Weekend Review: Super Sunday sees bookies bounce back as Premier League returns

The return of the Premier League saw punters rush into an early lead before the bookies clawed back on a draw double on Sunday.

Friday evening started off in typical fashion, with Manchester City (3/10) running out 3-0 winners away to Burnley (17/2) with an inevitable double from Erling Haaland and a Rodri goal sealing a perfect start.

Saturday continued in the same vein, with Arsenal (3/25) winning 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest (11/1) in a game which featured a Bukayo Saka wondergoal but was mired by new signing Jurrien Timber being forced off in the second half with a nasty looking injury.

The traditional 3pm kick-offs were run of the mill affairs, with Brighton (1/4) giving new boys Luton (11/1) a warm welcome to the top flight with a 4-1 drubbing on the south coast.

Despite already losing Alexis Mac Allister and Robert Sanchez to bigger clubs, and with Moisés Caicedo on his way to Chelsea for a British record, the Seagulls continued to show their quality.

Saturday evening saw Newcastle (3/5) thump Aston Villa 5-1 to show last season was no mere blip with Eddie Howe’s side cutting through the Villains with ease.

Goals from new signings Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali were coupled with strikes from forward duo Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak in a comfortable win for the Geordies.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “Great to finally have the Premier League back, and the first week didn’t disappoint. After a very punter-friendly start on Friday as City brushed aside Burnley with two goals for Haaland, Saturday largely followed the same trend with few shocks on the board.

“Newcastle’s impressive start and demolition of Villa was our biggest Premier League loser in the book over the weekend, with Brighton beating Luton another result which saw us in the red.”

Over at bet365, punters got stuck into the operator’s opening weekend offers, as detailed to EGR by Steve Freeth.

He said: “It was a bet365 ‘Super Boost’ bonanza of a weekend for the return of the Premier League and punters didn’t have long to wait to collect in the opening two games. We boosted Manchester City from 1/3 to Evens to beat Burnley and paid out on 36 minutes when you-know-who made it 2-0 with our ‘2 Goals Ahead’ early payout being triggered.

“That was followed by Bukayo Saka having a shot on target (8/15 – Evens) after 32 minutes against Nottingham Forest, so we were on the back foot even before the 3pm kick-offs.

“The cherry on the top for punters on Saturday was the Newcastle versus Aston Villa game with our 25% winnings boost on bet builders coming into play, quite simply it was bet builder paradise. Six goals, eight cards, 19 shots on target from all the usual suspects. Welcome back Premier League,” he added.

The first Super Sunday of the season kicked off with a 2-2 draw in West London as a Harry Kane-less Spurs (17/10) got the Ange Postecoglou era underway against Brentford (3/2).

Kane, who completed his move to Bayern Munich on Friday, could not help his new side from failing to a 3-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup on Saturday evening.

In the biggest Premier League game of the weekend, Chelsea (2/1) and Liverpool (6/5) played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge as a host of new signings got to strut their stuff. LiveScore Group head of trading Francisco Cano said the game was the biggest for the operator, with the match returning a “great turnover figure and a very positive margin”.

Kindred’s Gill said: “Sunday was a great way to finish, with two draws and, unsurprisingly, Chelsea versus Liverpool being our biggest turnover event of the match round. Those two results ensured a healthy margin for week one.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins added: “I wasn’t as taken with Arsenal as I expected to be, overcoming a spirited Forest, while the draws especially between Chelsea/Liverpool and Brentford/Spurs were decent for the books.

“Harry Kane has gone – a huge loss to the division – and Richarlison didn’t impress as a stand-in. There’s no replacing someone like Kane – it’s a case of adapting and making new plans.”

Bet365’s Freeth had the insight for continental football, reflecting on Kane’s debut and the failure of PSG and Barcelona to start the season with wins.

He said: “We did have some solid results in Europe, most notably from Harry Kane’s new side Bayern Munich that were chinned 3-0 by RB Leipzig. Kane is now 6/1 from 8/15 to break Alan Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals. PSG and Barcelona also produced surprise results with the pair both drawing 0-0 having gone off at 2/5 and 1/2, respectively.”

Meanwhile, at the Women’s World Cup, England set up a mouthwatering semi-final against co-hosts Australia after a 2-1 win over Colombia, with goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo overturning a 1-0 deficit following a David Seaman-esque howler from keeper Mary Earps.

Gill said: “The Women’s World Cup has reached the semi-final stage and over the weekend England’s part of the draw was completed.

“Australia beating well-fancied France on penalties was a great result for both the hosts and our book, and although England’s win over Colombia left us in the red, we were still cheering the girls on and hoping they can make it all the way.”

Finally, Firkins gave EGR his thoughts on Rugby League action as the Leigh Leopards edged out Hull KR 17-16 at Wembley.

“Only one word for the Betfred Challenge Cup Final – sensational. Hot favourites Leigh Leopards ended a 52-year wait with a golden point drop goal winner against gallant Hull KR. The newly promoted Leopards are on a roll, and Wembley was treated to an absolute classic,” he said.