EPL Matchweek 2 betting picks & top props – Friday & Saturday

The English Premier League season is underway, and after an opening slate of games that unfolded as expected, Matchweek 2 may provide further clarity. Powerhouses like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United will be in action on Friday and Saturday, and here are our free EPL betting picks for the August 18–19 slate.

Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United

Both Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United came into this season hoping to avoid relegation. In Matchweek 1, Forest showed promise despite their 2-1 loss to Arsenal. They created numerous good chances and nearly secured a draw against a significantly more talented opponent at Emirates Stadium. We believe Forest will capitalize on their home advantage and defeat a Sheffield United team that struggled in its opener, losing 1-0 to a mediocre Crystal Palace side.

Liverpool vs Bournemouth

Mohamed Salah’s impressive streak of seven consecutive EPL openers with a goal was broken last weekend, yet he displayed sharpness on the field. The Liverpool star provided an early assist against Chelsea and narrowly missed a goal due to an offside call. Facing Bournemouth, Salah should have plenty of chances to hit the scoreboard. The Cherries managed a 1-1 draw in their opener, but their defence, which conceded the most goals among non-relegated teams last year, is likely to struggle against Liverpool’s potent attack.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United

This promises to be the weekend’s marquee game. Tottenham secured a point to start the season, drawing against a strong Brentford team. They exhibited strong offensive capabilities without club legend Harry Kane, who recently joined Bayern Munich. Although defensive consistency was lacking, they showed promise. Meanwhile, Manchester United secured three points by defeating Wolves 1-0, although they were outplayed for large portions of the match and relied heavily on a few 50/50 calls. As home outsiders with top EPL betting sites, Spurs are one of the value picks of the week.

Manchester City v Newcastle United

Both teams impressed during Matchweek 1 and portrayed themselves as title contenders. While it might be early to project such a status onto Newcastle, their dominant 5-1 victory over a solid Aston Villa team showcased their potential to build on last season’s fourth-place finish. Manchester City convincingly dispatched Burnley in their first match and will feel confident against any opposition; however, the injury-induced absence of Kevin De Bruyne could pose a unique challenge. Newcastle boasted one of the Premier League’s stingiest defences last season, and City will need to adapt without De Bruyne, so the Magpies look a decent chance to cover the line.

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