Premier League Betting Tips August 14/16

After a brilliant summer of World Cup betting, the Premier League makes its return this weekend! Although betting on the opening day can be tricky, with my summer research and football knowledge combined, here are a few tasty bets for the opening weekend:

Chelsea to win -1 4/7
A poor pre-season from Chelsea was followed up with a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield. But this is where it gets serious for Chelsea. And playing a team they have a 100% Premier League record against (8/8), conceding just twice (both at the Hawthorns), anything but a win would raise questions about Chelsea’s title defence pursuit. The likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka will enjoy playing against the weak West Brom defence. I considered a win to nil bet for the Blues in this game, but with the chances of Hilario being in goal for this game, I don’t want to take the risk. Instead, I’m loading up the fantasy team with attacking Chelsea players and backing them on the handicap.

Wigan to beat Blackpool 5/6
Wigan Athletic were anything but reliable last season. Well, they were reliable to bet against when Spurs thumped 9 past them. Roberto Martinez has had 1 full Premier League season in charge of the Latics now and is starting to bring in his own team to the JJB stadium. That said, they still look weak on paper. They may be depending on big summer signing Mauro Boselli to supply goals but a leaky defence that could be their achilles heel. However, if there’s a game that we should be able to rely on Wigan this season, it’s a home game with newly-promoted Blackpool. Only this week have the Tangerines made their first summer signings, so they’ve had no time to settle in. One of those is 30 year old Marlon Harewood. Perhaps a good signing for next season, but since his 14-goal season with West Ham in 2006, he’s looked anything but prolific. Blackpool had a weak defence last season and Premier League sides will enjoy exposing that. On Saturday, Wigan will be the first to do so.

Liverpool-Arsenal: both teams to score Evens
But for Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at the Emirates in this fixture last season, there’s always goals when these two meet. I don’t see either team playing overly-cautious because “it’s the opening day of the season” as both teams want to get off to a winning start. Yes, Liverpool have a new man in charge now in Roy Hodgson. And yes, Roy Hodgson’s record at Fulham included a high number of low-scoring and no-scoring games. But Hodgson doesn’t inherit the greatest defence in the world and the likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin are capable of breaching it. This is one of the most-anticipated games of the opening weekend, and it’s obvious to see why. Neither team will want to lose, but if Chelsea and co win on Saturday, both teams will be playing to get on par. And that alone should warrant goals.