DESPITE coming in for some criticism and accusations of being a ‘flat track bully’ last term Erling Haaland plundered 27 goals as Manchester City made off with the title.
The Norwegian has 63 goals in 66 Premier League games, and dominates the top goalscorer market ahead of the new campaign at 8/11.
With a hat-trick against Chelsea in pre-season, Haaland is not going to slow down, so the other scoring aces around the division could well be playing for second place, which is why some firms are running ‘without Haaland’ books.
However, the prices are far more attractive with the City man in play, and with four places on offer across the board, there is a good bit of each-way value to be found.
Mo Salah (10/1) is next in the betting, but I’d far rather have Newcastle’s Alexander Isak on my side at 16s with Bet365.
The Swedish striker is on the verge of becoming a superstar and has all the attributes to be playing for the very biggest clubs in Europe.
Isak had his best season last term, scoring 21 times, and it is the fact he can get every type of goal – including penalties – that appeals.
Fast, direct and full of tricks, Isak also has a great understanding with winger Anthony Gordon, and it is hard to see him not getting the 20 goals that would guarantee place money at least, fitness permitting.
Tottenham skipper Son Heung-Min is also attractive at 33/1 as I still see him as their main threat despite the arrival of Dominic Solanke, who is as short as 20/1.
Son has never failed to hit double figures in eight full seasons at Spurs, despite spending much of that time in Harry Kane’s shadow, and he should benefit from the presence of the hard-working Solanke.
The South Korea captain found the net 17 times last season, and shared the Golden Boot with Salah in 2021/22 with 23. Anything around those numbers should see him close to the places, which is very achievable, especially as he is the penalty-taker at Spurs.
Finally, back Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta to maintain his red-hot form of the end of last term, when he scored 13 goals in his last 13 games.
The Frenchman loved life under Oliver Glasner, who will stick to his attacking guns.
The departure of Michael Olise does dent the supply line, but Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton will create chances, and Mateta appears to be coming into his own at 27.
He scored five times for France at the Olympics and will be a handful, so at 50/1 he has each-way claims.
SELECTIONS
Alexander Isak, e/w, 16/1 (Bet365);
Son Heung-Min, e/w, 33/1 (Bet365);
Jean-Philippe Mateta, e/w, 50/1 (Betway)
Nothing fantastic for Foxes on return to Premier League
FOR only the second time in Premier League history, all three teams promoted to the top flight last season went straight back down, and they did so with a whimper.
Sheffield United and Burnley were dreadful for the most part, and while Luton exceeded expectations by taking the fight to the last week, only points deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest allowed that.
There has to be a chance punishments for financial misdemeanours play a part again at the foot of the table, with the Toffees, Forest and Leicester City all under scrutiny, as well as champions Manchester City.
The looming threat of a deduction for the Foxes goes some way to explaining why they are favourites for the drop at 2/5 despite romping to Championship glory last term, ahead of Ipswich Town and play-off winners Southampton.
In the last decade, 15 of the 30 promoted teams have been relegated again, although on two occasions all three have stayed up, so there is hope for the new boys.
It is hard to hold out any real hope for Leicester, having lost manager Enzo Maresca, who moved to Chelsea and brought best player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with him.
The Foxes have been hamstrung in the transfer market, and new boss Steve Cooper will have to use all of his renowned coaching abilities to avoid a long winter, but they look doomed and are a good bet at 7/4 (Betway) to finish bottom.
The other two promoted teams both have bright young managerial stars at the helm, with Kieran McKenna achieving back-to-back promotions with Ipswich, and Russell Martin producing football that has been easy on the eye for Saints supporters.
The main issue for the latter is that he refuses to bend his style, and it is doubtful Southampton have good enough players to pass around high-class Premier League sides.
Martin hasn’t spent much in the summer, mainly turning loan signings into permanent deals, and at 5/4 the Saints also look a bet to go down.
I’d hold out more hope for Ipswich, with McKenna far more pragmatic than Martin, altering his tactics for certain opponents and shutting up shop when required.
The Tractor Boys may also get more of a bounce than either Leicester or Southampton, who have been used to Premier League action.
The likes of Leeds, Forest and Sheffield United have all impressed in first seasons back at the top table after long absences, and Portman Road should be buzzing.
McKenna needs new striker Liam Delap to turn Championship promise into Premier League goals, but Ipswich can defy the odds and stay up, which can be backed at evens (William Hill), while I’d take a punt on them at 2/1 (Bet365) to be the top promoted club.
With Cooper new in the job, and McKenna and Martin with plenty of credit in the bank, it should pay to look elsewhere for the first manager to leave.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is the jolly here, with some firms as short as 9/2 given his links to the England job, but he is adamant he wants to stay on Tyneside.
Erik ten Hag (8/1) is seemingly still at Manchester United by virtue of the FA Cup final win alone, and a slow start could do for him, although he has been backed in the transfer window by a new hierarchy.
Therefore, the aforementioned Maresca might be worth a bet at 10/1 despite being new to the Chelsea hotseat.
It has become a very hot seat under Todd Boehly, who has sacked four managers in two years at the Stamford Bridge helm, and has carried on signing players without any sort of joined-up thinking.
Maresca has been handed a difficult task, but with City first up and trips to Liverpool and United and a home clash with Arsenal in their first dozen games, Boehly could decide soon enough that the task is beyond him.
SELECTIONS
Leicester City to finish bottom, 7/4 (Betway);
Southampton to be relegated, 5/4 (Bet365);
Ipswich Town, top promoted club, 2/1 (William Hill);
Enzo Maresca, first manager to leave his post, 10/1 (Paddy Power)
Hammers nailed on for top-half finish
DAVID Moyes did a great job at West Ham, but he stayed a season too long after winning the Europa Conference League.
The Hammers still finished ninth despite a bit of unrest last term, and they look to have had a great summer, with new manager Julen Lopetegui making a number of eye-catching signings.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo will improve the defence, winger Crysencio Summerville was the best player in the Championship last term, and Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug is a real handful.
The Hammers can go very well, and with no European football they are of interest at 4/1 ‘without the top seven’, while the 10/11 about a top-half finish is cast-iron.
* ARMED with a new contract, and a mainstay of Erik ten Hag’s team, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes looks primed for a big season.
The Portugal schemer has created more chances than anyone else in each of the last two seasons – 114 in all – but he has been let down by the poor finishing of others.
With ace marksman Ruud van Nistelrooy now on the coaching staff at United, finishing standards should improve, and if that is the case, Bruno could be overpriced at 14/1 to have the most assists in the division this campaign.
* THERE is a bit of uncertainty around Liverpool with Arne Slot coming in at the helm, but his fellow Dutchman Cody Gakpo might relish the change, having been a fringe player under Jurgen Klopp.
Slot will use him more regularly, probably in Gakpo’s preferred left-wing position, and might be rewarded with a good season in front of goal.
Gakpo looked razor-sharp in the Netherlands’ run to the last four of Euro 2024, scoring three times, and is possibly worth a flutter at 12/1 to be Liverpool’s top scorer this year with Mo Salah (4/7) not quite the force of old at the age of 32 and Darwin Nunez (11/4) always erratic when the net is gaping.
