We take a look at each of the teams in the 2018/2019 English Premier League which kicks off this weekend and we give an in depth betting preview as well as our tips and bets for what looks to be a cracking season of football.
1
Manchester City
Last Season: 1st
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Key In: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
Gut Feeling: They’ll win it again and the only question is by how big a margin. Guardiola isn’t a manager who will rest on his laurels and adding Mahrez to an already dominant squad just feels unfair. They’re starting the season well in the black at $1.62.
2
Liverpool
Last Season: 4th
Manager: Juergen Klopp
Key Ins: Alisson (Roma), Naby Keita (RB Leipzig), Fabinho (Monaco), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke)
Gut Feeling: The pressure at Anfield will be immense this season, on the players and popular manager Klopp, who is still looking for his first trophy. Massive, expensive ‘ins’ (Alisson, Keita) combined with the magical Mo Salah have set expectations higher than ever. Liverpool were City’s bogey team last year, but they need to prove early that their defensive jitters are behind them if they’re going to contend for the top spot. Seem like good value at $5, especially if you’re a Kopite.
3
Manchester United
Last Season: 2nd
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Key Ins: Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk), Diogo Dalot (Porto), Lee Grant (Stoke)
Gut Feeling: Haven’t read an article yet that didn’t call Mourinho ‘grumpy,’ and his mercurial temperament could be an issue, particularly with players like Pogba, Rashford and Martial. Much will depend on how Alexis Sanchez settles and how new signing Fred fits in. Take your chances at $8.50.
4
Chelsea (Maurizio Sarri)
Last Season: 5th
Manager: Maurizio Sarri
Key In: Jorginho (Napoli), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao)
Gut Feeling: Once again another manager – Sarri – takes over at Stamford Bridge and he will face a challenge in creating some chemistry among a group of super-talented but disaffected players. There are already questions as to whether Chelsea’s players can play Sarri-ball. New signing Jorginho should help, but the onus will be on Willian, Hazard and Morata if Chelsea are to finish in the top three. $15 seems decent value.
5
Tottenham
Last Season: 3rd
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Key In: None yet
Gut Feeling: Spurs didn’t bring in a single player during the transfer window which means going again with the same squad, and while that squad includes World Cup hero Harry Kane, we can’t see them pushing City or Liverpool, and another third place finish would be superb. They’re $17 if you believe in Pochettino.
6
Arsenal
Last Season: 6th
Manager: Unai Emery
Key Ins: Emery (PSG), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria), Bernd Leno (Leverkusen), Sokratis (Borussisa Dortmund), Matteo Guendozi (Lorient), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus)
Gut Feeling: Well, Arsenal fans got their wish after months of holding up ‘Wenger Out’ signs. Emery is highly-regarded and some of the new signings should help, but can’t see much change in table position this season. $26 if you like the Gunners.
7
Everton
Last Season: 8th
Manager: Marco Silva
Key In: Yerry Mina (Barcelona), Richarlison (Watford)
Gut Feeling: Last season was a nightmare for the Toffees, yet they finished in 8th place. Manager Marco Silva is rated highly and should be able to bring some much-needed stability off the pitch. Paying £35m for Richarlison feels like madness but should he live up to his price tag Everton fans could be in for a fun ride. $251 if you believe in the Toffees.
8
West Ham
Last Season: 13th
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Key Ins: Felipe Anderson (Lazio), Issa Diop (Toulouse), Andriy Yarmolenko (Borussia Dortmund), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Fabian Balbuena (Corinthians), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Gut Feeling: The Hammers have poured some money into signings and a big name manager in Manuel Pellegrini. There’s a real sense of optimism despite the on and off field malaise of the past couple of seasons. $401 will buy you a lot of eel pies.
9
Leicester City
Last Season: 9th
Manager: Claude Puel
Key Ins: James Maddison (Norwich), Ricardo Pereira (Porto), Jonny Evans (West Brom), Danny Ward (Liverpool)
Gut Feeling: The big question is how will life in Leicester be now that Riyad Mahrez is gone? Jamie Vardy will be the main man, and plenty of new signings give Foxes fans hope of another solid, if not spectacular season. A longshot at $301.
10
Newcastle United
Last Season: 10th
Manager: Rafael Benitez
Key Ins: Martin Dubravka (Sparta Prague), Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea), Kenedy (Chelsea, loan)
Gut Feeling: Rafa Benitez has a decent club but faces a tough early schedule. Can’t see them setting the world on fire, but another top 10 finish seems quite achievable — as long as Benitez remains in-post for the seasons, which given owner Mike Ashley’s track record, is far from a given. $501 for the Magpies.
11
Crystal Palace
Last Season: 11th
Manager: Roy Hodgson
Key Ins: Max Meyer (Schalke), Vicent Guaita (Getafe)
Gut Feeling: Quirky team that rebounded from disaster behind 70-year boss Roy Hodgson. He’s got one of the league’s top players in Wilfried Zaha, while the latest signing Max Meyer is sometimes called the ‘German Messi’ (Editors note: Personally, I’ve never said that). $501 to win the title.
12
Wolves
Last Season: 1st in Championship
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo
Key Ins: Diogo Jota (Atletico Madrid), Willy Boly (Porto), Leo Bonatini (Al-Hilal), Ruben Vinagre (Monaco), Rui Patricio (Sporting), Paul Alves (Liverpool), Raul Jimenez (Benfica, loan)
Gut Feeling: Absolutely dominated the Championship last season and have added some classy transfers. But the Premiership is a different kettle of fish and while Wolves should certainly make an impression, it may be awhile before they feel comfortable. $251 to win it.
12
Fulham
Last Season: 3rd in Championship
Manager: Slavisa Jokanovic
Key Ins: Jean Michael Seri (Nice), Maxime LeMarchand (Nice)
Gut Feeling: Another exciting team from the Championship that has added a few nice pieces to the puzzle. Need to get off to a quick start (unlike last year) so the points pressure doesn’t add up early. The Cottagers are $501.
14
Burnley
Last Season: 7th
Manager: Sean Dyche
Key In: Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Gut Feeling: Dyche has done wonders with Burnley, but how stretched will his squad be now that they’re in the Europa League as well? Can’t see them replicating last season’s 7th place finish, but they should be safe from the drop. $501 to win it, $4.50 to be relegated.
15
Southampton
Last Season: 17th
Manager: Mark Hughes
Key Ins: Janik Vestergaard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Mohamed Elyounoussi (Basel), Angus Gunn (Manchester City), Stuart Armstrong (Celtic)
Gut Feeling: Last season’s close call was partly due to a terrible home record. The Saints won just four of 24 and scored only 20 goals in those fixtures. The new signings need to provide some firepower, otherwise Mark Hughes & Co. will be under the pump again. $501 to win it, $8 to be relegated.
16
Brighton
Last Season: 15th
Manager: Chris Hughton
Key Ins: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar), Yves Bissouma (Lille), Bernardo (RB Leipzig), Florin Andone (Deportivo La Coruna), Jason Steele (Sunderland), David Button (Fulham), Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Leon Balogun (Mainz), Hugo Keto (Arsenal)
Gut Feeling: Chris Hughton is a superb manager, but he can’t score goals. The Seagulls will need to put some balls in the back of the net and win more than two games away from home if they want to avoid relegation. $501 to win it, $3 to be relegated.
17
Bournemouth
Last Season: 12th
Manager: Eddie Howe
Key In: David Brooks (Sheffield Utd)
Gut Feeling: Attack-minded team that has overachieved immensely. Can their less-than-stellar defence keep them up for yet another year? Somehow, I think it might. $501 to win it, $5.50 to be relegated.
18
Watford
Last Season: 14th
Manager: Javia Gracia
Key Ins: Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona), Ben Foster (West Brom), Adam Masina (Bologna), Marc Navarro (Espanyol), Ken Sema (Ostersund), Ben Wilmot (Stevenage)
Gut Feeling: With four of their first five matches at home – and that includes Manchester United and Spurs – we should get an early feel about this Watford club. Will Javi Gracia survive the season? Will the team survive the drop? Think it’ll be a tense season. $501 to win it, $2.75 to be relegated.
19
Huddersfield Town
Last Season: 16th
Manager: David Wagner
Key Ins: Terence Kongolo (Monaco), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke), Adama Diakhaby (Monaco), Juninho Bacuna (Groningen), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Ben Hamer (Leicester)
Gut Feeling: David Wagner is a highly-respected manager and he pulled off a minor miracle last season, keeping the team up despite failing to score in 21 of 38 league games. Just can’t see them generating enough goals – or points – to avoid relegation. $501 to win it, $2 to be relegated.
20
Cardiff City
Last Season: 2nd in Championship
Manager: Neil Warnock
Key Ins: Josh Murphy (Norwich), Bobby Reid (Bristol City), Greg Cunningham (Preston), Alex Smithies (QPR)
Gut Feeling: The 69-year old Warnock set a new English record with his eighth promotion, but he’s a little short on talent and scoring to make any Premier League noise. Stranger things have happened, but relegation looms for the Bluebirds. $501 to win it, favourites to be relegated at $1.62.