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Fulham v Liverpool
It's a new Premier League season which means it's another newly promoted opponent for Liverpool in their debut match. This will be the third straight year the Reds get a favorable opening match and this year Fulham gets the tough test. Liverpool are massive favorites here and rightfully so, and while Sadio Mane is gone to Bayern Munich the Reds still pack a punch in attack. Mohamed Salah has a new contract and is fresh to focus on winning the golden boot outright while Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are expected to form the rest of the new look Liverpool attack. The only worry here for Liverpool is that the high defensive line they play with the offside trap is often rusty to start the year, but they should have the shooting boots on to fire them to 3 points.
The Bet: Liverpool -1.5
Prediction: Fulham 1-3 Liverpool
Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Another newly promoted team making their opening Premier League statement Saturday is Bournemouth, but they come into this game in a world of hurt. The Cherries have hardly made any summer signings and failing to improve a second-tier side only spells disaster. Aston Villa meanwhile come into this season feeling rather confident. It will be the first full campaign under Steven Gerrard who is a promising young manager full of Premier League experience as a player. Villa reinforced their squad with center-back Diego Carlos from Sevilla who is strong if not also reckless at the back. Despite being on the road, Aston Villa should take this one, as they aim to finish higher up on the table this year.
The Bet: Aston Villa Moneyline
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Aston Villa
Leeds United v Wolverhampton
This ought to be a tricky game as both teams are simultaneously better, and worse, than they look on paper. Leeds has become USA FC this summer with the permanent appointment of Jesse Marsch as manager and the transfers of midfielders Brendan Aaronson and Tyler Adams. However, Leeds has also lost their two best players from the previous season in Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips. Wolverhampton have continued to tread water the last two seasons despite some serious talent at the club. Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence will be lively in attack but the early injury to Raul Jimenez at striker make the ever present question of who will score the goals even more pertinent. I think we will see a share of the spoils here and the season's first draw.
The Bet: Draw
Alternate Bet: Under 2.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Leeds United 1-1 Wolverhampton
Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest
The third and final of the new teams in the league is Nottingham Forest who will join their promoted partners in play on Saturday. This match figures to be extra spicy as it features two clubs in the mix of great change, for the good. Newcastle has used their new Saudi money (shoutout the LIV Tour) to bring in new players that have taken them from relegation contenders to top half of the table hopefuls. Sven Botman is the most notable addition at the back who will bring a calming presence to the Magpies back line. Forest have used the influx of Premier League cash to buy a hatful of players to reinforce their squad in hopes of survival. It will be interesting to see if these players can mesh well together right away as I think this game could have some fireworks.
The Bet: Both Teams to Score
Alternate Bet: Over 2.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Tottenham v Southampton
Spurs v Saints. Something about a good alliteration battle just gets me going, ya know? Tottenham should be big favorites here, even more so in my mind than the books in Vegas will say. Spurs are entering their first full year under Antonio Conte who should have his 3 at the back system with wing backs fully integrated. Harry Kane and Heung-min Son are arguably the greatest Premier League duo of all time, and oh wait, they added Richarlison from Everton. Southampton is at a crossroads in my mind. As Avon Barksdale said in the Wire, “not hard enough for this right here and maybe, just maybe, not smart enough for them out there.” The Saints are not good enough to be a serious team in the EPL, but they are also definitely better than the teams in the second-tier. James Ward-Prowse and his set piece delivery can only bail this team out so much and without some innovation in formation or magic from otherwise dull players, the Saints might be in trouble from August to May.
The Bet: Tottenham -1.5
Prediction: Tottenham 3-0 Southampton
Everton v Chelsea
Oh boy, will this one be a doozy. Everton were escape artists last year as the storied club dropped like a stone to the bottom of the table. The Toffees are in dire straits as they’ve lost their top player, Richarlison, and failed to replace him. A team that nearly was relegated last year enters this new season not only worse, but also with injury problems as top striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will miss the start of the year. Chelsea have been the story of the summer, for good and bad reasons. Their ownership changed following Russian sanctions due to the war in Ukraine. They now have an American owner and have joined the coalition of Premier League clubs with incompetant American ownership. The team has added players only in positions that were already strengths while all their top targets have ditched West London for Barcelona. I am not quite sure what the Blues are doing but one thing I do know is that they are levels above Everton.
The Bet: Chelsea -1
Alternate Bet: Under 2.5 Total Goals
Feeling Lucky: Chelsea to Win and Keep a Clean Sheet
Prediction: Everton 0-2 Chelsea
Bonus Euro Parlay of the Day (or rather the whole weekend):
Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Barcelona all to Win (+530)
