The Premier League’s opening weekend wastes no time in delivering high drama, serving up Sunday Showdowns: Capital Clashes, European Dreams & an Old Rivalry Reignited. Three fixtures, each with its own storyline: East Midlands ambition meets West London change, a capital derby stirs local pride, and the day closes with a heavyweight clash at Old Trafford.
Here are my thoughts on all three encounters, along with betting suggestions for each to consider as the action unfolds.
But before we dive into the match-by-match breakdowns, here’s a quick look at the title race according to the bookmakers. Liverpool start as favourites to retain the crown at 17/10, with Arsenal not far behind at 12/5. Manchester City are priced at 33/10, while Chelsea catch the eye as a value pick at 15/2. The rest of the chasing pack are 20/1 or longer, outsiders hoping to upset the script.
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST v BRENTFORD – Click here to bet
The summer break has done little to cool the talking points around Nottingham Forest and Brentford, two clubs arriving at the new season from very different places, yet both facing fresh challenges. For the Tricky Trees, the air still carries the scent of European nights to come after a remarkable rise from 17th place two years ago to a Europa League berth this term. For the Bees, the question is whether they can keep their sting without the guiding hand of Thomas Frank and the goals of Bryan Mbeumo.
Nuno Espírito Santo has every reason to be proud of last season’s 7th-place finish on 65 points, but he also knows how quickly momentum can turn. Forest stumbled towards the line with just one win in their final five league matches, and their home form dipped late — three defeats in the last four at the City Ground. That drop-off is the challenge they must address if they are to balance domestic ambitions with their European commitments.
Brentford’s off-season brought major change. New boss Keith Andrews steps in to replace Thomas Frank, inheriting a side that finished 10th last season with 56 points, a campaign built on an excellent blend of early-season home dominance and consistent away form. At their best, the Bees were fearless travellers, losing just once in their last eleven away fixtures (W7, D3, L1), with notable scalps along the way. That resilience on the road was matched by a flying start at the Gtech Community Stadium, where they went unbeaten in their first eight matches (W7, D1).
But the challenge now is whether they can sustain that standard without the goals and creativity of Mbeumo, now at Manchester United, and with uncertainty surrounding Yoane Wissa’s future. Andrews not only has to replace key attacking pieces but also instil his own tactical identity, all while facing the pressure of delivering in a fixture Brentford managed to win last season.
Head-to-Head
Brentford have had the better of this fixture in recent years, losing just once in the last eight meetings with Forest across all competitions. Last season saw an unusual twist — both teams winning 2-0 away from home.
Betting
Nottingham Forest 11/10
Draw 5/2
Brentford 26/10
Verdict
This has the makings of a tight, tactical battle. Opening-day caution, a new manager in the away dugout, and both sides’ tendency to keep things tight in this fixture could keep chances at a premium. With under 2.5 goals landing in 13 City Ground league matches last season, including this exact tie, the numbers point towards another low-scoring affair.
Suggested Bet: Under 2.5 Goals – 10/11
CHELSEA v CRYSTAL PALACE – Click here to bet
This Sunday, Stamford Bridge plays host to an all-London showdown as Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace for the opening round of the new Premier League campaign. It’s not just about points on the board, it’s about setting the tone for the season, and both sides arrive with silverware glistening in their cabinets.
For the hosts, the Blues enjoyed a trophy-laden summer under new boss Enzo Maresca, lifting the UEFA Conference League and capping it off with the FIFA Club World Cup. They finished fourth last season with 69 points, securing a return to Champions League football. Stamford Bridge became a fortress in the run-in, unbeaten in their last ten league matches there (W8, D2), a run that saw them post the third-best home record in the division. In fact, they dropped points just three times in their final nine league games overall, collecting 20 from a possible 27.
Across the capital, Oliver Glasner’s Eagles arrive buoyed by their own taste of glory, having ended a 116-year wait for a major trophy with last season’s FA Cup triumph, before adding the Community Shield at Liverpool’s expense last weekend. Palace also ended the 2024/25 campaign on a solid note, unbeaten in their last six league games (W2, D4), to finish 12th overall with 53 points. That said, their slow-starting tendencies remain a concern, as they took just three points from their opening eight matches last term.
Away from Selhurst Park, Palace were quietly effective. They lost only five times on their travels last season (W7, D7, L5) and were particularly competitive against their London neighbours, losing just once, on opening day away to Brentford. They also picked up notable wins at Fulham, Spurs and West Ham, and earned hard-fought draws at both Arsenal and Chelsea.
Head-to-Head
Chelsea’s dominance in this fixture has been remarkable. Before last season’s pair of 1-1 draws, the Blues had strung together thirteen straight league victories over Palace, leaving them unbeaten in fifteen Premier League meetings between the sides. Both teams have scored in each of the last four clashes against one another, pointing towards another potentially similar scenario this Sunday.
Betting
Chelsea 6/10
Draw 7/2
Crystal Palace 9/2
Verdict
With both meetings last season ending level, another closely fought contest could be on the cards. Chelsea’s formidable home record and long-standing dominance in this fixture suggest they should avoid defeat, but Palace’s improvement, coupled with their strong away form and attacking threat, means they’re capable of finding the net at least once.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance and Both Teams to Score – Chelsea/Draw and Yes at 1/1
MANCHESTER UNITED v ARSENAL – Click here to bet
We didn’t have to wait long for our first heavyweight clash of the new Premier League season. The weekend closes at the iconic Old Trafford, the “Theatre of Dreams”, where Manchester United host Arsenal in a fixture that still carries an edge and history, even if the Ferguson–Wenger glory days are long gone.
The Red Devils, now under the stewardship of Ruben Amorim, enter this campaign desperate to shake off years of inconsistency and rekindle past dominance. Amorim has wasted no time stamping his mark, making several summer signings, most with Premier League experience, to ensure a smoother bedding-in period. Last season was one to forget, with United finishing as low as 15th on 42 points and missing out on European football entirely. Perhaps, though, that absence will be a blessing, allowing full focus on domestic improvement.
If there’s one glaring area for change, it’s at home. United lost an eye-watering nine matches at Old Trafford last term, scoring just 23 and conceding 28 in the process. Still, pre-season offered glimmers of optimism, the Red Devils lifted the Summer Series trophy in the US, beating fellow Premier League sides along the way.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are wrestling with a different kind of frustration. For three straight seasons, the Gunners have finished as runners-up, most recently 10 points adrift of champions Liverpool. Mikel Arteta, a man who wears every result on his sleeve, has again strengthened, particularly up front with the arrival of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres, a potential missing piece in their title puzzle.
The Gunners’ away form last season was among the league’s best. They lost just twice on the road, both early in the campaign, before going unbeaten in 14 straight away fixtures (W7, D7). They conceded the fewest goals away from home (17), keeping six clean sheets along the way, and collected a healthy 35 points from 19 trips.
Head-to-Head
United haven’t beaten Arsenal in their last five league meetings, but they’ve only lost once in their last four Old Trafford encounters against the Gunners (W2, D1, L1). Last season, Arsenal took the spoils 2–0 at the Emirates, while this fixture ended in a 1–1 stalemate.
Betting
Manchester United 26/10
Draw 26/10
Arsenal 21/20
Verdict
It’s a shame this clash comes so early, we don’t yet have the competitive form guide to go on. Arsenal rightly start as favourites, but Old Trafford can still be a tricky trip, and Amorim’s men might just feed off the fresh-season optimism following an aggressive summer of recruitment. For me, United have enough to avoid defeat here.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance – Manchester United/Draw at 15/20
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
