NO one could have predicted how last season ended so take it easy with your English anteposts.
Hopefully there will be no more delays or surprises and the campaign goes without a hitch – or maybe some young players will carry on acting like idiots.
I've been thinking about the Premier League title race for a few weeks and it again looks a fight between champions Liverpool and Man City.
I'd have backed City if they'd signed Lionel Messi because he'd have been a sensation in England and having failed to get their man I'm surprised Pep Guardiola's men are short as 4-5 favourites with bet365.
Last season I tipped Liverpool/Man City in a reverse forecast and this time a best price of 9-4 with bet365 on Jurgen Klopp's men looks decent value.
Bookies are possibly judging Liverpool too harshly on their form after the restart but by then they'd just about clinched the title and in the past two seasons they've totalled 99 and 97 points.
They're still the team to beat and the squad has remained the same with no major signings.
City have lost Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich for £54m and spent the cash on Valencia's Feran Torres and Bournemouth's Nathan Ake. The latter couldn't help keep his side in the top flight last season.
The fight for the top four remains as competitive as ever and I'm backing Man United and Chelsea to fill those places.
United, a biggest 20-1 at Betway for the title and 1-2 at bet365 to finish first four, ended last season unbeaten in 14 and pipped Leicester to a Champions League place thanks mainly to the form of Bruno Fernandes.
Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial should provide plenty of goals up front and the Old Trafford men should enjoy a good season without threatening the top two.
Chelsea have been the big spenders splashing out £200m on Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech as well as nabbing Thiago Silva on a free from PSG.
Werner and Havertz were sensations in the Bundesliga and should hit the ground running while the likes of Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Graham will only get better.
Frank Lampard's an inexperienced boss but he's been giving a helping hand from owner Roman Abramovich and the Blues are just 1-2 at bet365 to finish fourth.
Best of the rest could be Arsenal who won the FA Cup and were starting to find their feet under Mikel Arteta.
Wolves have made good signings including Fabio Silva from Porto and they are 5-2 with Betfred for a top-six finish and I reckon they'll pip Spurs and Leicester.
At the other end of the table I fear for new boys West Brom and Fulham but expect Leeds to stay up.
Fulham are 11-10 with Paddy Power to drop down with the Baggies the same price at bet365.
It could be anyone from four or five for the other place but I'm siding with Brighton at 4-1 with William Hill.
Jamie Vardy top scored last season ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but I'm on the Arsenal skipper to take the crown this time at 6-1 with bet365.
I'm not doing as much as usual with anteposts because I'm not yet working at full capacity haven't looked much at the lower leagues.
If I had to pick one from the Championship it would be Norwich who have held on to the bulk of the squad relegated from the Premier League bar Jamal Lewis.
I might revisit the lower leagues when some form emerges but check out the great previews put up by the welovebetting boys.
Premier League Anteposts
- Champions – Liverpool
- Relegated – WBA, Fulham
- Top Scorer – Aubameyang
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.
