EPL Betting Preview – Premier League Predictions and Picks For Matchday 2

EPL Betting Preview Including Predictions and Picks

WagerTalk Premier League handicapper Kevin Dolan 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!

Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield United | Friday, August 18 | 2:45pm ET

Nottingham Forest -115 | Sheffield United +240 | Draw +250

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest (-115)

Liverpool vs Bournemouth | Saturday, August 19 | 10:00am ET

Liverpool -450 | Bournemouth +1100 | Draw +600

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.

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’s 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

With Iraola getting a further game in charge of the Cherries and Liverpool’s ongoing transfer saga continuing to cause frustration, +2 looks like a big line here on Saturday and one we’re happy to take a piece of the underdog in.

Prediction: Bournemouth +2 (-120)

Aston Villa vs Everton | Sunday, August 20 | 9:00am ET

Aston Villa +190 | Everton +135 | Draw +260