Premier League is back in action. The opening round will have the two games left to play of Round 28 on mid-week (June 17), followed by Round 30 on the weekend. Check our Betting Tips for the best games scheduled in Premier League's opening rounds.
Round 28 - Starting June 17
Manchester City v Arsenal
Premier League's return will have a big match on the opening round as Arsenal visits the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City.
Having surrendered the title to Liverpool, with a 25-point difference, Pep Guardiola looks to secure the second spot in the standings. A win against an inconsistent Arsenal will put them closer to that goal.
Manchester City will try to take advantage of their good performances at home. The team has a record of 9 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in 13 league home matches, averaging 2,5 goals per game.
For Arsenal, it has been a season to forget, as the team currently sits 9th in the Premier League. However, Arteta's team is just 8 points behind the league's top 4, with one game less than Chelsea. That gives them a lot of confidence to still fight for a spot in next season's UEFA Champions League.
To succeed at the Etihad Stadium, Arsenal will need to improve their game when playing away from home. The Londoners only have 2 wins in 13 away matches in the Premier League, 8 of them finishing with a draw.
Before the Covid-19 lockdown, Arsenal had a 3-game winning streak, showing positive signs for the last third of the season. Will they pick up where they left off?
We expect Manchester City to secure a win at home, in a game with many goals!
Round 30 - Starting June 19
Tottenham v Manchester United
Jose Mourinho will find his former club Manchester United in Tottenham's first game back in the Premier League.
The game has enormous importance in the race for the league's top 4. Tottenham has a 7-point deficit for Chelsea and cannot lose more points if they want to secure a spot in next season's UEFA Champions League. Before the break, Mourinho's squad was winless in the last 3 games, with 2 losses during that period.
On the other hand, Manchester United was on a roll before the break. The Red Devils built an 11-match unbeaten run, which took them within 3 points of 4th place. With the addition of Bruno Fernandes and the returns of Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford, Solskjaer's team will be a very tough opponent to play against.
Everton v Liverpool
With a 25-point advantage, Liverpool can take a step closer to their first Premier League title in 30 years.
Despite an improvement under Carlo Ancelotti, Everton sits 12th in the Premier League and is out of the picture in the race for next season's UEFA competitions. The Toffees were in a 3-game sequence without a win before the break, with the last one a 4-0 blow out at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
As for Liverpool, the Reds are living a dream this season in the Premier League. With an incredible record of 27 wins in 29 games, Liverpool will be crowned champions sooner or later, and a win in the Merseyside derby will be another step in that direction.
The team has 12 wins in 14 away league matches but their one and only defeat in the Premier League occurred in Liverpool's last trip. A surprising 3-0 loss at Watford marked Liverpool's first defeat in the competition.