Chelsea boss Antonio Conte leading the sack race - but can he upset the odds against Tottenham? Plus tips for Man United at Swansea, Arsenal at Stoke, Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League

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Premier League champions starting the season with a target on their back was to be expected but Burnley hitting it three times certainly was not.

Last season’s terrible travellers were 14/1 to win at Chelsea and did just that as an animated Antonio Conte leapt so high on the touchline he landed at the front of the sack race.

The Chelsea boss had daylight between him and market leaders Rafa Benitez, Slaven Bilic and Mark Hughes going into the new campaign but the 12/1 for the Italian to be the top-flight’s first boss to go disappeared quicker than you could say ‘is that two for Sam Vokes?’

Antonio Conte watched his side crash 3-2 at home to Burnley on the opening weekend

Alvaro Morata scored when Conte sent him on and he'll want a bigger part against Spurs

Conte is now 7/2 joint-favourite - Newcastle chief Benitez is still at the head of the betting, keeping him company.

Red cards for Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas against Burnley mean they’ll miss Sunday’s clash with Tottenham at Wembley, where bookies don’t expect things to improve for Conte and Co.

Chelsea are 14/5 to take the points, Spurs are 11/10 and the draw can be backed at 13/5. You can get Spurs at 31/10 to win with both teams scoring while Chelsea are 6/1 in the same market.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Blues, despite their absentees, as temporary Wembley tenants Spurs would probably have hoped for an easier game for their Premier League house-warming at the national stadium while Alvaro Morata looked good when Conte sent him on last Saturday.

Morata if he gets a place in Conte’s XI is tempting at 6/1 to open the scoring, the same price as Dele Alli. Harry Kane heads the betting at 7/2 but beware backing a slow starter – he’s never scored a league goal for Spurs in August.

The two league fixtures last term were won by the home team before Chelsea took the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic made the difference that day as two late goals sealed a 4-2 win but it seems a long time ago, Hazard is injured and Matic is now at Old Trafford. 

If this game was at White Hart Lane we’d pile in to Spurs but Wembley will play a part as it hosts its first ever Premier League match. The draw looks like the bet here and a share of the points with both teams scoring is 37/10 (188Bet).

Harry Kane has been a slow starter in recent seasons - failing to find the target in August

United started in rampant fashion and the table-toppers kick things off at lunchtime on Saturday.

Swansea away will provide a much stiffer test than West Ham at home but despite finishing last season strongly and drawing at Southampton a week ago (the South Wales side are unbeaten in six) there’s little to suggest that backing against United is a good idea.

They’re no better than 4/11 but Romelu Lukaku, last week’s two-goal star man, can be backed at evens in the score-win double while Paddy Power have him at 5/1 to score two or more again.

Romelu Lukaku had no problems last time out - putting a couple past West Ham at Old Trafford

Like United, Liverpool had no problem finding the net last weekend but they were generous at their own end as well, drawing 3-3 with Watford. 

Their defending a set-pieces let them down, just like last term, and if they couldn’t sort it out during the summer they’re unlikely to have found a fix in the seven days leading up to the visit of Crystal Palace.

Former Red Christian Benteke could have a few chances and he’s 3/1 (Betfred) to score at any time as his side look for a response to their Huddersfield humbling. Palace can point to the fact the away team has won the last six times these two have met, and they should score – but Liverpool should too and a home win with both sides on target is 19/10 (Hills).

Sadio Mane and Liverpool impressed going forward at Watford - at the back, not so much

There will be more Burnley backers this week than last when they return to Turf Moor where West Brom are the visitors. The Baggies also won their opening game – against Bournemouth – but the Clarets (8/5 with a few firms) can edge this. A 1-0 home win is 13/2 while 2-1 is 10/1

In the other 3pm games, Leicester look easy to back at home to Brighton while Southampton entertain West Ham and Bournemouth host Watford.

Arsenal are on the telly again at teatime on Saturday having won in front of the cameras last Friday night despite appearing to spend the summer at the Liverpool school of defending.

Even if they can’t keep Peter Crouch (3/1 at any time) and loan signing Jese Rodriguez out, they should have enough at the other end to get the job done.

Arsenal kicked off the campaign by edging a thriller against Leicester - they're on TV again

Newcastle will be feeling a bit of pressure, they usually do, when they travel to face the Terriers with their tails up but they finished 13 points ahead of Huddersfield in the Championship last term and were holding their own at home to Spurs on Sunday before Jonjo Shelvey’s daft red card.

A draw double for the Sunday games, Spurs v Chelsea is after this one, returns 12/1 with Marathon Bet.

The curtain comes down on the second round of matches when Manchester City host Everton on Monday night.

Wayne Rooney, on target against Stoke last week, enjoys facing City and only Alan Shearer has scored more goals against them (the Match of the Day man leads 11-8). Rooney is 9/2 with a couple of firms to score at any time.

We don't expect this to be a dull affair and a City win with both teams scoring is 21/10 with the Toffees a massive 20/1 with Sky et in the same market. 

*Prices from oddschecker, correct at time of publication, subject to change 

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