Sky Sports has published Lewis Jones's weekend Premier League betting preview, and Hull City vs Aston Villa is the match drawing the sharpest attention. Jones backed Aston Villa to end Hull's unbeaten start, framing the game as a live Sky Sports watch with a betting angle attached.
That matters now because the preview landed ahead of a packed weekend card that also includes Everton vs Manchester United and Arsenal vs Chelsea on Sky Sports. Jones was not just picking winners; he was pointing readers toward the games he expects to shape the betting market, with Hull City vs Aston Villa placed right at the center of that conversation.
Jones called Hull City vs Aston Villa a potentially very fun game involving two managers who like to play fast, vertical football. He backed Anthony Elanga to score again at 100/30 with Sky Bet, then moved across the weekend card with a run of other bets that leaned on form, style and price rather than headline-grabbing certainty. His own record for Week 2 showed P+L of -0.2, but Season P+L remained at +6.47, a reminder that the selection process is being judged over the longer run rather than on one swing of results.
The numbers behind his weekend view explain why he is leaning into some of these spots. Jones said Brentford have been arguably the most impressive Premier League team after two games, adding that they created the most shots and touches in the opposition box any away team at Elland Road had managed in the opening 60 minutes since the start of last season. He also noted that Sunderland have a -0.8 expected goals difference per 90 away from home since the start of last season, and that Brentford have scored six first half goals in their three games in all competitions this season. That fed into his 6/4 call on Brentford to be winning at half-time and full-time with Sky Bet.
But the preview was not all clean edges. Jones also said five of Leeds' last six away games had been 0-0 at half time since Daniel Farke switched to a back three in December, which is why he backed another 0-0 at the break at 7/4 with Sky Bet. He flagged possible absences for Brighton, said Palace had lost the defensive identity that made them so successful under Oliver Glasner, and added that Fulham fans are already frustrated with Alvaro Arbeola after their timid showing at Sunderland. He also argued that Manchester City victories over newly-promoted teams are usually handled with minimal fuss under Pep Guardiola.
The live-game focus gives the preview its edge, but the real test comes when Hull City and Aston Villa actually meet. Jones has already staked his view that Villa can end Hull's unbeaten start; what remains is whether the early-season pattern he sees in the numbers survives contact with the match itself.
