The headline fixture of the opening Premier League weekend sees Chelsea taking on champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
City are setting out to create history by winning a fifth successive top-flight title and their seventh in the last eight seasons, but the championship odds suggest they are more vulnerable this time.
Chelsea begin a new era under manager Enzo Maresca, who steered Leicester to the Championship title last season, and will be aiming to improve on last season's final placing of sixth.
- MAN CITY TO WIN
- OVER 3.5 GOALS
- COLE PALMER TO SCORE ANYTIME
Champions To Get Off To Winning Start
Manchester City might have preferred a fixture against a weaker team to begin their latest title defence but they have enjoyed playing against Chelsea in recent seasons and could be looking forward to their trip to Stamford Bridge.
Pep Guardiola's team are unbeaten in their last nine matches against the Blues in all competitions, although Chelsea twice took points off them in the league last year in 4-4 and 1-1 draws.
City had won six in a row against the London club before that, and also took the teams' most recent competitive clash, winning 1-0 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley thanks to a late goal from Bernardo Silva.
The teams also faced each other in this year's pre-season action, with City winning 4-2 in the United States. Chelsea's line-up for that match was arguably closer to the one that will take to the pitch this weekend, although Erling Haaland scored three of City's goals, including two in the first five minutes.
The champions were not at their fluent best in a disjointed Community Shield appearance against FA Cup winners Manchester United at Wembley last week, but another late goal from Bernardo spared them a derby defeat before they then won the shootout 7-6.
With that experience under their belt, the visitors should be able to make a winning start.
MANCHESTER CITY TO WIN
Bet On The Premier League
High-Scoring Contest Likely
Chelsea and Manchester City combined to score eight goals in last season's Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge and while a repeat of that epic encounter is not likely, this could be another high-scoring contest.
Their second league meeting in February was more restrained and ended 1-1 but 12 of City's 17 goal attempts were off target in that match and they are not usually that inefficient.
The six-goal return of their pre-season meeting showed that defences are going to be tested when these teams meet and with City again set to be without key midfielder Rodri, their back line will be missing a key protector.
City have lost young forward Oscar Bobb to injury since he scored their other goal against Chelsea in the United States but there is no shortage of attacking talent at Guardiola's disposal.
Haaland will be eager to open his league account for the season while Chelsea will be missing defender Reece James, who is both injured and suspended for this match.
OVER 3.5 GOALS
Palmer Can Make Scoring Start
Cole Palmer excelled for Chelsea in his first season after leaving Manchester City and he looks set to be the main threat to his former team once more.
Palmer scored a dramatic equaliser to deny the Citizens victory in the 4-4 draw in November and scored 22 goals with 11 assists in his 33 Premier League outings for Chelsea.
He gained valuable experience with England at Euro 2024, scoring a fantastic equaliser in the final against Spain, and is not shy to have a pop at goal, averaging 3.3 shots per game for the Blues last season.
With both teams expected to score in an open contest, Palmer looks capable of grabbing one for Chelsea.
COLE PALMER ANYTIME GOALSCORER
