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EPL Preview: Week 2 awaits

A couple of upsets last weekend but four of the six 'big clubs' won.

Premier League action
Premier League action Picture: Wesley Tingey via Unsplash

A couple of upsets last weekend but four of the six 'big clubs' won.

Tottenham and Manchester City did it easily, with Spurs achieving the halftime/fulltime double to get our first best bet of the year over the line at 2.00. 

Arsenal started well but allowed a toothless Crystal Palace back into the game – they are fortunate Eze and Edouard were below par. A Chelsea penalty gave them maximum points at Goodison in a game that would not stir great excitement for their respective supporters.

Liverpool was really stretched by an enthusiastic and talented Fulham outfit; it is unfair to say the Reds were off their game as I feel all credit goes to the Cottagers who deserved the point. 

Manchester Utd looked like the same outfit from the tail end of last season. Whenever Fred and McTominay start they are going to be in trouble. A club their size surely must look for better options, with De Jong the target. Brighton is not a team you want to bring your B-game against.

Onwards to week two. A few games look a bit lop-sided but five or six of them look very even matchups.

 

ASTON VILLA v EVERTON: Saturday 13 August at 9.30pm (All times AEST)

No goals for either team in the opening round. Villa was very poor against an enthusiastic Bournemouth who relished their return to the EPL. Everton treaded cautiously against a moderate Chelsea whose penalty late in the first half was the difference. Not a match for the ages. 

Villa won this fixture early last season via three second half goals. It was another clean sheet for the Villains when they went to Goodison, a lone goal separating the sides. 

Villa is in the red to win this game, with Everton north of 5.00. Given Steven Gerrard's men only won 6/19 at Villa Park last season and considering their dismal effort last week it doesn't look great value. Everton had the second worst away record in 21/22 so no kudos there either. A no bet game. 

ARSENAL v LEICESTER: Sunday 14 August 12.00am

Arsenal flew the gates at Selhurst Park last week and looked outstanding in the first 25 minutes. As Palace warmed into the game and began to dominate possession there was a real sense of rear-guard about the Gunners. French defender William Saliba finally played his first game for Arsenal and was man-of-the-match. A late Palace own goal soothed the nerves.

Leicester threw away a two-goal lead at home against Brentford. It's not going to be smooth sailing for the Foxes this year and they can ill-afford to drop two points in that manner too often.

Arsenal performed very well at home last season, with the only shock defeat coming at the hands of Brighton. Leicester lost nine times away, including a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates. 

Bet: The home team look too good, with the $1.50 on offer about the right price.

 

BRIGHTON v NEWCASTLE: Sunday 14 August 12.00am

Don't let the big-six obsessed media fool you - this is the most appealing match of the round. 

There was no fluke about Brighton's win at Old Trafford, their sharp counterattacks from midfield and clinical finishing was too good for the home side. Newcastle dominated newly promoted Forest although they did take 58 minutes to break the deadlock. Both goals were absolute top-shelf. 

These sides play at a frantic tempo and ask a lot of questions of opposition defence. It should be an outstanding showpiece of high energy football.

This ended 1-1 last season in round 11, with Brighton's goal coming via the spot. To that point Newcastle had not won a game and weren't to break through for another month. What a massive difference nine months makes. 

I think Newcastle are way over the odds and can keep the momentum rolling before their mouth-watering clash against City at St James next weekend.  

Bet: Newcastle to win @ $3.15

 

MANCHESTER CITY v BOURNEMOUTH: Sunday 14 August 12.00am

Not much to report here. Both sides come off 2-0 wins last weekend, Bournemouth's victory coming in front of a raucous home crowd against a poor Aston Villa.

City will welcome their new golden-haired boy Erling Haaland to the Etihad. It should be 80% possession and an easy win to the home side. 

 

SOUTHAMPTON v LEEDS: Sunday 14 August 12.00am.

These sides come off vastly different first round tests. The Saints struck early against Spurs but from midway through the first half were utterly outclassed. Their defence was borderline shambolic at times. Conversely Leeds gave up an early goal at home to Wolves but came back to win 2-1, with Patrick Bamford's successful return a real highlight. 

Southampton was very good at St Mary's last season until March. They forced draws with the likes of Man City, Man Utd, Spurs and West Ham until the late slump saw them lose five of six. Interestingly Leeds performed better away from Elland Road in 21/22, with the famous win at Brentford on the final day enabling their survival. 

The Saints are favourites - not keen to get involved.

 

WOLVES v FULHAM: Sunday 14 August 12.00am.

If Fulham shows the same aggression and attacking flair here as they did at home to Liverpool last Saturday they win this, but it is a big 'if'. Mitrovic was terrific for them against the Reds; not just the brace of goals but his tireless efforts dropping back to collect the ball midfield to turn defence into counterattack.

Wolves look in real need of a squad boost. A lack of goals was their #1 issue last season and little has changed. Leeds came from behind to beat them last weekend so they can go one of two ways; avenge the dropped points or let it fester. 

These two sides last met in the 20/21 season and Wolves came out on top 1-0 at both fixtures. That was Fulham's relegation season and form is hardly relevant. 

Bet: Hard one to pick, with a draw at $3.40 maybe the way to go if you want an interest.

 

BRENTFORD v MANCHESTER UTD: Sunday 14 August at 2.30am.   

A game effort by the Bees last weekend at Leicester to turn around a two-goal deficit and take a point. The menace of German Janelt in the midfield and the star quality of Josh Dasilva up front were highlights of a game that must feel like a win to them. 

The sorry recent history of Manchester Utd continued. A new manager, a couple of new faces, but the same stuttering progress towards goal and a soft underbelly defensively. Since April in the EPL the Red Devils have recorded two wins, two draws, and six losses. The losses have all come away from home against the likes of Everton, Brighton and Crystal Palace. In fact, since a big win against Leeds in February they have netted just twice in six games away from Old Trafford.

So why are Brentford 4.00 and Man Utd 2.00? Best not to get involved, or have a little speccy on the home side if you must. 

 

NOTTINGHAM FOREST v WEST HAM: Sunday 14 August at 11.00pm

It is worth noting the two big performances from promoted sides last weekend were at home so it is hard to be critical of Forest, especially in the euphoric atmosphere of St James' Park. They showed enough pluck defensively to suggest they will not be push-overs this season, and the two goals conceded were crackers. 

Since the beginning of calendar year 2022, Forest has played ten games in the Championship at the City Ground for nine wins and a draw, scoring an impressive 29 goals and conceding just 5. Obviously, they step up in class but those numbers tell a story.

The Hammers looked great for about six minutes against Man City then that inferiority complex that often emerges against the big guns set in. Except for a big opportunity missed by Rice to go 1-1 they were never at the races. 

Moyes must bring Scamacca and Cornet in. If he does, I think the Irons can get away with this. If not, Forest is right in the contest. 

No bet.

 

CHELSEA v TOTTENHAM: Monday 15 August 1.30am

This is the first heavyweight clash of the season and both sides bring wins on opening day to the table.

Chelsea was far from impressive against a negative Everton outfit. A silly penalty on the stroke of half-time was the difference. Spurs stuttered early but then Kulusevski took the game by the scruff of the neck and the 4-1 score line could have been greater.

The Blues certainly had the wood on Tottenham in their clashes last season, winning 2-0 at home and 3-0 away. However, the second of those matches was played on 23 January which was just a couple of months after the arrival of Antonio Conte. Spurs' season didn't really flourish until after a shock defeat at Burnley in February – they then went on to win ten of their last 14. 

Spurs' trademark quick counter attacks using long incisive balls might trouble Chelsea whose wing backs press deeply. Thiago Silva, one of the great defenders in the modern game, had to back pedal more than once at Goodison last weekend. At almost 38 years of age, can he handle Son, Kane, Kulusevski, and Richarlison who is available to make his debut? Wesley Fofana is their target buy from Leicester to beef up the defence and would be excellent business. 

Spurs drew with Liverpool and beat Manchester City away last season. They can take big scalps on the road. At 3.30 they look nice overs to me.

Bet: Spurs to win @ $3.30

 

LIVERPOOL v CRYSTAL PALACE: Tuesday 16 August 5.00am

Liverpool was bullied in packs at Craven Cottage on opening day and the draw could easily have gone 3-2 either way. Palace failed to land a blow in the first half against Arsenal but did dominate possession in the second stanza. However, they were poor in front of goal and chances to Eze and Edouard went begging. 

The Reds bagged six goals on the way to defeating Palace twice last season. It is too early to be hitting panic buttons but anything less than 3 points here would mean a dismal return on their opening two games against likely bottom-ten opposition. 

Expect a quick response for home fans and a comfortable win. 1.24 is too short, but 1.68 the half time/ full time double is a decent option for Reds supporters wanting to invest. I prefer not to play in this on
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