Expert Premier League predictions and betting tips from Mark Langdon

The opening weekend of last season feels like a lifetime ago.

Manchester United scored five, Tottenham fans were giving the missing Harry Kane both barrels after making a winning start under Nuno against Manchester City, Folarin Balogun, now of Reims, was up front for Arsenal, and even Watford won.

Admittedly, some things remained exactly the same.

Wolves were involved in a match featuring under 2.5 goals and Norwich were beaten up by Liverpool, but one of the biggest differences from 12 months ago was the idea then that Chelsea were legitimate title challengers.

They had just lifted the European Cup, Romelu Lukaku was about to become the missing piece of the jigsaw and Thomas Tuchel's team were 5-1 second favourites to be crowned Premier League champions even before a 3-0 stroll on the opening weekend against Crystal Palace.

Chelsea's first ten games offered much hope.

The Blues cruised to eight wins, a draw with ten men at Anfield and a 1-0 loss to Manchester City before losing their way, with Lukaku much like a jigsaw, falling to pieces in the box, rather than becoming the conquering returning hero as billed.

For most teams a third-place finish, two domestic cup final defeats on penalties and a decent run to the Champions League quarter-finals would be considered a fair outcome.

However, it was a major disappointment against expectations.

Most bookmakers had Chelsea as favourites in a matchbet with Liverpool, but the Blues finished 18 points behind and only three ahead of Spurs, who had been expected to be around 18 points inferior.

There were injuries and other reasons to try to explain a drop, but Chelsea are not usually a club associated with excuses and one of this season's most intriguing sub-plots is whether Thomas Tuchel can rally the troops.

Chelsea have been friendless in the markets - they start the season as fourth-favourites and almost unconsidered at 18-1 despite a net spend in excess of £150m now Marc Cucurella is through the door to join Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Tuchel, at 14-1, is a shorter price to be first out than Chelsea are to win the league and the list of quick sackings at Stamford Bridge is endless.

Roberto Di Matteo and Jose Mourinho were sack-race "winners" and it wasn't just Roman Abramovich who had a "hire 'em and fire 'em" approach.

Gianluca Vialli was given just five games of 2000-01 campaign and Ian Porterfield is the answer to a cracking quiz question - who was the first manager sacked in the Premier League era?

Chelsea are going to spend more, expectations will rise and Tuchel could do with hitting the ground running, not least because Antonio Conte's Spurs are heading West next week and another former Blues boss, Frank Lampard, welcomes the German for the opener.

It's just as well for Tuchel that Lampard has been forced to sell Richarlison and is missing the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin and suspended Salomon Rondon, giving him little forward threat.

That suggests Chelsea can start with a routine win and that's exactly what super Tommy Tuchel needs.

Best bet

Chelsea to beat Everton and under 4.5 goals Saturday 5.30pm
1pt 10-11 BoyleSports

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