Premier League Roundup - Opening Weekend 17-19 August

[PunterAssist]

LIVERPOOL V STOKE: Liverpool start the season without Luis Suarez but Daniels Sturridge form will ease Liverpools fears and it will be interesting to see how he links up with Philippe Coutinho. Stoke won the last meeting 3-1 and come in to this match with a new manager. Liverpool have had a fantastic preseason and would be expected to edge this match if they withstand Stokes physicality but with the odds so short that holds little appeal. Recommended Bet: Daniel Sturridge To Score Anytime @ 2.25 (BetVictor) ARSENAL V ASTON VILLA: Arsenal come in to this game on the back of a good win against Man City and after a successful trip around Asia and look to be in good condition to win against a Villa side that has been very inconsistent. There is little value to be had in backing Arsenal to win @ 1.4 in the first game of the season. There are some doubts over Walcotts fitness and they still have not addressed their striker issues however they should have too much for a poor Villa side. Recommended Bet: Arsenal To Win & 3 or 4 Total Goals In The Match @ 3.0 (PaddyPower) NORWICH V EVERTON: Norwich have made some relatively fantastic signings during the summer especially their new center forward from Sporting Lisbon Ricky van Wolfswinkel who can be had at 3.4 to get on the scoresheet. Everton are as consistent as ever and their last meeting was only decided by a 90th minute goal. How Roberto Martinez's influence with alter Evertons approach remains to be seen however they can be expected to play more defensively away from home. Recommended Bet: Exactly 2 or 3 Goals @ 2.0 (Paddy Power) SUNDERLAND V FULHAM: Paolo Di Canio is the new Sunderland manager and will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the team however I can't find odds on him getting a yellow card. Sunderland have had a major overhaul over the summer with 11 new players and it will be better to wait until we see how they gel together. Their Italian playmaker Giaccherini could be an exciting addition to the Premier League coming from Juventus and a lot will depend on his delivery in to Altidore. Fulham have had a solid preseason and should on the scoresheet. Recommended Bet: Both Teams To Score @ 1.83 (Bet365) WEST BROM V SOUTHAMPTON: West Brom have brought Nicholas Anelka back to the Premier League with Championship fans familiar with their other signing Matej Vydra from Udinese on a season long loan. Anelka has scored 7 goals in 7 preseason friendly games. West Brom are unbeaten at home against Southampton since 1984 and and Southampton have some doubtful players most notably Gaston Ramirez and Maya Yoshida returning from international duty. Recommended Bet: West Brom To Win 'Draw No Bet' @ 1.73 (Coral) WEST HAM V CARDIFF: Cardiff play their first Premier League game on Saturday having won the Championship last season. They have an exciting winger in Kim Bo-Kyung who will cause West Ham some difficulties and it will be an interesting match up between the possession tactics of Cardiff and the long ball approach of West Ham who will rely heaving on their £15m English international Andy Carroll! It is good to see Craig Bellamy back in the Premier League and West Ham have Stewart Downing driving forward on the wing. Both teams can be expected to take a conserative approach and the game will likely be decided by a single goal. Recommended Bet: Exactly 2 or 3 Goals In The Match @ 2.0 (Bet365) SWANSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED: The Moyes era begins at Utd and it will be interesting to see how he adapts his strategies to the players at his disposal. Moyes has brough tension in to the team by publicly saying forward Wayne Rooney is behind Van Persie in the pecking order and Rooney may miss this match with a hamstring injury. Van Persie has been in red hot form in the preseason and with the vast majority of Utd's attacks aimed at him he should get on the scoresheet. Swansea have made a very exciting signing in Bony (2013 Eredivisie Player of the Year) who is perfectly suited to play with Michu and these two will cause teams a lot of problems this season. Recommended Bet: Van Persie To Score Anytime @ 2.1 (Boylesports) CRYSTAL PALACE V TOTTENHAM: The big news is that Gareth Bale is out of this match due to injury with the bulk of the goal scoring responsibilities falling to Spurs new signing from Valencia, Roberto Soldado. Paulinho is another exciting signing and he will mainly be responsible for filling in for Bale's absence in midfield. Crystal Palace have never avoided relegation in their four previous attempts and will be fighting for survival at the end of the season along with Hull. Palace will be without last season top scorer in the Championship, Glenn Murray, who is out with a knee injury. Zaha has rejoined Man Utd so Palace look weak in attack for this opening fixture and will be relying on Arsenal reject Marouane Chamakh. Recommended Bet: Tottenham To Win @ 1.85 (BetVictor) CHELSEA V HULL: Hulls introduction to the Premier League came not come much tougher than a trip to Stamford Bridge and the odds reflect Hulls chances. All eyes will be on Mourinho who is taking a low key approach to his second term at Chelsea. Chelsea are dealing with a few small injuries and the lineup could have 100 different variations. Clearly Hull are going to set up with an ultra defensive approach to this match however Chelsea have the necessary pace to get around Hull's defensive efforts and once Chelsea score we can expect Hull to open up and likely concede 2 or 3 more. Recommended Bet: Chelsea To Win & 3 or 4 Total Goals In The Match @ 2.60 (Paddy Power) MANCHESTER CITY V NEWCASTLE: Sergio Agüero has been ruled out for the opening fixture opening the door for Dzeko to lead the line. Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic and Jesús Navas are expected to make their Premier League debuts. Newcastle will be without Jonas Gutierrez and new signing Loic Remy, both with leg injuries. This should be a home win but I have no interest at 1.33 however considering it should be a very open game goals should be plentiful with City taking the 3 points. Recommended Bet: Man City To Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 (Bet365)

[Sir Puntalot]

Re: Premier League Roundup - Opening Weekend 17-19 August Please post these in the relevant match threads, keeps everything in one place and easy for visitors to see. :ok