After an off-season filled with international football, the English Premier League returns on Saturday morning. Matchday 1 features some huge fixtures, and Jack Tobin has you covered with his best bets for this weekend. Check them out below and good luck to everyone following our EPL tips this season!
EPL 2024-25: Matchday 1 Preview & Betting Tips
Manchester United vs Fulham
Old Trafford, Saturday 17th August, 5:00am AEST
The opening game of the season sees Manchester United host Fulham at the theatre of dreams in the early hours of Saturday morning. The Red Devils will be looking to make an early statement after their worst ever Premier League season, while Fulham come into the season looking to get back into the top ten after finishing 13th last season.
Manchester United have made a lot of investment in their defence in the transfer window, however they still could be light on given the injuries to Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw. Fulham’s big challenge will be to elevate at least one facet of their game, given their mediocrity that they showed last season. Fulham ranked 10th for possession, 13th for goals and 13th for goals conceded. With that statistical profile, Fulham are going to struggle to challenge a vastly more talented side.
Despite Fulham winning the last meeting between these sides back in February, this fixture has been one way traffic over the last fourteen years. Since 2010, The Red Devils have a 13-3-1 record in Premier League fixtures against Fulham. The additions of Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon will spark some excitement, but it won’t be enough to turn their form against United.
Manchester United -1
$2.38 (1 Unit)
Arsenal vs Wolverhampton
Emirates Stadium, Sunday 18th August, 12:00am AEST
Arsenal begin their campaign at home against Wolves, as they set out to finally get over the hump and win the title for the first time in 20 years. The Gunners have had opportunities to win the title in the last two seasons but dropped crucial points late in both seasons, however they are clearly the most likely team to dethrone Manchester City.
Wolverhampton are coming off four straight seasons finishing between 10th-14th after finishing seventh in each of the ‘18/’19 and ‘19/’20 seasons, as the club has struggled to get back to challenging for European football, and gone through managers more frequently than any club in Europe. Wolves claimed only five points from their last ten games last season, and scored the fifth fewest goals in the league.
The Gunners won both fixtures against Wolverhampton last season, and have won six straight league games against Wolves by an aggregate score of 14-2. At the turn of the calendar year Arsenal became an attacking juggernaut with a 16-1-1 record, scoring 54 goals across those 18 games. To put that into context, Wolverhampton only scored 50 goals for the entirety of the season. Mikel Arteta’s side will start the season with a comfortable victory.
Arsenal -2
$2.40 (1.5 Units)
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Stamford Bridge, Monday 19th August, 1:30am AEST
The biggest clash of Matchday 1 takes place on Monday morning as four-time defending champions Manchester City travel to London to take on Chelsea. It’s Enzo Marescra’s first game in charge of Chelsea in what was a surprise appointment given he has no experience in any top division. Chelsea have had major squad turnover, bringing in eight new players which could make the beginning of the season difficult as they find their best eleven.
After a poor start to the season that saw them in the bottom half of the table, Chelsea won their last five games to remarkably finish sixth, but in reality it didn’t mean anything. Pep Guardiola’s side were the number one ranked attacking team and the second-best defensive team, with their consistency being the highlight of their four straight league titles. City have been the highest scoring team in the league for the last seven seasons as well as ranking in the top two defensively in those seven seasons.
At $1.82, City proved excellent value in the head-to-head market for a side that has been as dominant as they have over the past four seasons. Manchester City have won four of the last six Premier League fixtures between the two teams, with Chelsea’s last win over the defending champions coming back in 2021. The continuity Pep Guardiola’s team is going to be a huge advantage, and his side will be out to make a major statement on the road.
Manchester City
$1.82 (2 Units)
