After a long, hot, football-less summer, the Premier League is almost back. The new season kicks off with Liverpool vs. Norwich on Friday 9 August, and from then on, our weekends will finally have some meaning again.
Of course, with the new football season comes a new betting season, and punters are already getting their wagers in ahead of the big date. With that in mind, let’s take a look at our top betting tips for the 2019/20 Premier League season.
All odds sourced from Coral (review), correct as of 31/07/19.
To win the league
Our pick: Manchester City @ 1/2
Yes, they’re the obvious pick, and yes, the odds aren’t that enticing, but we just can’t see past Pep Guardiola’s side picking up a third consecutive title this coming season. Liverpool took it to the wire last year, but the Reds have had a poor pre-season and are yet to make any significant additions to their squad.
City, on the other hand, have added much-needed depth to the base of their midfield by signing Rodri from Atletico Madrid for £62.8m. Expect Liverpool to push them close once again, but this Man City side is simply too good to bet against.
Top four finish
Our picks: Man City @ 1/50, Liverpool @ 1/12, Tottenham @ 1/2, Chelsea @ 11/10
City and Liverpool are dead certs, while Tottenham look like they’ll build on last year’s fourth-place finish, having splashed out £55m on record signing Tanguy Ndombele. From there, it’s a fairly even race for the fourth and final Champions League place between Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Each side has their issues – Chelsea are serving a transfer ban, United’s best player Paul Pogba is angling for a move away, and Arsenal are Arsenal. It’ll probably be close, but Chelsea finished last season the strongest, claiming third place and winning the Europa League. There’s a lot of positivity at the Bridge after the return of club legend Frank Lampard as manager, and we think the Blues will just have the edge over their rivals.
To be relegated
Our pick: Sheffield United @ 7/10, Norwich @ 10/11, Brighton @ 9/5
These three are the bookies’ favourites and we think they’re a solid bet at these odds. Norwich and Sheffield United have both strengthened this summer after impressive Championship campaigns last season, but on paper, their squads simply don’t look strong enough.
The third relegation candidate is more open. Not many are rating Newcastle’s chances following the appointment of Steve Bruce, but they should have just enough to survive another year. Crystal Palace could also struggle, particularly if they lose Wilfried Zaha, but we’re putting our money on Brighton.
The Seagulls replaced Chris Hughton with Graham Potter following a 17th-placed finish last term. Potter has impressed in his career so far, taking Swedish side Ostersund from the fourth tier to the Europa League and guiding Swansea to 10th in the Championship last season, but Brighton are definitely taking a risk with this appointment. Couple that with their underwhelming summer transfer business and it’s looking unlikely that they’ll survive again.
Outside candidate for top-half finish
Our pick: Aston Villa @ 9/2
Villa are back in the big time after a three-year absence, and they certainly haven’t wasted any time when it comes to strengthening their squad for the coming season. Dean Smith’s side are currently the biggest spenders of the summer transfer window, having splashed out over £100m.
Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett have been signed to add Premier League experience at the back, while exciting Brazilians Douglas Luiz and Wesley should bring quality further up the pitch. Add that to a squad already containing the likes of Jack Grealish and John McGinn, and Villa are certainly looking good on paper, at least.
Granted, splashing the cash offers no guarantees, and a similar method backfired spectacularly for Fulham last year. However, if you’re looking for decent odds on a ‘top half finish’ market, Villa represent decent value.
Top goalscorer
Our pick: Sergio Aguero @ 11/2
This one is almost too close to call, especially when you consider that last year’s top spot was shared by Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Harry Kane is the bookies’ favourite, but the England striker struggled with fitness last season, so we’ve gone with Sergio Aguero.
The Argentine hasn’t won the Golden Boot since the 2014/15 season but is always towards the top of goalscoring charts. He scored 21 last time out, just one behind the three players in joint-first, and was instrumental as City stormed to the title. As long as Aguero can stay fit throughout the season, the 11/2 odds make this an attractive bet.
So there we have it – our top betting tips for the upcoming Premier League season. Will you follow our advice or back a hunch of your own? Either way, there’s going to be plenty of excitement along the way. Good luck!