Premier League referees in the spotlight as VAR makes its debut

Video Assistant Referees make their Premier League debuts this weekend and bookmakers Coral expect the new technology to be among the key talking points in the opening round of fixtures.

The firm offer 3-1 about Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright saying VAR 26 or more times between them in the first Match of the Day show of the season.

Punters can back nought to five mentions at 8-1, six to ten at 6-1, 11 to 15 at 4-1 and 15 to 20 and 21 to 25 are both 3-1.

Champions Manchester City kick-start Saturday's Premier League action with a visit to West Ham and are 1-4 with most firms for the win.

But they were dealt a blow after manager Pep Guardiola announced winger Leroy Sane could be out for six to seven months with a knee injury.

The 23-year-old, who was linked with a move to Bayern Munich this summer, tore his anterior cruciate ligament, having gone off after only 13 minutes in the Community Shield win over Liverpool.

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The Citizens are 1-3 to remain unbeaten in the first month of the league season and 6-4 to win all of their assignments.

Tottenham are involved in the late Saturday TV game against Aston Villa and are 11-1 with Paddy Power to win all of their league matches in August. North London rivals Arsenal are the same price.

The EFL have confirmed that, despite Bolton's takeover by Football Ventures being suspended, the club's Sky Bet League One fixture with Coventry City will go ahead. Wanderers lost their opening match of the season to Wycombe and started on -12 points.

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