Four big prices for the opening day of the Premier League season

The fixture list has been released for the forthcoming Premier League campaign, kicking off on September 12, and there are some cracking games for us to feast on the opening day. 

Bookmaker William Hill have been the first to release odds on each of the opening day matches, and I’ve had a look through and highlighted five teams with appealing prices potentially worth considering when choosing your first top-flight bet of the season.

Leeds 10/1 to beat Liverpool 

Leeds’ first game back in the Premier League following a 16-year absence couldn’t be more difficult, facing a Liverpool side who just months ago laid claim to their first top-flight title in 30 years. 

However, desperate to get off to the perfect start and under the guidance of one of the best coaches in the business, the Whites are expected to give Jurgen Klopp’s side a game here, especially given how poorly the Reds ended the 2019-20 campaign.

There is little-to-no value in backing a home win at 2/9, though a draw is priced at an appealing 5/1 and a win for the visitors is 10/1. Stranger things have happened…

Fulham 10/3 to beat Arsenal

The opening day of the Premier League season sees a London derby, as Arsenal make the short trip to Craven Cottage to take on newly-promoted Fulham. 

Scott Parker’s side are firm 10/3 underdogs, though up against the model of inconsistency that is Arsenal (3/4 for the win), there could be value in taking a punt on the Lilywhites, especially if leading man Aleksandar Mitrovic is in goalscoring form which, as we all know, he so frequently is.

Southampton 6/4 to beat Crystal Palace

Southampton ended the campaign strongly and look a side completely transformed when you compare them to the team they were towards the back-end of 2019.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has implemented his own style of football at St Mary’s and the players really seem to be buying into it; this season it wouldn’t be surprising to see them flirting with the Europa League spaces once more. 

Palace by contrast ended last season in abysmal form and finished 14th, despite residing in the top-half of the table for the majority of the campaign. As of yet, the Eagles have failed to add any attacking reinforcements to their squad which I think will really harm them if it stays like that after the transfer window closes on October 5 due to the stark lack of goals they scored throughout 2019-20.

I’m feeling confident in the visitors’ chances here, and like the look of the 6/4 on offer from William Hill. Palace’s odds stand at 17/10.

West Brom 5/2 to draw with Leicester

There’s an all-Midlands affair at the Hawthorns as Leicester travel west hoping to rectify the dismal end to their season last time out.

The Foxes blew the perfect opportunity to secure Champions League football with a shocking end to their campaign, winning just two of their final nine games and subsequently tumbling out of the Premier League top-four. 

West Brom will be desperate to kick their season off with a win and have added some solid options to their squad in the past few weeks, namely locking down Matheus Pereira on a permanent deal from Sporting CP.

I feel there will be little to separate these two sides, and think there’s value to be had in the 5/2 on offer for a full-time draw. 

Full opening day fixture list:

12/09/2020 15:00 Burnley v Manchester United

12/09/2020 15:00 Crystal Palace v Southampton

12/09/2020 15:00 Fulham v Arsenal

12/09/2020 15:00 Liverpool v Leeds United

12/09/2020 15:00 Manchester City v Aston Villa

12/09/2020 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Everton

12/09/2020 15:00 West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City

12/09/2020 15:00 West Ham United v Newcastle United

14/09/2020 20:00 Brighton v Chelsea

14/09/2020 20:00 Sheffield United v Wolverhampton