Newcastle v Arsenal
Premier League – 2.00 pm
Sky Sports
There is going to be pressure on both sides heading into this Sunday afternoon clash in the top flight. Newcastle have seen Rafa Benitez head off to China and their replacement option has been Steve Bruce. That wasn’t a move which kept the locals particularly happy. Newcastle are one of the favourites to suffer relegation from the top flight this season because of their struggles.
They have broken the club record to sign striker Joelinton and another chunk went on winger Allan Saint-Maximin. But their squad overall looks a little bit short and unless the pragmatic Bruce can get some early-season steel and confidence into them, it could be a long season ahead. There were easier games which they could have opened with and the Magpies are 7/2 underdogs with leading bookmakers to win the match outright.
Arsenal’s defence was a shambles last season and nothing much has been done to fix it. The Gunners couldn’t get a top-four finish under their belt either and boss Unai Emery has to find a way to get them moving in the right direction. Speaking of moving forward, instead of bolstering their defence, they have shelled out a club record for forward Nicolas Pepe and Arsenal do look prolific up front. Will that be enough to see them past Newcastle? Arsenal are 8/11 odds-on favourites with leading bookmakers for three points.
Manchester United v Chelsea
Premier League – 4.30 pm
Sky Sports
This is the jewel in the crown of the opening weekend of the Premier League. A huge clash at Old Trafford between two of the top six in the country. Both clubs are in rebuild mode with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trying to get youth and energy into his Red Devils set up. He is immediately going to be under pressure because United finished last season so poorly and could only secure sixth place in the table.
That’s not good enough by their high standards. The home record wasn’t all that bad though at W10 D6 L3. But they struggled against the other finishers inside the top seven. United’s record against top-seven teams last season was W1 D5 L6. They just weren’t competitive in the big games. They played out two draws against Chelsea last season, a 1-1 being produced at Old Trafford and a repeat drawn outcome is at 23/10 with top bookmakers.
United are the 11/10 favourites with Chelsea at 5/2 underdogs. Which makes it as one of the best bets of the day? Chelsea have a transfer ban on their head and a new, untested manager in the form of Frank Lampard. They too are probably going to be looking to their youth and getting their young stars like Callum Hudson Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham plenty of playing time. It may take some time to come together for the Blues and this is such a tough road trip to kick off with. How will Lampard handle it?
England v Wales
Rugby International – 2.00 pm
Sky Sports
What better way to light up a Sunday afternoon than some top international rugby action from Twickenham? Alright, it’s only a friendly that the two are taking on as a preparation match ahead of the World Cup. But this is a great rivalry in the game and there’s no love lost between the two nations. England are the 4/9 odds on favourites because of home soil advantage. The Red Rose are W4 L2 in their last six at Twickenham against the Welsh.
There have been a lot of tense nail biters like England’s 12-6 win over the Dragons there in the 2018 Six Nations. It was Wales on top when they met in Cardiff for this year’s edition of the Six Nations. The Welsh banked the win and they went on to win the Championship. So that was a massive lift for them in this World Cup year.
There’s perhaps no team who knows how to get under the skin of the English better than Warren Gatland’s Wales. Again it is only a friendly and both head coaches will use the chance to utilise plenty of squad players. World Cup squads still have to be finalised and options assessed to that end. Still, expect this to be competitive with World Cup places on the line. Wales will kick off with 15/8 underdog tag on their backs.
