Premier League 2025-26 Tips: Kevin Hatchard's five bets for the new season | OneFootball

English Premier League

Will you be backing any of Kevin's antepost wagers?

With the start of the new Premier League campaign just days away, we've asked Betfair's Football Only Bettor podcast host Kevin Hatchard to give us a few season-long antepost bets to cheer on ahead of the new season.

Bet #1 - Back Manchester United for a Top Five Finish @ 8/5

Given that Manchester United finished a feeble 15th in the Premier League last term, lost the Europa League final and became a laughing stock around Europe, backing them to bounce back might seem foolish. However, I have faith in their manager Ruben Amorim, and their summer transfer business has been surprisingly impressive.

Amorim is removing what he perceives to be the disruptive influences from his squad. Marcus Rashford has already gone to Barcelona, while Chelsea look set to take Alejandro Garnacho off their hands.

It appears Amorim's system is being catered for. Summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo bring goals and creativity, and former RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has enormous potential in the centre-forward position. If United can bring in a dynamic midfielder - they are chasing Brighton's Carlos Baleba - that will be some transfer campaign.

Perhaps the most important factor here is United's lack of involvement in European competition. That will give Amorim far more time on the training pitch, and if you look at their rivals for fifth place (probably Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Tottenham), they all have either Champions League or Europa League commitments, a minimum of eight extra games to play.

United are still a mess at the top of the club, but Amorim is at least being given the tools he needs, and I think United can snatch fifth spot.

In a Tottenham team that struggled throughout the Premier League season, Dominic Solanke still managed to score nine goals last term, which was more or less in line with his Expected Goals figure. The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker earned that move to North London, as he rattled in 19 top-flight goals in the 2023-24 campaign for Bournemouth.

I anticipate that former Brentford boss Thomas Frank will have a positive effect on Tottenham's fortunes, although he does need significant backing in the transfer market. The signing of the inconsistent but exciting Mohammed Kudus has been offset by a long-term injury to James Maddison, but I still expect Frank's Tottenham to be a front-foot side that will give Solanke plenty of ammunition. A rumoured move for Manchester City winger Savinho would provide Solanke with even more ammunition.

It's worth looking at Frank's recent history with strikers. Last term Bryan Mbeumo netted 20 Premier League goals under Frank, while Yoane Wissa scored 19. In the 2022-23 campaign, Ivan Toney grabbed 20 top-flight goals under Frank's guidance.

Despite an underwhelming pre-season, I think Solanke can thrive under Frank and get back towards his best, and he can definitely reach 15 top-flight strikes this term.

Bet #3 - Back Burnley to finish bottom @ 6/4

When I look at the Relegation market, I can make a case for both Sunderland and Leeds United to avoid the drop or at least be competitive, but I can't do the same for Scott Parker and Burnley.

Let's start with why I think Sunderland and Leeds can be more competitive. Sunderland have a genuine momentum under smart French coach Regis Le Bris (who has just signed a new contract) and I've been really impressed by their transfer business. Luring double-winning Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka is a major coup, while Strasbourg's Habib Diarra is a fantastic young player.

Winger Simon Adingra arrives from Brighton with Premier League experience, the excellent and influential Enzo Le Fee has been retained, and former Atletico Madrid defender Reinildo has been battle-hardened by working with Diego Simeone.

As for Leeds United, they have also recruited intelligently, although as coach Daniel Farke admits, there is work to do in attacking positions. Centre-back Jaka Bijol is a powerhouse at centre-back, while former Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach also has the height and physicality to deal with the Premier League. Under-fire keeper Ilan Meslier finally has adequate cover and competition, with Brazilian keeper Lucas Perri coming in from Lyon, and Sean Longstaff will bring experience and leadership to the squad.

Of the three promoted clubs, I believe Burnley have the weakest coach in Scott Parker, a manager who averages 0.77 points per game over his Premier League career. If you average that out over a 38-game season, that would equate to just 29 points. A crude equation, I grant you, but I'm just not convinced by the 44-year-old at this level.

Yes, the Clarets were excellent defensively last term, but keeper James Trafford has left to rejoin Manchester City, and the incoming business is underwhelming. Chelsea cast-offs Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu aren't proven performers at this level (Broja is injury-plagued), although Kyle Walker and Martin Dubravka have at least come in to provide top-flight nous.

I just can't see how Burnley and Parker can stave off the drop, and I think they'll find goals hard to come by. I'm happy to back the Lancashire side to make an instant return to the second tier, and let's back them to finish bottom at a generous 6/4.

This is a selection based on price, because if Manchester City bounce back as strongly as I believe they can this term, then Erling Haaland will be at the heart of that revival. The Norwegian sensation has already won this honour, and it's a prize that has gone to a City player four times in the Pep Guardiola era.

City have made some excellent signings in the last two transfer windows, and even with City struggling last term, Haaland still scored 22 league goals in 31 games.

English Premier League - Top 5 Goalscorers

Back Florian Wirtz to be PFA Player of the Year @ 7/1

I'm really torn between Liverpool and Man City for who will win the league, so at decent prices it makes sense to back a player from each camp. Liverpool's record signing Wirtz has already been named as Bundesliga Player of the Season, Players' Player of the Season and Germany Player of the Year in his short career, and he is the kind of jaw-dropping player that really catches the eye.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star won five Man of the Match awards in last season's Champions League, and across the last two Bundesliga seasons he has delivered 21 goals and 23 assists. He'll be at heart of the Liverpool attack, whether as a creative ten or as a false nine, and I'm expecting the Reds' attack to be a lot less Salah-centric this term.

Like two-time winner Kevin de Bruyne, Wirtz doesn't just deliver goals and assists, but he looks stylish doing it. If Liverpool retain their league title, it could be Wirtz who steals the limelight from Salah.

Now read Mark O'Haire's Premier League season preview with 1-20 prediction!

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