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Here we go again with the start of an exciting new English Premier League season.
Arsenal clinched the title back in March with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park, and this season the Gunners open the show at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening against newly promoted Coventry City.
Followers of the UK’s top division enjoy a five-match programme on Saturday, with another three games played on Sunday, before Fulham host Chelsea on Monday from 20:00 BST.
The licensed betting apps featured on this page offer Flashscore readers interesting markets, generous odds, and a long list of promotions, including free bets.
Keep reading as experienced sportsbook writer Frank Monkhouse takes you through his Premier League gameweek 1 predictions, best bets, and odds.
Arsenal vs Coventry, Friday, 20:00 BST
Arsenal enjoy home advantage on matchday one, and Mikel Arteta’s side will make it count.
The Gunners have started with victory in each of the previous four Premier League seasons, with traders working on the bet365 app pricing a home win at no better than 2/11.
Returning to the top flight of English football following a painful 26-year absence, Coventry City fans couldn’t have imagined a more difficult start. The Sky Blues began the 2000/01 EPL season with a 3-1 loss to Middlesbrough, and they haven’t started with a win in any league since 2021, edging Nottingham Forest in the Championship.
Fresh from hammering Manchester City 3-0 to win the Community Shield just five days ago, an Arsenal win will do a job in your weekend accumulators.
Tip: Arsenal win @ 2/11 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Arsenal beat Coventry City in London, you’ll beat the bookies and secure a profit.
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Hull vs Man Utd, Saturday, 12:30 BST
The Tigers are back in the top flight after gaining promotion through the playoffs, but how will Sergej Jakirovic’s team handle the step up in class? We’ll find out when Hull play Man Utd at the MKM Stadium in Saturday’s early kick-off.
The Red Devils lost 1-0 to Arsenal last year, but they boast more opening day wins than any other team in the Premier League. Man Utd have also never lost to Hull City in 10 EPL meetings, with the head-to-head stats at Flashscore showing eight wins and two draws.
The away win is priced at 19/50, but I’m confident we can do better.
In those 10 Premier League matches involving Hull City and Man Utd, the underdogs have failed to score six times and have drawn a blank in the previous four. Hull last scored past United in 2014, making the win to nil worth a play at 6/5.
Tip: Man Utd win to nil @ 6/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You need Man Utd to beat Hull City without conceding a goal.
Everton vs Crystal Palace, Saturday, 15:00 BST
Moving to the Saturday 15:00 starts, and we’re at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool for David Moyes vs Pierre Sage.
Everton finished two places and four points above Crystal Palace in 15th last season, but both clubs are expected to do better this time. Who will open with a vital three points?
The pre-match betting odds have Everton as the most likely winners here. With Palace keeping a clean sheet in five of their last eight opening games, beating an organised, fit, and well-drilled team won’t be easy.
Matchday one doesn’t hold happy memories for Everton fans, with the Toffees losing their last four openers, while also failing to find the net in any of those games. With that in mind, I’m taking under 3.5 goals at 1/3. That’s one for your bet builders.
Backing under 3.5 goals would’ve landed you a profit in eight of the last 10 games involving Everton and Palace.
Tip: Under 3.5 goals @ 1/3 (bet365)
Bet explanation: The winning team isn’t important here. You need this match to produce fewer than four goals.
Ipswich vs Sunderland, Saturday, 15:00 BST
Sunderland arrive at Portman Road looking to snag a third Premier League win on the bounce, a feat they last achieved under Gus Poyet more than a decade ago.
The Black Cats rounded off the 2025/26 season with a four-match unbeaten run, drawing with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United, before beating Everton 3-1 and Chelsea 2-1. That run helped Sunderland to a top-seven finish and a spot in this season’s UEFA Europa League.
The Tractor Boys finished second in the Championship, securing their return to the top division, but are they ready for the challenge? Manager Gary O’Neil has a dreadful record in this competition, suggesting there’s value in the away win.
Back an ambitious Sunderland to open an important season with a win, available at better odds than I expected.
Tip: Sunderland win @ 31/20 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Sunderland must beat Ipswich to land this bet.
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United, Saturday, 15:00 BST
If you’re a Nottingham Forest fan who follows your team’s stats, you’ll know that a match against Leeds United is the ideal start.
The Tricky Trees have taken a maximum of 12 points in their last 4 games against Saturday’s opponents at this venue. Going back further, we see that Leeds haven’t won a Premier League game here in 14 attempts, a run stretching back to the early 1970s.
It gets worse for Leeds fans.
The visitors had one of the poorest records in the league last season for collecting points on the road. Only Wolves and Burnley were worse travellers.
Nottingham Forest lost 1-0 when hosting Liverpool in late February. Since then, the locals have gone five home league games without defeat. Compare that to their opponents, who have won only one of their road trips in the same five-match period.
Tip: Nottingham Forest or draw @ 4/11 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You’ll make a profit from this bet if the home team avoids defeat.
Brentford vs Tottenham, Saturday, 17:30 BST
Saturday’s Premier League schedule ends with a mouth-watering London derby at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Brentford secured a remarkable top-10 finish last season, ending higher than some big-name clubs, including Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, and Crystal Palace. They also crossed the line with 53 points - 12 more than their opponents down in 17th.
That’s where the good news ends for home fans.
Tottenham have lost only one of their last 10 league games against Brentford, winning five and drawing the other four. Spurs have also never lost at this venue in five trips, making them a strong addition to your weekend accumulators.
With Brentford bringing a poor record on the opening day, winning three of the last 14, I’m happy to side with Tottenham. It’s a huge year for Roberto De Zerbi’s team, and I fancy them to take at least a point back to North London.
Tip: Tottenham or draw @ 4/7 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You’ll make a profit from this bet if Tottenham win or draw.
Brighton vs Aston Villa, Sunday, 14:00 BST
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery would’ve welcomed a start against Brighton. The decorated Spaniard has never lost a Premier League match to German Fabian Hurzeler.
Brighton losing their last two league games, conceding four goals and scoring none, makes for interesting reading. Aston Villa won their previous two starts in this competition, beating Liverpool 4-2 at Villa Park, and Man City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
The 15/8 offered by bet365 on an away win is excellent value, and I’m sure it’ll be popular this weekend. It’ll work best as a single, but would also help boost returns as part of small multiples.
I wouldn’t put anyone off a bet on Villa, but there’s another angle that caught my eye when researching this match.
Ollie Watkins has an impressive record in this fixture. The attacker has been involved in 11 goals against the Seagulls, scoring nine and providing a couple of assists. Interestingly, all 11 goal contributions came in his last nine appearances against Brighton.
You can back Watkins to score at 11/8, but I prefer taking him to score or provide an assist at a useful 5/6.
Tip: Watkins to score or assist @ 5/6 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Ollie Watkins must get on the scoresheet or be credited with an assist for this play to be settled as a winner.
Man City vs Bournemouth, Sunday, 14:00 BST
Man City will get off to a flying start, proving their title credentials from the earliest opportunity.
Pep Guardiola has made way for former Leicester City and Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who will splash the cash to ensure his team are ready to fight on all fronts.
The head-to-head stats show that Bournemouth have never won or even taken a point from nine visits to the Etihad in the Premier League. In their previous three attempts, the Cherries have scored three goals, and conceded a dozen.
Opta Stats show that Man City have scored an average of 3.8 goals per game when welcoming the Cherries on EPL duty, and that gives us plenty to work with.
You can back Man City to beat Bournemouth at 9/20, but I prefer this match giving us more than two goals.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 4/9 (bet365)
Bet explanation: The winning team doesn’t matter with this bet. You need Man City vs Bournemouth to end with more than two goals scored by both teams combined.
Newcastle vs Liverpool, Sunday, 16:30 BST
One of English football’s best-loved fixtures returns to our screens when Newcastle United and Liverpool meet at St James’ Park. You can follow the play on TV and the best live-streaming apps, where this renewal will live up to the hype.
The Magpies have claimed some memorable wins over the Reds in this part of the country, but are on a barren run. Newcastle have failed to beat Liverpool in their last 19 league fixtures, losing 14 during that drought.
Focusing on this venue, Liverpool are unbeaten in nine visits, winning six, and you can back the visitors at a very decent 9/10.
With the rivals sharing 198 Premier League goals over the years, I’ll shoot for a winner at higher odds. Backing Liverpool to win and both teams to score is 21/10, and followers will get a run for their money.
A bet that’ll make this showdown even more entertaining.
Tip: Liverpool win and BTTS @ 21/10 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You need Liverpool to beat Newcastle, but the home team must score at least one goal in defeat.
Fulham vs Chelsea, Monday, 20:00 BST
We wrap things up with the first instalment of Monday Night Football, as neighbours Fulham and Chelsea collide.
Neither team performed particularly well last season, with the hosts finishing 11th and the visitors just one spot higher. Fans of both London clubs demand much better, starting here.
The stats show Fulham have opened with a London derby only three times before, and the Cottagers suffered three defeats. They lost to Arsenal in 2007 and 2020, and to Crystal Palace in 2018.
In their previous six Premier League starts, Fulham have one win, two draws, and three defeats. I expect that poor run to continue, with Chelsea taking the win and all three points back to Stamford Bridge.
With former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso at the helm, it’s an exciting time to follow the Blues, and I pick them to hit the ground running.
You can back Chelsea to beat Fulham at 19/20 with bet365, and that struck me as real value. The same bet won in two of Chelsea’s last three visits, thanks to 2-0 and 2-1 scorelines. Another competitive derby awaits, but I’m confident Chelsea will grind out the desired result.
Tip: Chelsea win @ 19/20 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Chelsea beat Fulham at Craven Cottage, your bet wins.
Betting on the Premier League
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