EPL 2023/24 Matchweek 2 – Betting tips & Predictions

Week 2 of the 2023-24 EPL season brings us nine great games, including a Big 6 matchup between Manchester United and Tottenham in the early hours of the morning on Sunday. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about that game and every other EPL Matchweek 2 matchup.  Keep reading to see our EPL betting tips and predictions as well as all the latest EPL news heading into the second week of the season.  

Odds by Playup

The City Ground, 4:45 AM, Saturday, August 19

Forest and The Blades both suffered one-goal losses last weekend to Arsenal and Crystal Palace, respectively. With all due respect to these two great clubs, those losses were expected. This weekend, however, is a chance for both teams to get their first points of the 2023-24 EPL season. 

On paper, Forest has the stronger squad between them and Sheffield United. This is why so many soccer betting sites have Forest as big favourites for Saturday’s match. We are inclined to agree with the sportsbooks, especially since this one is at home.

Forest lost just five of 19 matches at home last season against top-flight competition. The Blades meanwhile struggled away to end the season in the Championship and have a long reputation of struggling away from home in the EPL. 

Predicted Lineups

Nottingham Forest: Turner; Aurier, Worrall, Niakhate, Aina; Mangala, Danilo; Johnson, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Awoniyi

Sheffield United: Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Basham, Norwood, Lowe; Traore, Osula, Osborn

Craven Cottage, 12:00 AM, Sunday, August 20

West London rivals Fulham and Brentford face off this weekend at Fulham’s Craven Cottage. Both the Cottagers and the Bees might be without their star strikers. Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrović continues to be linked with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Meanwhile Brentford’s Ivan Toney is out until January due to a gambling ban. 

Despite this, we expect lots of goals in this one. On average, Fulham and their opponents scored 2.84 goals per game last season. Brentford games are also no stranger to goals as we saw last week when the Bees drew Tottenham 2-2. 

Last season, these teams played out two 3-2 games with each taking a victory. Sunday’s game should be another thriller, even without Toney and Mitrović. With Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Raúl Jiménez, and Bryan Mbeumo playing, these teams still have lots of goals in them. 

Predicted Lineups

Fulham: Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Cairney, Lukic, Reed; De Cordova-Reid, Jiménez, Wilson

Brentford: Flekken; Hickey, Collins, Pinnock, Ajer, Henry; Jensen, Nørgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa

Anfield, 12:00 AM, Sunday, August 20

Bournemouth showed us all what they are all about under new manager Andoni Iraola last week against West Ham. The Cherries only managed to get a draw in that game, but their pressing numbers and aggression on the ball showed some promise. This is why we could see them causing Liverpool some problems. 

Do not get us wrong, we agree with the general consensus that Liverpool should win this one. However, given the Reds’ uncertain midfield and well-known defensive woes, there may be home hairy moments for Liverpool this Sunday at Anfield. 

In any case, Liverpool’s front line of Salah, Nunez, and Diaz should be enough to outscore Bournemouth. Upfront for Bournemouth is former Liverpool man Dominic Solanke. If he doesn’t score, it could be a long day for the Cherries.  

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Bournemouth: Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Billing, Rothwell; Brooks, Christie, Anthony; Solanke

Molineux Stadium, 12:00 AM, Sunday, August 20

Two of the longest named teams in English football come together this weekend for what will either be a very exciting game or an incredibly dull one. 

For all the recent praise coming Brighton’s way over the past season for their attacking flair and high-scoring matches, the Seagulls tend to struggle against defensively-minded teams. Wolves under Gary O’Neil are the exact kind of team that could cause Brighton trouble. They showed as much last week by holding Manchester United to just one goal. 

With that being said, there’s a reason all the best betting sites have Brighton as huge favourites. If everything goes to plan for the Seagulls, this game could have loads of goals. Last week, Brighton put four past the newly-promoted Luton Town courtesy of goals from Solly March, João Pedro, Simon Adingra, and Evan Ferguson. 

Predicted Lineups

Wolves: Sá; Dawson, Semedo, Kilman, Aït-Nouri; Sarabia, Lemina, Nunes, Gomes; Neto,  Cunha

Brighton: Steele; Gross, Dunk, Webster, Estupiñán; Gilmour, Dahoud; March, Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 2:30 AM, Sunday, August 20

Tottenham and Manchester United come together this week for arguably the most high-profile occasion of Matchweek 2. 

Last weekend, Tottenham weathered the storm of Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern and held Brentford to a 2-2 draw. Man United meanwhile struggled to pull out a 1-0 victory against Wolves in a match surrounded in controversy due to a late missed penalty call for Wolves. 

It is far too early to make broad claims about any team, but right now, Tottenham look much better without Kane than we expected, and Manchester United look very poor.

Manchester United still don’t have a true forward and their midfield of Casemiro, Fernandes, and Mount does not look fully settled yet. Our best bet in this one is a draw, but we would not be surprised if Tottenham took all three points at home. 

Predicted Lineups

Tottenham: Vicario; Royal, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie;  Skipp, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddision, Son; Richarlison

Manchester United: Onana; Wan Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fernandes, Mount; Antony, Rashford, Sancho

Etihad Stadium, 5:30 AM, Sunday, August 20

Manchester City and Newcastle both scored buckets of goals last weekend against Burnley and Aston Villa. It goes without saying that both will be looking to repeat their score lines this weekend, but we don’t see it happening. Not for Newcastle at least. 

These two teams played to a glorious 3-3 draw early on last season. They faced off again in Manchester  at the end of the season where Man City won 2-0. Based on Manchester City’s dominance, revamped defence, and early season form, we think last year’s second meeting is a good template for what we’ll see this weekend. However, Man City might be a little tired after their midweek game against Sevilla, so we can see Newcastle scoring. 

Erling Haaland has picked up right where he left off last season, as have the pieces around him. Newcastle have proven to be great in their own right, but you can’t rely on Alexander Isak to do what he did against Villa every week. 

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Lewis;  Kovačić, Rodri, Silva; Alvarez, Haaland, Foden

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Tonali, Almiron; Gordon, Isak

Villa Park, 11:00 PM, Sunday, August 20

After being demolished 5-1 last week away,  Unai Emery’s men will be looking to set the record straight on Sunday against Sean Dyche’s Everton.

Everton will also be looking to correct the record after their 1-0 loss against Fulham. The Toffees looked dominant for large parts of that game and actually outscored the Cottagers 2.59 to 1.58 on expected goals.

Neal Maupay will be perhaps the person most looking for redemption this weekend. The former Brighton striker missed numerous chances for Everton and was regrettably sent death threats following his performance. He will need to have a good performance for his side to have a chance in this one.

Villa’s Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins, and Leon Bailey should have a much easier time against Everton than Newcastle. We expect Villa to win by multiple goals. 

Predicted Lineups

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne;  Tielemans, Luiz; Bailey, McGinn, Diaby; Watkins

Everton: Pickford; Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, Young; Garner, Gueye, Onana, Iwobi; Doucoure, Maupay

London Stadium, 1:30 AM, Monday, August 21

Chelsea opened the season with about as tough a fixture as you can get when they faced Liverpool last weekend. West Ham should be an easier opponent for the Blues, but you never know what to expect with this new Chelsea, or with West Ham for that matter. 

The major storyline of the transfer window for West Ham have been all the players they lost. Declan Rice, Manuel Lanzini, Gianluca Scamacca, and others have walked out the door. 

Chelsea meanwhile have signed just about every player available, including Brighton’s Moises Caicedo for a British transfer record £115m ($227.8m AUD). 

If Chelsea’s new signings gel as well as they did against Liverpool, the Blues should make short work of the Hammers. If Chelsea’s new signings struggle to score, as many expect, West Ham may get a point on Monday.  

Predicted Lineups

West Ham: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson;  Alvarez, Paqueta; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sterling, Chukwuemeka; Jackson

Selhurst Park, 5:00 AM, Tuesday, August 22

Matchweek 2 ends with a London derby between Palace and Arsenal. As title challengers, we expect Arsenal to do well here. However, this Palace is much different than previous Roy Hodgson Palace squads, so it could be tight. 

Palace put up 24 shots against Sheffield United last week and closed out last season with several high-scoring matches to close last season. Simply put, this Palace can score goals. Them being at home is also a strong point in their favour. 

Arsenal’s normally-tough defence took a major hit last week following an injury to Jurrien Timber. Arsenal have a capable backup in the form of Benjamin White. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s return this week should also help the Gunners. 

Overall, we think Arsenal should get the win, but Palace could cause them problems. You should expect lots of goals and a tight scoreline. 

Predicted Lineups

Palace: Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell;  Lerma, Doucoure; Ayew, Eze, Schlupp; Edouard

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Rice, Odegaard, Partey; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

We hope these EPL picks help you win your bets, even if you decide to fade them. If you liked this, we have much more in store for you. At BettingTop10, we have all the best EPL tips to help you make your EPL bets. We review the best soccer betting sites and the best betting apps to find the best EPL bets.

We also cover a wide variety of sports (NRL, AFL, Horse Racing, NBA, Cricket, Golf) and employ top sports betting experts.  Our experts have a thorough list of all betting sites as well as reviews of international betting sites and new betting sites to help you decide where you want to place your bets.