Premier League Club by Club Betting Preview - Part 1
The long wait is almost over, with the 2024/25 Premier League set to light up our lives for the next nine months. Fans up and down the country are no doubt firmly entrenched in zeroing in on their opening weekend acca, but plenty of intriguing longer-term punts reside in the season betting markets.
Never ones to pass up an opportunity, we will kick things off with 20 bets – one for each side – as we delve into the traditional and alternative markets to add a little spice to what promises to be a thrilling campaign.
Arsenal
Even without a 20+ goal hitman, Arsenal finished as the second top scorers in the division last season and should give City plenty to think about. The 15/8 to win the league is tempting, but at a slightly bigger price, we prefer to back David Raya to claim the Golden Glove (awarded to the keeper with the most clean sheets).
Conceding only 29 times last term, the Gunners boasted comfortably the best defence in the division, and the addition of the excellent Riccardo Calafiori should make that backline all the more impenetrable.
- Recommended Bet - David Raya to win the Golden Glove @ 2/1 with bet365
Aston Villa
Villa were the surprise package last season when building on a strong finish to 2022/23 to gatecrash the top four. With the demands of the Champions League and the loss of Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby, the Villains will do well to repeat the feat.
Our first thought was to back Villa to finish outside the top 6, but the odds of 1/2 are hardly inspiring. Instead, we will turn to the player markets and get Ollie Watkins onside. One of the best at timing his runs in and around the area, Watkins fired in 19 goals last season and, just as importantly, provided 13 assists. That latter tally led the whole of the Premier League, and he looks to have been underestimated in the market ahead of the coming season.
- Recommended Bet - Most Premier League Assists: Ollie Watkins each way @ 20/1 with bet365
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola took a little time to warm to the task last term, but perseverance paid off as Bournemouth embarked on an impressive march to their highest-ever top-flight tally. However, they face a tall task to build on that twelfth-place finish following the sale of 19-goal striker Dominik Solanke to Spurs. Relegated clubs aside, only three sides scored fewer goals than Bournemouth last season. Thanks to Solanke, they largely got away with keeping only nine clean sheets - this time around, they might not.
- Recommended Bet - Bournemouth to be Relegated @ 7/1 with Betfred
Brentford
Unlike Bournemouth, Brentford appear to have held on to their focal point, with Ivan Toney remaining a Bee despite endless rumours suggesting he will head elsewhere. Absent for much of last season, a consistent run for the England forward should see Thomas Frank’s troops improve on a 16th-place finish. The eleventh-best side in the division according to the xG numbers, the more consistent firepower of Toney, supported by the improving Fabio Carvalho, can see Brentford finish in the top half.
- Recommended Bet - Brentford Top Half finish @ 7/2 with Betfred
Brighton & Hove Albion
All change in the hot seat at the Amex, but given Brighton's impressive record with managerial appointments, fans probably don’t have much to worry about with Fabian Hüzeler, who arrives from FC St. Pauli.
We don’t see the Seagulls struggling, but they did drop off markedly in the second half of last season and are yet to convincingly fill the Moises Caicedo and Alexis MacAllister-shaped hole in the centre of the park. With exciting new recruit Yankuba Minteh and Kaori Mitoma flanking Joao Pedro, they have enough going forward to keep out of trouble but may struggle to breach the top ten.
- Recommended Bet - Brighton Bottom Half Finish @ 10/11 with BetFred
Chelsea
Employing a former assistant to Pep Guardiola seems to be working for Arsenal, and now Chelsea are giving it a go. Impressive with Leicester City, Enzo Maresca now faces the task of moulding the most bloated squad in the division into title contenders.
If The Blues adapt quickly to the Maresca high line, they could be in for a good campaign. If they don’t, the new boss will probably be out of a job by Christmas. For a punt, side with the outstanding Cole Palmer to match last season’s goalscoring exploits in a side expected to play on the front foot. Still improving, and on penalties, “ice cold” can crack 20 goals again.
- Recommended Bet - Cole Palmer to score 20+ Premier League Goals @ 5/1 with BetFred
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace were one of the most improved sides in the division following the appointment of Oliver Glasner and will be hoping to build on that 10th-placed finish despite the loss of Michael Olise. Ismaila Sarr is a solid replacement in that regard, and with Ebereche Eze still in the building, we fancy high-pressing Palace can impress once again. The 11/10 about a top-10 finish is worth considering, but at a slightly shorter price, we will side with the Eagles to finish above an in-transition Brighton outfit.
- Recommended Bet - Crystal Palace to finish above Brighton @ Evs with Betfred
Everton
Following their points deduction, the 2023/24 season was never likely to live long in the memory at Goodison Park. As such, they did remarkably well to finish eight points clear of the drop and in the top ten of the xG table. Room for encouragement, you would think, but the Toffees have lost their best player in Amadou Onana and may find themselves in a scrap again if Dominic Calvert-Lewin can’t stay fit – which he invariably can’t.
In the absence of Calvert-Lewin (who continues to be linked with a move away), much of the goalscoring slack was taken up by the rampaging Abdoulaye Doucoure. The all-action midfielder finished as Everton’s joint-top scorer last season and is fairly priced to do so again.
- Recommended Bet - Abdoulaye Doucoure top Everton Scorer @ 5/1 with William Hill
Fulham
Our concerns about Fulham last season proved unfounded, with the Cottagers strolling to a comfortable 13th-placed finish. 12 months on, we are concerned again. Defensibly vulnerable at the best of times, they have lost key centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo and defensive midfield colossus Joao Pailinha. Ryan Sessegnon and Emile Smith Rowe come in but do nothing to combat that steel up the centre and are both looking to reboot their careers. Rodrigo Muniz is a talent up front, but it’s tough to see where the goals will come from should injury strike. Marco Silva’s men look overpriced to go down.
- Recommended Bet - Fulham to be relegated @ 11/2 with Coral
Ipswich Town
The long wait is over for Ipswich Town is over. Following back-to-back promotions under the exceptional Kieran McKenna, the Tractor Boys return to the top flight for the first time since 2001/02. Of course, they are odds on to go straight back down.
The side with the lowest squad value in the Premier League are likely to feature in the relegation scrap. However, of the three promoted clubs, we like their chances best. Leicester have lost manager Enzo Maresca and key man Keenan Dewsbury Hall. Southampton rely on Adam “four strikes in two Premier League seasons with Southampton” Armstrong to get the goals and look set to be ruthlessly exposed at the back, having finished only 14th in the Championship goals against table.
- Recommended Bet - Ipswich Town top Newcomer @ 2/1 with bet365
Related Articles:
