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Last year's Premier League season went right down to the wire with Manchester City pipping Liverpool to the crown, sealing two-in-a-row. They were pre-season favourites with bookmakers and the traders have them picked to cement the hat-trick.
The Citizens are a short price to retain their crown but it's difficult to argue against that stance. Will they repeat the feat or will Champions League winners Liverpool bounce back, learn the lessons from the previous season and scrap their way back to the summit of English football following an extended absence? Perhaps next year's champion will come from further down the pecking order. Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Man Utd, Leicester City?
Anything is possible at this stage of the season and before the opening game played out between Liverpool and Norwich at Anfield on Friday 13 August – 8.00pm GMT kick-off time – punters will scramble to get their bets down on the big winners and losers of the coming campaign.
Punters are spoiled for choice
There's certainly no lack of available markets to wager your cash on either. Call the Premier League champion, top four finish, top six finish, relegation, to finish bottom, top goal scorer, player of the year, and plenty more besides. You can even bet on the first top-flight manager to lose their job, a market affectionately known as the sack race.
As well as the dozens of betting markets that will keep backers involved from August up until the final kick of the ball next spring, bookmakers are also offering a flood of enticing specials and promotions. Major firms want you to place your Premier League punts with them and they are prepared to offer you a bonus to do so.
See it as a thank you for choosing them over the competition in what is a packed marketplace. Punters will already have a good idea what they plan to bet on this season after following the progress of teams in the transfer market but it's worth checking out some of the more popular free bets before parting with your hard-earned cash.
Premier League winner the most popular market
The most popular market of them all is the Premier League outright betting and Manchester City have been marked up as 4/6 favourites to retain their crown. They sit ahead of Liverpool at 11/4 before we get into the bigger prices and outsiders. Tottenham start at 22/1, Chelsea 40/1, Man Utd 66/1 and Arsenal come in at a whopping 80/1.
A flick through the top goal scorer market shows Harry Kane is 9/2 jolly to win the golden boot and the Englishman – described as the best striker in the world by Pochettino – has Mo Salah for company with the Liverpool hitman at 11/2. We then discover Sergio Aguero's 6/1 price tag, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 8/1, Sadio Mane 14/1 and an eye-catching 16/1 for Raheem Sterling.
The market no one wants to win is the relegation betting and the sides recently promoted from the Championship dominate the list to head straight back down. Sheffield United are 4/5, Norwich 11/8, Burnley 2/1, Brighton 2/1 and Newcastle 9/4.
14/1 on Man City to hit a ton
There are a few specials bets, enhanced odds and even free bets around at this time of year but one that really leaps off the page comes courtesy of Coral. They are giving a fantastic 14/1 on Man City finishing the season with 100 or more points. That's a big ask but it's certainly achievable for a team of City's talents and if they are pushed hard again by Liverpool, or another rival, that will see them sprint all the way to the finish line. The more competitive the season the better the chances are of landing that promo.
Visit the promotions pages of the big-name bookmakers and you're sure to discover a special that will suit your needs and predictions perfectly.
Place your Premier League bets at William Hill and you'll benefit from their Golden Goal offer. With this promo, if you back a team to win and they score the first goal of the match you will be paid out then and there, regardless of what happens in the remainder of the game. Your team could lose 5-1, as long as they score first, you'll be onto a profit.
Another worth a second look comes from Sport Nation and it's a free bet promotion. All you have to do is opt in to the offer, place a qualifying bet on the winner of a certain match and you'll receive a free bet for every goal they score. This offer is capped at five goals – or five free bets – and your team must win for the free bet to come into play. That'll have you cheering every shot at goal.
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