Premier League: Liverpool top two finish – 2/5
Liverpool got the better of Manchester City on Saturday in the season curtain opener, recording a 3-1 win in the Community Shield.
The loss of Sadio Mane is a big one for the Reds; however club record signing Darwin Nunez looked very good in a 30 minute cameo and offers Liverpool something different to their attack.
Whilst the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have improved their squads, few would bet against Liverpool at very least matching their previous campaigns performance.
A top two finish comes in at 2/5 and that really should be a shoe in for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Championship: Sheffield United promotion – 7/2
Paul Heckingbottom’s appointment halfway through the previous campaign turned Sheffield United’s season around and they were very close to promotion, losing to Nottingham Forest in the play-offs.
They have lost a couple of key personnel ahead of the new season; however keeping John Egan and perhaps the strongest player in the division in Sande Berge at the club are real coups.
The Championship doesn’t appear as strong as last season with the likes of Fulham and Forest earning promotion so there is a real chance for the Blades this time around.
League One: Sheffield Wednesday promotion – 5/4
Sheffield Wednesday are the favourites to earn promotion from the Championship this season having narrowly missed out on a return last campaign.
The club have managed to convince both Michael Smith and Michael Ihiekwe to remain at the level, having signed from Rotherham United who won promotion themselves last term.
Barry Bannan remains far too strong for League One and is probably the best player in the third tier, whilst the likes of Will Vaulks and Josh Windass should be playing at a higher level.
League Two: Bradford City to finish top seven – 3/4
Bradford City pulled off a major coup in naming Mark Hughes as their manager half way through the previous campaign.
Hughes enjoyed a mixed start to his Bradford career; however they are among the favourites for promotion this season having had a full pre-season under his stewardship.
Richard Smallwood is an excellent addition from Hull City, with the 31-year-old a regular in the Championship last term.
Greek Super League: Olympiacos title – 1/2
Olympiacos won their 47th league title at a canter last season, losing just one match, finishing a comfortable 12 points ahead of second placed PAOK.
The signing of Sime Vrsaljko from Atletico Madrid is a real coup, with the 30-year-old still the first choice right-back for the Croatian national side.
Phillip Zinckernagel has also arrived after he helped guide Forest back to the Premier League, his second promotion in as many years from the English second tier.
Main rivals PAOK appear to have been weakened this season as well following the loss of key personnel Alexandros Paschalakis and Chuba Akpom.
French Ligue 1: Marseille top three finish – Evens
The departure of manager Jorge Sampaoli on the eve of the season was a surprise; however Marseille remain well placed to secure another top three finish.
Chancel Mbemba has arrived from FC Porto, whilst they beat off stiff competition from the Premier League to sign Jonathan Clauss from RC Lens.
Dimitri Payet was back to his absolute best last season helping guide Marseille to second in Ligue 1 and even at 35-years of age he remains a class act.
Main rivals Monaco and Rennes have both lost key players in the form of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Nayef Aguerd respectively.
Italian Serie A: Juventus top four finish – 1/6
Despite not being at their best the last two campaigns, Juventus have comfortably secured Champions League football and they will do the same again this year.
Paul Pogba has returned to the club, whilst they’ve also signed Angel Di Maria from Paris Saint Germain after his contract expired with the Ligue 1 champions.
Giorgio Chiellini and Matias de Ligt have departed the club; however they have been replaced by Bremer from Torino, who won the Serie A defender of the season last year.
Juventus finished below Napoli last year, although they have been weakened this season having lost both Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly.
