EPL 2025/26 Preview & Betting Tips: Matchday 1

Following a summer of Club World Cups and European successes for England in the women’s game, the brass tacks of the Premier League returns. Liverpool start the season as defending champions and the overwhelming favourites for the title, following a significant financial outlay in the summer. The likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal also splashed the cash this summer, with some of the world’s most exciting talents ready to grace the Premier League.

Getting off to a fast start will be key for each of the 20 sides in the division and it should be a fascinating opening weekend of Premier League action.

Anfield, 16th August 2025 – 04.00

Defending PL champions Liverpool will be looking to get off to a fast start, as they host Bournemouth in the opening game of the new camapign. The reds have endured a tough summer, with Diogo Jota tragically killed during the off-season and this should be a poignant occastion at Anfield.

On the pitch, Liverpool do look to have recruited well, while Bournemouth have lost over £150 million worth of players and have a tough rebuild job on their hands.

The Cherries may cause Liverpool some problems but Arne Slot's side should get off to a winning start.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Liverpool to win the match	$1.35
	Both teams to score	$2.10
	Mohamed Salah to score anytime	$1.95

Predicted Lineups:

Liverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike & Salah.

Bournemouth: Petrovic, Araujo, Senesi, Diakite, Truffert, Adams, Semenyo, Kluivert, Scott, Ouattara & Evanilson.

Villa Park, 16th August, 20.30.

Two sides who were very much in the conversation for European football last season face off here, as Aston Villa host Newcastle United.

Unai Emery has developed a very strong side at Villa, with some high quality acquisitions over the past few campaigns and they will be desperate to keep pushing on in the Premier League this time around.

Transfer speculation over Alexander Isak has dominated the window for Newcastle, who have Champions League football to look forward to this season but there does appear to be some issues for Eddie Howe to resolve.

There was very little to split these two sides last season and with both feeling their way into the new campaign, they may well end up settling for a draw at Villa Park.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	The match to finish as a draw	$3.60
	Both teams to score	$1.85
	A red card to be shown	$3.50

Predicted Lineups:

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Bailey & Watkins.

Newcastle United: Ramsdale, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon & Barnes.

American Express Stadium, 16th August, 23:00.

Two sides that were well clear of the relegation picture last season meet to open up this campaign, as Brighton host Fulham.

For the Seagulls, building on what has been a promising few years is key and they have managed to keep many of their key players ahead of this season, excluding Joao Pedro. Fulham meanwhile are always well coached by Marco Silva and with some very good summer recruits of their own, a top half finish will be their minimum expectation this time around.

Ascertaining where each of these sides are at ahead of this one isn't easy but Brighton could well get the job done at home - with goals seemingly on the agenda.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Brighton to win the match	$1.90
	Over 2.5 goals	$2.10
	Both teams to score	$1.75

Predicted Lineups:

Brighton: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Baleba, Ayari, Minteh, Gruda, Mitoma & Rutter.

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Lukic, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi, Wilson & Jimenez.

Stadium of Light, 16th August, 23:00.

Promoted Sunderland will be thrust back into the Premier League big time, as they take on West Ham, in what should be an intriguing game for both sides.

The Black Cats snuck up through the playoffs last season and look to have spent big in the summer, with over 10 new players joining the ranks in the North East.

Meanwhile, West Ham didn't really get going at all last year under Graham Potter, something they will be eager to recitfy this time around and they too look to have bought some shrewd signings to the club this summer.

The Stadium of Light should be rocking for this one but West Ham should have enough about them to pick up an opening day win.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Jarred Bowen to score anytime	$2.40
	West Ham to win the match	$2.30
	Both teams to score - NO	$2.10

Predicted Lineups:

Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Ballard, Reinaldo, Seelt, Xhaka, Diarra, Sadiki, Talbi, Adringa & Mayenda.

West Ham United: Areola, wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Aguerd, Diouf, War-Prowse, Soucek, Paqueta, Bowe & Fullkrug.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 16th August, 23:00.

Fresh off the back of a tough loss to PSG in the UEFA Super Cup, Tottenham will be eager to bounce back here against promoted Burnley.

Spurs did win the Europa League last season but endured a rough season under Ange Postecoglou, with Thomas Frank now at the helm and there is plenty of optimism generating in North London.

Burnley meanwhile were incredibly tough to beat in the Championship under Scott Parker and they have invested strongly in their squad, as they look to avoid being relegated once again.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Both teams to score - NO	$1.85
	Under 2.5 goals	$2.00
	Tottenham to win the match	$1.35

Predicted Lineups:

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Van der Ven, Romero, Danso, Bentancur, Sarr, Paulinha, Kudus, Johnson & Solanke.

Burnley: Dubravka, Walker, Esteve, Ekdal, Hartman, Cullen, Laurent, Hannibal, Edwards, Anthony & Bruun Larsen.

Molyneux, 17th August, 01:30.

Having seen their stranglehold on the Premier League title subside last season, Manchester City will be out to claw it back and they get things underway against Wolves here.

It has been a tough summer for Wolves, who have lost a couple of their key assets in Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha and they know they will need a fast start to the new campaign.

For Pep Guardiola's City, bouncing back and redeveloping will be their objective, as they too have seen some big names depart the club over the summer.

City could be a little undercooked for his one with just one pre-season game in their legs and this could be a draw in the West Midlands.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	The match to finish as a draw	$4.70
	Both teams to score	$2.10
	Erling Haaland to score anytime	$1.95

Predicted Lineups:

Wolves: Sa, Doherty, Toti, Agbadou, Hoever, Andre, Wolfe, Gomes, Arias, Lopez & Strand Larsen.

Manchester City: Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Akanji, Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Silva, Nico, Cherki, Marmoush & Haaland.

Stamford Bridge, 17th August, 20:30.

A London derby of sorts is on the agenda for Chelsea and Crystal Palace, two sides that tasted silverware last season.

Chelsea prevailed in the Europa Conference League and booked their Champions League place to boot, before going on to win the FIFA Club World Cup. The blues look well placed ahead of this season following plenty of big spending and they will be pushing to be in the title shake up.

For the Eagles, winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history last season was significant and they have already bagged the Community Shield this term too.

Goals and drama should be on the agenda here, with Chelsea perhaps too strong in front of their home fans..

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Chelsea to win the match	$1.60
	A penalty to be awarded	$3.50
	Both teams to score	$1.70

Predicted Lineups:

Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Hato, Fofana, Cucurella, Enzo, Caicedo, Palmer, Gittens, Neto & Joao Pedro.

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Mitchell, Guehi, Lacroix, Richards, Hughes, Kamada, Eze, Sarr & Mateta.

City Ground, 17th August, 21:00.

Nottingham Forest will be looking to continue building on their incredible campaign last season, as they host Brentford in their opener this time around.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side cracked the top 7 last season and look well placed to kick on again this season, despite having lost a couple of key assets overh the summer.

The same situation has presented itself for Brentford, who have lost not only key players but their manager too and they will look to Keith Andrews to keep up the momentum that has been building in West London.

Forest are always a tough nut to crack and they could edge out Brentford in this cagey opener at the City Ground.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Under 2.5 goals	$1.95
	Chris Wood to score anytime	$2.60
	Nottingham Forest to win the match	$2.10

Predicted Lineups:

Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Yates, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi & Wood.

Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Henry, Collins, Van den Berg, Jensen, Yarmouliuk, Carvalho, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter & Thiago.

Old Trafford, 18th August, 00:30.

One of the oldest Premier League rivalries reignites here, as Manchester United and Arsenal lock horns at Old Trafford.

United were way off the pace last season and have invested heavily in an attempt to turn the tide under Ruben Amorim, with no European football to distract them this season.

Arsenal always spend big, having done so again this summer, as they look to win their first Premier League title in two decades and ditch the tag of nearlymen under Mikel Arteta.

This is the biggest game of the round and it should be frenetic in Salford, with both sides perhaps happy to settle for a draw.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	The match to finish as a draw	$3.50
	Both teams to score	$1.80
	Bukayo Saka to score anytime	$2.90

Predicted Lineups:

Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Yoro, Heaven, Dorgu, Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mbuemo, Cunha & Sesko.

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, White, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli & Gyokeres.

Elland Road, 19th August, 04:00.

Promoted Leeds United will be relishing being back in the big time, as they take on Everton on Monday Night Football.

Having taken the Championship by storm last season and with some serious investment over the summer, there is a feeling that Leeds could challenge the top half this term - rather than the relegation places.

David Moyes is in charge at Everton and his pragmatism will be transcending onto his squad, as the Toffees prioritise staying up again this term.

Calling this one is tough, it should be a fiery and physical encounter and both sides may settle for an opening day point.

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	A red card to be shown	$3.30
	The match to finish as a draw	$3.40
	Both teams to score	$2.15

Predicted Lineups:

Leeds United: Perri, Schmidt, Struijk, Rodon, Gudmundsson, Tanaka, Stach, Ampadu, James, Piroe & Gnonto.

Everton: Pickford, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Aznou, Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Alcaraz & Barry.