All articles by: Prashant Maniar

FA Premier League 2017/2018 – Top Goalscorer – Preview

Premier League 2017/2018 – Top Goalscorer – Preview – The FA Premier League 2016/2017 season saw England forward, Harry Kane top the goal scoring charts with 29 goals for his club, Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs finished the season 2nd in the league scoring 86 goals, the most goals for any side in the PL last season. Teammate Dele Alli managed an impressive 18 goals, a great feat for an attacking midfielder.

Kane, along with England and Spurs teammate, Deli Alli, scored a combined 47 goals for the North London side, half of the total goals scored by Spurs. A huge reason why Spurs managed to gain a runner up spot to champions Chelsea. Though Spurs have not delved into the transfer market yet, the current team is in great shape and they have not lost any players that would hinder the team.

Champions Chelsea scored one less than Spurs last season, with Spaniard Diego Costa providing the bulk of goals for the West London side with 20, being the 5th highest goal scorer with teammate Eden Hazard contributing 16 goals. Hazard was the 8th highest goal scorer last season, a great feat for an attacking midfielder. Hazard was attracting interest from Real Madrid but the Belgian will be staying at Chelsea, at least for one more season.

Alvaro Morata Photo Credit: skysports.com

Costa though has been rumoured to want to leave Stamford Bridge and return to former club, Atletico Madrid. The club have signed Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid this summer and Antonio Conte will be hoping the striker can adapt as quickly as possible to provide in similar fashion as Costa.

Another player who has been rumoured to leave all summer is Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean scored an impressive 24 goals last season from both an attacking midfield role and as a striker. Frenchman Oliver Giroud scored 12 goals last season and his future at the club could end as Arsenal signed Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon.

Alexandre Lacazette Photo Credit: skysports.com

Lacazette has been prolific in Ligue 1 but can he hit the ground running and adapt to the league quick enough for Arsenal to muster up a proper challenge this season?

Arsenal finished the season in 5th position, missing out on Champions League football and with Sanchez’s future still up in the air, Wenger must do all he can to keep the Chilean and create a formidable partnership with Lacazette in order to avoid another disappointing year.

Manchester City ended last season in 3rd position with Sergio Aguero leading the goal scoring charts for the Citizens.

Aguero scored 20 goals with Brazilian Gabriel Jesus finding the net 7 times last season, the closest to the Argentine striker. Aguero has been one of the best strikers in the Premier League and he too has been rumoured to be leaving the Etihad this season. Though manager Pep Guardiola has stated that Aguero will not be going anywhere, the striker didn’t look to be happy come the end of the season, losing his place to Jesus on occasions.

Sergio Aguero Photo Credit: skysports.com

If Aguero is to remain at Manchester City, the Argentine will undoubtedly score goals and so will Jesus. Both players could hit the 20-goal mark, especially with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva assisting.

Manchester United’s top scorer last season was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scoring 17 goals. Ibrahimovic suffered an injury at the end of last season and has left the club with Utd securing a deal with Everton for Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku, Everton’s top scorer and the 2nd highest goalscorer in the PL last season, behind Harry Kane, with 25 goals.

Romelu Lukaku Photo Credit: skysports.com

Lukaku will spearhead the attack and if provided the chances, will be a major factor to Manchester United’s final positioning in the league.

 

With that in mind, here is my Top 5 goalscorers for the 2017/2018 Premier League campaign and it may not be much of a surprise but I believe Kane will once again top the goal scoring charts with Lukaku a close 2nd.

  1. Harry Kane – Tottenham – 3/1
  2. Romelu Lukaku – Manchester United – 4/1
  3. Sergio Aguero/Gabriel Jesus – Manchester City – 13/2 / 9/1
  4. Alexandre Lacazette – Arsenal – 12/1
  5. Alvaro Morata – Chelsea – 10/1

Premier League 2017/2018 – Opening Day Preview

Opening Day Preview – As the Premier League 2017/2018 season begins in under 3 weeks, we look ahead to the opening day fixtures and the markets available.

With the Premier League becoming more and more competitive each season, the usual suspects of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have expanded out to include Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur vying for a place in the top 4 and a Champions League place.

These 6 teams are the focus of the preview and we look at the form over the past 5 years on the opening day to provide an outlook for the first day of the season.

Arsenal vs Leicester City

Arsenal won 1-0 last season at the Emirates in April Photo Credit: skysports.com

Arsenal – Last 5 opening day results: 1 draw, 1 win, 3 losses

Last 2 opening day results – Home losses (west ham 2-0, Liverpool 4-3)

Leicester City– Last 3 PL opening day results: 1 draw, 1 win, 1 loss

Last 2 opening day results – Home Win, Away loss

Prediction – Both Teams to score – Arsenal should win but have lost their opening 3 games in the last 3 years. Safe bet would be BTTS.

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Watford vs Liverpool

Emre Can scored a stunner as Liverpool won 1-0 at Vicarage Road last May Photo Credit: skysports.com

Watford – Last 2 PL opening day results: 2 draws both away – Score draws

Liverpool – Last 5 opening day results: 4 wins, 1 loss

Last 2 opening day results – 2 Away Wins – (Stoke 1-0, Arsenal 4-3)

Prediction – A Liverpool win looks the likeliest with a possibility of BTTS.

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Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City

Brighton and Hove Albion – Last 5 EFL opening day results: 1 win, 1 draw, 3 losses

Last 2 opening day results – 1 win, 1 draw (Notts Forest 1-0, Derby 0-0)

Manchester City – Last 5 opening day results: 5 wins

Last 2 opening day results – 1 away win, 1 home win (WBA 3-0, Sunderland 2-1)

Prediction –  Brighton may struggle this season, having come up from the Championship when finishing 2nd to Newcastle. A very tough opening fixture for Chris Hughton.

Manchester City win, Over 2.5 goals.

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Manchester United vs West Ham United

Man Utd drew last season against West Ham 1-1 at home in November Photo Credit: skysports.com

Manchester United – last 5 opening day results: 3 wins, 2 losses

Last 2 opening day results – 1 home win, 1 away win (Tottenham 1-0, Bournemouth 3-1)

West Ham – last 5 opening day results: 3 wins, 2 losses

Last 2 opening day results – 1 win, 1 loss (Arsenal 2-0, Chelsea 2-1)

Prediction – Tight game, West Ham bolstered squad with 2 significant signings; Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic.

New Manchester United signing, Romelu Lukaku, has a great record against West Ham, scoring in 9 consecutive matches but only the single goal.

Prediction – Manchester United to win at home and a potential BTTS.

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Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Newcastle United – Last 5 opening day results: 1 win, 3 losses, 1 draw

Last 2 opening day results – 1 draw, 1 loss (Southampton 2-2, Fulham EFL 1-0)

Tottenham Hotspur – Last 5 opening day results: 2 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw

Last 2 opening day results – 1 loss, 1 draw (Man Utd 1-0, Everton 1-1)

Tottenham have played their last 5 opening fixtures away from home and do so once again for the start of the 2017/2018 campaign. Newcastle defeated Spurs on the opening day of the 2012/2013 season at home.

Prediction – Spurs should win this with the class they have in their side. Mauricio Pochettino has revived Spurs, seen in the last 2 years with strong finishes in the league providing Champions League football. Newcastle have the experience of manager Rafa Benitez in the Premier League, along with some of the players, but Spurs should be too good for the Tyneside club.

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Chelsea vs Burnley

Chelsea won 3-0 against Burnley last season at home in August Photo Credit: skysports.com

Chelsea – Last 5 opening day results: 4 wins, 1 draw

Last 2 opening day results – 1 draw, 1 win (Swansea 2-2, West Ham 2-1)

Burnley – Last 5 opening day results: 1 win, 2 draws, 2 losses

Last 2 opening day results – 1 draw, 1 loss (EFL Leeds 1-1, Swansea 1-0)

Chelsea have been impressive on the first day of the season and look to continue their form when Burnley come to Stamford Bridge.

With an outstanding 1st season for Antonio Conte, winning the league and a finalist in the FA Cup, the Italian only looks to be progressing more with his side and Burnley will be lucky to score past the home side in a tough first day encounter.

Prediction – Chelsea win, over 2.5 goals.

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Barcelona vs Manchester United – Match Preview

Barcelona vs Manchester United – Match Preview Manchester United take on Barcelona as part of their pre – season tour of the USA this Wednesday evening in Maryland, (Thursday morning 12.30am BST). Currently top of the table in the International Champions Cup, the Red Devil’s have so far been in good form with victories over rivals, Manchester City, and a penalty shoot-out win over current European Champions, Real Madrid.  And hopefully this will progress to there domestic level when the Premier League begins in August.

Barcelona have played just the once so far and gained a win over Juventus as Brazilian forward, Neymar, scored a brace in the 2-1 win. Currently 3rd with 3 points, Barcelona will hope to end the tournament as winners to end a successive pre – season.

Neymar is currently being pursued by French Ligue 1 side PSG Photo Credit: skysports.com

Barcelona trio, Messi, Suarez and Neymar have all been included in the squad and could all feature together. New manager, Ernesto Valverde, will be able to test out new formations and tactics as he looks to build on the win over Juventus on the weekend.

Anthony Martial provided a stunning assist for Lingard against Real Madrid Photo Credit: skysports.com

Manchester United will be without Ander Herrera, who suffered an injury in the penalty shoot-out win over Real Madrid. Fellow Spaniard, Juan Mata, is also likely to miss out since injuring himself in the game against Real Salt Lake. New signing Romelu Lukaku and french forward, Anthony Martial, look set to start against the Catalan side.

With both sides possessing huge attacking strengths and vulnerabilities in defence, over 2.5 goals looks a safe bet and even a small wager on both teams to score in both halves. With the likes of Rashford, Lukaku, Messi and Suarez, the FedEx Field crowd of a possible 82,000 could be in for a real treat.

 

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