Premier League Betting Preview – Outrights – English Premier League 2017-2018
It’s that time of year again football punters relish with delight. The 2017-18 English Premier League returns on 11 August 2017 and we have 9 full months of goalmouth action to look forward to (damn, that sounds dirty…) We’ll also be posting a dedicated Premier League Betting page but until then have a look at some of our other Football Betting Tips.
Champions Chelsea defend their title, while Newcastle United (hooray!), Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town are promoted from the Championship.
The Best Sports Betting pundits take a look at all 20 teams, assess their performances last season and make some predictions for the upcoming 2017-2018 campaign. Let’s get on with our Premier League Betting Preview.
Arsenal
Finished last season: 5th
Projected finish this season: 6th
Calls for Arsene Wenger’s sacking in the second half of last season went unheard. Many Disgruntled Gunners fans still want to see the back of the conservative French manager but the club owners believe he can turn things around (sigh). The FA Cup win seems to have saved Wenger’s bacon again, the lucky fish.
In the meantime, Arsenal have made one of the biggest signings in the transfer window, bagging Alexandre Lacazette from his boyhood club, Lyon. The Gunners have for too long been shorn of a deadly striker – and this one has plenty of pace too. Though we’re still not convinced with Wenger at the helm that Arsenal can improve on last season’s so-so performance.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Chelsea to be the best London club at 9/10 (Fading Arsenal)
Bournemouth
Finished last season: 9th
Projected finish this season: 11th
Bournemouth have certainly proved their pedigree since their recent promotion to the top division and their 9th place finish last season is testament to their quality. Centre-back Nathan Ake and Jermain Defoe are great additions to their squad. Although we expect another impressive showing from the Cherries, they might fall short of their top-half finish having slightly over-performed last season.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Bournemouth to finish in the Bottom Half 7/20. Yes it’s short but looks good value.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Finished last season: Promoted
Projected finish this season: 19th
Brighton & Hove Albion were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history when they finished 2nd in the Championship last season. The Seagulls still have a lot of building to do if they are to remain in the top division, which we aren’t banking on them getting done in time to stay up.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Brighton & Hove to be relegated at 12/10
Burnley
Finished last season: 16th
Projected finish this season: 18th
Under Sean Dyche, the Clarets had one of the best home records in the league last season, which just about kept them out of a relegation battle The law of averages say that with their current squad they can’t match their points tally at Turf Moor again, and we have them pegged for relegation in 2018.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Burnley to make the drop at 5/4
Chelsea
Finished last season: 1st
Projected finish this season: 2nd
Champions Chelsea were almost unplayable for parts of last season under Antonio Conte. The Blues could have completely run away with the title from as early as Christmas. But Tottenham and Liverpool came knocking at the same time as Chelsea began dropping some unexpected points – and the title race was on again!
I expect Chelsea to build on their performance last season and a Top 4 finish looks inevitable. This time round however the trophy might escape them.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Chelsea to be the Top London Club at 9/10
Crystal Palace
Finished last season: 14th
Projected finish this season: 7th
Palace have been a fascinating team to watch since their promotion to the uppermost echelon of English football. Last season their offence-minded approach earned them points against the league’s elite and I expect the same again.
The Eagles have appointed Dutch manager Frank de Boer as their new manager after Sam Allardyce helped them up into 14th place to comfortably avoid relegation. With the managerial prowess of De Boer at the helm, Palace will believe a top-half finish is a realistic target.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Crystal Palace to finish in the Top 10 at 3/1
Everton
Finished last season: 7th
Projected finish this season: 10th
Everton have spent approximately £82m on five signings, which will add depth to their squad. However they’ve lost Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United and Ross Barkley might leave the Merseyside club this summer too. With such big shoes to fill and a lack of spending power to do so, I worry for Everton’s goal-scoring prospects this season.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Very little value on anything Everton, We’re staying away until an interesting prop comes around.
Huddersfield Town
Finished last season: Promoted
Projected finish this season: 20th
The humble club from West Yorkshire earned their place in the English Premier League when they beat Reading on penalties in the promotional play-off game. Their squad is weaker than most we’ve seen promoted in recent years and it will take a small miracle for them to stay up. Thankfully, promotion is worth around 170 million pounds so hopefully they invest in the transfer market wisely!
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Huddersfield to finish dead last at 2/1.
Leicester City
Finished last season: 12th
Projected finish this season: 15th
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were a formidable pair for the entire duration of their league winning campaign. Only diehard Leicester fans would have you believe their team could be top dogs again. The hangover after winning the 2015-16 English Premier League was inevitable and those of us with any sense at all expected the club to finish outside of the Top 6 last season.
However their 12th place finish last season is still very respectable for a club of Leicester’s stature. The Foxes may have established themselves in the Premier League but we’re not expecting any more miracles from the East Midlands side.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Leicester to finish in the bottom 10 at 1/1.
Liverpool
Finished last season: 4th
Projected finish this season: 4th
Jurgen Klopp is the main reason I watched so many of Liverpool’s matches last season. The charismatic German’s personality comes through in his team’s approach to the beautiful game. I expect the Scouse will score just as many goals this season but Klopp will look to tighten up their defence. His biggest signing of the window so far has been Chelsea reject (fu*k knows why…) Mohamed Salah, who’s a really classy player that can take several attacking positions.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Liverpool to finish in the Top 4 at 17/20
Our best bets for the upcoming 2017-2018 English Premier League season:
To Win: Manchester City @ odds of 19/10 with World Sports Betting
To Finish in the Top 4: Liverpool @ odds of 17/20 with World Sports Betting
To Finish in the Top Half (10th or better): Crystal Palace @ odds of 3/1 with World Sports Betting
To be Relegated: (18th or worse): Swansea City @ odds of 21/10 with World Sports Betting
Premier Betting Preview – English Premier League 2017-2018 (Part 2, because we know it’s a lot of reading!)
Welcome to Part 2 of our English Premier League betting preview, where the Best Sports Betting pundits take a look at all 20 teams, assess their performances last season and make some predictions for the upcoming 2017-2018 campaign.
Manchester City
Finished last season: 3rd
Projected finish this season: 1st
Manchester City never really looked threaten Chelsea ‘s title race but the Citizens secured third place and Champions League football. There’s still more talent in this squad than any other and I expect Pep Guardiola’s men to be lifting the trophy come May next year.
Unavailable for most of last season, Gabriel Jesus will make a huge difference to their title ambitions, especially working alongside Sergio Aguero, who’s still the league’s best finisher. New arrivals include Ederson Moraes from Benfica for £35m as well as Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Manchester City to win the League at 19/10
Manchester United
Finished last season: 6th
Projected finish this season: 3rd
The biggest news in the United camp during the pre-season is Wayne Rooney’s departure for Everton. But as far as the Red Devils’ title hopes are concerned, this makes little or no difference. What will boost the club however is their signing of last season’s 2nd highest goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku.
Manchester United may not have been the most exciting team to watch under Jose Mourinho last season, but they began to play with the type of consistency required for a title challenge. I think they’re destined for Champions League football next year and will finish above Liverpool.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Manchester City to be the top North West Club at 17/20. Once again more of a fade on United due to low value backing them for a Top 4 Finish.
Newcastle United
Finished last season: Promoted
Projected finish this season: 14th
After their one-season stint in the Championship, Rafa Benitez and the Toon Army are back in the English Premier League. Some years back the Spaniard last managed Liverpool in this division rather successfully and I think he will relish the opportunity again. With him, as well as Newcastle’s experience in the Premier League will count for a lot and I expect the Magpies to finish well above the relegation places.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Little value in backing the Toon for a bottom half finish so we’ll take number of promoted teams to be relegated = 2 at 18/10.
Southampton
Finished last season: 8th
Projected finish this season: 8th
At Southampton, axed manager Claude Puel makes way for Mauricio Pellegrino. The Argentinian looks a good prospect for the Saints who are no longer a team happy to settle for a top-half finish. Southampton are in the tricky position of perhaps being a little overambitious to gun for a Top 4 spot but certainly above and beyond mid-table mediocracy.
Despite a new manager to breathe life into the club, I don’t feel they’ve made enough signings to improve on last year’s finish. They’ve also lost Jay Rodriguez to West Bromich Albion who’ll need to be replaced up front.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Very little value on the Saints in current market.
Stoke City
Finished last season: 13th
Projected finish this season: 9th
Stoke is another club which year after year lacks the talent pool and financial resources to play in Europe, but is far too good for a relegation scrap. If the Potters can hold onto Marko Arnautovic and strike a deal for Kurt Zouma with Chelsea, they should secure a top-half finish this season.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Stoke to finish in the Top 10 at 22/10.
Swansea City
Finished last season: 15th
Projected finish this season: 15th
The Welsh team had a disappointing 2016-17 season by their standards. But things could go from bad to worse if they lose their star player Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Another club with zero value on the betting front.
Tottenham Hotspur
Finished last season: 2nd
Projected finish this season: 5th
Tottenham were fantastic last season. Striker Harry Kane rediscovered his magical touch, winning the Golden Boot for top goalscorer. Spurs also kept plenty of clean sheets and maintained the tightest defence in the league, conceding just 26 goals.
Kyle Walker leaves the London club for Manchester City who paid a whopping £45m for the right back. They haven’t made any new signings but I’m not sure there is too much cause for concern just yet.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Spurs to have a better season than Arsenal at 8/10 or Spurs not to make the Top 4 (No price at publish)
Watford
Finished last season: 17th
Projected finish this season: 16th
Watford are one of three clubs to make managerial changes and have replaced Walter Mazzarri with Portuguese Marco Silva, who was with Hull City for a while last season. Good news for the Hornets is the signing of Nathaniel Chalobah on a five-year deal from Chelsea.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Watford to avoid relegation again. No price out as yet.
West Bromwich Albion
Finished last season: 10th
Projected finish this season: 12th
Tony Pulis steered the Baggies to their first top-half finish in the English Premier League since 2010-2011. No players have left the club over the transfer window so far, and they’ve managed to get the signature of Jay Rodriguez to bulk up their attack.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Some value on the Baggies to be in the bottom half at 7/20.
West Ham United
Finished last season: 11th
Projected finish this season: 13th
Ex-Manchester City keeper Joe Hart and Stoke Forward Marko Arnautovic are just two players on West Ham’s wishlist this transfer window. After finishing 7th in the 2015-16 season and nearly bagging a Europa League spot, their performance this season was a bit of a let-down.
Premier League Betting Preview Best Bet : Once again some value on the Hammers to finish in the bottom half at 1/2.
Our best overall bets for the upcoming 2017-2018 English Premier League season:
To Win: Manchester City @ odds of 19/10 with World Sports Betting
To Finish in the Top 4: Liverpool @ odds of 17/20 with World Sports Betting
To Finish in the Top Half (10th or better): Crystal Palace @ odds of 3/1 with World Sports Betting
To be Relegated: (18th or worse): Swansea City @ odds of 21/10 with World Sports Betting