The new Premier League season kicks-off on Friday 13th August, with Manchester City looking to retain the title they won with ease last term.
Pep Guardiola’s men are favourites at 8/11 with Betway to keep the trophy at the Etihad Stadium, having already acquired the services of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for the tidy sum of £100 million and reportedly looking to add Harry Kane at an even higher cost.
If they secure Kane, it’s difficult to see past Manchester City claiming another league title. However, their ongoing pursuit of Champions League glory could potentially prove to be a significant distraction and that alone makes their Premier League betting odds too short for consideration at this stage.
Chelsea for Top-2?
The main threat to the Citizens could be Chelsea at 5/1 with bet365*, who beat City on three occasions in three separate competitions late last season.
The Blues improved significantly once Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard last season and they’ve just finalised the deal that will see Romelu Lukaku head back to Stamford Bridge to provide a real focal point to their attack. They could certainly be worth a punt at 6/4 with bet365* for a Top 2 Finish.
Romelu Lukaku is so much more than just an elite finisher. He’s currently one of the only complete strikers in the world pic.twitter.com/3A17j2tbG8
— ChelseaFCBlogs (@ChelseaFCBlogs_) August 9, 2021
Liverpool struggled with injuries last season and only really found any consistency over the last few weeks of the campaign.
There’s a feeling in some quarters that the current first team may be coming to the end of its natural cycle and is in need a bit of an overhaul, but those who believe that there’s another title in these players can back the Reds at 6/1 with Betway.
The only other club seen as having any genuine hope of lifting the Premier League title are Manchester United at 8/1 with William Hill.
The Red Devils have spent heavily on Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, but there remain doubts as to whether they can find the winning formula under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and whether Paul Pogba will ever find a role that suits the needs of the team.
Premier League Dark Horses
Of the possible outsiders with odds off 50/1 or more, the following teams may give you a bit of fun…
- Leicester City are 50/1 with 888sport
- Tottenham are 66/1 with SpreadEx
- Arsenal are 70/1 with SpreadEx
- Leeds United are 150/1 with SpreadEx
Leicester have narrowly and agonisingly missed out on Champions League football in each of the last two seasons, but they again look to have recruited well in bringing in Patson Daka (RB Salzburg), Boubakary Soumare (Lille) and Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) over the summer.
The 11/10 with 888sport on the Foxes claiming another Top-6 Finish looks decent enough value, particularly with serious doubts surrounding the North London duo of Arsenal and Tottenham.
Other Premier League Betting Odds
At the foot of the table, it’s never any great surprise to see the three newly promoted clubs as the three favourites to be relegated straight back from whence they came. This season is no different, with Norwich City at 10/11 with William Hill for relegation, Watford at 1/1 with bet365* and Brentford at 6/4 with Betway.
Of the three, Watford look the most likely candidates for a swift return to the Championship. The Hornets made a raft of summer signings, but they’ve not spent a great deal and few of the new recruits really look likely to have a significant impact.
To Finish Bottom
Watford could also potentially lose a number of players to the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February, so at 7/2 with Betway ‘To Finish Bottom’, they could be worth some careful consideration.
Top Promoted Team
On a similar theme, Brentford look a good option at 13/8 with Betfair as the ‘Top Promoted Team’. The Bees have kept their squad intact, have a striker in Ivan Toney who looks capable of adapting to and scoring goals in the top-flight and their analytical approach usually pays dividends in the transfer market.
Relegation Betting
There could be value in looking at Crystal Palace at 7/4 with William Hill. The Eagles have brought in Patrick Vieira as their new manager, but he doesn’t have a great record in the dugout and he’s had to try and reinvigorate the ageing squad that he inherited with younger new recruits.
Another ageing squad is that of Burnley, where Sean Dyche pulls off a minor miracle every season in keeping the Clarets above the relegation trap door. It’s difficult to see how what has been yet another relatively quiet transfer window to date helps their cause. Burnley are 5/2 with 888sport for the drop.
Newcastle United look to be on the verge of signing their top transfer target in Joe Willock from Arsenal, but they still look short of overall depth and quality, so the 11/4 for then to be relegated with bet365* is sure to have plenty of takers.
Southampton are the other team who look to be in danger. They struggled badly at times last season and losing Danny Ings to Aston Villa doesn’t help their cause. The Saints can be backed at 9/2 for relegation with SpreadEx.
Premier League Sack Race
The Next Manager To Leave Post market sees Xisco Munoz of Watford at 6/1 with Betfair.
The Hornets have a reputation for pulling the trigger on their managers once a few results go against them, so Xisco (a manager they brought in from Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia last season) looks the obvious choice in this market.
Premier League 2021/22 Predictions:
- Top 2 Finish – Chelsea @ 6/4 with bet365*
- Top 6 Finish – Leicester City @ 11/10 with 888sport
- Top Promoted Team – Brentford @ 13/8 with Betfair
- To Finish Bottom – Watford @ 7/2 with Betway
- Relegation – Crystal Palace @ 7/4 with William Hill
- Next Manager To Leave Post – Xisco Munoz (Watford) @ 6/1 with Betfair
* Premier League betting odds correct at the time of writing. All EPL odds subject to change.
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