{"id":22043,"date":"2023-08-16T10:10:50","date_gmt":"2023-08-16T14:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=22043"},"modified":"2024-06-05T09:37:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T13:37:50","slug":"epl-betting-preview-premier-league-predictions-and-picks-for-matchday-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/soccer\/epl-betting-preview-premier-league-predictions-and-picks-for-matchday-2\/","title":{"rendered":"EPL Betting Preview – Premier League Predictions and Picks For Matchday 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
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EPL Betting Preview Including Predictions and Picks<\/h2>\n

WagerTalk Premier League handicapper Kevin Dolan<\/a> presents his EPL predictions today heading into Matchday 2. He gives betting previews for key matches including Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield and Aston Villa vs Everton. Which teams is he looking to pick up points and which will have goals being scored? Read his betting preview now!<\/p>\n

Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield United | Friday, August 18 | 2:45pm ET<\/h2>\n

Nottingham Forest -115 | Sheffield United +240 | Draw +250<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two of the oddsmakers’ favorites to get relegated this season, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest, got their respective seasons started off with less-than-ideal results last week, with Nottingham Forest losing away to Arsenal at the Emirates while Sheffield United got knocked off at home against Crystal Palace also.<\/p>\n

Despite those results, the performances were markedly different from both teams, with Nottingham Forest showing remarked resilience on the road against Arsenal, a situation away from home where they really struggled last season, yet were able to rally back down in London and really put it on Arsenal late in the second half of that game.<\/p>\n

Sheffield United meanwhile looked poor in the Steel City, registering a total of just 0.39 xG over the course of the match and had 21 fewer dangerous attacks than Crystal Palace in that game as well.<\/p>\n

The Tricky Trees will welcome a return to the City Ground where they were strong last year (at least when compared to their road form), with 30 of their 38 points gained in the league last season being registered at home.<\/p>\n

Sheffield United lost two of their best players in the off-season, namely, Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye, and fans’ trepidation of the season ahead appears well-founded if their lethargic offensive performance against Crystal Palace was anything to go by.<\/p>\n

These are the games that make or break a team’s season in the EPL, and Nottingham Forest will know that a win here at home against an abject Sheffield United team presents a golden opportunity to gain maximum points in the league, an opportunity we don’t expect them to pass up on Friday.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Nottingham Forest (-115)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Liverpool vs Bournemouth | Saturday, August 19 | 10:00am ET<\/h2>\n

Liverpool -450 | Bournemouth +1100 | Draw +600<\/strong><\/p>\n

Liverpool got their season off to a subdued start last weekend at Stamford Bridge as both themselves and Chelsea had numerous chances in front of goal in that game, with goals disallowed at either end of the pitch also, as they played out a scrappy 1-1 draw down in London.<\/p>\n

A large part of the reason Liverpool started so well in that game was down to how electric Mo Salah looked going forward, with the Egyptian forward not only rattling the crossbar early on, but also setting up Luis Diaz\u2019s opening goal as well, including straying marginally offside just minutes later in what would have been a second goal for the Reds and a commanding lead as a result.<\/p>\n

The bad news for Liverpool ahead of this game is that their talisman forward has opened a passage of negotiation once again for a potential move to Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, a move that would see him link up with former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, as well as former Liverpool midfielder and teammate Fabinho also.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unlikely whether Liverpool will accept the reported 60 million GBP offered for Salah by Al Ittihad, but just the fact it\u2019s once again on the table reveals the Reds squad is far from settled to start the season.<\/p>\n

Bournemouth meanwhile got their season started off with a respectable 1-1 draw at home to West Ham, with new coach Andoni Iraola\u2019s much vaunted offensive style of play being put on the backburner early as the Hammers enjoyed the majority of the attacking chances.<\/p>\n

Thomas Soucek crashed the ball against the bar early for West Ham before Jarrod Bowen gave them the lead in the starting minutes of the second half.<\/p>\n

Bournemouth were able to rally late for an equalizer in the 83rd minute as Dominic Solanke rounded the keeper to put the ball into the open net as the Cherries gained a much-needed point in their opening game of the season.<\/p>\n

Liverpool famously smashed Bournemouth 9-0 in this fixture last year, a result which led to the dismissal of former coach Scott Parker, but prior to that, their games had been a lot more competitive, with Bournemouth gaining two draws at Anfield from their previous four matchups here.<\/p>\n

With Iraola getting a further game in charge of the Cherries and Liverpool\u2019s ongoing transfer saga continuing to cause frustration, +2 looks like a big line here on Saturday and one we\u2019re happy to take a piece of the underdog in.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Bournemouth +2 (-120)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aston Villa vs Everton | Sunday, August 20 | 9:00am ET<\/h2>\n

Aston Villa +190 | Everton +135 | Draw +260<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Aston Villa currently sit bottom of the table after week one after suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat away to Newcastle last Saturday.<\/p>\n

However, their performance in that game was a lot better than the scoreline might suggest, with the game really hinging on some pivotal moments.<\/p>\n

None more so than Matty Cash\u2019s deflected opportunity right in front of an open goal which would have made the game 3-2 late on if it had of been converted, and given the Villains a much-needed boost to close out the game.<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t to be the case however as Newcastle added some extra goals late on and went on to enjoy a commanding 5-1 victory at St. James\u2019 Park, with Aston Villa looking to pick themselves up with a home win against Everton this Sunday.<\/p>\n

Everton for their part lost 1-0 at home to Fulham last weekend in a result that will no doubt foreshadow what looks set to be a very troubling season for the Toffees ahead.<\/p>\n

Aston Villa have won both of the recent two meetings at Villa Park against Everton, scoring five goals across those two games also, and despite opening the season on such a disappointing note last week, are by far the stronger of these two teams this weekend and we expect the Villains to simply have too much for an abject Everton side this Sunday.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Aston Villa -0.75 (-125)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Fan<\/a><\/p>\n

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Stoppage Time | Weekly Soccer Preview<\/h3>\n

Join Carmine Bianco, Kevin Dolan, Nick Borrman, Bryan Power and Pavlos Laguretos for Stoppage Time<\/a> every Tuesday and Thursday breaking down betting angles across the European soccer schedule including possibly matches in Premier League!<\/p>\n

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen<\/h3>\n

WagerTalk\u2019s live odds screen<\/a> features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the Premier League moneylines, run lines and betting percentages for all scheduled games.<\/p>\n

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Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?<\/span><\/h4>\n