Premier League - the Best Bets

Last season saw Chelsea sweep all before them, collecting 93 points and finishing with a +52 goal difference. Since then, they have added Alvaro Morata, Antonia Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko to their squad, retained the services of Antonio Conte, and may arguably be better off without John Terry and the soon to leave Diego Costa. The may not collect the same points haul as last year, but they will surely not be too far off.

Man United by contrast sneaked into 6th place - albeit after deprioritising the league for the latter part of the season in favour of the Europa League handing them a wild card into this seasons Champions League. They have added Romelu Lukaku of course - probably the best signing of the summer from anyone - but there remain doubts about the service he might receive, and there look to be a few weak links still within the United ranks compared to United teams of the past. Having finished 24 points adrift of Chelsea last season (thats the same as between the woeful Sunderland and 8th placed Southampton), it's going to take an awful lot of improvement, and we're not convinced United warrant the interest being shown in them by the market.

2.5pts Chelsea to finish above Man United at 4/5 (Betfair)

Our other Antepost punt in the Premier League concerns Crystal Palace. Having already tipped Stoke to be relegated, we're going to add Palace into the mix at a decent looking 11/2. Of course the likes of Huddersfield and Brighton are sure to find the step up difficult, but the prices just don't appeal, so instead we look to who could join them in the trials at the foot of the pack.

Only two signings - Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jairo Riedewald - have been recruited thus far, and a new manager in the shape of Frank de Boer looks an interesting fit at Palace to put it kindly. Sam Allardyce enjoyed a decent season at Palace last season, but still finished just a point above 17th place Watford. Plenty of names have left, which could limit the depth in the squad if the winter brings injury problems, so the 11/2 looks a decent enough speculative punt.

1pt Crystal Palace to be relegated at 11/2

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