Premier League Gameweek 2 predictions: Best bets for Palace vs Man City, Chelsea vs Brighton & more

Gameweek two of the 2026-27 Premier League season brings several intriguing fixtures, with Manchester City travelling to Crystal Palace on Friday before Tottenham Hotspur host Newcastle United and Chelsea welcome Brighton & Hove Albion.

The weekend concludes with reigning champions Arsenal travelling to Aston Villa on Monday night, with all four fixtures offering interesting betting angles after contrasting opening-weekend results.

Here are our predictions and best bets for four of the standout matches.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

Friday, August 28, 8pm BST - Selhurst Park

Manchester City began life under Enzo Maresca with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, but the performance suggested there is still considerable work to do. 

The result was positive, yet Manchester City lacked some of the attacking fluency normally associated with the side and are still adjusting to life without Rodri.

Erling Haaland was unusually quiet, while the midfield did not consistently provide the control and penetration expected of it. 

There were positives, though, particularly Ryan Cherki, who created both goals, and Manchester City should have enough quality to cause Palace problems.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, lost 2-0 at Everton but were not necessarily as poor as the scoreline suggested. 

Pierre Sage's side created opportunities but lacked the finishing required to turn a competitive performance into points.

The Eagles are also adjusting to life after Oliver Glasner, while their squad remains subject to transfer speculation.

Manchester City completed the league double over Palace last season, winning both meetings 3-0, and the visitors remain favourites at 8/13, with Palace 23/5 and the draw 13/5.

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Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City

Suggested bet: Manchester City to win & both teams to score - 11/5

Manchester City's defensive transition makes a clean sheet difficult to trust, but their superior quality should ultimately tell.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United

Saturday, August 29, 5.30pm BST - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham have a point to prove after being comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Brentford on the opening weekend.

Roberto De Zerbi has inherited a squad that has been substantially strengthened during the summer, but the opening-day performance highlighted how much work remains before Tottenham can realistically challenge near the top of the table.

Newcastle, by contrast, showed plenty of encouraging signs in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

Matthias Jaissle's side were aggressive, competitive and capable of creating problems for the reigning champions despite the considerable change around the squad.

The Magpies have also lost key players this summer, meaning expectations should remain measured, but the suggestion that they could struggle badly looks premature based on the opening weekend.

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Tottenham, winning five, but this feels like a different Tottenham side with home advantage and several new attacking options.

The hosts are 5/6 favourites, Newcastle 21/10 and the draw 11/4.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle

Suggested bet: Tottenham to win - 5/6

Chelsea vs Brighton

Sunday, August 30, 2pm BST - Stamford Bridge

Chelsea opened their campaign with an impressive 3-2 victory at Fulham, with Xabi Alonso's attacking philosophy immediately evident.

Cole Palmer looked back towards his best, while Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers provided significant threat alongside him. 

Chelsea's high press and movement in the final third caused Fulham considerable problems, although their defensive structure remains something Alonso will need to address.

Brighton could provide an even greater test.

The Seagulls dismantled Aston Villa 4-0 on the opening weekend and look capable of challenging for another top-half finish under Fabian Hürzeler. 

Their ability to maintain possession while attacking aggressively makes them dangerous opponents for Chelsea, particularly if the hosts' high defensive line leaves space behind.

Brighton have also won the last four meetings between the sides, including both matches last season, although Chelsea's current attacking quality makes another comfortable Brighton victory difficult to envisage.

Chelsea are 39/40 favourites, with Brighton 29/10 and the draw 14/5.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Brighton

Suggested bet: Both teams to score - 1.60

Chelsea should have enough attacking quality to win, but Brighton's performance against Villa suggests they can exploit weaknesses in the Blues' defence.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Monday, August 31, 8pm BST - Villa Park

Aston Villa could hardly have asked for a worse start, losing 4-0 at Brighton and immediately raising questions about whether Unai Emery's side can reproduce the form that took them into the Champions League.

Arsenal, meanwhile, looked every inch the defending champions in their 3-0 victory over Coventry City before another impressive Community Shield triumph over Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta has strengthened the squad with players capable of competing for starting positions rather than simply providing depth, while the early performances of Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz have provided further encouragement. 

Arsenal are also expected to have Bruno Guimaraes available after he missed the opening game through injury, although his involvement will depend on how he responds to his managed training load.

There is also a defensive concern for Arsenal, with William Saliba and Jurriën Timber unavailable, but Villa's opening performance leaves plenty of questions of their own.

Villa have historically made this a difficult fixture, winning three of the last six meetings, but Arsenal appear to be operating at a considerably higher level at present.

The Gunners are 11/20 favourites, Villa 11/2 and the draw 10/3.

Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Suggested bet: Arsenal to win by two or more goals

Arsenal's intensity, structure and attacking quality should be enough to expose the defensive issues Villa showed at Brighton.

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Best bets

Manchester City to win & both teams to score - 11/5

Tottenham to win - 5/6

Chelsea vs Brighton - Both teams to score - 1.60

Arsenal to win by two or more goals

Odds quoted above are those supplied for the original betting markets and may be subject to change. 

Betting involves risk; only bet what you can afford to lose.

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