Premier League: The best player prop bets for gameweek 2

Fans are back, stadiums are full again, and Arsenal are getting beat by newly promoted clubs. It’s nice that soccer is back to normal!

The Premier League returned with a bang last week, and it certainly made an impact as seven of the 10 home teams started the new campaign with wins. Now we’re up and running we have the chance to get stuck straight back into some player props, with three tempting selections coming up this week.

Liverpool vs. Burnley: Sadio Mane to assist a goal (+300)

Burnley are here in their sixth consecutive Premier League campaign, but really, they are like the celery that usually comes with a portion of hot wings. Nobody knows why they are there, and we wouldn’t really care if they disappeared.

The hot wings of the Premier League could be Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool who are attempting to bounce-back from a disappointing season now they’ve got a fully fit squad and challenge for the title. They blew Norwich away 3-0 in their opening game, and could be lining up a similar fate for Burnley at Anfield.

Liverpool have won 10 of their last 14 games against the Clarets and scored in 86% of those games, so shouldn’t be concerned about finding the net. Sadio Mane has had a particular fine run of form, scoring four and assisting one in six games versus Burnley.

Liverpool ranked second in the league for most shots in week one (19), and second for most key passes (14), with Mane completing three of them. The only Liverpool player with more was Mo Salah, and he ended the game with two assists. If Liverpool keep up this early momentum and Mane keeps unlocking the Burnley defense, there’s a good chance he’ll grab an assist on Saturday.

Man City vs. Norwich: Jack Grealish to score anytime (+150)

With a price tag of £100 million around his neck, Jack Grealish is the most expensive English player ever, but he showed no signs of feeling the pressure in City’s opener against Tottenham. The reigning champs lost that game 1-0, but should have a far easier 90 minutes at home to Norwich.

The Canaries lost 3-0 to Liverpool in week one, and that was the start of what could be a very tough season for supporters. Norwich conceded 19 shots in that game, eight of which were on target – the second worst defensive performance of the week.

City had 18 shots versus Spurs, with Grealish attempting three. No other City player had more, and that leans into the narrative that they want to get their star signing plenty of opportunities.

Norwich conceded 75 goals – an average of almost two per game – a couple of years ago when they were last in the top flight, and in the last decade City have played them 11 times and scored 36 goals. That’s a huge 3.3 goals scored per game.

Expect Pep Guardiola’s men to want to recover quickly from that opening game blip and make a statement against a poor Norwich side. If they do, Grealish should be in the right place to benefit.

Southampton vs. Man United: Luke Shaw to assist a goal (+450)

Manchester United were simply unstoppable at home against Leeds as they ran out 5-1 winners last week. All the talk was over Paul Pogba, who set up four of the goals, and Bruno Fernandes, who bagged a hat-trick. And while those two players deserve all the plaudits, Luke Shaw is sneaking under the radar and has a great chance for an assist this week.

United are unbeaten in their last 11 matches with Southampton, and last time these two met the Red Devils ran out convincing 9-0 winners. Shaw got two assists that day and is coming off the back of a huge tournament at Euro 2020 where he recorded three assists in six games.

His delivery from the left flank and willingness to get forward always makes him a danger, and bar Pogba and Fernandes, he recorded the most key passes for Man United against Leeds.

Southampton took the lead against Everton, but ended up going down 3-1, with Rafa Benitez’s side constantly threatening down the flanks. The Saints will try and suffocate United and especially Pogba and Fernandes in the middle of the park and that could leave room for Shaw to exploit. He’s a value bet this weekend.