Premier League Matchday 2 Predictions: Ice Cold Palmer & A Villa Park Frenzy
Arsenal set the pace, Brentford and Brighton were arguably even more eye-catching and then there was Hull beating Manchester United.
The opening weekend certainly delivered… now it’s our turn with our Premier League Matchday 2 predictions!
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Selhurst Park under the Friday night lights.
The opening game of the weekend sees Crystal Palace host a somewhat out-of-sorts Manchester City team that has thoroughly enjoyed visits to this ground over the past decade or so.
Other than a 1-0 victory in the FA Cup last year, Palace haven’t won a Premier League home game against Man City since 2015 – losing a remarkable eight times and drawing only three.
The Citizens beat them 3-0 both home and away last season, which is far from ideal if you’re new manager Pierre Sage. The Eagles, similarly, failed to score in a losing effort to Everton last weekend.
Rumours of a potential exit for Jean-Philippe Mateta – who has consistently hit double digits for goals in each of the past four seasons – and the talismanic Ismaila Sarr in the coming days will only add to that concern.
Another City shutout feels inevitable and is currently priced at 9/5.
Despite their own struggles against Bournemouth, Palace look to be in far more dire straits.
BetMGM selection: Man City to win to-nil @ 9/5
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool came back twice to muster a hard-earned point at a raucous St James’ Park last Sunday.
Next up is Nottingham Forest, who have had the Reds number a couple of times in recent seasons – famously in their title-winning 2024/25 season under Arne Slot.
Of course, a lot has changed since then with both teams sporting brand new managers in the dugout.
It is the Spaniard that holds the edge over Oliver Glasner here, though, having never lost to him in the league.
Iraola’s 3-0 win over Glasner in May also makes up part of his current personal 20-match unbeaten run spanning back to his Bournemouth days – one that looks likely to stretch further with the Tricky Trees looking anything but this past week.
Which isn’t to say they aren’t capable of generating chances… Alisson has made two or more saves on average in each of the last seven meetings with Forest and is 1/3 to carry out the same heroics between the sticks at Anfield.
Glasner’s Palace team forced five saves out of the Brazilian back in April, also on Merseyside, so expect more of the same here.
BetMGM selection: Alisson 2+ saves @ 1/3
Tottenham vs Newcastle
It only took the opening weekend for the feeling around Tottenham and Newcastle to completely switch places.
Spurs, by and large, have had one of the more impressive summer transfer windows – including the purchase of Sandro Tonali from the Magpies – but it didn’t save them from being well and truly swarmed by Brentford last time out.
Their Saturday night opponents, on the other hand, rolled out an updated Newcastle 2.0 that was mere seconds away from clinching victory over Liverpool.
The Magpies have won on three of their last five league visits to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and both sides have found the back of the net in all of the last six in north London, which provides plenty of betting opportunities.
But we like the look of Evens for the visitors to score in the first half in particular – especially at that price.
Only relegated Wolves and Burnley conceded more in the opening 45 minutes than Spurs last season and, with two of the three goals they let in against the Bees coming within the first 35 minutes, this could be another gruelling week for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
BetMGM selection: Newcastle to score in the first half @ EVS
Chelsea vs Brighton
This is the first time Xabi Alonso and Fabian Hurzeler have ever gone head-to-head as managers – despite both spending a fair amount of time in Germany a few years back.
While the two managers may not know each other that well, the opposite is most certainly true when it comes to Chelsea and Brighton – especially in the transfer market. Danny Welbeck is the seventh player to make that jump since the BlueCo takeover following the likes of Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo.
The Seagulls are currently perched at the top of the Premier League on goal difference and have gotten the better of their most frequent customer on four straight occasions prior to this game.
But we’re backing Alonso to turn the Blues out of this skid in his first league game at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer looked back to his ice-cold self on Monday night with both a goal and an assist, and famously scored four goals against them in the first half back in his second season with the west London club.
The Englishman is 11/10 to score or assist, picking up perfectly from where he left off on Matchday 1.
BetMGM selection: Palmer to score or assist @ 11/10
Manchester United vs Ipswich
Manchester United losing to newly promoted Hull on the opening day of the season has made headlines throughout the week, and rightfully so.
Michael Carrick's side were punished on two set pieces and failed to offer a response, despite having 21 shots and 72% possession that, on another day, could have resulted in a much better outcome.
The Red Devils have a chance to right the wrongs of the opening week against another newly promoted side in Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys won their Premier League opener for the first time since 1993/94 at home to Sunderland, but may not be so lucky in United’s first home game of the season.
Simply put: the Red Devils need to win and win emphatically, which is why we’re also looking at 2/5 for United to lead by two goals at any point. Backing this in our 2UP market means you get paid out as a winner if United take a two-goal lead regardless of the final score.
If you're looking for better odds, try combining some of our player shots and goals markets featuring Benjamin Sesko or Bryan Mbeumo – both ended last season with 11 goals and are constant threats in the attacking third.
BetMGM selection: Man Utd to win (2UP) @ 2/5
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Easily the marquee game of Matchday 2 is Aston Villa vs Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday night as Unai Emery prepares to face his former side once again, this time with a lot fewer resources at his disposal.
The Villans have lost multiple key players from their Europa League-winning squad, with more potentially on their way ahead of deadline day.
This much upheaval has clearly taken its toll on the squad – as seen in the 4-0 loss to Brighton that also saw new signing Joao Gomes sent off just before half-time.
Mikel Arteta finds himself in a much more stable position with a wealth of attacking and defensive options at his disposal, which now includes former Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa.
Emery versus Arteta rarely disappoints on the shot-taking front if you’re looking for value.
We’re offering 2/1 for Villa and Arsenal each to have 12+ shots in the match – a well-priced shout if this next chapter lives up to the same end-to-end billing as some of their previous matches.
The last four meetings alone have averaged 25 shots a game between the two sides – hitting as high as 29 in last season’s 4-1 frenzy at the Emirates.
BetMGM selection: Villa & Arsenal 12+ shots in the match each @ 2/1
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
