We pick out a best bet for five Premier League games on Saturday as the season gets underway.
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It’s the opening weekend of the Premier League season and it looks like a super Saturday to whet the appetite. Arsenal take on Nottingham Forest in the early game, before a batch of 3pm kick-offs which include Europa Conference League winners West Ham heading to Bournemouth, who are under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Premier League new boys Luton travel to Brighton, while fellow newly-promoted outfit Sheffield United make their top-flight return against Crystal Palace, and Fulham boss Marco Silva heads back to former club Everton in another intriguing clash.
ARSENAL V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Arsenal are fancied to get off to a flyer by beating Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early kick-off at the Emirates.
Despite losing 1-0 at Forest in May, Arsenal should have few problems avenging that defeat on home soil where they were dominant last campaign, winning 14 of 19 matches.
Forest were thrashed 5-0 in their last visit to the Emirates in October 2021 and managed just one point from 10 away matches against top-half teams last season as they relied on their home form to stay in the division.
However, even with Declan Rice on board, Arsenal aren’t watertight at the back. Both teams scored in 11 of their 14 victories in north London – and a high-scoring Arsenal win looks the way to go as Mikel Arteta’s team look to back-up Sunday’s Community Shield success.
Tip: Arsenal to win & both teams to score {ODDS:1158433404:7/4}
BOURNEMOUTH V WEST HAM
West Ham’s fantastic Europa Conference League win last season papered over a less-than-perfect Premier League campaign and the Hammers could be involved in a high-scoring contest at Bournemouth.
Losing Declan Rice to Arsenal means West Ham are likely to be less secure in defence, but they have a lot of quality in the final third which makes both teams to score look like a good bet.
The Cherries have made impressive signings this summer like Hamed Traore and also appointed an exciting new manager in Andoni Iraola which should make them fun to watch.
Tip: Both teams to score {ODDS:1158434416:4/6}
BRIGHTON V LUTON
Newly-promoted Luton could find the net at Brighton despite a likely defeat. The Hatters will pose a rare physical threat by modern Premier League standards which may unsettle Brighton, even if the strong favourites oblige.
Albion will control possession and create chances, but underestimating Luton’s scoring potential would be dangerous as last season’s play-off winners notched in 12 of their last 13 Championship away games.
Tip: Brighton to win & both teams to score {ODDS:1158434913:19/10}
EVERTON V FULHAM
Everton are fancied to beat Fulham at Goodison Park as the Toffees aim to make sure last season’s relegation scrap is not repeated.
Fulham’s summer issues like potentially missing key striker Aleksandar Mitrovic due to transfer speculation, may prove costly and they lost 10 of their 19 road fixtures last season.
Tip: Everton to win {ODDS:1158435426:13/10}
SHEFFIELD UNITED V CRYSTAL PALACE
Sheffield United can mark their Premier League return with a point against Crystal Palace.
The Eagles are in transition after selling Wilfried Zaha and United can use their intimidating Bramall Lane atmosphere to capitalise on Palace’s vulnerabilities.
The Sheffield side have lost some big players of their own – most notably Iliman Ndiaye – but defensively the Blades can hold out against powder-puff Palace.
Tip: Draw {ODDS:1158435910:12/5}
