PICKING this season's Premier League winner is tougher than usual simply because the big guns have been splashing more cash than ever.
I considered the merits of holders Chelsea and FA Cup winners Man United as well as Liverpool and Arsenal – Spurs are dismissed because playing home games at Wembley will cost them points.
In the end I've come to the conclusion Man City will pip United to glory with Chelsea possibly third.
Pep Guardiola hasn't spent £200 million to come second and after dominating at Barcelona and Bayern Munich he won't be hanging about at the Etihad if he fails again.
Keeper Ederson Moraes is an upgrade from Claudio Bravo while Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker and Danilo are outstanding full-backs.
Bernardo Silva is gifted capture from Monaco and Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus are likely to play starring roles in forward areas.
No one has defended the Premier League title since 2009 so that counts against Chelsea while United are still to convince under Jose Mourinho.
Arsenal will benefit from no Champions League football and the capture of Alexandre Lacazette while Liverpool will find it tough to juggle being back on the big stage with a title fight assuming they battle past Hoffenheim. And of course they are struggling to keep hold of star turn Philippe Coutinho who is wanted by Barcelona.
So it's City for me and they are a best 9-5 with Marathonbet ahead of 7-2 Chelsea and United. Spurs are 10-1 at Betfred with the Gunner and Liverpool 12-1.
Huddersfield are the drop favourites and it's difficult to see them surviving but I'm not having them at 4-6. I fear for Burnley and at a bigger price Stoke are worth a look at 13-2 with 188BET.
Harry Kane is 10-3 with Coral to retain his Golden Boot crown and he should go close but again the Wembley home games concern me. Romelu Lukaku isn't worth £75m but the Man United recruit does know the way to goal in the Premier League so I'll back him at 5-1 with Bet365.
That's the three main markets covered. There are too many specials to mention and as I've said before I'm not a huge fan of waiting nine months to be paid out. However, if you see any value season bets quote them here.
The Premier League kicks off on Friday with with Arsenal v Leicester and the home men should get off to a good start although a best price of 1-2 with bet365 is a little short.
The Gunners played well last week in lifting the Community Shield against Chelsea but will miss injured Alexis Sanchez so consider new boy Alexandre Lacazette to score at evens with unibet.
Arsene Wenger is also without Jack Wilshire, Shokdran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny while Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker are unlikely to play.
Leicester have splashed out £25million on Kelechi Iheanacho but it might be too early for him to start. In time the former Man City striker could form a decent partnership with Jamie Vardy. Danny Drinkwater, linked with Chelsea, is injured as is Robert Huth.
Arsenal have beaten the Foxes six times in a row at the Emirates – three of them by 2-1 – so Arsenal and both to score is a possibility at 2-1 with William Hill.
Premier League Anteposts
- Man City to win title 9-5 (Marathonbet)
- Stoke to be relegated 13-2 (188Bet)
- Lukaku top scorer 5-1 (Bet365)
Arsenal v Leicester Tips
- Arsenal & both to score 2-1 (William Hill)
- Lacazette to score 1-1 (Unibet)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Agree with most of the comment. Definitely man city for me. Only thing I strongly disagree with, is the Stoke for the drop thing. Zero chance in my book. It seems every pundit and his dog are tipping them to go down, saying 13/2 is a great price etc. Could be 33/1 but it would still be a bad bet. Won’t happen.
It shouldn’t happen but team looks weaker than last season without Arnautovic and that has to be a concern.