EPL Tips & Preview – Week 1

The 2021-22 EPL season is here! Get your full preview and tips for all 10 games of the campaign’s opening weekend – including a Tottenham v Man City blockbuster.

History: Played 13: Brentford 5 V Arsenal 4 (4 Draws)

Last meeting: September 26, 2018 (EFL Cup): Arsenal 3 d Brentford 1 at Emirates Stadium

Final Thoughts: Premier League debutants Brentford have the honour of opening the 2021-22 season at their home ground. The Bees’ watershed promotion came after they finished third in the Championship – scoring a league-high 79 goals in the process – and won their way through the playoffs

Headlined by goalscoring machine Ivan Toney, goalkeeper David Raya and some shrewd recruitment, Brentford bring a talented squad into the EPL.

Arsenal have been in the doldrums in recent years by their lofty standards, missing the top four for five straight seasons and landing eighth in the past two.

England defender Ben White is the Gunners’ big summer purchase, arrived from Brighton on a £50m transfer.

This is the teams’ first league meeting since 1947, with Arsenal’s 3-1 EFL Cup victory three years ago the clubs’ only encounter in any competition since. Arsenal have tough assignments against Chelsea and Man City to come in the next fortnight – it’s essential they pick up the three points here.

Tip: Result and Total – Arsenal and Over 2.5 @ $2.75

History: Played 119: Man United 47 V Leeds 26 (36 Draws)

Last meeting: April 25, 2021 (EPL): 0-0 draw at Elland Road

Final Thoughts: Manchester United start their quest for their first EPL title since 2012-13 at home, taking on plucky Leeds United.

Man United finished well clear in second last season – but still a fair way behind crosstown rivals Man City. Forward Jadon Sancho and centre-back Raphaël Varane are the big off-season additions at Old Trafford, but neither recruit will feature in the opening game and there are concerns the line-up is thin in the midfield. Edinson Cavani has also been ruled out.

Leeds finished ninth in their promotion season, chalking up an impressive 18 wins. They carved out a reputation as an exciting attacking unit – their 62 goals was equal-sixth in the league – but Leeds ranked 14th for goals conceded, an area they must shore up. Patrick Bamford, with 17 goals and seven assists last year, again shapes as their key man alongside Kalvin Phillips.

Man United romped to a 6-2 win at Old Trafford last December – Scott McTominay scored twice in the first three minutes, while Bruno Fernandes also bagged a brace – but Leeds managed a scoreless draw against the heavyweights at home later in the season. Leeds haven’t won a league game against Man U at Old Trafford since 1981.

Home-ground advantage may provide a crucial edge in what looms as a tricky first-up assignment for the Red Devils. But the totals might provide a bit more value for punters in this one.

Tip: Total – Over 3.5 @ $2.49

History: Played 117: Wolverhampton 43 V Leicester 39 (35 Draws)

Last meeting: February 7, 2021 (EPL): 0-0 draw at Molineux Stadium

Final Thoughts: Leicester City endured an agonising case of déjà vu last season, finishing fifth after a late-season collapse for the second straight year. The only two weeks of the campaign the Foxes did not occupy a top-four position were the last two. An FA Cup triumph over Chelsea and subsequent Community Shield upset of Man City were decent consolations.

Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers has done a superb job as manager in two years at the helm. Patson Daka has been added to a gun forward contingent in the off-season, while Youri Tielemans’ apparent decision to stay is a massive boost.

After back-to-back seventh-place finishes following their return to the EPL, Wolverhampton were a disappointing 12th last season. It cost manager Nuno Santo his job, with former Benfica boss Bruno Lage taking his place.

Three of the teams’ four clashes over the past two seasons finished in nil-all draws; the only exception was Leicester’s 1-0 victory at home last season.

I’m sceptical about Wolves’ chances of significant improvement this year and Leicester should carry their Community Shield momentum into opening weekend.

Tip: Handicap – Leicester -1 @ $2.88

History: Played 58: Chelsea 31 V Crystal 12 (15 Draws)

Last meeting: April 10, 2021 (EPL): Chelsea 4 d Crystal Palace 1 at Selhurst Park

Final Thoughts: Thomas Tuchel’s arrival to replace axed club legend Frank Lampard as manager turned Chelsea’s season around, losing just three games in the second half of the season and keeping 11 clean sheets to squeak into fourth. The Blues also won the Champions League crown and reached the FA Cup final.

A stable Chelsea squad are on the second line of EPL title betting behind Man City.

Former Arsenal great Patrick Vieira arrives at Crystal Palace to take over from Roy Hodgson as manager. Palace finished 14th with 12 wins last season, with only three clubs conceded more goals. Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke scored 21 goals between them and look to be Palace’s biggest strength again this year.

Chelsea are on a seven-match winning streak against Palace, taking out both encounters last season by a combined 8-1. It’s looming as a baptism of fire for Vieira.

Tip: Result and Total – Chelsea and Over 2.5 @ $1.91

History: Played 21: Watford 8 V Aston Villa 8 (5 Draws)

Last meeting: January 21, 2020 (EPL): Aston Villa 2 d Watford 1 at Villa Park

Final Thoughts: Watford needed just one season in the Championship to win promotion back into the Premier League, finishing second in the second-tier competition. They were sensational at Vicarage Road last season, crafting a 19-2-2 record.

The Xisco Munoz-coached Hornets seemed destined to spend the season in a battle to avoid relegation, but there is a solid core of talent in their ranks – headlined by Ismaila Sarr.

Aston Villa landed 11th last season with 16 wins – a tally buoyed by upsets of Tottenham and Chelsea in the last two rounds, while an early-season 7-2 drubbing of Liverpool was an obvious highlight.

Villa have lost star player and captain Jack Grealish to Man City, but the arrival of Danny Ings, Emiliano Buendía and Leon Bailey is a handy consolation.

Watford boast a home record against Aston Villa of six wins and three draws from 10 matches. The Hornets are tempting underdogs at home but I like the draw here.

Tip: Result – Draw @ $4.50

History: Played 105: Everton 50 V Southampton 32 (23 Draws)

Last meeting: March 1, 2021: Everton 1 d Southampton 0 at Goodison Park

Final Thoughts: Everton have enlisted former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez to improve their standing in the EPL after another disappointing campaign, coming 10th last season – after winning their first four games.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and James Rodriguez provide the star quality necessary to push for the top four but there’s concerns about depth and stability around the Toffees’ line-up.

Southampton won 12 games to finish 15th last season and lost strike weapon Danny Ings to Villa in the off-season. Blackburn’s Adam Armstrong has been signed as a replacement up front.

The teams’ last 15 EPL encounters have been split six wins apiece, with three drawn. Honours were shared last season – Southampton won 2-0 at St Mary’s, while Everton grabbed a 1-0 result at Goodison Park. Southampton are chasing their first league win at Everton since 1997.

This is no gimme for Everton and I don’t mind the Saints with a start.

Tip: Handicap – Southampton +1 @ $1.83

History: Played 37: Burnley 11 V Brighton 11 (15 Draws)

Last meeting: February 6, 2021 (EPL): 1-1 draw at Turf Moor

Final Thoughts: Burnley finished 17th last season, though they ultimately avoided relegation by a comfortable 11 points. The Clarets lost seven of their last nine after showing some real fight through the middle stages of the campaign.

Brighton were similarly underwhelming, winning just nine games to come 16th. On a positive note, the Seagulls conceded the equal-seventh-least goals in the league.

Neither club has been particularly active in the player transfer market and this opening-week clash holds precious little appeal.

Both teams’ clashes finished in stalemates last season – 0-0 at Brighton and 1-1 at Burnley – making it eight draws from the club’s previous 11 encounters.

Tip: Result – Draw @ $4.33