LONDON. It is early days in Premier League, but there are already some strong indications of what is to come.
I leave the title race to Liverpool and Manchester City again, and behind them it will be a tight race for the final four fixed European places.
But let’s look a bit beyond the giants in England and we can spot an early trend among a couple of teams.
I am talking about Leicester City and Burnley.
I placed a nice handicap outright bet on Leicester ahead of this season, but unfortunately, I missed out on the 5,000-1 odds when they won the Premier League in that amazing season of 2015-16.
This season Leicester looks like a team well worth to be backed again with value odds in many matches and I would not be surprised if they get involved in the top 6-race in the spring. Brendan Rodgers is building a young and interesting squad and I always admired him when he was at Liverpool. I rate him highly as a manager.
The Foxes did a coupe when they hold on to the gifted Youri Tielemans and when they won at Sheffield United this weekend Caglar Soyuncu and Hamza Choudhury were outstanding in the defensive zones. In the attack Jamie Vardy seems to be reborn with Rodgers in charge and he has a great partnership with James Maddison.
The latter is growing week by week with his key passes and crosses and Gareth Southgate could soon be seeing him as regular starting player in the England XI. And The Foxes have of course Harvey Barnes to rely on as a special sub, as we saw at Bramall Lane.
Meanwhile, Sean Dyche is another manager who I admire. His so robust Burnley side finished 15th last season in the league after a demanding spell in Europe which badly affected their autumn until they found the rhythm and gathered the 40 points that is seen as needed in order to be safe and sound above the drop zone.
But remember that Burnley finished seventh two season ago and I see them as a top 10-side this season being so strong at their fortress Turf Moor and relying one of the most solid central spines in the league, with Ben Mee and James Tarkwoski in front of Ben Pope in goal up to Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood up-front.
This weekend looks like a challenging one in Premier League and my picks are matches with – you guessed it right – Leicester and Burnley.
This weekend’s pick in Premier League
Bet: Leicester City to win against Bournemouth and both teams to score
Odds: 3.00
Match start: Saturday 15.00
CHECK OUT ALL PREMIER LEAGUE ODDS HERE
