BETMGM GOLDEN GOALS MD1: PREMIER LEAGUE BACK WITH OLD TRAFFORD BLOCKBUSTER
The Premier League is back for the 2025/26 season and it’s an old classic in Manchester that grabs the headlines on Matchday 1.
Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday in what is only their second-ever meeting on the opening day of a league season after United’s 4-1 win in 1989/90.
New boys Sunderland and Burnley are in action, with the Black Cats at home to West Ham and the Clarets making the trip to Europa League winners Tottenham.
Brighton take on Fulham at the Amex, Club World Cup winners Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge and Manchester City, looking to bounce back from a trophyless 2024/25, head to Wolves in Saturday’s late game.
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Brighton 3-1 Fulham
Last season could be classified as a disappointment for both teams.
The Seagulls and the Cottagers had outside chances of European football, even in the home stretch. But both faded after promising campaigns to end with nothing to show for their efforts other than eighth and 11th-placed finishes respectively.
This was a goal-friendly fixture last season, with seven goals spanning the two meetings between the teams and both teams scoring in each game. You can get odds of 19/10 on over 3.5 goals and both teams to score using our Bet Builder feature.
The hosts have had a positive pre-season, winning each of their games, with some encouraging individual performances throughout.
Keep an eye out for Maxim de Cuyper, the £17.5 million signing from Club Brugge. The Belgium international full-back scored in the final friendly against Wolfsburg and he could have an impactful campaign.
You can back him at odds of 9/1 to find the net again here.
Tottenham 2-0 Burnley
Tottenham come into the season with a fresh sense of optimism after a first European trophy in more than 40 years, while Burnley are back in the big time after a Championship campaign in which they were renowned for shutting down the opposition.
The Premier League is a different animal altogether, however, and the sale of goalkeeper James Trafford to Manchester City and CJ Egan-Riley removes two crucial components of their high-performing defence.
And Tottenham like to score goals. For all their issues last year, they managed 64 of them in the Premier League. Outside the top five, only Brentford and Brighton (66) bettered that more last term.
The arrival of Thomas Frank should help his new side approach games with more structure than the free-flowing, borderline chaotic playing style under Ange Postecoglou.
New signing Mohammed Kudus could be a handy signing for the Lilywhites. The tricky forward only managed five goals for West Ham last season, but might he get a new lease of life in Tottenham colours? A Bet Builder of Kudus to score anytime and under 2.5 Tottenham goals looks intriguing at odds of 6/1.
It could well be a nervy affair, but the hosts should get through it to start the season with three points.
Sunderland 1-1 West Ham
Sunderland are back after years in the lower-league wilderness.
Their transfer business has been exciting, if a little unproven. Simon Adingra has Premier League games under his belt with Brighton and Granit Xhaka is an addition with undoubted quality and experience – both could be key to the Black Cats’ chances of survival.
West Ham are the visitors here and Graham Potter’s men – 11/2 for relegation – are being expected in some quarters to struggle this term after an uninspiring 14th-place finish last season.
New signing El Hadji Malick Diouf is an exciting prospect, though Mohammed Kudus will be a big miss having departed for Tottenham.
Goals tend to follow this fixture, albeit it has not taken place since 2017. Both teams have scored in the last four meetings here – with the home side failing to win any – while Sunderland will need to improve on last season's 58 goals scored, the fewest of the Championship top six.
West Ham talisman Jarrod Bowen racked up four goals and three assists against newly-promoted sides last season so 7/1 for him to get on the scoresheet or provide an assist in a score draw appeals here in what would actually represent a solid top-flight return for the Black Cats.
Wolves 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester City ended last season trophyless for the first time since 2016/17. Pep Guardiola’s men had to settle for third, 13 points behind champions Liverpool, and also suffered a shock exit to Saudi side Al Hilal at the Club World Cup in June.
They have, though, been busy in the transfer market. James Trafford, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Sverre Nypan have all arrived as City look to put the disappointment of 2024/25 behind them.
They head to Molineux here to face a Wolves side that they have beaten in nine of the last 10 meetings. Vitor Pereira’s side turned a corner after his appointment last December, ending the season comfortably clear of the drop zone.
They have also added Jorgen Strand-Larsen on a permanent deal after his 14-goal haul though the loss of Ait-Nouri, who may well line up against them here, and top scorer Matheus Cunha will be a blow.
Erling Haaland has two hat-tricks and eight goals in five Premier League appearances against Wolves and the Old Gold won’t be relishing his arrival at Molineux.
He only managed a lowly, by his standards, 22 league goals last season so 19/5 for him to notch a brace in a City win will send shivers down the spines of the West Midlands faithful.
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
Few teams can relate to Chelsea and Crystal Palace over the past few months.
The Blues are edging the bragging rights following a decisive victory over reigning champions of Europe PSG in the Club World Cup final.
Instrumental in their success this summer was Joao Pedro – the latest in a long line of Brighton alumni to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
Since joining Chelsea less than two months ago, the Brazilian forward has scored in every game he’s started despite sharing the position with fellow newcomer Liam Delap.
While Palace are no strangers to success – beating Manchester City and Liverpool to claim the FA Cup and Community Shield respectively – they have struggled to put their London neighbours away over the past few years.
The Blues are unbeaten in 15 against their Sunday afternoon opposition, though it’s 16 if we count the 2-0 FA Cup win back in 2022.
We expect Enzo Maresca’s men to kick off their 2025/26 campaign with a statement win – but not without a few scares from a side more than capable of giving a big six side a run for their money.
Fancy combining the above in one tempting Bet Builder? We’re paying 5/1 for Chelsea to win, both teams to score and Joao Pedro to get on the scoresheet at any time.
Manchester United 2-2 Arsenal
The signings of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo bring a combined 79 goal contributions to a Manchester United squad that finished 15th and managed just 44 league goals last term.
Their pre-season form has been encouraging, remaining unbeaten, though United’s revamped attack will need to show immediate cohesion to unlock an Arsenal defence that was once again the best in the division last term with just 36 goals conceded.
And the Gunners have finally signed a centre forward. Viktor Gyokeres netted 66 goals in 68 games under United manager Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP and is 33/20 to haunt his old boss by scoring anytime at Old Trafford.
Arsenal have only lost one of their last six Premier League meetings with United but the last two competitive encounters have ended in a draw after 90 minutes.
Expect another high-paced encounter here as these two open the season against one another for only the second time after 1989-90 – and don’t rule out Bruno Fernandes making it three games in a row with a goal against the Gunners either.
The Portuguese midfielder to score anytime and the match to end in a draw at 12/1 rates a good Bet Builder for what is arguably the pick of the opening weekend games.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change. Please note: This week's Golden Goals deadline is Saturday 16th August, 15:00. Opt-in is required and you can find out more here.
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