Premier League 2019/20: Gameweek One Betting Tips & Football Odds

Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over – the Premier League returns this weekend. Football fans across the country will be tuning in to see how their team gets on and 888sport punters will be keeping a close eye on our NEW promotion 'Up For 8' ahead of the 2019/20 season!

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of this weekend’s biggest fixtures – hopefully the 888sport blog can get off to a flyer with their opening Premier League accumulator of the campaign…

 

Liverpool vs Norwich City

Liverpool will be chomping at the bit to get started and the Reds could run riot in front of an expectant home crowd. The 2018/19 Premier League runners up are well priced at 8/13 to score three or more goals in Friday’s curtain raiser.

In some ways, Norwich will be happy enough to get this trip to Anfield out of the way. With a bit of luck, the Canaries could catch Jurgen Klopp’s side cold on Friday night and a positive result could set the tone for the rest of Norwich’s season.

Liverpool are a class above on paper and things could get ugly for Norwich if the Reds make an early breakthrough. 8/15 for Liverpool to score in both halves is a reasonable price.

TIP: Liverpool to score in both halves (8/15)

 

West Ham United vs Manchester City

With Marco Arnautovic out of the London Stadium exit door, West Ham could be set for a tough start to the campaign. The Hammers are in a transition period with a couple of new signings and it may time some time for Manuel Pellegrini’s men to gel.

The defending champions will quietly confident of getting off to the perfect start – and who could blame them? Pep Guardiola’s side put four goals past West Ham during preseason and a similar rout could be on the cards.

City are favourites to win the Premier League title for the third year in a row and the visitors can get off to the perfect start here. An away win to nil is well priced at EVS.

TIP: Manchester City to win to nil (Evens)

 

Leicester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Ninth in the Premier League table last season, Leicester fans will be hoping that the Foxes can climb the ladder in 2019/20. With Brendan Rodgers at the helm, anything is possible and there is renewed optimism at the King Power Stadium after a difficult year.

Wolves are primed to finish as ‘best of the rest’ outside of the top six this season and Nuno’s men will be quietly confident of an opening weekend scalp. The Molineux faithful should be expecting big things after a positive first campaign back in the Premier League.

Both teams to score looks like the way to go in this fixture. The selection has landed in each of the last two matches – 17/20 could turn be the bet of the weekend.

TIP: Both teams to score (17/20)

 

Newcastle United vs Arsenal

It has been another miserable summer for Newcastle. Rafa Benitez’s decision to leave the club was not unexpected but it was still heart-breaking for Magpies fans. The Spaniard’s departure could turn out to be a decisive moment in 2019/20 come the end of May.

Up For 8

Arsenal were woeful away from home last season and Unai Emery has a tough task on his hands in 2019/20. The Gunners are looking to climb back into the top four and an opening weekend victory will certainly boost confidence and morale amongst supporters.

This is a tough one to call. Traditionally, Newcastle have been solid at St James’ Park but it is hard to place too much faith in the Magpies. A low-scoring game at 27/25 carries most appeal.

TIP: Under 2.5 goals (27/25)

 

Manchester United vs Chelsea

Manchester United have taken a big risk with their lack of transfer activity this summer and it could come back to bite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the backside. The Red Devils have made a couple of key new signings but Romelu Lukaku’s departure leaves them short in attack.

It’s sink or swim time for Frank Lampard. Visiting Old Trafford for your first Premier League match in charge is about as tough as it gets but Chelsea will be quietly confident of picking up a positive result. Write the Blues off at your peril…

Opening the campaign with such a high-profile encounter isn’t exactly ideal for either team and this could be a slow burner. 15/8 for a goalless first half isn’t the worst bet in the world.

TIP: Under 0.5 first half goals (15/8)

 

My 'Up For 8' Predictions...

Crystal Palace vs Everton = Everton win

Watford vs Brighton = Watford win

Burnley vs Southampton = Draw

Bournemouth vs Sheffield United = Bournemouth win

Derby vs Swansea = Derby win

Leicester vs Wolves = Draw

Newcastle vs Arsenal = Arsenal win

Man United vs Chelsea = Draw

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

August 8, 2019
Premier League

By Alex McMahon

Alex McMahon Sport
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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible. 
 

Alex McMahon
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Premier League 2019/20: Outright Betting Markets, Tips & Predictions

The start of the 2019/20 Premier League season is just days away. While it’s not exactly been a long summer without football – it’s only been a few weeks – the return of English football’s top flight is still met with that fresh, new season excitement.

People are hunting for the best Fantasy Football value picks, speculating who will be first manager sacked and pondering how the table will look in spring 2020.

Schedules have been analysed, as fans plan away days and consider where their team could go on the run that takes the season from good to great.

Players have been playing revenue-generating friendlies for weeks as they get back towards something like Premier League match fitness.

Everyone has a few preseason predictions that they’ll stand by until they’re mathematically impossible. Whether it’s a shock relegation candidate or a team breaking the top six’s dominance, trying to predict the season is an annual challenge for football fans.

On that note, here are a few predictions for the new season…

 

Title Winner

The title is expected to come down to Manchester City and Liverpool, just as it did last term. The two were inseparable at the top of the table through the opening months of 2019.

Manchester City hit the most purple of purple patches to hold off Liverpool, and with their squad only deepened this summer, it’s very hard to look past Pep Guardiola’s side three-peating.

Tottenham threatened to make it a three-team race in 2018/19, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team were unable to keep pace and ended up dropping off.

Depending on how the transfer window ends, they could be considered a dark horse – their 18/1 price is representative of their current standing somewhere between the top two and the rest.

While neither City or Liverpool have made huge moves this summer, City’s superior squad depth could prove to be the difference again.

As good as Jurgen Klopp’s side have become, it felt like 2018/19 was their ceiling – their main hope of improvement is a breakout season from last summer’s big-money signing Naby Keita.

Prediction: Manchester City

 

Top 4 Finish

City, Liverpool and Spurs feel like locks for the top four once again.

The other three – much like last season – will be wrestling for that fourth spot, while some of the upper-mid table sides could be eyeing up a run considering the uncertainty surrounding Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

United’s summer – up until the time of writing – has been a disappointing one once again. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a man under pressure.

While Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire are two new signings to watch, the issues in midfield and the final third remain. Evens to make the top four is way too short.

Arsenal’s attack has been improved, and Nicolas Pepe will be lots of fun. Their defence remains very suspect, though they could of course change before the window shuts.

Chelsea begin the post-Hazard era under Frank Lampard with their expectations lower than they have been in about 15 years – they’ll be interesting, but the top four might be a step too far.

Wolves at 16/1 will get some support to make the top four. How Nuno Espirito Santo’s side cope with Europa League demands will be fascinating.

Arsenal, though, are perhaps the best equipped to snatch fourth with their fearsome attack. Unai Emery’s side will need to score plenty of goals, and they’ve got the players to do so.

Prediction: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal

 

Golden Boot

For the first time since 1998/99, the Premier League Golden Boot was a three-way tie in 2018/19 with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all sharing the award.

That trio all feature near the top of the Golden Boot Premier League odds in 2019/20, too. Harry Kane leads the way at 4/1, followed by Sergio Aguero, Salah, Aubameyang and Mane.

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling rounds off the leading pack at 14/1, the same price as 2018/19 winner Mane. Picking a Golden Boot winner isn’t easy. Injuries and fortune play a major role...

If fit, Aguero is a tempting bet at 11/2, but relying on a fully healthy season and Pep Guardiola’s squad rotation is a risky business. The Argentinian has remarkably only won the award once before.

With City expected to rack up the goals, he’s probably good value, though with City looking for a deep Champions League run, we may see Gabriel Jesus given a lot of minutes up front in the second half of the season.

The uncertainty with Aguero might make Aubameyang the best bet at 7/1. Without the Champions League distraction and in an attack that should create plenty, the former Dortmund man could get well into the twenties again.

As a longer shot bet, Everton’s new man Moise Kean will undoubtedly attract interest at 50/1.

Prediction: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

 

Top Half Finish

The race for best of the rest is going to be hotly contested this season as it was last. The betting market currently puts Everton, Leicester, Wolves and West Ham are the four to join the top six in the top half of the table.

The Hammers are Evens for a top 10 finish at the moment with fellow claret and blue club Aston Villa currently at 9/2.

Everton, Leicester and Wolves are all looking to push on from last season. West Ham are much the same, but after the Marko Arnautovic saga, it remains to be seen what Manuel Pellegrini’s side are capable of.

With inconsistency shown in 2018/19, it’s not hard to envisage the Hammers dropping into the bottom half of the table.

Villa, despite spending heavily, feel a bit on the short side at 9/2. Watford are 5/2, which is a solid price, but it’s Southampton at 11/4 that represent the best value.

Ralph Hasenhuttl markedly improved the Saints last season. With Che Adams and Moussa Djenepo on board, Southampton could be back in the top 10 for the first time since 2016/17.

Prediction: Southampton

 

Relegation

Sheffield United are the relegation favourites at 4/6. Chris Wilder’s side had a wonderful 2018/19 in the Championship, but they will be sitting in the bottom three of many people’s preseason Premier League prediction tables.

Fellow promoted sign Norwich are a bit shorter at 19/20. While Daniel Farke’s side haven’t invested as flamboyantly as Aston Villa, the Canaries have a set way of playing and could benefit from continuity.

In Ralf Fahrmann, Sam Byram, Patrick Roberts and Josip Drmic, Norwich have added a few bargain pieces that should help them out this season.

Two teams who were in trouble last term are at 9/5 to go down. Brighton and Burnley spent time in the bottom three last season and we could see both teams drop down a division if Norwich can quickly adapt to the top flight.

Aston Villa, who have the biggest range of any team in the Premier League this season, are another to consider at 2/1 to go down.

Prediction: Sheffield United, Burnley, Brighton

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

August 8, 2019
Premier League
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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

Sam Cox
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Major League Baseball: Greatest Ever World Series Performances

The 162-game MLB regular season, the cross-country playoff flights, all lead to the World Series.

The incredible marathon that is the Major League Baseball season is all pointing towards a World Series appearance, it is the holy grail for all 30 teams. Rebuilds happen with the aim of a solitary chance to make the Fall Classic.

Once a team gets there, it’s not as simple as the better roster wins. Star power helps, of course, but there’s a unique mental challenge about postseason baseball that is amplified for the World Series.

October baseball is the chance to become a legend, doing something historic in the World Series keeps your name in the history books for the rest of time.

We looked forward in the 2019 Major League Baseball preview, this time we’re looking back at the greatest ever World Series performances.

 

Madison Bumgarner (2014)

“When I look at 2014 and I think of October, I think of Bumgarner today, and 100 years from now, everyone will still think about Madison Bumgarner in 2014.” That was Tom Verducci as Bumgarner’s 2014 postseason performance saw him named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

Bumgarner had excelled in the 2010 and 2012 postseason for the San Francisco Giants, but what he did in 2014 was another level. The left-hander put Bruce Bochy’s team on his back, carrying them to a third World Series title in five seasons.

Game One of the World Series saw Bumgarner pitch seven innings for one earned run (the only run he has given up in 36 World Series innings). Game Five was back in San Francisco – Bumgarner tossed a complete game shutout to put the Giants up 3-2.

In Game Seven, he was ready to come out of the bullpen. After a difficult start for Tim Hudson, Bochy got a few outs from Jeremy Affeldt, before turning to his ace in the fifth inning.

https://www.888sport.com/blog/football-prediction

The plan wasn’t for Bumgarner to pitch the remaining five innings. Getting quick outs, keeping the Royals hitters off balance, he did just that. Bumgarner was named World Series MVP and earned his third ring with a thrilling Game Seven victory on the road.

 

Sandy Koufax (1965)

Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax missed the first game of the 1965 World Series because of Yom Kippur.

He started Game Two, but the defence let him down as the Twins took a 2-0 series lead. Los Angeles were in trouble, though they managed to tie the series before Koufax returned to the mound for Game Five.

Game Five saw a 10-strikeout complete game shutout. The Twins made it 3-3 in Game Six and Koufax was starting again in Game Seven on short rest with the World Series on the line.

And what happened? Yep, it was another 10-strikeout gem from the lefty, shutting down the Twins’ offence for another complete game.

The Dodgers offence wasn’t good in 1965. They battled their way to the postseason, and then Koufax – still with minimal run support – did the rest.

 

Jack Morris (1991)

The 1991 World Series is commonly considered one of the best of all-time. Jack Morris, Minnesota Twins’ ace at the time, is a recent Hall of Fame inductee and started three games in the ’91 World Series, giving up just three earned runs in 23 innings.

A stellar start in Game One led the Twins to an early advantage. Game Four was solid from Morris again, but the Braves pipped them in the ninth. It was Game Seven when the veteran right-hander shone.

Matched up with John Smoltz, as he was in Game Four, it was a tense game with baserunners hard to come by.

After nine innings, the score remained 0-0. Morris had thrown nine shutout frames and came out to pitch the 10th. He repeatedly refused to leave the game.

Stubborn and determined to lead his team to victory, Morris continued to retire Braves hitters. Fortunately for Minnesota’s coaching staff, their team were able to walk it off in the bottom of the 10th before they had to confront Morris again.

 

Christy Mathewson (1905)

Christy Mathewson had the benefit of playing in the dead-ball era. Even so, what he achieved was ridiculous.

After throwing well over 300 regular season innings for an ERA of just over one, Mathewson guided the New York Giants to a World Series win over the Philadelphia Athletics.

Mathewson, a two-time Triple Crown winner, pitched 27 scoreless innings in three starts over six days. He gave up just 13 hits and one walk, while striking out 18 Philly hitters.

While considering baseball legacy is challenging because of how the game has changed, Mathewson is one of the greatest ever MLB players. His 1905 World Series display goes down as one of the great October stories.

 

Reggie Jackson (1977)

Reggie Jackson’s nickname is ‘Mr October’. That made it pretty clear he was making this list.

Only three other players – Pablo Sandoval, Babe Ruth and Albert Pujols – have hit three homers in a World Series game. Jackson achieved the feat in Game Six of the 1977 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The five-time World Series winner has a more than solid postseason CV without the three-homer game. Add that to the mix, however, which helped him win a second World Series MVP, and Jackson has a playoff career unlike any other hitter in the history of the game.

Plenty of betting sites have the Yankees as one of the World Series favourites this season. Will we see one of the Bronx Bombers follow in Jackson’s footsteps this October?

 

Bob Gibson (1967)

Perhaps the greatest World Series pitcher ever, Bob Gibson was twice-named World Series MVP for the St Louis Cardinals. His 1967 effort was monstrous, as he tossed three complete game gems, earning him three victories for a WHIP marginally over 0.7.

He even started Game Seven on short rest, and again delivered for St Louis, punching out 10 Red Sox hitters on the way to an historic victory.

In that famous Game Seven, Gibson gave up two of the three runs he did in the entire 1967 World Series. A disappointment, of course, but the flamethrowing right-hander also contributed at the plate, hitting a two-run homer off Boston’s starter, Jim Lonborg.

Gibson’s Cardinals are competitive in 2019 and will be eyeing their 12th World Series title. Keep up to date with St Louis’ chances in 888sport’s MLB betting odds.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

August 7, 2019
Baseball
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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

Sam Cox
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