While we avidly follow Euro 2020, something else is creeping up on us. The 2021/22 English Premier League fixture list was published last week with the new season beginning in August. The odds on who’s going to win the title are already available.
What about some of the teams that are unlikely to be in contention for honours though? Let’s have a look at what the bookies views are on Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion and newcomers Norwich City and Brentford?
Before heading east and south, we head up to Newcastle. United fans will again have a couple of thoughts in their head. When will they finally get a new owner, and will their team ever win anything again?
They won promotion back to the Premier League in 2017 but have never finished higher than tenth. Last season saw them in a relegation battle but ended in 13th place. Betfair are offering 11/4 on United being relegated to the Championship. There are five teams shorter than that to go down.
Champions League football isn’t looking likely in 2022/23 (which seems an age away) as 888sport will offer you 80/1 on a top four finish. GentingBet will give you 750/1 on them winning the Premier League. Who knows, Mike Ashley might sell the club to a billionaire?
Brighton and Hove Albion will be playing their fifth consecutive season in the Premier League. The past four seasons have produced a highest placed finish of 15th and never more than 41 points. Their points total for the past couple of seasons is less than Manchester City earned when winning the 2020/21 Premier League title.
Danny Welbeck has been signed on for another season and Brighton need the goals. Time for a shock because Paddy Power are offering odds of 100/1 on the Seagulls winning the 2021/22 Premier League title. There’s more chance of a seagull on the seafront turning down a chip than that happening. Do they know something we don’t? Are Messi and Ronaldo heading to the Amex! It’s a crazy price.
Even the 400/1 on offer at William Hill isn’t that appealing. Manchester City (odds on with most bookies) won 27 Premier League games last season; Brighton have won the same amount in the past three campaigns!
Norwich City are back in the Premier League but for how long? It’s not going to be a long stay (again) for the Canaries according to the bookies. They are the top yo-yo team at the moment with the past three seasons seeing promotion, relegation and promotion. Just to boost their hopes of survival, they recently sold Emiliano Buendia to Aston Villa for £33 million. Betfred have them at 10/11 to head straight back to the Championship.
It’s taken a couple of play-off finals, but Brentford are finally in the Premier League. They are 11/10 second favourites to go down if your wager is placed at Betway. The Londoners will be relying heavily on their home record and have had some good results against Premier League sides in the Carabao Cup. The 4/6 at Bet365 on them to avoid relegation looks a decent bet. A lot will depend on their transfer activity in the coming weeks and keeping top scorer Ivan Toney.
