PREMIER LEAGUE 2021/22 OUTRIGHT PREVIEW: The Striker returns with his preview of the new season and recommended BETDAQ bets.

The Premier League is back very soon! It has felt like a very short summer break this year with all the drama we had at Euro 2020. Despite this we have already had plenty of big transfer moves. Manchester United have done some very good business early, which is unlike them, and as I write this there is talk about Jack Grealish to Manchester City for 100 million. There is also the big question of what Harry Kane will do. It’s less than two weeks to the season as I write, and I’m sure we’ll have plenty of major breaking news stories before then.

It promises to be another fantastic season though, and it’s brilliant to have fans back in stadiums. I’m going to take a look at the Outright market, the Top Four market and the Relegation market. Hopefully we can find some winners.

WINNER:

Although Manchester City ran out very easy winners last season, they started the season slowly and Liverpool went odds on. I have to say, Liverpool were pretty disappointing last season and it doesn’t look likely that they will spend money – it will be very interesting to see how they get on this season. It was massive that they could get back into the Top Four last season, and that’s more or less where I see them this season. I don’t think they are strong enough to challenge Manchester City, and if they don’t want to spend money it’s easy to see Manchester United and Chelsea go past them.

Manchester United have a new Pogba issue hanging over them, hopefully he signs a new contract before the season starts otherwise that issue is just going to keep going. You can see Roy Keane going mad every time he puts in a bad performance on Sky Sports! I feel United will do very well this season but they won’t have the firepower to deal with Manchester City. You can more or less say the same about Chelsea. They lost on the final day to drop to fourth last season, but they did start slowly with Frank Lampard. Obviously they have improved immensely since, but they lack the consistency of City week in week out.

I can only see City lifting the title this season if I’m honest. They are 1.75 at the moment and as an Outright bet that looks exceptional value. You obviously can’t rule out a slow start like last season, or either Manchester United or Chelsea making a challenge at some point but I just can’t see past City winning when you take a long-term view of the season. Their xG figures and performances last season were exceptional, and they have no weakness in their side. They are likely to make their squad stronger too, and they can win back-to-back titles.

TOP FOUR:

If the market is to be believed, the Top Four has already been decided. Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are all trading in the 1.3x or shorter range. Manchester City are 1.05 for example! You’re looking at odds of around 5.0 or bigger for anyone else, but to be honest it’s hard to see anyone making a major challenge for a Top Four spot outside of Leicester, who are next in the betting at around 5.0. Spurs and Arsenal aren’t good enough at the moment, and they are too erratic anyway to finish Top Four.

Spurs are likely to lose Harry Kane so I see them finishing close to a Top Four spot without him, and Arsenal only barely finished in the top half of the table last season. Leicester have put up a good challenge over the last two seasons, but they have dropped out at the crunch time – it’s easy to see that happening again. For view is Leicester will give the “Top Four” a test, but otherwise I believe the top four is a lock with City, Chelsea, United and Liverpool. I can see United staying in second, and perhaps Liverpool and Chelsea switching around from third to fourth. Really and truly, there is no value here with the market expecting this.

RELEGATION:

This market is a lot more interesting than the Top Four market, it’s also very competitive. We have four sides who are bang in the mix – Norwich, Watford, Brentford and Crystal Palace and then we have Burnley and Newcastle who are trading between 3.5 and 4.3 or thereabouts. In my view Burnley and Newcastle will have their usual season in the sense that they will be in the relegation fight, but ultimately have enough points to stay up – it’s usually the same story for those sides every season!

That leaves Norwich, Watford, Brentford and Crystal Palace with three going down. It’s hard to see a side like Wolves or Southampton going down, and then I know Brighton were in a relegation fight last season but their xG figures were incredible. You can get 8.0+ on them going down but in my opinion they are more likely to finish in the top half of the table.

The bet I like here is Norwich at 1.95 and also Crystal Palace at 2.86. My other pick for relegation would be Watford to be honest, as I can see Brentford staying up. They are a good side with shrewd owners – I can see their xG figures improving as the season goes on and ending up like Brighton. Norwich look pretty poo on paper, I know they were miles ahead in the Championship last season, but they are always in a relegation fight in the Premier League – the 1.95 looks good value. And also Crystal Palace have had very poor xG figures for a number of seasons now. They really struggle going forward and I believe it was the experience of Roy Hodgson keeping them up. With him retired now, I feel they will be in big trouble – you might even see them have a season like Sheffield United last season.

The Strikers Outright Bets:
• Five points win Manchester City to win the Premier League at 1.75.
• Three points win Norwich to get Relegated at 1.95.
• Two points win Crystal Palace to get Relegated at 2.86.

See all the latest odds here -> https://bit.ly/BDQPL2122