Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge of Manchester City was a bit of a damp squib. Despite opening with 10 successive victories, the Blues were left trophyless at the end of the season – just the third time City have failed to win any silverware since 2010.

• Premier League Betting on 888sport

The former Barcelona boss will be demanding a stronger push this time around and City will be very difficult to beat if they go all out in the four major competitions – the Blues are an incredible 2000/1 to win the quadruple this season.

City have moved quickly and effectively in the transfer window, suggesting that Guardiola’s men know exactly where they must improve to compete at the top of the Premier League table.

Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson Moraes completed their moves to the Etihad Stadium earlier this summer before Kyle Walker also signed for the Blues last week.

All three men could play pivotal roles for City this season and the 27/20 available for Pep’s side to win one trophy represents decent value.

Winning the Premier League title will once again be City’s main objective but silverware is a necessity this year. Whether it is the title, the FA Cup, League Cup or even the Champions League, winning trophies is an absolute must.

For me, the value is in a double at 5/1. City have strengthened considerably this summer and their second string is arguably stronger than some first teams out there.

Finishing at the top of the Premier League would be nice but Pep will also be targeting victory in one of the two domestic cup competitions. With the luck of the draw on their side, City could find themselves back at Wembley Stadium again this year.

Who knows, the Blues might even win the Champions League (14/1) this term. European glory is the long term objective for City and their owners but consistent success in England’s top flight has to be a priority at this moment in time.

Two years ago, City reached the semi-finals of Europe’s elite club competition but fell short against Real Madrid. Now, they are arguably better equipped to compete for the Champions League – especially against the top teams in the business.

City are currently favourites for the Premier League crown at 9/5 with 888Sport and plenty of punters will be backing Pep’s side to go all the way this campaign. Perhaps only arch rivals Manchester United can compete with City on a player-by-player basis and that strength in depth could prove crucial come the end of May.

For those expecting City to disappoint for the second year in succession, you can get 21/20 on the Blues to win nothing. It is difficult to envision Guardiola’s men slipping up once again but England’s top flight is more competitive than ever before and nothing is a given.

Keeping Sergio Aguero at the club is an absolute must. Yes, Pep may favour Gabriel Jesus to lead the line but allowing the Argentina man to join Chelsea would be a suicidal move.

As of July 18^th, Aguero is a 6/4 shot to join the Premier League champions this summer – City must block any approach from their domestic rivals. If the Blues hold on to their key men and sign a couple more defensive-minded players, City will be in business.

In Pep Guardiola, they have one of the best managers on the planet at the helm and he can steer City to silverware for many years to come. Watch this space, the Blues will be right in contention on all four fronts this campaign...

No league can compete with the calibre of manager the top echelon of the Premier League has. Some iconic names, some improving young bosses and grizzled veterans ready to upset the applecart with a perfectly executed rearguard action.

It’s make or break for some of them, too. Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola were given a first season grace, but their immense spending sees the demands ratcheted up. Arsene Wenger must return Arsenal to the top four, Jurgen Klopp needs to take Liverpool to the next level and Antonio Conte faces the task of balancing European and domestic football.

Elsewhere, Mark Hughes could be under early pressure, Rafa Benitez must calm a jittery Geordie fan base and Frank de Boer is challenged with bringing stability and Premier League security to Crystal Palace.

The list goes on. Clubs are anxious for a good start, and managers face the brunt of that pressure, especially where spending has been particularly enormous. Yes, we’re looking at you Ronald Koeman.

Koeman is 12/1 for the award

Seldom does the Manager of the Year award go to anyone other than the league winner. It’s perhaps an expected result of such an award, but it does oversimplify the decision somewhat. Antonio Conte was a deserved recipient last season, though the value of Chelsea’s squad – that had won the title two years before – made it a point of debate. Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs were impressive throughout, too, and the Argentine had supposedly far inferior resources.

Overachievement might be the best barometer of a manager’s impact. Coaching is an unquantifiable factor, but the changes made to many of Pochettino’s players cannot go unnoticed. Conte, too, deserved recognition for the turnaround from where Chelsea were prior to his appointment. This could even suggest, then, that the title favourites’ manager can never win the Manager of the Year award.

Manchester City are title favourites and Guardiola is favourite for this award

Conte is 5/1 to retain his award, but that would surely take a superhuman effort from Chelsea both in the league and on their return to the Champions League. The Blues’ squad looks desperately thin – at the time of writing, anyway – and manoeuvring this group to another successful season is a step too far even for the prolific medal collecting Conte.

Mourinho joins Conte at 5/1, and a league title is long overdue for Manchester United. It would take an emphatic stroll to the Premier League crown, but Mourinho certainly has the team and experience to do it once again. Not a great price given their struggles last season, mind.

Other big name managers will naturally attract most of the money in this market. Wenger at 14/1 with Klopp could tempt a few given the unpredictability of next season’s top six.

The real outside shout currently is Slaven Bilic at 40/1. West Ham’s boss a Claudio Ranieri distance from the award in 2015/16 and the Irons’ investment this summer has a mist of hope around the London Stadium. Last season’s forgettable campaign must be shown to be a blip by Bilic – who will see his job under threat otherwise – but the Hammers could be the surprise package again.

Has it sunk in yet, Brighton & Hove Albion fans? Probably not. Chris Hughton’s side will host Manchester City, current favourites for the Premier League title, on Saturday evening and it is sure to be a special event at the Amex Stadium.

• Get the best bets on Premier League

Brighton (9/1) will find it tough at times this season, especially on Saturday evening, but there will be a party atmosphere on the south coast this weekend.

Write Brighton Off At Your Peril

They might not win on Saturday but far too many football fans have been quick to write the Seagulls off ahead of what will be a memorable campaign.

The Premier League newbies will be quietly confident of avoiding dropping down to the Championship at the first time of asking and Albion fans will be looking to create long-lasting memories in England’s top flight.

Remember Blackpool? Ian Holloway’s Tangerines were relegated after just one season in the top flight but they gave an excellent account of themselves. Brighton, although arguably much more pragmatic, can follow the Blackpool blueprint in terms of exciting football but Hughton’s experience should give the Seagulls an edge in the relegation battle. As of August 9^th, Brighton are 6/5 to go straight back down this campaign.

An opening weekend clash with Manchester City – it doesn’t get much tougher than that. At least Brighton are at home. Pep Guardiola’s side were far from perfect during pre-season and Hughton will have a plan.

Brighton are capable of scoring against Europe’s top clubs, as shown in their clash with Atletico Madrid this month, and City’s defensive frailties may still exist despite heavy spending in the transfer window.

Manchester City: Capable Of Coping With Favouritism?

Unsurprisingly, the visitors head into this contest as clear favourites and anything less than a comprehensive victory will anger Guardiola. City are fairly short in the market at 6/19 but that was expected. Brighton will be enthusiastic in approach but they cannot compete with Pep’s men on a player-by-player basis.

In terms of the title race, City also head the market. Both Manchester clubs are well fancied to shine this season but Guardiola’s side have the edge and rightly so. At 7/4, they are still well priced considering their talent. The Premier League is arguably more competitive now than it has ever been but City have the quality to blow their rivals out of the water.

Attacking is City’s strength but their new-look defence could mature into a serious unit in the coming months. Guardiola has acted quickly and effectively in the market to build what looks like a relatively solid defensive group.

For now, City will remain shaky but in time, the Blues may get to grips at the back and Pep’s side will be very difficult to beat when that happens.

via GIPHY

Prediction

Manchester City made a fast start last season and I’m expecting Guardiola’s men to do the same this time around.

Beating any newly promoted side on home soil on opening weekend is never easy but City should be too classy for Brighton’s grit and determination. Hughton’s men will have their day in the sun but this may be a step too far.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 MANCHESTER CITY

Newcastle United are back in the Premier League. Rafa Benitez’s side were expected to win the Championship title last season and they did but only just. Brighton & Hove Albion were in the driving seat but a late goal on the final day of the campaign took the title to St James’ Park – much to the delight of the Newcastle faithful.

• Premier League Betting on 888sport

But it is now time for Benitez’s side to look forward. An opening encounter with Tottenham Hotspur, one of the leading contenders in the Premier League title race in each of the last two years, won’t be easy.

With Harry Kane, Golden Boot winner in both of those seasons, in fine form, Spurs could run riot on Sunday afternoon.

Newcastle United: Back Where They Belong

Simply put, Newcastle aren’t a Championship calibre side. The Magpies have dropped down to England’s second tier twice in recent years but they’ve earned promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Newcastle represent good value at 17/4 to beat Tottenham this weekend – and plenty of punters will fancy the north east side to do the business. St James’ Park can be a fortress and the Geordie faithful will relish being back in England’s top flight.

The Magpies are still short of Premier League quality and Benitez will do his utmost to sign a few more players before the transfer window slams shut. Attracting top talent shouldn’t be too difficult now that Newcastle are back on the big stage – and the Magpies will fancy their chances of staying for a prolonged spell.

Dwight Gayle will lead the line for Newcastle for the most part of the season and the former Crystal Palace man could cause Tottenham plenty of issues on Sunday. A clear gulf in class between Gayle and the rest of the Championship was evident last year and the Newcastle forward will be looking to make a positive impact on his return to the top flight.

Should Gayle, priced at 12/5 to score against Spurs, see an opportunity fall his way, he could open his account for the new Premier League campaign. It is sure to be an exciting contest at St James’ Park if nothing else...

Harry Kane Can Put Newcastle To The Sword

If anyone is capable of winning a football match single-handedly, it is Kane. The Spurs star is, and has been, Tottenham’s talisman for the last three years and Mauricio Pochettino will be expecting another big campaign.

Previously labelled as a “one-season wonder”, Kane is now regarded as one of the best out-and-out strikers in European football and he could be set to score a hatful of goals throughout the 2017/18 season.

Ahead of Sunday’s clash, 888Sport are offering an enhanced price of 7/4 for Kane to score at any time and Spurs to win. The England man, fresh from a fairly relaxed summer with no major international commitments, will be looking to hit the ground running and he has an excellent record against Newcastle.

Spurs had one of the best defensive units in England’s top flight last term but Pochettino’s side will look very difficult heading into the new campaign. Kyle Walker left White Hart Lane for Manchester City last month and Danny Rose has been at the centre of controversy in recent days.

A few weeks ago, a Spurs win to nil would have been my tip but backing the visitors to keep a clean sheet is not as easy these days...

Prediction

The mood at St James’ Park has changed since Rafa Benitez took over and it wouldn’t be an outrageous result if Newcastle United were to sneak a point here.

Tottenham Hotspur must adapt quickly in order to start well but Mauricio Pochettino’s men are capable of doing just that. Keeping tabs on Harry Kane may prove too difficult for the Magpies and I fancy Spurs to come away with the win.

Newcastle United 1-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (currently 7/1 with 888Sport)

Two of the most active clubs in the transfer market face off in this Premier League opening clash at Old Trafford. Manchester United have spent money on a seismic scale once again, while Slaven Bilic has seen his West Ham squad reinforced with a clutch of experienced, proven names.

• Premier League Betting on 888sport

Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic will make their Premier League debuts for the Red Devils. Old Trafford will be expectant after a season of frustration and Jose Mourinho is under serious pressure to deliver in the league after their sixth-place finish in 2016/17.

Tuesday's UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid may not be a barometer for their success this year, but the performance left plenty to be desired.

Former United Star Could Be Key To Hammers Success

Bilic has a few selection issues ahead of the trip to the northwest. Several of his key players are doubts, and summer signing Marko Arnautovic’s fitness is uncertain.

Last season was underwhelming for the Hammers, but this year is full of optimism with the additions to the squad represent significant improvements. One such signing – former Manchester United poacher Javier Hernandez – will start on Sunday afternoon and is a great value bet of 4/1 to score against his former club.

The improvements to the spine of the team make Manchester United are a title contender this term. Mourinho’s side have had time to gel during pre-season, too. Lukaku will provide goals, Matic gives Paul Pogba more freedom and Lindelof could finally be the defensive partner that Eric Bailly needs.

Defensively they will be secure – as is expected of any Mourinho side – and that will be the bedrock of any success they have.

via GIPHY

United Must Improve Offensively To Keep Pace In Title Race

Goals, though, have been the problem for this United side. How they take their chances against West Ham will be the decisive factor in this fixture, but we can expect them to create plenty against the Irons – who have their own dilemmas at the back. United are at a good price of 13/10 to score over 2.5 goals.

Little can be concluded from this fixture in reality. Another disappointing performance at Old Trafford to weaker opposition would immediately see questions raised of the hosts, though.

A slip up – in that respect at least – could be far more significant than the dropped points. It might not be pretty, but such a failure is unlikely against a West Ham team that could take some time to settle this season as is suggested by the 3/10 odds on United to take the three points.

If the Super Cup can be taken with a pinch of salt, the weight of expectation is firmly shunted onto Manchester United for their Sunday curtain-raiser in front of their home crowd. West Ham, on the other hand, can play with the freedom of underdogs and such freedom is our best chance of seeing an exciting clash here.

We have Champions League football coming up! Okay, it’s only the playoffs to make it into the first round proper, but it’s better than nothing.

• Bet now on Champions League

And, to make it even better, there are some scorching ties for us to run the rule over…

Hoffenheim v Liverpool

It was the tie Liverpool did not want, and probably the tie Hoffenheim didn’t fancy, either. The Bundesliga side had a season better than anyone could have imagined last term, but are up against it to make it into the Champions League group stages.

Only Bayern Munich lost fewer and conceded less than Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga last season as Julian Nagelsmann’s side shocked Europe to finish fourth. Liverpool, meanwhile, are yet to right the defensive wrongs that cost them so many points last season and still lack guile in the final third.

Should Hoffenheim set up as resolutely as they did for much of last season, an under 2.5 goals bet at 21/20 looks excellent value.

Napoli v Nice

For those not particularly fascinated by Hoffenheim and Liverpool, this is the tie of the round.

Two teams laced with exciting talents will be set up to attack by Maurizio Sarri and Lucien Favre respectively. The news that Wesley Sneijder has joined Mario Balotelli at Nice only adds to the intrigue ahead of this one, too.

Even in a traditionally cagey first leg of a European knockout, these sides will be going for the jugular and Napoli – who scored a mammoth 94 goals in Serie A last season – will be hoping to put the tie to bed. Napoli to win with both teams to score looks a decent bet at 21/10.

Istanbul Basaksehir v Sevilla

Istanbul Basaksehir could be the banana skin of this round. Sevilla’s stellar La Liga season still had flakes of inconsistency throughout and the Turkish club boasted the best defence in the Super Lig as they finished only four points short of champions Besiktas. Even with home advantage in the first leg, Istanbul Basaksehir are way out at 12/5 for victory.

Bolstered by several big name arrivals, however, Sevilla will play on the front foot and look to put the tie out of the hosts’ reach in the first leg here. A poor defensive record last season does make a both teams to score bet particularly appealing at 8/11, mind.

Celtic v FC Astana

Celtic’s European jaunt this year could yet end up in the Europa League. Brendan Rodgers provided some exciting Champions League fixtures last season, though, and will hope for a few more electric Glasgow nights.

Rodgers’ champions overcame Astana in the Champions League playoffs last season – albeit a round earlier – and should have far too much for the club that was founded a mere eight years ago. Astana are three-time Kazakhstani champions and held Celtic to a 1-1 draw in the first leg last season.

While Astana will hope to frustrate Celtic, a home win and over 3.5 goals looks a great price at 4/1 given the free scoring nature of Rodgers’ side.

There is always one transfer saga that seems to drag out over the whole summer and this year has been no different.

• Premier League Betting

Kylian Mbappe, widely regarded as one of Europe’s hottest young talents, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, Manchester City and most recently, Paris Saint-Germain but Monaco appear intent on keeping the 18 year old for at least one more season.

Mbappe was a key figure for Leonardo Jardim’s side during the 2016/17 campaign, notching 24 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions. Monaco managed to hold off defending champions PSG in the Ligue 1 title race and Mbappe was a real difference maker.

Alongside Radamel Falcao, the youngster flourished and he looks destined to sign for one of Europe’s top clubs at some point in the near future.

You Don’t Turn Real Madrid Down

Had Monaco cowered and bowed down to Real Madrid’s demands, Mbappe might already be plying his trade at Santiago Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane’s side were linked with a move for the Frenchman for quite some time but nothing materialised despite reports claiming that the player himself was keen on a move to the Spanish capital.

You can never discount Real Madrid in a race for any player.

Los Blancos are linked with all of the top-rated players on the planet and punters can still back Madrid at 4/1 to sign the Monaco man before the end of the summer transfer window.

Barcelona Have Money To Spend

Every club has money to spend but Barcelona can price their rivals out of the market.

Just a few weeks ago, PSG sent shockwaves across the world of football – signing Neymar for a world record fee of £198 million.

For now, Philippe Coutinho remains their number one priority but with Liverpool refusing to budge, they could turn their attention to Mbappe. Not only would La Blaugrana be signing a top talent but they would be preventing Real from acquiring him as well; a double whammy in that sense.

At 10/1, they are outsiders but subsequent events could see Barcelona move for the youngster at some stage...

PSG Favourites For Another Major Acquisition

Enough is enough for Paris Saint-Germain’s owners. That second leg defeat to Barcelona in last season’s Champions League was the catalyst for a summer of heavy spending – and boy have they spent big.

Simply put, PSG want to win the Champions League. Competing in the quarter-finals just isn’t enough anymore. At 33/100, they are short in the market but with good reason.

Reports in France claim that Mbappe is pushing internally for a move away from Monaco and PSG are willing to fork out big money to meet their asking price. Selling to a direct domestic rival won’t be in Monaco’s best intentions but money talks and it might not be Jardim’s choice.

Monaco Stay The Value Bet At 2/1

It looks like Mbappe wants to join the French giants but a Monaco stay for one more season might be the best option all round.

At just 18 years old, he is still incredibly raw and nobody really knows whether he will emulate that terrific 2016/17 campaign. PSG won’t mind going all in on Mbappe but Monaco may convince the striker to join Neymar and co next summer.

With Monaco looking to defend the Ligue 1 title this season, keeping Mbappe is an absolute must.

Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Tiemoue Bakayoko have all left the club for big sums of money this summer and the defending champions aren’t short on cash. Expect his current club to do everything in their power to keep Mbappe for the time being...

It is only the second week of the Premier League campaign and some have already claimed that the title WILL be going to one of the two Manchester clubs this season. Manchester United (7/20) travel to Swansea City on Saturday lunchtime knowing that victory will see the Red Devils move ahead of their title rivals – early momentum is key.

• Premier League Betting

For Swansea (17/2), this is about building after an impressive defensive effort at Southampton last weekend. Paul Clement has done a solid job since taking over at the Liberty Stadium but the Swans must climb the Premier League table this term.

They will face easier opposition than United throughout the campaign but an early win against one of the big boys could be the catalyst for a successful season.

The Gylfi Sigurdsson Saga Is Now Over

An unwelcome distraction for the most part of August, Swansea have now agreed to sell Gylfi Sigurdsson to Everton for an estimated fee of £45 million.

The Welsh outfit don’t have much time to focus on signing a replacement before Saturday’s fixture but they will almost certainly bring a few new players into the squad before the end of August.

Defensively, the Swans were solid against Southampton but they are going to have to show a little more attacking intent this weekend.

If they sit back too much against United, they will invite pressure and the Red Devils will be relentless in approach. Too gung-ho and Jose Mourinho’s side will pick the Welsh outfit off on the break – it is a tough one.

Swansea’s resources are limited and it would be fair to expect a similar starting line-up to the one that featured at St Mary’s on the opening weekend.

One positive for Swansea: the Welsh side, priced at 10/11 to hit the back of the net, have scored against United in 10 of the previous 11 fixtures between the two sides; that run could continue here.

United Proved Title Credentials Last Week

Mourinho’s men were rampant against West Ham last weekend, scoring four goals in what was United’s biggest Premier League victory in three years.

The Red Devils looked back to their brilliant best and Swansea will be up against it if they emulate that performance this weekend.

Romelu Lukaku, valued at 12/5 to score the opener here, bagged a brace on the opening weekend and plenty of punters will fancy the Belgium man to extend his scoring run at the Liberty Stadium.

via GIPHY

With Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba thriving, Lukaku should see plenty of service at his new club and he could even pip Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane to the Premier League Golden Boot award.

For United, getting off to a fast start is vital. The Red Devils are looking to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2013 and Mourinho could be the man to bring the good times back to Old Trafford.

Fixtures against the likes of West Ham and Swansea are the kind of games that United HAVE to win in order to compete at the top of the table – expect the Red Devils to come out fighting in south Wales.

Prediction

United have never had things their own way at the Liberty Stadium and that is unlikely to change here. The Swans have won two of the last three meetings between the two sides on Welsh soil and they will be confident of causing plenty of problems for Mourinho’s men on Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately for the hosts, United’s class may shine through in the end and I fancy a 3-1 victory for the Red Devils. It might not be as comfortable an afternoon as the final score suggests but the Red Devils should get the job done. The 9/4 available for Mourinho's side to win with both teams scoring is VERY appealing indeed...

Swansea City 1-3 Manchester United (11/1 with 888Sport)

*Odds correct at the time of writing – click here for the latest betting markets*

PROPER football is back. The 2017/18 Premier League season got underway last weekend and it is now time for Europe’s elite domestic divisions to return. Without further ado, here are my top tips ahead of the opening weekend in Germany, Spain, Italy and France...

• Bet now on La Liga

SCHALKE vs RB LEIPZIG

Schalke have gone 14 games without defeat on home soil – a run that stretches all the way back to January.

Domenico Tedesco’s side have managed to hold onto highly-touted young talent Max Meyer and the hosts will be quietly confident of securing an opening weekend victory as they look to build on last season’s 10^th placed finish.

Meanwhile, the visitors will expect to push Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund close in the Bundesliga title race for the second season in a row.

When Leipzig were promoted to Germany’s top flight, nobody expected them to challenge at the top but Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men exceeded all expectations. I’m expecting Leipzig to make another quick start...

TIP: RB Leipzig to win OR draw @ 13/25

BARCELONA vs REAL BETIS

No Neymar? No problem. The Brazilian officially completed his move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer for a world record fee of £198 million – a staggering sum of money.

The Spanish giants are yet to sign a top class replacement but Barcelona have enough quality to put Real Betis to the sword in front of an expectant Camp Nou; even with Luis Suarez out injured.

For the visitors, this is about as difficult as it gets. Facing Barcelona away from home on the opening weekend isn’t exactly ideal but La Blaugrana were far from assured when losing 3-1 to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

It will be a case of damage limitation for the visitors but who knows, they might surprise us all...

TIP: Barcelona to score in both halves @ 1/2

CROTONE vs AC MILAN

Crotone avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season but may find the going too tough in Serie A this campaign.

The Italian minnows have failed to strengthen in the summer transfer window and it would take a brave man to back Crotone against this new-look Milan outfit – they are yet to beat AC in a competitive fixture.

Milan will need some time to gel completely but they should be strong enough to run away with a comfortable victory here.

Away from home, there will be less pressure on Milan’s shoulders on the opening weekend and we could see a convincing performance from the visitors. I’m expecting the visitors to score at least twice – 3/5 represents solid value...

TIP: Over 1.5 AC Milan goals @ 3/5

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN vs TOULOUSE

Neymar made an immediate impact on his PSG debut last weekend, scoring one goal whilst assisting another in their 3-0 victory away at Guingamp.

On paper, the hosts are well placed to win the Ligue 1 title this campaign and Neymar can be their difference maker. Playing in front of an expectant Parisian crowd for the first time, he can lead PSG to a convincing win here.

For Toulouse, this is almost unfair. There will be a vibrant atmosphere around the stadium following Neymar’s arrival and the visitors will be attempting to spoil the party.

PSG have a solid record against Toulouse in recent years and anything but a home win looks unlikely if truth be told. The hosts to win both halves is short enough but looks a fairly safe bet... 

TIP: PSG to win both halves @ 17/20

*Odds correct at the time of writing. Latest betting markets available here...*

Manchester United (1/3) will look to continue their rapid start to the new Premier League season when Leicester City visit Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

• Bet now on Premier League

The Red Devils have secured two 4-0 victories against West Ham United and Swansea City so far this campaign and plenty of punters will fancy Jose Mourinho’s men to continue their fine run of form.

Meanwhile, Leicester were on the losing end of a seven-goal thriller against Arsenal on the opening weekend but got back to winning ways against Brighton & Hove Albion.

With Jamie Vardy looking sharp in the early stages of the campaign, Craig Shakespeare’s side could be set to cause a few problems for Mourinho’s side here...

No Zlatan, No Worries

News of Zlatan Ibrahimović’s return to Old Trafford was confirmed just a few days ago but it will be down to Romelu Lukaku to lead the line for the time being.

The Belgium striker is off and running in a United shirt having scored in each of their two Premier League fixtures so far and he is currently available at 5/2 to open the scoring in this contest.

The likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba have all flourished in recent weeks and United’s potent attacking unit may overpower the Leicester defence.

With eight goals in just two top flight games, Mourinho’s men have hit the ground running and the Red Devils could run riot if they get an early goal on Saturday evening.

With that in mind, backing United to be leading at half-time may be the best option. At the time of writing, the hosts are valued at 4/6 to win the opening 45 minutes and supporters will be expecting another fast start.

Finishing well is equally as important as starting well but an early goal will settle the Old Trafford faithful down.

Don’t Write The Foxes Off

If Leicester’s extraordinary 2015/16 title-winning campaign told us one thing, it is to expect the unexpected. In football, you can never take anybody for granted and the Foxes will be quietly confident of upsetting United here.

Their recent record against the Red Devils isn’t great but we cannot rule Leicester out completely.

Shakespeare will have a game plan – you can be sure of it. Vardy has the pace and tricky to cause problems for this United defence and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Leicester adopt a very direct approach.

With the exception of Antonio Valencia, this Red Devils back four isn’t the quickest and the Foxes could take full advantage of this.

As of August 24^th, the Foxes are valued at 17/20 to get on the scoreboard at Old Trafford – a decent price to say the least. United have been dominant in the early stages of the season but that form won’t last forever.

Eventually, Mourinho’s defensive unit will fall and Leicester have the attacking talent to end United’s resistance.

Prediction

For me, a United win with both teams scoring is the best bet here – currently available at 41/20 with 888Sport. The Red Devils are in supreme form right now and should be too hot for Leicester; even if the Foxes produce their best effort.

The visitors should have enough to test the Red Devils though but this may be a step too far...

MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 Leicester City (priced at 19/2 with 888Sport)