Club football is back on our screens following a summer spent following the top international teams battle it out at Euro 2020 and the Copa America.
The top tier of English football has returned for what will be the 30th season of the Premier League era.
It promises to be one of the most important and competitive seasons in history as the sport battles back from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Everything is in place for a spectacular campaign with some big names and big money transfers taking place during the summer months.
Manchester City dominated the leadlines when splashing the cash one again, paying £100m to Aston Villa for Jack Grealish, who played an important role in England’s journey to the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley in July when the Three Lions were eventually beaten on penalties by Italy.
Followers of the beautiful game eager to add an extra edge to their viewing this season have already begun placing bets on the teams they expect to challenge.
The top online bookmakers at vegasbetting.com offer generous odds on the outright winner of the Premier League as well as some interesting specials, such as to be relegated and top scorer.
Man City favourites to do the double
Traders have had their say, and although the bookies don’t always get things right, we can often take clues from the early betting.
Which teams will enjoy a successful season, and which clubs are expected to struggle?
Manchester City entered the season as defending champions, having wrestled the crown back from Liverpool last season.
Pep Guardiola’s men are now aiming to land two in a row for the second time in five years.
City have dominated English football in recent seasons, but the board and fans now want to see the club improve on last season’s near miss in the Champions League, as they lost in the final to Chelsea.
Everyone with an interest in Man City wants to see them do the double, defending the Premier League and going one better than last season and winning the UEFA Champions League.
What do the traders at all major betting firms think on that one? Will the club pull off such a remarkable feat?
There’s every chance with the odds-makers pricing Man City as betting favourites to win the league and pinning them to the head of their outright market to win the Champions League, snatching the trophy from Chelsea.
The team’s big summer saga saw them in a tug of war with Tottenham for the signature of striker Harry Kane, but City ended up not signing the England captain.
Kane was left out on the opening game of the season when Tottenham played Man City in London, but the locals had enough class to win the match.
Son Heung-Min scored the game’s only goal when finding the net on 55 minutes to sink City and ensure Spurs got off to the perfect start.
City have bounced back since, beating both Norwich and Arsenal 5-0.
Don’t write off Man Utd
Under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United have finished third and then second.
Will that trend continue with the Red Devils moving into pole position this season?
It’s possible, and experienced pundits aren’t in a rush to write off United.
Things don’t always go smoothly for Ole and his men, but you can’t argue with the bare results.
Two Champions League finishes in two seasons from a team that have struggled to make it into the top four since Sir Alex Ferguson left. It deserves respect.
Several of the manager’s younger recruits are beginning to hit their peak, and it’ll be exciting to see them at full speed.
The team struggled in defence last season but have spent cash in the transfer market to bring experience and stability to the backline.
If that has the desired effects on the team, their title challenge must be taken seriously.
United showed they are contenders when smashing Leeds United on the opening day of the season.
They rocketed to the top of the table following a stunning 5-1 win over the club from Elland Road on matchday one, Bruno Fernandes scoring a hat-trick that day.
They’ve followed that up with four points in two games to sit third going into the international break.
