The Editors’ Premier League Betting Battle 2018/19: Round Two

“Nuno Santo has promised to ‘go for it’ this season…but like any newly-promoted side, especially one that has so many new faces, we shouldn’t expect Wolves to be rock solid defensively, as proved last week.”

Jasmine Baba
Back Manchester United to win @ [1.80] v Brighton
Sunday, 16:00

I don’t exactly like backing a team to win under evens, but the worrying performance by Brighton last week has made this too attractive to ignore. In their defeat to Watford, they did not record a single shot on target. Ben Foster had nothing to do for 90 minutes.

Manchester United are not without their flaws. The ongoing feud between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba may not be good for team morale, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone during their 2-1 victory against Leicester. Sure, they became complacent in the last few minutes of the game but curtain-raisers are usually full of critiques.

Pogba dominated against the Foxes too. With that and suggestions from Mourinho that Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard could both return to the starting line-up, I can’t see anything other than a United win.

Jasmine Baba 2017-18 P/L: +£11.80

Mike Norman
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ [2.12] in Leicester v Wolves
Saturday, 15:00

Wolves were involved in one of the games of the day last weekend when starting their latest Premier League campaign with a 2-2 draw at home to Everton. The fact that they conceded twice however, playing against 10 men for 50 minutes, has to be a worry for Wolves fans, but it’s great news for ‘Overs’ backers.

Nuno Santo has promised to ‘go for it’ this season and his summer signings – including the likes of speedy winger Adama Traore, experienced midfielder Joao Moutinho, and classy striker Raul Jimenez – certainly suggest an attacking intent when you consider that Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota are also likely to be in most of the manager’s starting line-ups this term.

But like any newly-promoted side, especially one that has so many new faces, we shouldn’t expect Wolves to be rock solid defensively, as proved last week.

Leicester played with plenty of credit against Manchester United at Old Trafford last week, eventually losing 2-1, but back on home soil they’ll fancy their chances of recording a first win of the season and I won’t be surprised at all if this game ends with at least three goals being scored.

Mike Norman 2017-18 P/L: +£10.80

Dan Thomas
Back Tottenham to beat Fulham and Under 2.5 Goals at 11/4
Saturday, 15:00

For all the early talk of a ‘Wembley curse’ last season, Tottenham ended up having a very good season at the national stadium with 13 wins from 19 and just two defeats.

Mauricio Pochettino‘s men are a short price to pick up another victory on Saturday, with Fulham the visitors, but it’s unlikely to be a goal fest and that’s my angle.

Admittedly, there was the nine-goal thriller with Leicester last time out at Wembley but we’ll put that down to last day of the season randomness, and looking further back, five of Tottenham’s last seven at home went under 2.5 goals.

It’s likely to be a subdued crowd at Wembley with a number of regulars staying away and the Cottagers will be looking to keep it tight after opening day defeat, so another low scoring win for Spurs is my call at a decent 11/4.

Dan Thomas 2017-18 P/L: -£10.00

Joe Dyer
Back Everton to beat Southampton at [1.98]
Saturday, 15:00

Joe is away.

Joe Dyer 2017-18 P/L: -£10.00

Harry Phillips
Back a Draw in Chelsea v Arsenal at [4.0]
Saturday, 17:30
Live on BT Sport

Chelsea looked a more well organised and rejuvenated side under Maurizio Sarri in the first game of the season, although you would have expected them to pick up the points against Huddersfield even in last year’s torrid campaign.

Eden Hazard is likely to start the against Arsenal which should add an extra string to their bow and we should start to see how good they really are. Although, as Sarri himself said, it could take a few months before they reach their full potential.

Arsenal will prove a more difficult challenge than the Terriers for sure, and Unai Emery will be determined to iron out the opening day teething problems. They were very much second best against the Premier League champions; the forwards didn’t quite click and the less said about the defence the better.

Both teams are getting used to a new way of playing under new managers and I can’t see either getting into full flow this weekend. With four of the five past encounters between these two ending a draw, it looks like it could be more of the same on Saturday.

Harry Phillips 2017-18 P/L: -£10.00

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