After what was widely acknowledged as an excellent World Cup in Russia, the Premier League gets back under way, with the opening match on Friday 10th August between Man Utd and Leicester.

Many teams will be struggling to put out their best sides in the early weeks, as so many stars returned late following the World Cup.  This has given rise to the argument that maybe the Premier League season should have been put back a couple more weeks, but we aren't complaining here!

The season promises to be really interesting, with Liverpool having had an excellent summer in the transfer window and finally getting a world class goalie into their side with the signing of Alisson from Roma.

Liverpool 4/1 (Bet365)

Man Utd 15/2 (Paddy Power)
Chelsea 14/1 (Betfred)
Tottenham 16/1 (Bet365)

Arsenal 25/1 (Ladbrokes)
All other teams are 250/1 or greater.

Man City are starting as odds-on favourites to retain their title at 8/11, which we are slightly surprised at really.  Yes they are an exceptional team and had a great season last year, but we feel 8/11 is very small odds and the bookies have maybe underestimated Liverpool a bit at 4/1.  Time will tell if any of the other teams can put up a sustained challenge this season, but City have in the past struggled to retain the title, seemingly taking their foot off the gas the next season after a title win.

Tottenham can go close again at 16/1 but have not made any significant transfers as yet, Man Utd at 15/2 will always be in with a shout and their brand of unspectacular but winning football under Mourinho could have them going close if City do struggle at all.

The Championship gets under way a week before the Premier League with the first match on Friday 3rd August between Reading and Derby before the rest of the games that weekend.

The Championship looks to be an intriguing league this season, especially from a betting point of view.  The three relegated sides from last season's Premier League look like featuring strongly, with Stoke the outright betting favourites:

The outright odds for the Championship are as follows:

Stoke City 11/2 (William Hill)

The Championship looks wide open to be honest, with any of the top 10 in the betting looking possibilities for the title if they get their form together.  There's plenty of money flying around at the moment, with Stoke in particular seeming to spend quite big to try and guarantee a quick return to the Premier League. 

For value we quite like Swansea and Derby at 14/1 each - Swansea put up a good fight in their relegation from the Premier League and have enough quality to bounce back, whilst Derby have appointed Frank Lampard in an interesting appointment and he has already made some good signings including bringing wonderkid Mason mount on a season long loan deal from his old club Chelsea.

There are two major flat racing events in August for horse racing fans as the flat season enters it's final couple of months.

The month starts with Glorious Goodwood, which is one of the most valuable and prestigious flat racing meetings on the calendar and will feature many 'super horses' from the giant stables of the horse racing world.

Later in August, the York Ebor Festival is another major flat racing festival held over four days and which has grown in stature in the last few years.