World-class soccer action is set to return in about a week’s time when the Barclays Premier League kicks into gear. Newcastle United, fresh off escaping relegation last season, bring a couple of new weapons to aid in their top-flight campaign this time around. They welcome Southampton to St. James’ Park for their first match of the season. Can Newcastle United pull off a surprise? Read on for a breakdown of this match.
Line: Newcastle United +170 vs. Southampton +142, tie +206; total 2.5– view all EPL lines
Betting on Newcastle United
Newcastle United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, barely fighting off relegation as they needed a win on Championship Sunday. Most of their offense flowed through strikers Papiss Demba Cissé and Ayoze Pérez who scored 11 and seven goals respectively.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]To ensure that the Magpies avoid having to play for their spot in the Premier League late into the season, owner Mike Ashley spent some big money in transfers Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Of the two, Wijnaldum may carry most of the scoring load for the Magpies after being named 2014’s Dutch Footballer of the Year. He led PSV Eindhoven to the Eredivisie title as the captain last season.
Wijnaldum scored 14 goals and had three assists last season. He’ll have a couple of excellent playmakers setting him up in the Newcastle attack with Daryl Janmaat and Jack Colback each finishing with six assists in the Premier League last season. The Magpies will need all the firepower they can get especially against the second-best defense in the league last year. Southampton allowed just 33 goals in finishing seventh in the Premier League.
Newcastle United lost four of their last six home matches last season.
Betting on Southampton
The Saints are marching into St. James’ Park with some punishing offense and a suffocating defense to boot. Southampton are led by up-and-coming striker Sadio Mane, who impressed with 10 goals and three assists in his Premier League debut last season.
Mane figures to be Southampton’s key attacker, but he’s not all they’ve got. Graciano Pelle is still a force after scoring 12 goals last season. The two will have a handful of great playmakers in Dusan Tadic, Shane Long and James Ward-Prowse. Tadic led the team with seven assists last season, while Ward-Prowse and Long weren’t too far behind with six and five assists respectively.
Southampton also improved on their defense in the summer transfer window, signing defenders Cedric Soares and Cuco Martina to the team. They’ll also have former Netherlands keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. The Saints should remain as one of the best defensive teams this season, which should challenge Newcastle United in this season opener.
The Saints have won their last three league matches against Newcastle Untied.
Writer’s Prediction
Southampton take the season opener with a 2-0 victory. Create a betting account now and get yourself set for the best league in the world.
