Premier League outright betting tips: Five sides who could crash the top six this season

Our second season preview focuses on the sides gunning for European football next season as we identify the sides most likely to finish in the top six.

It’s safe to assume that Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool will account for three of the top six spots in the Premier League, whilst Aston Villa and Tottenham will stake a strong claim.

However, there’s always room for an underdog to crash the party and with so many sides in a transitional period, this season could be ripe for plucking a big price from the bunch.

Suggested bets

Crystal Palace to finish in the top half

Bournemouth to finish in the top half

 

Brighton & Hove Albion - 6/1

Some feared for Brighton when Graham Potter left for Chelsea in 2022 but Roberto De Zerbi took the Seagulls to the next level as they qualified for the Europa League for the first time.

The Seagulls have an impressive track record when it comes to unearthing hidden gems but their latest managerial appointment is bold even by their standards, appointing a 31-year-old manager who hung up his boots two years ago.

Fabian Hurzeler oversaw St Pauli’s promotion to the Bundesliga last season despite them being hotly tipped for relegation at the start of his reign.

His preference for pressing the opposition, keeping possession and playing in wide areas isn’t much of a departure from the previous regimes and will suit the players at this disposal.

 

West Ham United

West Ham had to settle for ninth place in the Premier League last season as they finished nine points behind sixth-placed Chelsea with a total of 52.

The Hammers finished the season in poor form and blew golden opportunities to pick up more points, such as the 4-3 loss to 10-man Newcastle and numerous draws.

It was obvious that David Moyes’ time was coming to an end and the players needed someone new to step in and motivate them to reach the next level, which would be challenging for Europe consistently.

Julen Lopetegui was successful with Spain and Sevilla and had his moments at Wolves despite limited resources. There’s no reason he can’t get the best out of this side and improve on last season.

 

Crystal Palace

Losing Michael Olise would be a blow to any team in the league but Daichi Kamada’s arrival from Lazio could help soften the blow. The Japanese international registered 45 goal involvements in four Bundesliga seasons for Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Eagles made progress under Oliver Glasner, winning six of their last seven matches and unlocking the best version of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who finished the season on 16 goals.

Selhurst Park was a glum place come Christmas with Palace winning one of their first nine home matches. After that, they won seven and drew one of 10.

Their performance in the second half of the season some them pick up one fewer point than Aston Villa and Man Utd, who ranked as fifth and sixth best after the Christmas break.

 

AFC Bournemouth

Bournemouth finished 12th in the Premier League with 48 points last season but we see that as a very positive outcome. The Cherries finished 22 points clear of relegation despite struggling for large parts of the season.

The players took their time adapting to Andoni Iraola’s intricate style but once it clicked, they looked capable of beating anyone outside of the big six.

This year they should be able to hit the ground running with a solid understanding of what is expected of them and 38 games to exhibit their attractive style.

Being able to better adapt to the physical demands should also allow them to press with more intensity, particularly if Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams can stay fit.

 

Fulham

Last but not least, why not pick out a true underdog? Fulham are perfectly capable and well-respected in the Premier League, although everyone expects them to finish around 14th.

However, the Cottagers finished fewer than 10 points off of the European places the season before last. Despite losing Aleksandar Mitrovic, there wasn’t any drop-off in goals scored.

Instead, last season’s struggles were a result of poor defensive play. They’ll certainly need to tighten up in that area this campaign, whilst adding a few quality pieces in midfield.

They’ve been heavily linked with the likes of Scott McTominay and Emile Smith-Rowe, two positive additions which would help them on both sides of the ball.