The 2024-25 season kicks on into Matchday 2, and we’re here with five top-shelf Premier League tips for the weekend ahead.
Crystal Palace v West Ham
There is still some uncertainty around the Crystal Palace squad at the time of writing. Marc Guehi is a chance of leaving for Newcastle, and with that life-changing deal up in the air, he’s unlikely to be at his very best. He certainly wasn’t last week.
Palace were unlucky not to leave with a point against Brentford. Eberechi Eze scored a lovely free kick but a referee blunder saw the goal disallowed. He appeals at $2.25 to score or assist a goal this week. Overall, there was a lot to like about Palace, and the expectation is for improvement as a team lacking in cohesion develops it further.
Meanwhile, West Ham is in rebuild mode. Julen Lopetegui has introduced defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo while Niclas Füllkrug comes in at striker. Füllkrug, in particular, has massive potential as a key figure in this squad moving forward. They’ve changed things on the pitch by pressing higher and keeping the ball for longer periods. Still, it will take time for all the new signings to gel.
Cohesion is a grossly under-mentioned aspect at this point of the season. West Ham, especially, aren’t the team now that they will become later once clicking into gear. They have enough to cause trouble here, though. They played with 53% possession and finished with a 2.3 xG against a strong Aston Villa outfit in Matchday 1. Expect an improved performance and at least a point for the Hammers.
Best Bet WIN OR DRAW - WEST HAM @ $1.60*
Fulham v Leicester
There is some value in Fulham to win at home last week. Solid themselves while going down 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford, Leicester were somewhat lucky to walk away with a point while hosting Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham dominated for the most part, but faltered in the final third. Had Domonic Solanke played with a little bit more composure in his club debut, there’s a good chance Leicester would have found themselves further behind. The new Tottenham striker was snatchy in front of goal. Overall, the Foxes struggled. They took a valuable point in the first game of the Premier League season, but otherwise looked like a side among the favourites to be relegated by the end.
Fulham, meanwhile, performed well at home last season, taking 29 points from nine wins and two draws in 19 games. Adama Traore found plenty of success knocking the ball into open space and using his speed to threaten against United last week. Sasa Lukic also impressed while Emile Smith Rowe showed glimpses of what he can offer, and will be better for the run with his new teammates.
Playing at home after showing the resilience they did against United, Fulham should be too strong here.
Best Bet FULHAM TO WIN @ $1.70*
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
A weekend of somewhat predictable results ended with the predictability of Tottenham Hotspur bottling it. They should have left King Power Stadium with three points. Instead, a nightmare 15 minutes provided the always clinical Jamie Vardy with an opportunity to level things up at 1-1, and that’s how the scoreboard remained.
Tottenham were exceptional in the first 57 minutes. They made it look easy at times and should have capitalised further. Dominic Solanke, in particular, will rue a handful of chances to score his first goal for the club. There’s a world where Tottenham are 3-0 up, and the discussion is different.
Nonetheless, that 57 minutes should be enough to get past Everton. Unlike Tottenham, there were few positives to take out of their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton. Going down to 10 men is no excuse. The rusted-on Everton fan will tell you it looks as if nothing has changed for Sean Dyche and this group despite introducing four signings considered key parts of the squad. It’s a squad that has been decimated by injuries already.
Injury updates for Spurs
Coleman ❌️
Patterson ❌️
Garner ❌️
Branthwaite ❌️
Chermiti ❌️Tarkowski A doubt
Everton have 14 senior players available.
— 𝐓𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐄 𝐓𝐕 (@ToffeeTVEFC) August 22, 2024
Both clubs are under pressure to avoid a winless start after two games this season. Tottenham are far better positioned to come out firing and put themselves in front early. You’d like to think they’ve learned from their mistakes against Leicester.
Best Bet DOMONIC SOLANKE TO SCORE & TOTTENHAM TO WIN @ $2.38*
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Arsenal have a score to settle with Aston Villa. They finished within two points of the Premier League title last season, but will have looked back on their two games against Villa in which they failed to pick up a point as where it slipped. Arsenal didn’t even score a goal in their two matches against The Claret and Blue.
Fouls have been a big talking point in the build-up to this one.
2023/24 Premier League time fouled:
Tottenham – 510
Aston Villa – 473
Newcastle – 469Burnley – 353
Manchester United – 340
Sheffield United – 318— Jason (@SportsJO13) August 22, 2024
Only Tottenham won more than Villa last season. Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers had their way with West Ham last week as Villa won 18 fouls in the season opener. Ezri Konsa and John McGinn are adept at drawing an error from the defender, too.
There will be plenty of feeling in this one. It is being hyped up as the biggest game in football this weekend. Given the recent history of the two, their start to the season so far and the ability of Aston Villa to draw a whistle, expect fireworks and cards.
Best Bet TOTAL CARDS - OVER 4.5 @ $2.10*
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea
Chelsea was an easy fade last week. Starting a new Premier League season with yet another new manager and 40+ players in the squad, they always looked set to start slowly. They weren’t quite as bad as their 2-0 loss to Manchester City suggests. City will do that to most teams this season. Still, Chelsea were from from their best and will remain that way for games to come. Still, they’ll be better for the run and the backing from the manager.
Enzo Maresca left Raheem Sterling out of the squad last week. Despite the result, he looks set to do the same again, which, while causing issues with Sterling, gives the current group confidence in their place.
#AVFC have opened talks with Chelsea over a potential move for Raheem Sterling, as per @garyjacob.
The 29yo is currently training at home after being axed from Enzo Maresca's first-team plans and wants to leave Chelsea permanently before the window shuts next Friday.
— John Townley (@johntownley11) August 22, 2024
Chelsea finished ahead of City from an xG perspective and managed 10 shots at goal—three on target. They should be much improved against an inferior opponent this week.
Ironically, Pedro Neto finished as Wolverhampton’s best-attacking player last season and now plays for Chelsea. It’s anybody’s guess where Wolves can threaten in this one, if at all.