The best bets and important punting news for EPL week 3

We’re only a couple of weeks in, but already there have been some significant shifts in the 2015-16 English Premier League futures betting.

So who is hot, and who is not?

Let’s look at the early movers and shakers in the EPL outright markets, the emerging contenders for the top goalscorer and player of the year awards, and all the upcoming fixtures and match odds for round three of EPL 2015-16.

Chelsea slip to $4.35 in EPL outright betting

The first fortnight of the season has witnessed a big move in the title race.

With a pair of 3-0 victories under their belts, Manchester City ($2.25 at William Hill) have emerged as the clear frontrunners to take out the Premier League crown.

The most recent of those results was an unceremonious drubbing of preseason frontrunners Chelsea, whose premiership defence has got off to a rather forgettable start.

Jose Mourinho’s Blues were paying $2.50 and under in the outright title betting before the season began, but two games and no wins has seen them float out to $4.35 at online bookmaker WilliamHill.com.

And that might be as big as those odds get all season.

With the highly beatable West Bromwich Albion up next, Chelsea should notch that first victory this weekend – and that could be all that’s needed to kick them into gear.

We all know just how good the west Londoners are when they hit their stride, as well as how susceptible to form slumps and brain fades the star-studded Man City squad can be.

Chelsea’s price will come down sooner or later – so if you haven’t already done so, now looks as good a time as any to jump on Mourinho’s men to retain their title.

Will Memphis Depay top score for Man United?

It’s been a slow start for Manchester United’s forward line in the opening stages of Premier League 2015-16.

For although they have two 1-0 wins from two outings, only one United player – Adnan Januzaj – has troubled the scorers thus far.

But there were much better signs in their midweek Champions League qualifier, where the Red Devils bagged all four goals (including an OG from Michael Carrick) in a 3-1 win over Belgian side Club Brugge.

Most promising of all was the performance of new boy Memphis Depay, who opened his Man U account with a classy first-half brace.

And with Wayne Rooney showing no form whatsoever as the central striker against either Tottenham or Aston Villa, bookies and punters alike are warming to the idea of Memphis becoming United’s main man in front of goal this season.

Premier League betting site Bet365.com still has Rooney as the $1.53 favourite to top the goalscoring at Old Trafford, but Memphis has now stormed in to $3.50 on the back of his exciting display against Brugge.

And with $41 value odds at CrownBet.com, the Dutch forward is also a tasty long-shot to beat out the likes of Sergio Aguero, Christian Benteke and Diego Costa in the race for the EPL Golden Boot.

Aguero $6 favourite for PFA Player of the Year

It hasn’t taken long for Kun Aguero to make his mark on the 2015-16 campaign.

In his first start of the season, the Argentine striker opened the scoring with a stunning solo effort and was an all-round menace as Man City ran out 3-0 winners over Chelsea.

Last year’s Premier League top scorer was already heavily favoured to do so again this season, with Sportsbet.com paying just $3.25 on Aguero to win back-to-back Golden Boot awards.

And if the former Atletico Madrid star does outscore the competition once more, he has to be a red hot contender for the coveted PFA Player of the Year award.

CrownBet.com has Aguero at $6 value odds for the prestigious title, which is voted on by every player in the English Premier League.

Other promising candidates include 2014-15 POTY winner Eden Hazard ($7), Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez ($10), and Aguero’s Man City teammates David Silva and Yaya Toure (both $15).

Sunderland and Advocaat backed for the drop

After years of scrapping and scraping at the foot of the table, this term might finally spell the end of Sunderland’s stay in the top flight.

While the Mackems started the season as serious relegation prospects, the opening rounds have seen them becoming the undisputed favourites to go down come the end of May.

Big losses to Leicester City (4-2) and Norwich City (3-1) have forced online sportsbook CrownBet.com to bring Sunderland’s relegation odds in to just $1.62, well short of promoted teams Watford ($2.10) and Bournemouth ($2.15).

They are also paying $3.50 at Bet365 to finish bottom on the Premier League table.

Such a poor start should also send up warning flares for Dick Advocaat, the Sunderland manager.

The well-travelled Dutchman was installed over the summer after steering the Tyneside club to safety as caretaker late last season, but the bookies aren’t expecting him to see out the season.

Advocaat is just $1.90 at CrownBet to be the first Premier League coach to leave his post, ahead of Watford gaffer Quique Flores ($12), West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic ($13) and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood (also $13).

Premier League match betting for round three

Week three commences with Man United looking to make it three in a row against a gutsy Newcastle side, and culminates with a blockbuster clash between Arsenal and Liverpool on Monday. Here’s the full list of match odds from our trusted EPL betting websites.

Saturday, August 22

Manchester United – $1.38 at CrownBet
Draw – $5 at Sportsbet
Newcastle United – $9 at William Hill

Crystal Palace – $1.85 at Sportsbet
Draw – $3.50 at Sportsbet
Aston Villa – $4.60 at William Hill

Leicester City – $2.62 at Sportsbet
Draw – $3.40 at William Hill
Tottenham Hotspur – $2.70 at Sportsbet

Norwich City – $2.40 at William Hill
Draw – $3.30 at CrownBet
Stoke City – $3.20 at Bet365

Sunderland – $4 at Sportsbet
Draw – $3.40 at Bet365
Swansea – $2.10 at William Hill

West Ham United – $2.35 at William Hill
Draw – $3.40 at Bet365
Bournemouth – $3.30 at Sportsbet

Sunday, August 23

West Bromwich Albion – $3.60 at Bet365
Draw – $3.80 at Sportsbet
Chelsea – $1.66 at William Hill

Everton – $4.75 at CrownBet
Draw – $4 at Bet365
Manchester City – $$1.73 at Sportsbet

Watford – $2.75 at William Hill
Draw – $3.25 at Luxbet
Southampton – $2.70 at Sportsbet

Monday, August 24

Arsenal – $1.75 at Sportsbet
Draw – $3.80 at Luxbet
Liverpool – $5 at Sportsbet