In the Mixer: Who will be best of the rest in the Premier League?

In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with eight experts in football betting and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.

Our host of experts continue to look ahead to the new Premier League season this week as we ask them who they will be backing in bet365’s To Win without the Big Six market.

Foxes backed by half the experts

Alex Wrigley

Sports editor at Free Super Tips

Newcastle look a bit short at 2/1 and I expect another close battle between West Ham and Leicester, so I will side with the longer price of Leicester.

They have won this market in two of the last three seasons and were only four points adrift of West Ham last year, despite being hampered by some significant injury problems. They have no European commitments to juggle this term and if they can keep the injuries in check I expect them to bounce back.

Mark Langdon

Head of content at Spotlight Sports Group

Newcastle are respected and should go well but that is reflected in the odds and West Ham might struggle to juggle Conference League and Premier League football.

They were able to mix multiple competitions last term, but a World Cup bang in the middle of the season could further drain resources and Leicester, who don’t have to worry about Europe, could bounce back following last season’s dip.

Before that Leicester had landed back-to-back fifth-place finishes and won the FA Cup and last season was a tough one due to injuries, most notably top centre-back Wesley Fofana.

Liam Flin

Sports journalist at Racing Post

It seemed like a pretty underwhelming season from Leicester last term but they still placed eighth, only four points adrift of a West Ham team everyone raves about.

This season the Foxes have the added bonus of no European football – a key factor given the World Cup will stretch squads more than any previous season – and in Patson Daka, who scored 11 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign, I think they have a forward with top potential.

At the prices I’d opt for them over a West Ham side lacking a consistent out-and-out striker and a Newcastle team who could take time to gel and find their best starting combination.

Rob Eddy

Deputy head of content at ICS

Big moves in the transfer window could make anyone look foolish but Newcastle still look way too short for me, while I don’t trust West Ham’s striker options as things stand.

Leicester City look a decent price as they surely can’t be as bad defensively as they were last season, with Wesley Fofana’s return only going to make them stronger while there are no European distractions either.

Steven Gerrard has made a good start to life as a manager though and has been building Aston Villa’s squad strength nicely. They were a little erratic last season but they could be ready to step up this season, with doubts over plenty of their rivals.

Hammers favoured over short-priced Newcastle

Aaron Rogan

Sports journalist at Free Super Tips

West Ham won this market last season playing in the Europa League, the step down to the Europa Conference shouldn’t trouble them at all. David Moyes had depth to use across the Premier League and Europe, while the Hammers are reportedly aiming for another three signings to go alongside the three they’ve already made.

There are no major outgoings to worry about for the Hammers and they’re clearly shopping for someone to bring more goals. Jesse Lingard has been linked alongside a few forwards and getting two quality players in the final third would solve the major issues which hurt them during last year’s impressive campaign.

James Milton

Sports journalist at Racing Post

Newcastle are understandable favourites given their form over the second half of last season and the likelihood that they will strengthen their squad further before the end of the transfer window.

However, West Ham have been hugely consistent over the past two Premier League seasons, despite their run to the Europa League semi-finals last term, and if key man Declan Rice stays then they could end up best of the rest again.

There are still a few doubts over Leicester so Brighton, who played some terrific football late in the 2021-22 campaign, may also be worth a small bet at 9/1.

Warren Ashurst

Head of content at ICS

West Ham offer the value to me at 9/2 and stability in the squad and manager could be the key, considering some of the other front runners.

Keeping Declan Rice will be massive to their chances of making Europe again, but the key will be bringing in a quality frontman to aid their potency up front.

As good as he’s been in recent years, Michail Antonio needs someone to take the goal burden off his shoulders and the prospect of signing Armando Broja could be significant.

Ian Wilkerson

Sports journalist at Racing Post

Plenty seem keen to oppose Newcastle because the size of their transfer kitty has a huge bearing on their price, but I’m happy to be in the Magpies camp.

It was no mean achievement to storm away from relegation in the manner they did last term and Eddie Howe has not treated his budget like a kid in a sweet shop.

Recruitment has been strong and I would give them the edge over Leicester and West Ham, although it could pay to keep an eye out for Crystal Palace at a big price.

The Eagles play with plenty of energy and are capable of upsetting some of the big guns, so in a season that will be severely disrupted by the World Cup, they could give optimistic punters a run for their money.

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