Brighton 8-1 to stun City in top-flight opener
PREMIER LEAGUE new boys Brighton have been given a tough opening fixture on their return to England’s top flight with Chris Hughton’s side rated 8-1 outsiders to beat Manchester City at the Amex Stadium.
The opening round of matches are scheduled for the weekend of August 11-12 and Brighton’s match looks certain to be one of those selected for live coverage against the 2-1 title favourites.
City are 2-5 for a perfect start, but they are not the shortest price first up as champions Chelsea are rated 1-5 to get off to a flyer against Burnley at Stamford Bridge. Ladbrokes offer 7-2 that Chelsea lead the table after the first round of fixtures.
Manchester United are 4-11 to overcome West Ham at Old Trafford, while Arsenal are 1-2 shots to down Leicester.
Liverpool are 8-13 to beat Marco Silva’s Watford at Vicarage Road with Tottenham, on paper at least, facing the most difficult of openers among the big six.
Spurs can be backed at 4-5 to win at Newcastle, who are 4-1 to mark their return to the big time with a victory and 4-5 with Coral to be the top promoted club.
Huddersfield don’t have a glamour clash in their first ever Premier League encounter but the trip to Crystal Palace is far from daunting and the Terriers are 9-2 to win at Selhurst Park.
It’s quite a nice start for Town, who follow the Palace trip with home games against Newcastle and Southampton but Hills offer only 11-8 that David Wagner’s side collect no more than two points from those three matches.
Everton are looking to get busy in the transfer market this summer and are odds-on to beat Stoke at Goodison Park but things quickly get much tougher for the Toffees, who could be in a sticky situation come the middle of September.
After the visit of Stoke Ronald Koeman’s men travel to City and Chelsea before a home game against Spurs, then go back on the road to Old Trafford.
Southampton are rated 8-11 shots to see off Swansea at St Mary’s, while West Brom versus Bournemouth is seen as the closest opener with Albion narrow 11-8 favourites.
Premier League opening fixtures: Arsenal v Leicester, Brighton v Man City, Chelsea v Burnley, Crystal Palace v Huddersfield, Everton v Stoke, Man Utd v West Ham, Newcastle v Tottenham, Southampton v Swansea, Watford v Liverpool, West Brom v Bournemouth.