The 2022/23 Premier League season is right around the corner, and we've got all of Steve Freeth's, Mark Langdon and James Milton's Premier League ante-post tips here for you.
Winner
Steve Freeth: Manchester City – 8/13
I can only see Manchester City getting stronger after the business they’ve done in the summer with Guardiola set to frustrate Klopp yet again on the title front.
Mark Langdon: Manchester City – 8/13
Pep Guardiola's side have won the Premier League in four of the last five seasons, averaging more than 90 points in the process, and that was before the arrival of Haaland.
James Milton: Manchester City – 8/13
Guardiola's champions have been amazingly consistent in the league, winning four of the last five titles and posting points tallies of 93, 86, 81, 98 and 100, and they should prove too good for their rivals again.
Without Big Six
Steve Freeth: Crystal Palace – 14/1
The loss of Conor Gallagher is a blow but that hasn’t put me off Palace with the Eagles flying in the right direction under Patrick Vieira. A squad sprinkled with talent could do a lot better than last season’s 12th placed finish.
Mark Langdon: Leicester – 11/2
Now, free from midweek commitments, key players back and James Maddison in outstanding form, expect Rodgers to return Leicester to at least the best of the rest.
James Milton: West Ham – 4/1
The Hammers, who also finished sixth in 2020/21, look primed to build on their domestic and European success, especially if they keep hold of England pair Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen.
To Be Relegated
Steve Freeth: Bournemouth, Fulham, Wolves – 33/1
We’ve all heard about a cat having nine lives, how about the cat that prevents nine goals? Jose Sa was outstanding last season, but I think the South Bank could be joining the South Coast in a relegation struggle.
Mark Langdon: Bournemouth, Everton, Fulham – 33/1
Frank Lampard has since seen star man Richarlison depart for Spurs and replacing his 10 goals and five assists - both top of the Everton charts last season - is not proving easy
James Milton: Bournemouth, Fulham, Southampton – 22/1
Ralph Hasenhuttl's men ended up only two points clear of 17th-placed Leeds in 2021/22 after a disappointing end to the season in which they picked up just five points from their last 12 league fixtures.
Season Match Bet
Steve Freeth: Forest to finish above Fulham – Evs
10 points separated Fulham and Forest at the end of last season but I can see Steve Cooper’s charges reversing that in the Premier League. It went spectacularly wrong for Fulham when they had a spending spree in 2018/19, but Forest’s looks more measured.
Mark Langdon: Arsenal to finish above Man Utd – 10/11
They are a young side with scope to improve and it's possible United are going to struggle to keep tabs on Arsenal, who finished 11 points superior in 2021-22.
James Milton: Arsenal to finish above Man Utd – 10/11
Arsenal have invested heavily again this summer and if Gabriel Jesus settles in quickly they should be more ruthless than last term, when they were pipped to fourth spot by rivals Tottenham.
Season Handicap
Steve Freeth: Tottenham +14 – 15/1
He could easily blow a fuse at any time, but Spurs have a top class manager in Conte and with the recent additions can win the handicap by making inroads into the Man City/Liverpool supremacy at the top of the Premier League.
Mark Langdon: Tottenham +14 – 15/1
Spurs were third in the calendar year table for 2022 as Conte really made his mark, thanks in part to the January arrivals of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur.
James Milton: Arsenal +20 – 15/1
The Gunners just missed out on the handicap places last season off +19 and they had comfortably the youngest average starting 11 in the 2021/22 Premier League so more progress can be expected from Mikel Arteta's side.
Top Newcomer
Steve Freeth: Nottingham Forest – 13/10
There’s a whiff of optimism rolling in from the Trent and while a return to their glory days is extremely unlikely, a more than respectable finish on their return to the top flight is well within their compass.
Mark Langdon: Nottingham Forest – 13/10
Forest, who went from last to promotion under Steve Cooper, are not messing around and the signings of Jesse Lingard and Dean Henderson highlight their ambition
James Milton: Nottingham Forest – 13/10
Forest finished lowest of the trio in last season's Championship, winning promotion through the playoffs, but their record after Steve Cooper's arrival in September was outstanding.
Top Goalscorer
Steve Freeth: Harry Kane – 5/1
Despite having just two goals by Christmas, Harry Kane still managed 17 to nab a place for the each-way thieves and I’m confident of a better return this season with the three-times winner clearly in a good place under Conte.
Mark Langdon: Mohamed Salah – 9/2
Once he finished clear on his own at the top of the charts, twice he dead-heated for first spot and on another occasion Salah was one behind Harry Kane. The sole time he failed to land at least the each-way money was 2019-20 when he still bagged 19 times.
James Milton: Mohamed Salah – 9/2
Haaland is a thrilling signing for the champions but newcomers to the Premier League have a poor record in this market and it could pay to stick with the dependable Mohamed Salah.
Goalscorer Match Bets
Steve Freeth: Jesus to beat Nunez, Zaha to beat Coutinho and Kane to beat Haaland – 6.15/1
Jesus is yet to break the 20-goal barrier but he’s now the main man for Arsenal, little chance of rotation, and playing as a No.9 in a team that should create plenty of chances.
Mark Langdon: Zaha to beat Coutinho, Mahrez to beat Sterling and Wilson to beat Antonio – 7.75/1
Sterling is not certain to settle at Chelsea and he is unlikely to be presented with the same kind of chances which are regularly created at the Etihad.
James Milton: Zaha to beat Coutinho, Maddison to beat Mount, Fernandes to beat De Bruyne – 5.41/1
Zaha scored 14 league goals last term, the best return of his career. He is central to Palace's attacking gameplan and, unlike Coutinho, is also a regular penalty-taker for his club.
Most assists
Steve Freeth: Harvey Barnes – 40/1 each-way
Barnes recorded a career best 10 assists from 24 starts last season and I can see the former Baggies loanee topping that total as he looks to impress with a World Cup spot very much in his sights.
Mark Langdon: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 9/1, Dejan Kulusevski – 33/1, Harvey Barnes – 40/1
Alexander-Arnold is on set-pieces too and has somebody to hit with his crosses now target-man striker Darwin Nunez has been brought in from Benfica.
James Milton: Harry Kane – 16/1 (each-way)
Kane's remarkable goalscoring feats can overshadow his ability to bring teammates into play but he merits an each-way bet at 16/1.
Golden Glove
Steve Freeth: Aaron Ramsdale – 25/1
Trying to avoid the obvious is hard, but I’m taking a chance on a 25/1 poke who kept 12 clean sheets in 34 starts with his side looking better prepared than last season.
Mark Langdon: Alisson – 7/4
At the prices it might make sense to take Alisson, who is arguably the best shot-stopper in world football and unrivalled in one-on-one situations.
James Milton: Edouard Mendy – 8/1
The arrival of centre-back, and international teammate, Kalidou Koulibaly should enable Chelsea to maintain their excellent defensive standards under Thomas Tuchel.
PFA Player of the Year
Steve Freeth: Harry Kane – 10/1
Mo Salah twice, Kevin De Bruyne twice and Virgil van Dijk – that’s the roll call from the last five years – some stellar names. You need to be a class act to lift this trophy and Harry Kane is just that.
Mark Langdon: Kevin De Bruyne – 8/1
Few could argue De Bruyne is the most complete player in the league and a third PFA award in four years looks the way to go at 8/1.
James Milton: Kevin De Bruyne – 8/1
De Bruyne remains the most complete footballer in the Premier League and his performances over the past three years have been outstanding.
Player Total Goals
Steve Freeth: Callum Wilson 15+ – 11/10
I can hear you all now saying 'But what about his injury record?' Fair point, but I’m taking a chance on a player that has scored 20 goals in 39 starts in a side that are on the up.
Mark Langdon: Gabriel Jesus 15+ – 5/4
Gabriel Jesus should have more chance of notching at least 15 goals at 5/4, although a safer bet looks to be to take the Brazilian to be Arsenal's top scorer at 4/6.
James Milton: Erling Haaland 25+ – 5/4
Haaland was hampered by injuries in his final season at Dortmund although he still rattled in 22 goals in 21 Bundesliga starts and given the creative talent in the City squad the 5/4 about him scoring 25 or more league goals looks a solid bet.
