Dean Etheridge
The new English Premier League season gets underway this weekend, and already we have a couple of early-season soccer picks for you.
Already the fixture list has thrown up some exciting fixtures.
First up on Friday, we have new boys Brentford hosting Arsenal at the Community Stadium.
Then we get into the main bulk of the fixtures on Saturday, with Manchester United and Liverpool both in respective action.
Matchweek 1 Premier League Fixtures
- Brentford v Arsenal (Fri)
- Man Utd v Leeds (Sat)
- Watford v Aston Villa (Sat)
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace (Sat)
- Leicester v Wolves (Sat)
- Burnley v Brighton (Sat)
- Everton v Southampton (Sat)
- Norwich v Liverpool (Sat)
- Newcastle v West Ham (Sun)
- Tottenham v Man City (Sun)
Finally, on Sunday, we have Tottenham Hotspur hosting last season’s champions, Manchester City, in a fixture that already has the added spice of the Harry Kane transfer saga.
This match would have been a big game without all the off-field antics.
This time next week.
We're back. pic.twitter.com/1CjWPw2Qed
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) August 6, 2021
Brentford v Arsenal
For my first pick this weekend, I’m looking at the fixture between Brentford and Arsenal.
- Premier League Matchweek 1 – Brentford v Arsenal
- Venue – Brentford Community Stadium, London
- Date – 13th August 2021
- Time – 3pm ET
The Gunners start the match as favorites with top sportsbooks.
But with uncertainty about form heading into the new season, I’m not going near the match betting. Instead, I’m looking at the over/under 2.5 goals market in this fixture.
Brentford will be keen to get off to a flyer. The match is in front of their fans, in their new stadium. It is also live on TV, so they will want to make a statement.
| Brentford v Arsenal Betting Odds |  |  |
| Brentford | +350 | +333.3 |
| Draw | +270 | +275 |
| Arsenal | -117.6 | -125 |
The Bees will be going into this season using the majority of the players who got them promoted.
Instead of going out and making wholesale changes, they’ve followed the template used by the likes of Sheffield United, who stayed up in their first season with pretty much the same squad.
It needs saying that the majority of sides who follow this template do usually get relegated!
For Arsenal, there are no major changes to their squad. They have made a big signing in Ben White from Brighton, and one or two backup players left. But that’s it really.
Last season in the Championship, Brentford conceded 42 goals in 46 fixtures. Not the worse by far, but at nearly a goal a game, it suggests keeping clean sheets in the Premier League is going to be a struggle for them.
With adrenalin high going into the first game of the season for the Bees, and Arsenal not being the greatest side, I’m backing over 2.5 goals at +110.
This covers a shock Brentford 2-1 win, and it also covers an Arsenal landside victory.
Manchester United v Leeds United
Moving onto Saturday, and Manchester United is hosting Leeds United, and my next pick comes from this fixture.
- Premier League Matchweek 1 – Manchester United v Leeds United
- Venue – Old Trafford, Manchester
- Date – 14th August 2021
- Time – 7.30am ET
Bit of an early start for this fixture I’m afraid, but with the new Manchester United signing Jadon Sancho likely to be on show, it’s worth getting up early for!
In the soccer betting odds, Manchester United is the favorite to win this match.
The Red Devils are without star striker Marcus Rashford though. The Englishman is out for a few weeks with a shoulder injury.
This fixture does give Manchester the chance to showcase the rest of their attacking talent.
Not only do they have Sancho, but they also have the emerging talent Mason Greenwood, along with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.
Unfortunately for Manchester, Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani isn’t available for this match.
| Manchester United v Leeds United Betting Odds | | |
| Man Utd | -181.8 | 187.5 |
| Draw | +360 | +350 |
| Leeds Utd | +450 | +475 |
Leeds United is another side that hasn’t really made a splash in the transfer market. All they’ve done is buy squad players and made the loan signing of Jack Harrison a permanent one.
It is said in the Premier League if you stand still, you go backward. I wonder if this is where Leeds is at this season?
It’s also their second season back in the Premier League, and as Sheffield United found out last year, it can be a lot more difficult than the first one!
I expect Manchester United to win this match, and at odds of -181.8, they are my pick to win this fixture.
Teams that are likely to finish in the top 4 of the Premier League are rarely at odds that good. For example, Chelsea is -454.5 to defeat Crystal Palace at home on the same day.
Be careful on the opening weekend
As is often the case in soccer betting, when there is no real form to go on, caution needs to be shown.
Betting on the opening weekend of any soccer event is a good time to use some betting bonuses. This way you’re not risking too much of your own hard-earned bucks.
Our betting bonuses page has plenty of offers for you to use, and this is the ideal time to grab some of the excellent deals!
