October's Latest Premier League RABs Specials

The opening four matchdays of the Premier League season have seen a clear increase in the number of penalties awarded, with 20 penalties being taken in after GW4, 21.98% of the penalties taken in the entirety of last season. At the current rate of five penalties every gameweek, this season will see an astonishing 190 penalties awarded, 84 penalties more than the previous record.

Sky Bet are offering huge odds of 100/1 on 200+ penalties being awarded this season, with just a slight increase in the average number of penalties awarded needed. Similarly, Sky Bet are offering odds of 50/1 to see 170+ scored, and the Premier League is on track to see 171 penalties scored over the course of the season, with 18 netted already.

At the same time, you can also get the free-scoring penalty side, Manchester United, at 100/1 to score more than 20 penalties.

The Premier League goal record was set in its opening season as 1222 goals were scored in the 1992/93 season, when the league consisted of 22 teams. This season is one like no other, of course, and after GW4, there have been 103 goals, at an average of 3.68 goals per game, which is far greater than the record of 2.82 which was set in 2018/19.

There are a number of factors which could be the cause of the huge increase in goals, such as the introduction of VAR, the attacking football being played by the newly promoted teams or even the lack of a preseason, whilst the lack of fans clearly makes a difference to away performances.

We recently saw shock results where Aston Villa beat Liverpool 7-2 and Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United 6-1 on the same day and it shows how clubs are still struggling to contend with such a dramatic change in the schedule.

This season is going to be like no other and you can get odds of 10/1 to see this record of 1222 goals scored broken.

Chelsea have had an impressive transfer window and are the clear top spenders in the league, after poor starts from their rivals, Lampard’s side will be confident of securing a Champions League spot at the very least, especially once their new signings have had time to settle in. Since the 2002/03 season, Chelsea have only failed to finish in the top four on three occasions.

Crystal Palace have registered just one top half finish in 11 Premier League seasons, this season they have failed to address their goalscoring problem. They finished the 2019/20 campaign as the second lowest goal scorers in the league, with just 31 goals, and although they have brought in wonderkid Eberechi Eze from Queens Park Rangers, they have not yet signed a striker.

Leeds United lack Premier League experience amongst their squad and I think this will cost them over the course of the season. Even though they have had an exciting start to the season and spent a lot of money, most of the signings are unproven in the league and may well find it difficult to adapt, not only to the Premier League, but to Bielsa’s intense style of play.

Finally, Mason Greenwood managed 10 goals in his breakthrough season, this season he is likely to have as much game time if not more than last season and needs to reach double figures again this season for the bet to come.

Sky Bet are offering 4/1 for this bet.

The last time Everton won their opening four games of the season, they went on to win the league. With serial winner Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Everton fans will be confident of bringing European football back to Goodison Park for next season with the impressive signings of James Rodriguez and Allan, coupled with the reinvigorated form of England’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane.

It is without a doubt a very exciting time to be an Everton fan and the start they have had will soften the blow of their local rivals Liverpool winning their first Premier League title last season.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will be disappointed in their start to the season, as they attempt to become just the fourth team to retain a Premier League title. Questions have been asked of Liverpool’s defence after conceding 11 goals in their opening four games, making them the joint-second worst defence in the league.

In four of the last seven seasons, the defending Premier League champions have failed to finish inside the top 4 (Manchester United, Chelsea x2 and Leicester City). Sky Bet are offering odds of 40/1 for Everton to finish in the top four and Liverpool to finish outside of the top four.

By Tom Eaton