The start of the 2019/20 English Football League is finally here! So let’s take a look at the Spread Bets of the Day...

1. Liverpool vs Man City – Liverpool to win match, 21-26.4
Bitter rivals during one of the all-time great title races come face-to-face once again on Sunday in the Community Shield, at 3pm on BT Sport 1.

Liverpool, oddly quiet during the transfer window, haven’t had the best pre-season tour, with losses racking up against Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Napoli. There will also be questions over the energy levels of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane following their respective African Cup of Nations campaigns.

City, meanwhile, have looked better over the summer, if only because they didn’t exactly test themselves. Heavy wins over West Ham, Kitchee SC and Yokohama F. Marinos were to be expected; a penalties loss to Wolves in the final of the Asia Trophy perhaps less so.

Though they’ve hardly been at their best, a better calibre of pre-season opponent might mean the Reds are more prepared for Sunday, even if they are at a Liverpool to win match binary spread of just 21-26.4.


2. Luton Town vs Middlesbrough – James Collins SMM, 32-38
The first official game of 2019/20 involves Luton’s return to the Championship for the first time in 12 years. The League One victors host Middlesbrough in their re-debut, the Riversiders newly managed by Jonathan Woodgate after Tony Pulis narrowly failed to get them to the play-offs.

Looking to match last season’s League One-topping 25 goals is James Collins, who sits at a SMM spread of 32-38. For comparison, Boro’s Britt Assombalonga, who scored 16 goals in 2018/19, is at 29-35.


3. Salford City vs Stevenage – Salford to Win 2-1, Adam Rooney to Score First, 0-6.7
Entering their first ever season in League Two, Salford City – a side co-owned by a decent chunk of Man United’s Class of ’92 – take on Stevenage at 12.30pm this Saturday.

If you want to get granular with your predictions, then Spreadex are offering Salford to Win 2-1 with Adam Rooney to Score First at a binary spread of 0-6.7.


4. Nottingham Forest vs West Brom – Nottingham Forest/West Brom Goal Supremacy, 0.05-0.25
Both West Brom and Nottingham Forest are testing out new managers this season. For the Baggies, they’ve brought in Slaven Bilic to replace caretaker James Shan; Forest, meanwhile, have swapped out Martin O’Neill for Sabri Lamouchi.

Neither side has looked particularly perky pre-season, so it is somewhat hard to call a winner. Spreadex are offering a tight Nottingham Forest/West Brom Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.5-0.25.


5. Bristol City vs Leeds United – Leeds Season Points, 79-81
Leeds, to be frank, blew it in 2018/19. For 33 weeks out of 46 they occupied a spot in the top 2; for a good portion of that time they were in 1st place. Yet 3 losses and a draw in their final 4 games forced them into the play-offs, only to lose the semi-finals 4-3 on aggregate following a pair of ill-tempered legs against Derby.

That does mean, however, that they are now favourites to win the Championship this season, at a Season Points spread of 79-81 and fixed odds of 15/4. Their latest quest for promotion begins with a potentially tough trip to Bristol City this Sunday, at 4.30pm on Sky Sports Football.

Disclaimer: prices quoted are subject to change