Anticipation rises as the commencement of the English Premier League draws near
English Premier League Kicks Off This Weekend
The highly anticipated English Premier League (EPL) season begins this weekend, with some exciting matchups in store. Here's a rundown of the opening fixtures and key points to consider for the 2025-26 season.
Fixtures
- Arsenal take on Manchester United in the last match on Sunday at 17:30.
- Brighton vs Fulham starts at 16:00.
- Nottingham Forest versus Brentford takes place at 15:00 on Sunday.
- Wolves take on Man City at 18:30.
- Sunderland takes on West Ham United at 16:00.
- Tottenham play their first match against Burnley at 16:00.
- Liverpool, who won the title last season for the first time in years (2019/2020), start their campaign against Bournemouth.
- Chelsea kick off their season against Crystal Palace at 15:00 on Sunday.
- The match between Aston Villa and New Castle kicks off at 13:30.
- Leeds United will face Everton in the last Matchday 1 fixture on Monday at 21:00.
Predicted Top Contenders
The predicted top contenders to win the English Premier League 2025-26 are Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal, with Liverpool currently favored to retain the title. Liverpool had an outstanding 84-point season last year and invested heavily in new signings, positioning them as favorites[1]. Manchester City is seen as a close competitor, expected to finish strong despite a potentially slow start this season[5]. Arsenal, despite having elite defensive strength, still struggles with offensive consistency, making them likely challengers but not outright favorites yet[3].
Betting in South Africa
For soccer/football betting in South Africa during the EPL season, although the search results did not specify local South African betting sites, some general guidance can be offered:
- Look for licensed, reputable online sportsbooks that accept South African users and offer EPL betting markets.
- International betting platforms like BetUS are well-known but may have restrictions depending on the region[4].
- Popular betting operators in South Africa include Betway South Africa, Hollywoodbets, Supabets, and SportPesa, which are widely used for EPL betting and provide strong local support and promotions.
- Confirm the sportsbook holds a valid South African gambling license or operates legally in SA to ensure safety and secure payouts.
Additional Information
- The English Premier League consists of 38 Matchdays, with the first one taking place this weekend.
- The Daily 8 soccer jackpot by 10bet is back, predicting 8 results for a chance to win.
- The EPL is the world's favorite football club competition.
- The league features some of the best football players in the world.
Notes
[1] Liverpool spent around 208 million Pounds on new players this summer. [3] Arsenal has a win probability of 75% in their first match against Bournemouth this weekend. [4] Betting odds also support Liverpool (+185), Manchester City (+225), and Arsenal (+250) as the top three contenders. [5] Chelsea spent 218 million Pounds on acquiring new players this summer. [6] Leicester City was relegated this season (2025). [7] Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland have earned promotion for the 2025/2026 season. [8] MBET has a predictor pool on Superbru, with prizes won each week and a R50 MBET betting voucher as a bonus.
- With the start of the English Premier League (EPL) this weekend, soccer/football fans in South Africa can place their bets on the exciting upcoming matches through licensed online sportsbooks, such as BetUS, Betway South Africa, Hollywoodbets, Supabets, and SportPesa, which offer EPL betting markets.
- As the league kicks off, it's worth noting that the Daily 8 soccer jackpot by 10bet is back, offering participants a chance to win big by predicting 8 results.
- Apart from league matches, enthusiasts can watch some of the best football players in the world compete for the title, with top contenders, according to predictions, being Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal.
