English Premier League Opening Weekend Preview Part Two

Arsenal take on Sunderland and go into it as the significant 4/11 favourites. The Black Cats have been able to put together some good stuff from time to time but it usually takes them a while before they really hit their stride in mid-season. They are 11/2 for a reason here and a surprising amount of Arsenal fans come into the campaign with expectations of a tighter, more functional and less injury-prone Arsenal team ready to fire.

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Sunderland will happily play for the draw here and it looks alright at 10/3 – particularly if Arsenal need a few matches to get going.

Norwich were definitely one of the surprise packages last year and they still aren't getting respect this time out – even against Fulham on opening day. The Cottagers host the Canaries and you can expect them to be priced at around 8/11 barring any major withdrawals or signings. Norwich are listed at a 10/3 price and look good value for the upset – these were the type of fixtures that they were able to take points from last time around and the side is more or less the same.

QPR take on Swansea in what is destined to be one of those matches that ends 0-0 or 3-2. Expect something interesting in this one early – possibly a sending off – and you might see the Welsh side get into this one a bit more than you would expect. QPR go into it priced at even money while the visitors are trading at an 11/5 price.

Reading are back in the Premier League and will be looking to replicate their opponents here Stoke City – who have firmly established themselves in the upper echelon of English football. The Potters have carved out a position as a rougher, tougher and ten-times-more-direct version of the Bolton Wanderers side back in the early 2000s. This one is quite even with Reading the slim favourites at 11/8 while Stoke trade at 8/5. This one could wind up a draw, but it's important to keep in mind that Reading have done well on the opening day in the Premier League before and will be in front of a voracious home crowd.

West Brom are expected to lose to Liverpool with the Anfield side floating at an even money price despite this being an away fixture. West Ham are a slim 6/5 to get the better of Aston Villa – this one is going to be especially tight – while Newcastle vs Tottenham takes center stage as the 5:30 showpiece.