – Brighton – 1000/1

I’m a big fan of Chris Hughton, but at times last season Brighton were exposed, especially by teams with strong attacks. I think this year will be an even greater struggle for the seagulls and though I expect them to battle hard, they would be my first tip for the drop this year.

• 19^th – Cardiff City – 2000/1

Cardiff are the big favourites to go back down to the Championship and without big investment in the team, I struggle to see how the current squad of players could cope in the Premier League and as such, I think they’ll be back in the Championship next season.

• 20^th – Huddersfield Town – 1000/1

They may have surprised everyone by avoiding the drop last season but a second season in the Premier League is often more tough than the first and without big investment once again, I think this will be the year David Warner’s battlers are found out.