Friday football tips: Bournemouth and West Brom kick-off the new EFL season

The EFL is back on Friday and so is Top Tips, your one-stop shop for all the best punts from the Racing Post Sport football experts.

The 2020-21 Championship season starts at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth, now under the management of Scott Parker, host West Brom and their new boss Valerien Ismael.

On the continent, the new Ligue 1 season begins when Monaco host Nantes while Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon start their title defence against newly-promoted Vizela.

Today's best accumulator bets

Bets to be placed by 7.45pm

Over 2.5 goals in Bournemouth v West Brom

Derry City to beat Drogheda

Monaco to beat Nantes

Sporting to win to nil v Vizela

Bournemouth and West Brom both possess quality in attack and can combine for an entertaining contest on the south coast while Derry are making significent strides and can see off Drogheda in Ireland.

Monaco, who went close to Ligue 1 glory last season, look to have too much quality for Nantes and Vizela may not be able to lay a glove on Portuguese champions Sporting, who can win to nil.

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Bournemouth v West Brom

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 8pm

Bournemouth put five goals past MK Dons in the EFL Cup last week and the Cherries can play out an entertaining opener against West Brom. Both teams possess plenty of attacking quality and over 2.5 goals looks a decent bet.

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Best bet
Over 2.5 goals

Bet of the day

Sporting to win to nil 8.15pm

Sporting Lisbon barely put a foot wrong in winning the Portuguese title last term, only losing their unbeaten record in the penultimate game of the season when the championship was wrapped up. They conceded just ten home goals and can keep new boys Vizela at bay.

Best goalscorer bet of the day

Bournemouth v West Brom

Philip Billing claimed Bournemouth's third goal in their 5-0 win over MK Dons, continuing the fine form he showed when finding the net five times in his last nine regular-season league appearances of 2020-21. He can get on the scoresheet against West Brom.

Best bet
Philip Billing to score at any time