Premier League Matchday 1 Predictions: Tzolis & Isak to Start Fast
Arsenal defend their crown, three promoted sides return to the big time and a record nine clubs kick off under new management – there's no shortage of storylines heading into our Premier League predictions for Matchday 1.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change.
Arsenal vs Coventry City
Champions Arsenal kick off the 2026/27 Premier League season against Championship winners Coventry City in what is sure to be a packed-out Emirates on Friday night.
Pre-season wobbles against Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund aside, the Gunners enter this contest loaded with confidence having smoked Manchester City 3-0 in last Sunday’s Community Shield.
New signing Christos Tzolis was among one of many highlights yet again, assisting twice to make it six goal involvements in total since signing for Mikel Arteta’s side this summer.
The Greece international is 13/8 to score or assist. against the Sky Blues if you like his chances of reintroducing himself to the league in some style.
Frank Lampard, of course, has many a story to tell of battles with Arsenal during his playing days but managing a win against them at this moment in time is perhaps too great an ask on the opening day of the season.
And they’ll certainly be up for this one as they look to do what Arsene Wenger and many of the greats couldn’t: become the first Arsenal manager since the 1930s to defend the league title.
BetMGM selection: Christos Tzolis to score or assist @ 13/8
Hull City vs Manchester United
It’s been close to a decade since Hull City last played in the Premier League and a lot has changed since then.
What hasn't is the Tigers' own brand of ruggedness, which frustrated many a team during last season's promotion campaign under manager Sergej Jakirovic.
Still, there’s a reason why many have predicted them to finish 20th this season.
Hull ended the regular season with a goal difference of just four – the fewest of any of the six playoff teams – and were actually outshot by their opponents 685 to 517 across the campaign.
And their first game back is against Manchester United, who outshot every other team last season with 596 across 38 games (15.7 per match), edging out rivals Manchester City (594) and Liverpool (589).
The Red Devils are 3/10 to have 15 or more shots at Hull City Stadium in what looks like more of a spoiler than a prediction.
Michael Carrick’s side will be out to make an early statement and have the attacking depth to do so, with Bryan Mbeumo looking as bright as ever in pre-season after a brace in their impressive 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid.
BetMGM selection: Man Utd 15+ shots @ 3/10
Brentford vs Tottenham
Both London clubs: check.
Both had Thomas Frank in the dugout at some point in the last 18 months: double check.
Both have brought in a promising young midfielder this summer: triple check.
There are a fair few similarities between Brentford and Tottenham, but any respect these two teams have for one another goes firmly out the window on Matchday 1.
Since Brentford's return to the top flight in 2022, they've beaten Spurs just once in eight attempts – a 3-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023 that was actually their first away against them since 1948.
Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham, for their part, walk into this one with a blank canvas: a full pre-season under their belt and a squad now shaped entirely in his image.
One familiar face still leading the line, though, is Richarlison, who was instrumental in keeping Tottenham marching in the Premier League as the club’s top scorer with 11 goals in the league – including the opener against the Bees last December.
The Brazilian also scored a brace on the opening day of the season last year against Burnley.
So, if there’s anyone to open the scoring here, it’s him at a tempting 9/2.
BetMGM selection: Richarlison to score first @ 9/2
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
The last time these two met it ended with Manchester City losing what chance they had left of lifting their 11th title in what was Pep Guardiola’s final season as City manager.
That was also the first time Bournemouth had ever drawn with them in the Premier League.
That said, City have won all of their last 10 home matches against them in all competitions by an aggregate score of 36-7, showcasing just how dominant they’ve been throughout the years.
And while the distance between these two has just started to narrow with Bournemouth taking four points from the Citizens over the past two seasons, they still have a ways to go.
What’s more, new manager Marco Rose will be without breakout star Junior Kroupi for a little while, who famously scored in that now-infamous title-decider back in May.
Running a Bet Builder on this one? We’re paying 7/5 for Man City to win, Erling Haaland to score and over 2.5 goals
The Norwegian striker scored three goals across both fixtures last season and leads our Golden Boot odds by quite a considerable distance.
BetMGM selection: Man City to win, Erling Haaland to score & over 2.5 total goals @ 7/5
Newcastle vs Liverpool
Alexander Isak…
Newcastle's begrudging, record-breaking £125 million sale to Liverpool last year made the Reds public enemy number one in the North East – on par with perhaps even Sunderland.
While it’s not a guarantee that Isak finds the back of the net here, he’s bound to try and is 9/5 to have at least two shots on target.
While two may seem a little high for someone clearly yet to find his feet, he’s still the striker that registered more than three shots per game on average over his two full seasons on Tyneside.
This will, of course, be his first St James’ Park visit since making the move in a season where he will be expected to live up to his price tag by scoring goals with Hugo Ekitike months away from returning.
Plus, with Andoni Iraola's high-pressing style that generated the fourth-best average for shots on target last season with Bournemouth, you expect the Reds to follow suit.
More so with Florian Wirtz in the team, who has linked up well with his number nine in pre-season and could also do with a boost after a slow start following his own big-money move last season.
In terms of result, Iraola's Bournemouth proved to be a constant thorn in Newcastle's side and, given Liverpool's own dominant history over the Magpies in the league – 14 wins from 19 and no losses since 2015 – we see no reason why that won’t continue.
BetMGM selection: Alexander Isak 2+ shots on target @ 9/5
Fulham vs Chelsea
Our final game is a West London Derby with Madrid-sized implications as Xabi Alonso takes charge of his first Premier League match against the very man who replaced him at the Bernabeu this year.
The usual Los Blancos drama aside, this is a fixture Chelsea have historically owned.
They're unbeaten in 27 of their last 29 meetings with Fulham in all competitions and have won six of their last seven Premier League visits to Craven Cottage.
There will be a lot less pressure on the shoulders of Alvaro Arbeloa, but that’s not to say that life in England will be any easier for him given his limited experience at this level.
Who scores Fulham's goals this season is also fair to question, with both Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez – their two top scorers last term – gone, replaced by the young and unproven Gonzalo Garcia.
Garcia is a striker some way behind opposite number Joao Pedro if we're comparing forwards, with Chelsea’s Brazilian racking up a career-best 15 league goals last season.
Given the Blues’ dominance in this fixture, and Fulham's need for their new man to make an instant impact, we like the idea of both frontmen being involved in some way… even if the result goes the way history suggests it should.
Put that all together and you get this 11/2 Bet Builder: Chelsea to win, both teams to score, Joao Pedro to score and Garcia to have a shot on target.
BetMGM selection: Chelsea to win, BTTS, Joao Pedro to score & Gonzalo Garcia 1+ shot on target @ 11/2
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
