Matchweek 1 is in the books and I just want to say, how good is it to have the Premier League back!
The betcha boost hit thanks to Mo Salah bagging one in the 94th minute, Chris Wood is carrying on where he left off last year and Sunderland got a win at the Stadium of Light.
Life is good!
Let’s take a look at the full slate of football this weekend 👇
Plenty of pundits picked Chelsea as their dark horse this year after winning the Club World Cup and there were a heap who backed them to bag a couple of goals at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.
But a nil-all draw with Crystal Palace is not the start the Blues would’ve been hoping for. Even worse, West Ham went down 3-0 to the newly promoted Sunderland.
Even though both sides drew blanks last weekend, Chelsea racked up 11 corners on their own, while the Hammers had 7.
I’m not going to confidently back Chelsea even though I do think they’ll get the job done but I’m going to have a go at the corners market and back there to be more than 10 in the game.
There was all this talk about these big name strikers coming into the Prem and making a splash, that people almost forgot about the best of the lot. But not us here at betcha, we got amongst the big Norwegian striker to open his account early and he did.
What we didn’t expect or account for was Richarlison and that it’s a World Cup year! There’s the theory that we only get to see the best of the Brazilian when he’s trying to make the national side.
A good start for both these sides, but Thomas Frank and his Spurs side are in for a real test at the Etihad this weekend.
We have another Super Boost on the Premier League this weekend, and it is on Erling Haaland to score at any time. He had it his way last week with a double and has scored four goals in six games vs Spurs, so we’ll take him to get another one in front of the home fans.
Sunderland will be looking to build on an impressive start to their Premier League campaign, and now the Black Cats head to Burnley and have a chance at ending a 16-year drought.
Sunderland haven’t won an away game in the top-flight in August or September since 2009 when they beat Bolton on the road.
I’d say they have a decent chance at ending that record, too after Burnley were taken to the cleaners and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Last year, when these two met in the Championship, Sunderland won 1-0 at home and played out a 0-0 draw at Turf Moor.
Wolves look like they’re potentially going to be in for a rough season. After a tough first-up fixture against City, they now head to Bournemouth, who kept themselves in their opening game right up until the 88th minute.
Semenyo nearly helped the Cherries snag a point at Anfield but two goals at the death saw them go down to the Premier League champs 4-2.
They are home this week and should take plenty of confidence out of that first game.
Semenyo will look to carry on his form and lead Bournemouth to a win and to ensure we can use our SGM Multi Cover tool, I threw in Under 4.5 Total Goals.
Aston Villa were unable to crack Newcastle at Villa Park in their opener, and they could be sounding the early season alarms if they fail again this weekend.
Villa will take on Brentford, who, to put it nicely, are in a transition period.
I don’t have a heap of hope for the Bees and to get Villa to win straight up at that price… I’m all over it.
Arsenal scraped three points at Old Trafford with a 1-0 win thanks to a set-piece (classic) but it’s fair to say they were not the best team on the paddock.
Not a lot of quality ball into the attacking third meant new signing Gyokeres had very little to do and can only thank David Raya in goal who made some huge saves to keep Arsenal in the lead.
Leeds started their campaign off on the right foot after a rather generous penalty was given in the 84th minute against Everton.
Arsenal should make easy work of this at home, and Arteta would like to see improvements on both ends of the pitch.
Back the Gunners to be better at home this weekend.
Crystal Palace have just let Eze walk as he joins Arsenal for a 60 million euro fee. I’m hoping they can bring someone in; otherwise, they might find themselves battling in the wrong half of the table.
Nottingham Forest, however, have picked up where they left off with a good win at home and Chris Wood bagging a double.
Yes the Tree’s are away from home and yes, Crystal Palace held Chelsea to a nil-nil draw but you have to back the higher quality team in this one.
Everton would count themselves unlucky after they conceded the penalty to Leeds. I’m not sure what else Tarkowski could do inside his own box.
Everton didn’t offer a lot in the first half but found themselves more involved in the second dig. They now get to host Brighton at home, in their new stadium!
Hill Dickinson Stadium along Liverpool’s River Mersey looks outstanding. Hopefully, for Everton’s sake, they can grab a point or three to give the stadium and fans what they deserve.
I reckon they can too.
Brighton let it slip against Fulham last weekend and had to settle for just a point at home.
Both sides saw goalless first halves in their openers, so we’ll go with a draw at halftime and hope Everton can find the back of the net in the second.
Call me crazy, but I think Man United will be leaving Craven Cottage with three points.
They were the better side against Arsenal and could have won that game 3, maybe 4-1 if Cunha and Mbeumo had their goal-scoring boots on.
Fulham snatched a point at the death against the Seagulls, but will take a few positives from their performance.
The two meetings between these sides last year ended in a 1-0 wins for United, also sticking with last season’s theme, Matheus Cunha scored twice with Wolves when he made the trip.
I’m tossing up between the result and a Cunha debut goal for United…
I’ll take both in a two leg sgm!
The matchweek ends with a banger at St. James’ Park. I think what everyone was hoping for was to see Alexander Isak on the pitch but no one would have known who for.
The Isak drama has gone on for so long I’ve named this fixture the ‘Isak Derby’.
New signing Ekitike had his shooting boots on taking four against Bournemouth. He did score and assist so fair play to the guy for taking it on.
He averaged 2.96 shots per 90 minutes last season and you can get him to reach his average at just over $2.
With all the drama going on between these two sides, it feels like it could go either way. Hence, I’m staying away from the result and backing with Ekitike to show up with his shooting boots on.