The first Super Sunday of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign sees Jose Mourinho’s new employer Manchester United take on Bournemouth, and Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium in what looks set to be a high-scoring shootout.
Here are the best of Sunday’s Premier League betting tips:
1:30pm – Bournemouth vs Manchester United
The first competitive test of Jose Mourinho’s tenure at Manchester United is a tough one, travelling south to take on Bournemouth, but what the Special One will know is that this United side are in much better shape now than they were the last time they took on the Cherries on the South Coast.
You may remember back in December last year that Eddie Howe’s men defeated the Red Devils 2-1 at Dean Court, but you get the feeling that whatever happened under Louis Van Gaal’s rule at United can be torn up and thrown away. They will be a much different animal under Mourinho.
Paul Pogba has come in too much fanfare, so too Zlatan Ibrahimović, but it is the signings of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly that could prove the real masterstrokes. The former will provide a cutting edge in the final third – he was one of European football’s leading chance creators last season, while the latter brings pace and brawn to an otherwise flimsy looking back four. No wonder Mourinho was smiling in his press conference the other day.
The concern for Bournemouth fans is that they lost six of their last eight matches in 2015/16, including hammerings at the hands of Manchester City (0-4), Tottenham (0-3) and Chelsea (1-4), as well as a 1-3 reverse at the hands of United on the last day of the campaign. Indeed, the Cherries conceded some 23 goals in their last ten outings at 2.30 per game, and overall only Aston Villa conceded more across the whole season. Quite frankly, that is relegation form. They will need to find their feet fast this term to avoid a disastrous opening to their campaign.
Has Eddie Howe reinforced? Well, yes, but not defensively: the talented young trio of Jordan Ibe, Emerson Hyndman and Lewis Cook have come in, while last season’s club captain and central defender Tommy Elphick has departed along with the skilful Matt Ritchie. Are Bournemouth stronger than they were six months ago? You wouldn’t say so.
They finished in the bottom three of a hypothetical home league table with just five wins in nineteen, and as such we’re happy to recommend backing Manchester United to win this one at 3/4 with Ladbrokes.
Mind you, United recorded a negative goal difference on the road in 2015/16, and while Eric Bailly will add solidity to the back four we do have concerns about their overall defensive shape; especially as Mourinho’s remit is to restore the attacking football that United became so accustomed for. The Cherries are no slouches in front of goal at home (they averaged 1.21 per game at Dean Court last term), so backing the Over 2.5 Goal mark at 11/10 with Betfair looks smart.
Recommended Bets
Man Utd to Win (3/4 with Ladbrokes)
Over 2.5 Goals (11/10 with Betfair)
4pm – Arsenal vs Liverpool
Wow, what a way to start the 2016/17 campaign. Arsenal and Liverpool have served up some classics over the years – not least the 3-3 draw back in January. That extended a run of Arsenal dominance to ten games; the Merseysiders have only beaten them once since 2011 in all competitions.
But Gunners fans should not be complacent: an injury crisis in defence means that Laurent Koscielny, who has barely played a minute in pre-season, will have to link up with Calum Chambers at the heart of the back four. Can Liverpool see enough of the ball to take advantage though? Well, their Gegenpressing style under Jurgen Klopp should help them to win the ball back high up the pitch, and besides which you get the impression they are a better side when playing on the break anyway.
Liverpool conceded in nine of their last eleven matches of the 2015/16 campaign however, and with Arsenal’s array of attacking talents – aided by the emergence of Alex Iwobi, who has been sensational in pre-season – in full force we could be set for another goal-den humdinger.
Three of the last four meetings between these two have ended in a draw, so take the stalemate at 2/1 with Paddy Power. Correct score bets of 1-1 (6/1 with William Hill) and 2-2 (14/1 with BetVictor) can be covered by a Both Teams to Score wager (7/10 with Coral).
Recommended Bets
The Draw (2/1 with Paddy Power)
Both Teams to Score (2/1 with Paddy Power)
Correct Score – 1-1 (6/1 with William Hill)
Correct Score – 2-2 (14/1 with BetVictor)
