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Jamie Steed previews EPL Matchday 2 of the 2025-26 season on 8/22/2025. He picks out the best plays and looks at how best to target the fixtures for fantasy purposes.
The Premier League returned with a bang last week! Last year's top-3 got their title challenges started with three points. And we got our usual dose of incredible finishes, questionable decisions, and late drama. This week promises to be filled with more excitement, controversy, and magical moments.
Here, we'll be looking at the best betting plays for Matchday 2 and where you can gain an edge in your fantasy lineups. Before you read on, remember these essential things: betting on sports should be fun. If you aren't having fun with it, stop. Also, never bet what you can't afford to lose.
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Betting Picks
West Ham United (+400) vs. Chelsea (-152) - 3:00 p.m. ET - Friday, August 22
After an uninspiring summer, it didn't come as much of a surprise when West Ham was brushed aside by Sunderland last weekend. While we should expect a reaction in its first home game of the season, Graham Potter's record as West Ham manager is coming under scrutiny.
Of any manager to take charge of at least 20 West Ham games, Graham Potter has the worst win percentage in the club’s history (25%)
Pressure’s rising. 😬 pic.twitter.com/q6F1LJ7oFD
— Hammers Hub (@HammersHubWHUFC) August 16, 2025
Chelsea flattered to deceive in its opening game. The lack of a proper preseason may well have been a contributing factor. Another week together on the training ground should help, and Chelsea has far better players at its disposal than the current West Ham squad.
I tipped the Hammers as relegation candidates and am struggling to see how they get anything from this game. Chelsea ran out 3-0 winners in this fixture last season and are a better side now. Meanwhile, West Ham looks to be going backward. We'll take an away win to start the weekend.
Betting Pick: Chelsea to win (-152) 2.5 units
Brentford (+230) vs. Aston Villa (+115) - 10:00 a.m. ET - Saturday, August 23
Preseason concerns about Brentford were realized in its opening game of the season. It barely laid a glove on Nottingham Forest before finding itself three goals down at halftime. Losing its manager (Thomas Frank) and top scorer (Bryan Mbeumo) will take time to adjust to, while Yoane Wissa is still expected to leave the club.
🚨⚪️⚫️ Yoane Wissa asked Brentford again to join Newcastle after new bid on the table worth £40m package.
Wissa believes there was pact for his exit this summer and hopes for green light to join #NUFC project. pic.twitter.com/CXcqaMjqwm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 20, 2025
Aston Villa's attack was blunted last week versus Newcastle. It didn't look much of a threat before being reduced to 10 men. The Villans won't be as insipid this week, especially against a leaky defense that conceded the third-most home goals last season.
Villa has an impressive record against the Bees in recent seasons. It has won four of the last six meetings, drawing the other two. It will take time for Brentford to adjust to its new manager and the loss of key players. The visitors should improve on their impressive record against Brentford at a generous price.
Betting Pick: Aston Villa to win (+115) 1.5 units
Crystal Palace (+130) vs. Nottingham Forest (+220) - 9:00 a.m. ET - Sunday, August 24
It's been a tumultuous few weeks for Crystal Palace. After losing its appeal to remain in the Europa League, it is now set to lose star player Eberechi Eze. Captain Marc Guehi is also still linked to a move away from Selhurst Park.
Oliver Glasner confirms that Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi will start tomorrow for Crystal Palace's Europa Conference League qualifier 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/uVmTCQT5FX
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 20, 2025
Despite having to drop into the Europa Conference League, Palace played a competitive game in Europe for the first time on Thursday. Playing on Thursday and then Sunday has proved problematic for many teams, and it may take Palace time to adjust. That's why I believe Forest can take advantage.
In a weird coincidence, Forest is the one who benefited from Palace's lost appeal, as it is now going to compete in the Europa League rather than the Europa Conference League. That may add some extra spice to the game, but Forest should be able to cope with that.
Forest won 10 of its 19 away games in the EPL last season. Palace struggled at home, winning just six of the 19 home league games in the last campaign. Forest looked very good last weekend, and with all the ongoing noise off the field at Palace, an upset away win looks very handily priced.
Betting Pick: Nottingham Forest to win (+220) 1 unit
Parlay all three picks (+1042) 1 unit
Fantasy Premier League Game Previews
Every matchday, we will look at games to target and avoid in fantasy for attack and defense based on what the oddsmakers are pricing. We'll also be giving out some individual players worth consideration based on how games are expected to play out.
Attack
Only one game has a total goals line set to over/under 3.5. That is Tottenham Hotspur's trip to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City. If we look at recent history, we can see why. This fixture has produced 28 goals in the last six seasons, with at least three goals in all of them.
Both teams looked good in attack last week, although City's forward play caught the eye. This is a game that should see plenty of goals and is justifiably expected to be the highest-scoring game of the weekend. It's certainly a match you should be targeting for forwards in fantasy.
Three or more goals in the Arsenal versus Leeds United game have an implied probability of 62.55% (odds of -167). Only two other games have a higher implied odds of seeing three total goals. However, that's not an outcome I'd be backing with any confidence.
Arsenal didn't offer much in attack last weekend and only scored three goals at home in the league four times last season. A knee injury for Kai Havertz reignited the Gunners' interest in signing Eberechi Eze, but he won't feature in this game. I'd be cautious in looking for many goals in this fixture.
🚨 Arsenal forward Kai Havertz set for spell out with knee injury. Assessments on 26yo Germany int’l at early stage so prognosis + duration unclear but #AFC actively exploring transfer market for signing to strengthen attack & provide cover @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/j2jroAZnXO
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 20, 2025
Defense
Burnley's game against Sunderland is the shortest-priced game for under 2.5 total goals. That's not surprising given they combined for one goal in their two matches in the Championship last season. Burnley conceded just 16 goals in its promotion campaign.
Sunderland scored three goals last weekend, and Burnley conceded three, which might make people expect goals here. However, this is a match I would target for a clean sheet from one of the sides (if not both) in any lineup I make.
Players to Target
Monday's game sees Liverpool visit Newcastle United. With the ongoing Alexander Isak saga playing out in public, this game is certain to have some added spice. And wouldn't it be fitting if Liverpool's summer striking recruit, Hugo Ekitike, continues his fine start to life on Merseyside?
Newcastle United statement: Alexander Isak
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 19, 2025
Ekitike scored in the Community Shield and then bagged a goal and an assist last weekend. The script is set for the French striker to make fans wonder if the champions even need to sign Isak. The optimum play would be to partner Ekitike with Mo Salah.
Salah has four goals and seven assists in his last six games against Newcastle. He's provided an attacking return in all six matches, and it wouldn't come as any surprise if the pair linked up on Monday.
Speaking of players with impressive records against an opponent, Kaoru Mitoma is a solid play this week. The Japanese international has played three away games against Everton and scored or assisted in each of them. Although Everton will be playing in its new stadium for the first time, Mitoma is a solid option.
In defense, Patrick Dorgu is my favorite player of the week. The young wingback got forward to good effect against Arsenal last weekend. He nearly scored, with a first-half effort clipping the post. United's new-look attack should help Dorgu create more chances.
United beat Fulham 1-0 twice last season and looked more solid defensively in open play last week than it did for much of last season. United may keep a clean sheet this weekend. Even if it doesn't, Dorgu has other routes to providing a good fantasy points haul.
Matchday 1 Review
Below is a quick recap of how our picks last week turned out. We'll be tracking all our picks throughout the season. Good luck with those FPL and DFS teams and EPL bets. Remember to bet responsibly!
As predicted, Liverpool's win against Bournemouth was the highest-scoring game of the weekend. Tottenham Hotspur also kept a clean sheet as we expected. Nottingham Forest couldn't do the same, as it succumbed to a questionable second-half penalty decision.
It was still a solid defensive display from Forest, which nearly resulted in us going 2-for-2 with our clean-sheet plays. On the individual player front, Jayden Bogle's Leeds United kept a clean sheet, resulting in the fullback starting the season strongly. Unfortunately, the two goalless draws dented our attacking plays.
Ollie Watkins blanked, as did Aston Villa, not aided by Ezri Konsa's red card. We also lost out with the other goalless draw of the weekend, as Chelsea and Crystal Palace ended in a stalemate. Eberechi Eze's controversially disallowed goal was the main reason we missed out.
We did get a winner in the Brighton and Fulham match. Luck was on our side as Fulham bagged an injury-time equalizer to secure a draw and our only winner of the opening weekend.
Matchday 1: -2.36 units
Season: -2.36 units (6 units played)
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