Foxes face fellow scrappers Sunderland in Premier League opener

Last season’s relegation scrap survivors Leicester City and Sunderland square-up on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign, both hoping to start this term on the front foot.

The Foxes have home advantage, so are understandably evens with Coral to take the spoils from this tussle, as ex-Chelsea tactician Claudio Ranieri makes his first official appearance in the King Power Stadium dugout.

Three of the past four meetings between these two teams have ended on level terms, including two stalemates last season, so punters can take nifty odds of 9/4 for another draw here, or 8/1 for a repeat 0-0 scoreline, especially considering opening day jitters.

Both sides have also undergone a host of changes over the summer, so there are plenty of new signings for fans to finally feast their eyes on, and for eager Coral customers to place a stake on.

Leicester have been by far the busiest in the transfer market, though Ranieri is not expected to shoehorn all his new recruits into the starting XI in their first outing.

Expensive striker signing and Japan sharpshooter Shinji Okazaki may be the best bet from fresh Foxes faces for a debut goal and is 6/1 to fire home first, or 7/4 in the anytime market. Meanwhile, pricey poachers Leonardo Ulloa and Andrej Kramaric are 11/2 and 6/1 to notch first and last respectively.

As for the travelling Mackems, Black Cats boss Dick Advocaat begins his first full season at the helm, and is a tasty 10/3 to get off to a flying start.

While recent loan signing Yann M’Vila should help shore things up in the middle of the park, with former Spurs star Younes Kaboul doing the same at centre half, it is Dutch dangerman Jeremain Lens who could spark the attack.

Sunderland’s new attacking threat should take departed striker Connor Wickham’s spot out wide in a front three, and Lens is 2/1 to bag anytime on his bow.

Fellow goal threat Jermain Defoe, who has been on the losing side against Leicester just once in five tussles, is also available at a superb price of 7/1 to draw first blood, as the Black Cats look to build up a head of steam in an opening month, which also includes winnable clashes against new boys Norwich City and relegation rivals Aston Villa.

Coral’s best bet: 9/4 for another draw could prove a cracking punt considering recent history