EPL Notebook - Week 2
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com
The English Premier League started with an upset last week as Hull City knocked off Leicester City 2-1 in its home opener from KCOM Stadium. The Tigers were listed as high as 7/2 underdogs over the Foxes.
Along with Hull, Manchester City and Chelsea were both able to secure 2-1 home victories in Week 1 over Sunderland and West Ham United.
Bettors saw four road teams capture wins in Week 1, which has been a common theme in the opening weekend the last four seasons. Many pundits would agree that Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Arsenal from the Emirates Stadium stood out as the most impressive road victory in Week 1.
We did have three draws and all of them ended with 1-1 outcomes. Total players saw the ‘under’ go 5-4-1 in Week 1 as 18 of the 20 clubs posted at least one goal.
Two-Horse Race?
Manchester City (2/1) and Manchester United (5/2) opened as the top two betting choices to capture this year’s trophy as both clubs boast deep talented rosters. VegasInsider.com soccer expert Toby Maxtone Smith believes bettors will have better options in the futures market.
He explained, “I quite like Chelsea at the prices, as I'm finding it hard to split the Manchester teams, and Chelsea are double the price at 9/2. Leicester have no chance, sadly. I expect them to finish about 10th. My surprise team would be Liverpool - if they can be called a 'surprise team.' They were fantastic against Arsenal in Week 1 and I think the Gunners might finish outside the top 4 for the first time in years, while the Reds could be in the title race.”
“Hull look very likely for relegations, despite its opening win against Leicester. Their squad is ludicrously thin and they look dreadfully underprepared for the season. Burnley look like their making the same mistake they always do - not buying enough players, though they do have an excellent striker in Andre Gray. I think Crystal Palace are badly vulnerable. They have only won two of their last 21 games, and badly struggle for goals.”
Liverpool is currently a 6/1 betting choice at Sportsbook.ag and last year’s champions Leicester City has already dipped down to 40/1 odds.
Chalky Weekend
Oddsmakers aren’t expecting many tight affairs this weekend, listing seven teams as very healthy home favorites.
Manchester United started off Week 2 on Friday by cashing a 2-0 victory over Southampton as a minus-250 favorite (Bet $100 to win $40).
Tottenham is laying the highest price in its home opener versus Palace. The Spurs only lost three times at White Hart Lane last season but it did have six draws.
Trends to Watch - Week 2
Everton defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-2 last September on the road and that kind of offensive production is rare in this series. Despite that outcome, the ‘under’ has cashed in eight of the last 10 encounters between the pair.
Crystal Palace closed last season with an 11-game winless streak (0-5-6) on the road and only managed to score nine goals during this drought.
Since Leicester City moved up to the Premier League in 2014, the club has gone 0-1-3 against Arsenal. Last season, the Gunners outscored the Foxes 7-3 in two victories.
Last season, Chelsea was tied with Everton and West Ham with the most draws at 14. Two of those outcomes for the Blues came versus Watford, who travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
West Ham United had the highest goal scoring average (3.05) in the EPL last season and Bournemouth (2.95) was ranked fourth amongst 20 teams. In the two head-to-head meetings last season, the pair split the matchups (4-3, 3-1) and both were high-scoring affairs. They meet Sunday morning from London Stadium.