EPL betting picks & season preview – Premier League 2023-24

The English Premier League’s opening matches are within view and, after a summer transfer window filled with drama, the squads are mostly set. This season will bring a lot of fresh faces into England’s top flight, as the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have all drastically changed their squads. Here are our future picks for the coming EPL season.

EPL 2023-34 outright winner – Manchester City

It’s hard to see how Manchester City don’t win again. They have won five of the past six titles, and while Arsenal gave them a scare last year, City still pulled through when it mattered.

Their -130 odds are very short, but Man City are comfortably the best team in the Premier League and we don’t see their price getting longer than this. The Cityzens do not play any of the ‘big six’ clubs until their eighth game, so they could easily jump out to a hot start and never look back.

Unlike all the other top clubs, City had a relatively quiet transfer window. They lost Riyad Mahrez and İlkay Gündoğan but added Mateo Kovacic to play in the midfield. Mahrez was not a key contributor last year and City have a plethora of attacking players who will mask his absence. And while Gündoğan was a loyal servant to City, he is 32 years old and was not as important to City’s success last year as he has been in past seasons. Kovacic projects to be an apt replacement.

Ultimately, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias should once again lead this team to the title, and with Pep Guardiola in charge, we have the utmost confidence that City will adapt to any challenges thrown their way.

EPL 2023-24 winner without ‘big six’ – Aston Villa

Aston Villa had a very successful 2022-23 season, finishing in seventh place. Although they faltered out of the gates, their final 15 games showed Villa’s true potential. They had 10 wins, three draws and two losses over that stretch and flashed the defensive prowess that has us excited about their prospects for this coming season.

Villa were top five in the Premier League in terms of fewest goals against and have added Spanish centre-back Pau Torres to an already strong group. Their defence should be among the best in the league, and with FIFA World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez in goal, they have the backline of a potential top-four team.

The key will be offence. While Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey are capable attackers, Villa were only able to muster 51 goals last season. However, they have brought in young winger Moussa Diaby to assuage that issue. With 17 combined goals and assists last year in the Bundesliga, the €55 million Frenchman is expected to make an immediate impact in the EPL.

Villa seem primed to take a step up this season, and considering they haven’t lost any key players, their new additions should only improve their performance. Their main competition for this bet to hit will be Newcastle and Brighton, but the value lies with Villa at +600 as they look to challenge for a Champions League spot.

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