Premier League Preview - Week 2 - Aug 28-31
The second Premier League weekend features several intriguing matchups, with Manchester City and Arsenal backed to secure away victories.
Let's take a look at our week two selections from the EPL.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Premier League action gets underway on Friday evening as Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park.
Pierre Sage’s side made plenty of chances but fell to a 2-0 defeat against Everton last weekend, while late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol helped Man City come from behind to claim a 2-1 victory against Bournemouth.
Recent form favours the visitors, who won both Premier League clashes 3-0 last season and have lost only one of their previous ten league encounters with Palace.
While unlikely to be easy, Enzo Maresca’s side should edge to victory in a game where both teams seem likely to get on the scoresheet.
Prediction: 1-2
Best Bet - Manchester City to Win/BTTS
Tottenham vs Newcastle United
Tottenham will be desperate for a response when they take on Newcastle in Saturday’s late kick-off.
Spurs endured a nightmare start to the new season with a thumping 3-0 defeat at Brentford on the opening weekend of the campaign. Roberto De Zerbi’s expensively assembled side looked a long way short of their best, offering little attacking threat while appearing vulnerable at the back.
Newcastle produced a much more encouraging display against Liverpool, twice taking the lead before conceding a stoppage-time penalty in a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park.
Goals have been a recurring theme in past meetings between these sides. Each of their last 11 Premier League encounters saw over 2.5 goals, including Newcastle’s 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season and a 2-2 draw on Tyneside.
Both teams scored in ten of their 11 previous EPL matchups, and I’m banking on both outcomes this weekend.
Prediction: 2-2
Best Bet - BTTS/Over 2.5 Goals
Chelsea vs Brighton
Two opening-weekend winners square off at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as Chelsea entertain Brighton.
The Blues began the Xabi Alonso era with an entertaining 3-2 victory at Fulham while Brighton produced a stunning display to dismantle Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex with all four goals scored before half-time.
Recent H2H stats suggest another high-scoring outcome should be expected this weekend. Each of the last eight Premier League meetings between these sides saw at least three goals scored, while Brighton won each of the previous three league encounters, including a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge last season.
Both teams carry plenty of threat in the final third, and another lively contest looks likely in west London.
Prediction: 2-1
Best Bet - Over 2.5 Goals
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
The final fixture of the weekend sees defending champions Arsenal make the trip to Villa Park to face Aston Villa on Monday.
Mikel Arteta’s men began their title defence in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 3-0 victory against Coventry with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard on the scoresheet.
Arsenal have now won six successive Premier League matches since the end of last season.
Villa could hardly have made a worse start, slumping to a 4-0 defeat at Brighton. In a shambolic first half, the Villains conceded four goals inside the opening 31 minutes before Joao Gomes was given his marching orders.
Unai Emery’s side did beat Arsenal 2-1 at Villa Park last season, but the Gunners responded with a commanding 4-1 victory in London.
With the Villans having undergone major surgery this summer, Arsenal’s greater cohesion should see them ease to a potentially straightforward away victory.
Prediction: 0-2
Best Bet - Arsenal to Win/Over 1.5 Goals
Best of the Rest
Saturday's action gets underway at Anfield as Liverpool look to kick-start their season against Nottingham Forest.
The Reds snatched a late point in their 2-2 opener at Newcastle while Forest have suffered back-to-back home defeats against Leeds in the EPL and EFL Cup in the last seven days.
The Garibaldis have won on both of their last two visits to Anfield, and could present a tricky test for a Liverpool side still finding their way under new boss Andoni Iraola.
Also on Saturday, Bournemouth hosts Everton at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries were unfortunate to leave Manchester empty-handed after leading City until the 84th minute, while Everton began with an impressive 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace.
Bournemouth have a strong record in this fixture and could edge to a narrow win on the south coast.
In another Saturday afternoon fixture, Coventry welcome Hull City in a battle between the recently promoted sides. Hull stunned Manchester United with a 2-0 win at MKM Stadium after Coventry had kicked off the new season with a 3-0 defeat at champions Arsenal.
A tough one to call, Hull Double chance could offer value with the Tigers unbeaten in eight of nine encounters against the Sky Blues since 2022.
On Sunday, Leeds host Brentford with both teams impressing in the past week. Leeds claimed successive away wins against Forest while Brentford backed up their demolition of Tottenham with a thumping 6-1 League Cup win against Birmingham.
Each of the last three meetings between these sides finished deadlocked, and a similar outcome could be on the cards at Elland Road.
Also at 2 pm, Sunderland take on Fulham at the Stadium of Light with both teams looking to bounce back from opening weekend defeats against Ipswich and Chelsea respectively.
While a thriller seems unlikely, BTTS could land at a decent price. Fulham have seen that outcome in five of their last six fixtures while four of Sunderland’s five previous EPL fixtures also finished with both teams on the scoresheet.
Sunday’s tea-time kick-off sees Manchester United host Ipswich at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick’s side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Hull last weekend, and will need to be on top of their game to see off an Ipswich side buoyed by their 2-1 win against Sunderland.
The Reds should emerge with the points, but BTTS looks a good option with Ipswich carrying plenty of threat in the final third.