Settle down for the first televised games of the new season, and - with these top tips - make some easy money in the process.
Sunderland v Derby County – Friday (Sky Sports Football, 19.45)
Result: Derby to win – {ODDS:165510077:2/1}
Under Simon Grayson, Sunderland are unlikely to suffer a chaotic season.
But Derby will be strong under Gary Rowett, and will exploit any early-season uncertainty at the Stadium Of Light.
Goals: Under 1.5 – {ODDS:167182021:2/1}
The Mackems must adapt to life without Jermain Defoe, and may, therefore, struggle for goals early on this season.
Derby, meanwhile, scored the fewest goals of any top-half Championship side last season, so – despite the return of Chris Martin – may not score freely, either.
Goalscorer: Chris Martin to score first for Derby – {ODDS:174676327:7/2}
Martin scored 14 goals for Fulham last season despite not particularly settling at the club.
He is the standout bet to net in this one.
Aston Villa v Hull City – Saturday (Sky Sports Football, 17.30)
Result: Draw – {ODDS:165510104:23/10}
As promotion favourites, at home, Aston Villa will expect to start their season strongly.
Villa could struggle for goals this season, though, with Jonathan Kodjia having missed much of pre-season, while Hull – who will field Abel Hernandez and Kamil Grosicki – are not to be underestimated.
Goals: Under 2.5 – {ODDS:167185355:8/13}
Villa look strong defensively, with John Terry added to a backline that conceded fewer goals than three of the top six last season.
Hull, meanwhile, have retained Michael Dawson, while Ola Aina and Michael Hector add more defensive resilience. This will be a game of few goals.
Goalscorer: Fraizer Campbell to score first for Hull – {ODDS:175622435:5/1}
Campbell has enjoyed success at Hull in the past, and has been in lively pre-season form.
Back him to get off to a quick start in a promising partnership with Hernandez.
Arsenal v Chelsea – Sunday (BT Sport 1, 14.00)
Result: Arsenal to win – {ODDS:165169757:12/5}
Arsenal won the Community Shield in both 2014 and 2015, and there is a quiet sense of optimism around the club at the moment.
The absence of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa means Chelsea are more of an unknown quantity than three months ago, so the value is with the Gunners.
Goals: Over 2.5 – {ODDS:165169780:8/11}
As in May’s FA Cup final, goals are a guarantee.
Alexandre Lacazette looks sharp in pre-season, while Chelsea do still have the personnel to exploit Arsenal’s weakness.
Goalscorer: Alexandre Lacazette to score and Arsenal to win – {ODDS:174893997:7/2}
Lacazette should link up well with Mesut Ozil, and can exploit a defence that conceded in 10 of its last 13 games of last season.
Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United – Sunday (Sky Sports Football, 16.30)
Result: Draw/Leeds – {ODDS:167186552:2/5}
Leeds are an unknown quantity, having appointed Thomas Christiansen as manager and done the majority of their shopping around Europe.
They should avoid defeat at Bolton, though, who stumbled to promotion in League One and have not notably improved.
Goals: Under 1.5 – {ODDS:167186631:19/10}
This could be a start-of-season slow-burner, with neither side promising many goals.
Leeds are reliant on Chris Wood, while Bolton’s lack of attacking resources led them to sign 37-year-old Aaron Wilbraham this week.
Goalscorer: No goals – {ODDS:167187527:7/1}
Wood is the obvious candidate to score, but the value here may lie in there being no goalscorer at all.
A draw would not be a bad result for either side, and that may permeate onto the pitch.
Insider knowledge
What happens if the Community Shield is a draw?
If the Community Shield ends as a draw, the match goes straight to penalties. In 2017, the ABBA format for the shoot-out will be used in the Community Shield for the first time.
