The Premier League gets under way this weekend, and although this is traditionally the time to bet on season-long outrights there are new options for some short-term betting thanks to Betfair’s #OddsonThat August specials.
There are more than 100 markets available for Premier League betting on outcomes for solely for the first month of the season, with goalscorers and club form among the most common options. Each bet covers either three or four Premier League matches for each club across August, depending on whether they play on Saturday 31 August or Sunday 1 September.
Here are our five favourite #OddsonThat August bets:
Fixtures: Norwich (h), Southampton (a), Arsenal (h), Burnley (a)
Liverpool’s purposeful second half performance in the Community Shield last Sunday showed they are ready to pick up where they left off; there are no signs of tiredness just yet from either Mohamed Salah or Roberto Firmino. With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back and Adam Lallana and Xherdan Shaqiri looking relatively sharp against Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp’s side will start strong.
And theirs is a kind fixture list. Newly-promoted Norwich stand little chance in Friday’s opener, and neither do their next opponents Southampton – who Liverpool beat 3-1 at St. Mary’s in April. Then Arsenal visit Anfield, where Unai Emery’s troubling lack of centre-back options mean Firmino, Salah, and Sadio Mane should comfortably outscore the visitors. Finally, the Reds travel to Burnley, who won one (v Spurs) drew two, and lost nine of their games against the Big Six last season.
Fixtures: Liverpool (a), Newcastle (h), Chelsea (h), West Ham (a)
Norwich have signed 11 new players in their bid to avoid relegation, a dramatic upheaval that could mean it takes a long time for the Canaries to gel. What’s more, after a season playing attractive football in the Championship they will find themselves on the back foot – a tactical change that will likely undermine them in the first month of the season.
A tough set of fixtures doesn’t help. West Ham have strengthened well this summer with the arrival of Pablo Fornals and Sebastien Haller, while Chelsea and Liverpool should ease past Norwich in the first and third games of the season. That just leaves a relegation six-pointer with Newcastle on August 17. Steve Bruce’s side probably have the nous to earn the draw a least.
The introduction of VAR means intense scrutiny of handball scenarios, or at least it has done across the globe so far. Referees have attempted to ease growing concerns regarding its hasty introduction in the Premier League by suggesting that there will be a ‘high bar’ for when VAR is consulted… but it is hard to believe that will be the case. Once the technology is available it becomes difficult not to give dubious handballs that look much worse when slowed down and replayed.
At the Women’s World Cup this summer we saw 18 penalties in 52 matches, while the knockout stages of last season’s Champions League saw just two 0-0s in 29 games. VAR leads to more penalties and more goals, which is why – at least during a settling-in period in August – there should be considerably fewer 0-0s in the Premier League this year.
Fixtures: Aston Villa (h), Man City (a), Newcastle (h)
Spurs only need to go undefeated in three matches for this bet to come in, but it’s pretty obvious why their odds are fairly long at 15/8: Man City at the Etihad is the hardest match of the season. However, Tottenham’s capture of Tanguy Ndombele has significantly strengthened their midfield, while last campaign City only narrowly beat Spurs, 1-0, home and away. A draw seems a likely result, particularly if Pep Guardiola’s side are as sloppy as they were against Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Villa have made 13 new signings and consequently cannot be expected to win at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, while Bruce’s Newcastle don’t have the quality to be winning three points at any Big Six ground this season.
Fixtures: Southampton (h), Arsenal (a), Wolves (a), Liverpool (h)
Burnley were dreadful last season until Sean Dyche restored Tom Heaton to the starting line-up, but they will not be able to rely on his organisational skills in 2019/20 after selling the 33-year-old to Villa. With underwhelming signings, Burnley are likely to be engulfed in the same existential crisis as last season – after hitting a ceiling in 2017/18.
Their opening match against Southampton is hugely significant considering that Arsenal, Wolves, and Liverpool are all firm favourites to beat the Clarets in their other games in August. Saints have been transformed by Ralph Hasenhuttl, and with the astute acquisitions of Moussa Djenepo and Che Adams should be considered favourites to win the points at Turf Moor.
Source: Betfair Premier League
