Premier League – Matchday 2 Picks 

The second round of the 2023-24 English Premier League season gets underway on Friday, August 18, meaning it’s time to lock in your Matchday 2 picks. 

There were big wins for Manchester City, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend, while Arsenal, Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Fulham also kicked off their campaigns on a positive note. 

Before we dive into my Matchday 2 picks, let’s carry out a quick review of Matchday 1 before checking out the upcoming fixtures and odds.

Matchday 1 Premier League Recap

Manchester City kicked off the new Premier League season with a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Burnley in the opening match. However, Pep Guardiola’s side was not the only team to notch a high-scoring win last weekend. 

Here are the Matchday 1 Premier League results in full.

• Burnley 0-3 Manchester City 
• Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest 
• Sheffield United 0-1 Crystal Palace 
• Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham United 
• Brighton & Hove Albion 4-1 Luton Town 
• Everton 0-1 Fulham 
• Newcastle United 5-1 Aston Villa 
• Brentford 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur 
• Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool 
• Manchester United 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Arsenal edged Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early kick-off before Brighton thrashed Luton Town. Later that day, Newcastle crushed Aston Villa 5-1, with Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur playing out an eventful 2-2 draw on Sunday. 

Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers wrapped up Matchday 1 at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils snatching a somewhat undeserved 1-0 win. 

Premier League Matchday 2 Fixtures and Odds 

It’s almost time for me to share my Matchday 2 picks and predictions with you. First, let’s go over the fixtures and odds to establish where the value lies.

• Nottingham Forest (-106) vs. Sheffield United (+350) 
• Fulham (+170) vs. Brentford (+150) 
• Liverpool (-450) vs. Bournemouth (+900) 
• Wolverhampton Wanderers (+275) vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (-106) 
• Tottenham Hotspur (+187) vs. Manchester United (+130) 
• Manchester City (-143) vs. Newcastle United (+375) 
• Aston Villa (-150) vs. Everton (+375) 
• West Ham United (+280) vs. Chelsea (-110) 
• Crystal Palace (+475) vs. Arsenal (-175)

As you can see, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa are heavy home favorites this weekend. On the flip side, Brentford, Brighton, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are favored to win on the road. 

It is also worth noting that there are only nine Premier League games taking place this weekend, as Luton Town vs. Burnley has been postponed due to issues with Luton’s stadium. 

Are you ready for my Matchday 2 picks?

Best Premier League Matchday 2 Picks 

Matchday 2 action kicks off this Friday, August 18, with Nottingham Forest hosting Sheffield United in the opening clash. I have decided to include the first game in my Matchday 2 picks, along with a couple of other intriguing matchups. 

You will be pleased to learn that I landed four of my six Premier League picks for Matchday 1, meaning I pocketed a tasty profit last weekend. Hopefully, my Matchday 2 picks can bring everyone more joy this weekend. 

Without further ado, here are my Premier League Matchday 2 picks and predictions, starting with my pick and prediction for Nottingham Forest vs. Sheffield United.

Nottingham Forest vs. Sheffield United Prediction 

The Tricky Trees transformed the City Ground into a fortress last term, suffering only five defeats in 19 home matches in the Premier League. Granted, Nottingham Forest struggled on the road last season, but they secured positive results against high-profile teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea on home soil. 

Meanwhile, Sheffield United gained promotion from the Championship in 2022-23. However, the Blades experienced a baptism of fire last weekend, losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace while facing a barrage of 24 shots at Bramall Lane. 

Forest’s price of -106 to beat Sheff Utd is worth taking advantage of, but if you’re looking for better value, I recommend backing the home team to score over 1.5 goals. After all, Steve Cooper’s men have netted eight goals in their previous three home league games. 

Best Bet: Nottingham Forest Over 1.5 Goals (+113)

Liverpool vs. Bournemouth Prediction

12 months ago, Liverpool humiliated Bournemouth at Anfield, crushing the Cherries 9-0. Not only did the Reds enjoy 70% possession on that occasion, but they also racked up 19 shots, limiting Bournemouth to only two attempts on target. 

Jurgen Klopp’s men have now won seven of their last eight meetings with Bournemouth, scoring a combined total of 28 goals while keeping six clean sheets. When you look at the bigger picture, the Cherries have managed to win just two of their 19 previous matches against Liverpool. 

All the signs point towards a comfortable home victory on Saturday, but Bournemouth will be determined to upset the odds, especially with new manager Andoni Iraola at the helm. 

Best Bet: SIGN IN TO ACCESS PICK

Aston Villa vs. Everton Prediction

It could be argued that Sunday’s clash with Everton provides Aston Villa with the perfect opportunity to bounce back from last weekend’s heavy defeat to Newcastle. 

Although the Villains conceded five goals at St. James’ Park, they still managed to register 16 shots. With attackers like Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby leading the way, Unai Emery’s men will be confident of picking up their first victory of the season this weekend. 

The Toffees avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, finishing only two points clear of the drop zone. That said, Everton will be determined to avoid another relegation scrap this time around.

Best Bet: SIGN IN TO ACCESS PICK

Place Your Matchday 2 Picks and Enjoy the Action

That concludes my Matchday 2 picks and predictions. I’m backing Nottingham Forest to score over 1.5 goals against Sheffield United, but you will need to sign in to access the rest of my Matchday 2 picks. 

With the 2023-24 European soccer season in full swing, there are tons of soccer betting opportunities to take advantage of right now. Be sure to stay tuned for more picks and predictions in the coming weeks. 

Now, all you need to do is lay down your Matchday 2 picks and enjoy another weekend of thrilling Premier League action.