Your Expert EPL Tips: 2020/21 Season

West Ham v Tottenham

BACK — West Ham at $2.76

Arsenal v Man City

BACK — Draw at $5.00

Liverpool v Everton

BACK — Liverpool at $1.51

Leicester v Liverpool

BACK — Liverpool at $2.18

Man City v Tottenham

BACK — Man City -1 & -1.5 at $1.70

BACK — Over 2.5 Goals at $1.67

Brighton v Aston Villa

BACK — Aston Villa at $2.66

Liverpool v Man City

BACK — Liverpool at $3.70

Aston Villa v Arsenal

BACK — Arsenal at $2.72

Man Utd v Everton

BACK — Everton +2 at $1.56

Tottenham v Chelsea

Spurs are on the slide after back to back defeats, a horrible performance against Brighton and in the absence of Harry Kane with an injury. Chelsea is up and running under Thomas Tuchel with a win against Burnley but it’s hard to make a case for them hitting full slickness just yet.

Tottenham have come in for big criticism and Mourinho will be after a rearguard performance to half the fall. A goal each way and a draw for mine.

BACK — Draw at $3.50. 

Fulham v Leicester

Leicester were shocked at home to Leeds last time out but they’re too good of a side to not expect a response from and they’re a strong side away from home with their counter-attacking brand.

Fulham have solidified but they still struggle to win. The value for Leicester on the road is very good, they’re worth backing here at that price.

BACK — Leicester at $2.06. 

Liverpool v Brighton

The champions have their groove back. After back to back wins on the road in what were tough tests against Spurs and West Ham, Liverpool are purring again.

Brighton are tracking nicely but it’s hard to see them handling the Reds at Anfield now and in particular Mo Salah who is back to his best. Look at Liverpool -1 handicap, or the half-time, full-time double.

BACK — Liverpool -1 at $2.16. 

Arsenal v Man Utd

BACK — Draw at $3.55

Man City v Sheff Utd

BACK — Sheff Utd +2.5 at $1.69

West Ham v Liverpool

BACK — Liverpool at $1.81

The Big Six

Can the dominant, unbearable Reds go from a 30-year drought to back to back champions? Of course they can. There may not be an influx of signings (even if Thiago joins), but they didn’t have that last season either and still won the thing by 18 points.

Keeping the front three geniuses, fullback superstars and the indomitable Van Dijk fit will be necessary again. Still, injuries to them have been rarer than a day of humility from Donald Trump. It’s always a big task to topple Liverpool.

Man City should provide the most significant challenge yet again, even without the signing of Lionel Messi. Not content with spending the GDP of Russia on their defence, City has splashed out again this time for Nathan Ake, and Guardiola should meld their problematic back four back into shape.

Pep will be hurting from last season’s weak title defence and Champions League exit and therefore primed to strike back. In De Bruyne they still have the best midfielder in the league and if he stays fit for the majority of the season City will be in it up to their eyeballs once more.

If there are financial implications of COVID-19, someone forgot to tell Roman Abramovich. Or maybe he’s just striking will everyone else suffers. Shrewd. It’s like 2004 all over again for Chelsea. Splashing their owner’s Russian Rubles and signing star in sight. Werner, Ziyech, Havertz, Chilwell, Silva.

Frank Lampard has a serious squad now, and they’ll be expected to contend for the title for a prolonged period as a result. That brings pressure, however, and while Lampard excelled last season, he did it with that lens removed. They are easily the most fascinating team to watch ahead of the new season.

Mykonos may have got the best of captain Harry Maguire, but a Bruno Fernandes inspired mid-season revival has plenty excited for Manchester United’s hopes this season and understandably so. His link-up play with Martial and Rashford has brought back that old United verve consistently for the first time since Sir Alex’s departure.

But doing it week in, week out will be the challenge. City and Liverpool have shown in recent seasons that you can’t afford to lose games if you want to win the title. The Red Devils finished third last season but were still closer to relegation than Liverpool at the top. Changing the mentality and delivering every week is Solskjaer’s biggest challenge if they want to contend.

Arsenal should improve. I mean, they have to improve. They finished eight last season for goodness sakes. Eighth! The FA Cup triumph lifted spirits, and Mikel Arteta certainly looks like a man with a plan, but there is enormous ground to make up.

Aubameyang is the one player that walks into any other team in the league and again looms as the key to a revival, but he could use some mates. There is plenty of young talent there though, and if they can accelerate their development, the Gunners can get back in the top four.

Well, this season will tell us all we need to know about the managerial status of Jose Mourinho. Still special or past his best? It’s hard to know what to make of Spurs prospects. Like it wouldn’t shock you if they finished as low as mid-table or as high as third.

They still have bonafide superstars in Kane, Alli, Son, Lloris and Alderweireld and right-back Matt Doherty is a smart signing. But so much of it comes down to Jose. If he can galvanise and steel them like he’s done with so many sides in the past, they’ll be right back up there. If no, it could be another morose campaign. And time to finally do away with that ‘Special One’ Mourinho moniker.

Middle of the Pack

Yes, Leicester were top six last season, but they’re not ‘big six’ yet. Another campaign like the previous though, and they might just change the status quo. With the golden boot winner in Vardy and a top manager in Rodgers, they shouldn’t drop off too much.

The same applies to Wolves and their Portuguese posse. Burnley can maintain a mid-table spot, but Sheffield United will find it far tougher to replicate their fantastic season this time around.

The team to watch though is Everton. Big money signings and a couple of managers have come and gone in recent signings with bugger all to show for it. Yet they’ve managed to bring in a three-time Champions League winning manager in Carlo Ancelotti and a superstar in James Rodriguez. Expect them to rise this season. They simply have to.

Bottom Bunch

Long gone are the days of a plethora of Aussies flying our flag in the biggest league of all but with Leeds back in the top flight, at least we can reminisce about the glory years of Kewell, Viduka and co once more.

There has been no greater anticipation around a promotion side than Marcelo Bielsa’s team in Premier League history, and after 16 years out of the top flight, they can make a splash on their return and finish clear of the drop zone.

The same can’t be said of Fulham and West Brom sadly who came up with them. Expect them to struggle come the end of the campaign but Villa, who narrowly avoided the drop last season can stabilise now and move to closer to mid-table. Maty Ryan is our only Aussie in the top flight. Another big season from his at Brighton and bigger clubs will no doubt come calling.

Final Predictions

Golden Boot: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Arsenal

Top Six in Order:

1. Liverpool
2. Manchester City
3. Chelsea
4. Manchester United
5. Arsenal
6. Tottenham

Relegated

1. West Brom
2. Fulham
3. Brighton