Followers of the English Premier League know there’s hardly ever a season that fails to deliver its fair share of twists and turns.
With less than 48 hours until kick off, here are a few surprises I feel which can prove consensus wrong.
1. Everton to finish ahead of Liverpool
With the departure of Luis Suarez, who scored 31 goals last term, Liverpool will need supreme efforts from Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling to stay near the top of the table.
Arsenal and Chelsea have strengthened their sides in the transfer market, and under the new leadership of Louis van Gaal, improvement should be forthcoming from Manchester United. The Reds must also contend with an increased workload this time around having secured Champions League qualification.
Everton briefly challenged for a Champions League spot last season before fading late to finish a decent fifth. They were superb in defence (only Chelsea and Manchester City conceded fewer goals) and with the signings of Romelu Lukaku and Muhamed Besic, there’s no reason why the Toffees can’t improve again this campaign. At $4.33, Everton is outstanding value to top Liverpool.
2. Swansea City to be relegated
Swansea were mid-table the first half of last season before a run of losses resulted in the sacking of Michael Laudrup. The Swans managed to survive largely due to the goals of Wilfried Bony, a striker Liverpool have expressed a strong interest in signing.
Their lack of activity in the transfer market is nothing short of alarming. They are currently $6 to fall through the trap door.
3. Burnley to be the top promoted club
While Burnley surprised quite a few with their runner-up finish in the Championship, they were a model of consistency in defence, having conceded the fewest goals. If Danny Ings and Sam Vokes produce similar performances this season, the $4.50 on offer looks generous.
Follow Stephen at @sw064351
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