Manchester United vs Leicester City
Saturday August 11, 5am
The 2018-19 English Premier League season kicks off on Saturday morning Australian time, with Manchester United hosting Leicester City in the first match of the campaign.
United finished in second place last season – albeit 19 points behind cross-town rivals Manchester City – but cracks are beginning to show already, with legendary manager Jose Mourinho reportedly at odds with some of his dressing room.
Mourinho has made it known he wants to sign more players, and has repeatedly talked down his team during their pre-season campaign.
With incoming transfers looking unlikely given the deadline is now before the season begins, United need to start strongly to put all of this behind them, although the Foxes looms as a dangerous challenge.
Leicester have added Jonny Evans and Ricardo Pereira among others during the off-season, but the loss of Riyad Mahrez may be one of the biggest outgoings of the entire window across the country.
They’ll be looking to build on their ninth placed finish last season, but it could take them a little while to get going without their Algerian star.
United should get the chocolates here, although their struggles at the back could see Leicester make this one interesting.
Best Bet - Both teams to score: YES - $2.15
Newcastle vs Tottenham
Saturday August 11, 9.30pm
Newcastle will host the Spurs to kick off a big Saturday night of opening round action, and this game looms as the most intriguing of the lot.
The Magpies have added Ki Sung-yueng from Swansea and saved Salomon Rondon from the Championship via a loan from West Brom.
Tottenham have been almost unsighted in the transfer window, with only Keanan Bennetts and Anton Walkes on the outgoings list.
Newcastle will be hoping to start the season off on a positive note, although Tottenham’s stars should do enough to get the three points.
Best Bet - Tottenham to win: $2.00
Arsenal vs Manchester City
Monday August 13, 1am
Manchester City travel to London to face the Gunners in easily the biggest tie of the opening weekend.
The Citizens have been relatively quiet in the transfer window, although the addition of Riyad Mahrez from the Foxes is one of the biggest signings of the off-season.
Arsenal’s medical room has been busy, with the club bringing in Stephan Lichtsteiner, Bernd Leno, Lucas Torreira and Sokratis.
The signatures should give Unai Emery something to work with, although it could take them a while to gel together, and a first up test against the reigning champions isn’t an ideal first match to ease into the new season.
City should get this done, and they shouldn’t have that much trouble either.
Best Bet - Manchester City to score in both halves: $2.50
