With the 2026/27 Premier League season getting closer, football fans are once again looking ahead to the campaign and considering how their favourite teams and players might perform. 

The new season begins on Friday 21 August, with Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City in the opening fixture. 

For those who enjoy football betting, there are far more options available than simply predicting which team will win a particular match. From long-term outright markets to bets that can be placed while a game is taking place, bookmakers offer a wide variety of ways to approach the Premier League. 

Here is a recap of some of the most popular football betting markets ahead of the new season. 

Outright Betting 

Outright markets are among the most popular options before a new Premier League season gets underway because they allow you to make predictions about what will happen across the entire campaign. [Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]Outright betting is popular among those new to online football betting and also with those with a bit more skin in the game.  

The obvious example is the Premier League title winner, where you select the club you believe will finish top of the table at the end of the season. 

There are also markets covering the top four, which focus on which teams will finish in the Champions League qualification positions, while relegation markets allow you to predict which clubs will finish in the bottom three. 

These markets can be particularly interesting before the first ball is kicked because there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding newly promoted clubs, summer transfers and managerial changes. 

However, an outright bet can remain open for many months, so it is important to remember that circumstances can change significantly during a long Premier League campaign. 

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) 

Both Teams To Score, commonly abbreviated to BTTS, is a straightforward match market based on whether both sides find the net. 

A BTTS Yes selection wins if both teams score at least once, regardless of the final result. Therefore, results such as 1-1, 2-1 and 3-2 would all satisfy the market, while 1-0, 0-0 and 2-0 would not. 

This market can appeal to bettors who believe a fixture could produce goals but are less confident about which team will win. 

It can also be combined with other markets. For example, a bookmaker may offer a bet on a particular team to win and both teams to score. Combining markets generally means taking on more conditions, so the potential return will reflect that increased difficulty. 

First Goalscorer 

First goalscorer betting is another familiar football market, asking you to predict which player will score the opening goal of a match. 

This can involve considering a player’s goalscoring record, position, expected minutes, penalty-taking responsibilities and the strength of the opposition. 

Unlike an anytime goalscorer bet, where the selected player simply needs to score at some point, a first goalscorer selection has to be the player who scores the game’s opening goal. Once that first goal is scored, the market is effectively decided. 

There can also be specific bookmaker rules surrounding substitutions, players who do not start and own goals, so checking the settlement rules before placing a bet is important. 

Booking Points 

For those who like to look beyond goals and results, booking points provide another way of betting on a Premier League match. 

Rather than predicting the final score, these markets focus on disciplinary action. A bookmaker may assign different numbers of points to yellow and red cards, with the total number of booking points accumulated during the match determining the outcome. 

This makes the market particularly interesting in fixtures expected to be competitive or physical. 

When assessing these bets, factors such as the referee’s disciplinary record, the teams involved and the players likely to be involved in midfield or defensive battles can all be relevant. 

However, the precise points system and what cards count can vary between bookmakers. Some football betting rules, for example, exclude cards shown to managers or substitutes and cards issued after the final whistle. 

In-Play 

While many football bets are placed before kick-off, in-play betting allows punters to react to what is happening on the pitch. 

Once a match begins, odds can change rapidly based on the score, time remaining, momentum and major events such as goals, red cards and injuries. 

A bettor might therefore back the next team to score, the number of goals remaining, a player to score or a variety of other markets while the match is underway. Bookmakers can offer markets covering specific periods of a match as well, such as whether a goal or card will occur during a particular time window. 

The attraction of in-play betting is that there is considerably more information available than before kick-off. However, odds can move extremely quickly and it can be easy to make impulsive decisions, particularly during an exciting match. 

Plenty Of Options For The New Season 

The Premier League’s return means football bettors once again have a huge range of markets to consider. 

From predicting the champions, top-four finishers and relegated clubs months in advance to backing BTTS, first goalscorers and disciplinary markets on individual matches, there are options for different approaches to football betting. 

In-play markets add another dimension by allowing bets to be placed as matches develop. 

Whatever market is being considered, understanding exactly what a bet involves and how it will be settled should come before placing it. The new Premier League season promises plenty of drama on the pitch, and the wide variety of betting markets means there will be plenty of ways for fans to follow the action.