BetMGM Bet Builders: Premier League Opening Weekend
After a dramatic summer of sport, which included more agony for the England national football team in the European Championships, another international triumph for Argentina in the Copa America and a memorable Olympic games, the Premier League is back.
Manchester City are going for five titles on the bounce. Arsenal, after back-to-back runners-up finishes, are trying to get over the line at long last. Liverpool begin post-Jurgen Klopp life under Arne Slot. Chelsea have signed what feels like dozens of new players. Manchester United must bounce back after their worst-ever Premier League performance.
And this it to say nothing of the other end of the table – who will emerge as relegation candidates? Which teams will set themselves apart as 2024-25’s surprise packages?
There are plenty of plotlines to pore over in the coming weeks and months but we are starting our Premier League odyssey with some Bet Builder suggestions ahead of a bumper opening weekend that stretches from Friday through to Monday.
Manchester United vs Fulham
Date: Friday 16th August 20:00
Key stat: Both teams have scored in six of the last seven meetings
There’s a whiff of positivity around the air up in Salford – which is remarkable when you consider last season represented the worst in Manchester United's Premier League history.
The FA Cup triumph over rivals Manchester City earned Erik ten Hag more time as manager of the Red Devils but can the red half of Manchester kick-start their campaign with three points when Fulham come to town?
This is a fixture that has spawned some great drama over the years – and plenty of goals to boot with both teams finding the net in six of the last seven head-to-heads.
Bruno Fernandes comes into the game after reportedly agreeing terms to a new contract. Combined with the fact he has four goals and an assist in seven appearances against Fulham, we think he will mark the occasion in style.
BetMGM Bet Builder: BTTS & Bruno Fernandes to score anytime @ 13/4
Ipswich vs Liverpool
Date: Saturday 17th August 12:30
Key stat: Ipswich lost only once at home last season
This could be a potential banana skin for Slot’s first competitive game as Liverpool manager.
Portman Road was somewhat of a fortress last year – Ipswich had the best home record in the Championship, scoring a mammoth 59 goals from 23 games.
In Liverpool’s first match against promoted opposition last season they drew 1-1 against Luton, only rescuing a point with a dramatic 90th-minute Luis Diaz equaliser.
In short: the Reds will score goals, but so will Ipswich.
BetMGM Bet Builder: Ipswich 2-0 handicap & over 3.5 total goals in game @ 9/2
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Everton vs Brighton
Date: Saturday 17th August 15:00
Key stat: Everton scored the second fewest goals in the league last term but had the fourth-best defensive record
The Toffees are a true enigma going into this season. They underperformed their xG by a whopping 14 goals last year and despite some promising pre-season numbers – scoring in all but one of their five friendlies – there is no real sign of any lasting improvement in finishing.
That being said, Brighton are under a new manager and it’s difficult to predict whether they will be the free-flowing, attacking powerhouse of recent campaigns as a result.
With Jordan Pickford’s 13 clean sheets last term still fresh in the mind, this one could well be a low-scoring draw but we will take the double chance nonetheless.
BetMGM Bet Builder: Everton under 1.5 goals & 1X Double Chance @ 41/20
West Ham vs Aston Villa
Date: Saturday 17th August 17:30
Key stat: Ollie Watkins has two goals in three games against West Ham
West Ham have made some intriguing signings this season, especially in defence.
Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo are all new arrivals at the back and as such Julen Lopetegui’s side could prove tougher to break down than last season.
Aston Villa, for their part, have scored six goals in their previous three matches against the Hammers but may find goalscoring harder to come by against a revamped defence this time round.
However, they are favourites to win this and justifiably so. Ollie Watkins had a memorable moment for England in the European Championships semi-final against the Netherlands – his last-minute goal sent them through to the final – while he goes into this having scored two goals in his previous three appearances against West Ham.
We think he could get back on the scoresheet here and Villa will right the wrongs of last season’s opening-match defeat.
BetMGM Bet Builder: Aston Villa to win & Ollie Watkins to score anytime @ 13/4
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Date: Sunday 18th August 16:30
Key stat: This fixture has featured 16 goals in the last three meetings (inc. pre-season)
It’s fair to say this fixture has been packed with drama in recent times.
Chelsea and Manchester City played out the most incredible 4-4 draw in this fixture last season, with a last-minute Cole Palmer penalty securing a point for the Blues. At the Etihad later in the campaign, it finished 1-1 in a match in which the sides combined for 40 shots at goal.
A 4-2 City win during pre-season has done nothing to quell our expectations that this will be another high-scoring affair.
BetMGM Bet Builder: Over 4.5 goals & BTTS @ 16/5
Leicester vs Tottenham
Date: Monday 19th August 20:00
Key stat: Last time Leicester were in the top flight the two games between these two produced 13 goals
Leicester are back in the big time after just one season in the Championship and with a new man in the dugout.
Steve Cooper has taken the helm after last season’s title-winning head coach, Enzo Maresca, was appointed by Chelsea.
The former Nottingham Forest manager is beloved at the City Ground after getting the Reds promoted and then keeping them in the Premier League but, if pre-season is anything to go by, Foxes fans could have reason to be worried.
During the summer Leicester lost their last three warm-up matches – to Palermo, Augsburg and RC Lens – without scoring a single goal.
Fresh from signing Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, Tottenham are looking for another strong start to a campaign under Ange Postecoglou. Last year, they went undefeated in their opening 10 games, winning eight of them.
This season could well start in a similar fashion – a high-scoring Tottenham win is on the cards.
BetMGM Bet Builder: Over 3.5 total goals in game & Tottenham to win @ 21/10
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change