FRIDAY:
MAN UNITED V FULHAM
Man United had an absolute disaster of a season last season and there will be pressure on Erik Ten Hag to deliver, despite him signing a new contract.
There have been a lot of changes behind the scenes over the summer, courtesy of Sir Jim Ratcliffe who will want to see progress from the side in his first full year in charge.
The signings they've made look promising and we should at least see Zirkzee, De Ligt and Mazraoui make their debuts. Their other signing in Leny Yoro will have to wait till November to make his debut after picking up an injury in pre-season.
Fulham lost Joao Palhinha during the summer and his departure is no doubt a massive blow for them because of how important he was for them.
They have made good signings in other areas though including Emile Smith Rowe, who will be looking to kickstart his career after a couple of injury hit seasons at Arsenal.
Marco Silva's side won this fixture last season and they'll be looking to do so again, given the injuries that Man United have.
But I think United might just edge this one, even though I have no idea which team will turn up as was the case for the majority of last season.
PREDICTION: 2-1
SATURDAY:
IPSWICH V LIVERPOOL
Ipswich are back in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years and they couldn't have had a tougher start. They face Man City after this tough one against Liverpool.
Their last game in the top flight was against Liverpool back in 2002, losing 5-0 at Anfield to seal their relegation. It seems quite fitting that their first game back is against the same opponents.
Kieran McKenna's side will definitely have a go at teams as that was the way that got them promoted. But in this one they may need to be a bit cautious as they're up against a top side in Liverpool.
A new era begins at Liverpool under new manager Arne Slot who no doubt has big shoes to fill in replacing a true icon in Jurgen Klopp. But I do think his appointment is the right one as he's a manager who plays attacking football and a style of play similar to Klopp's. But more possession based.
The reds are the only side yet to make any signings this summer which may concern some of their fans. But they still have a strong squad on paper and one that is more than capable of competing for silverware.
Ipswich will look to have a go at Liverpool, but I think the reds will exploit the spaces they could leave in behind and teach them a tough lesson about the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah has a good record on the opening day of the season and I can see him get at least two and Liverpool to win comfortably.
PREDICTION: 0-4
ARSENAL V WOLVES
Arsenal missed out on the title by two points last season and they'll no doubt be looking to go for it again this season.
But I don't see them winning it as they're still without that 20+ goal a season striker. That was probably what cost them last season and they'll need to get one in before the window closes.
They'll have no problems defensively as they had the best record in that department last season and have strengthened it further with the signing of Riccardo Califiori from Bologna, who impressed for Italy at the Euros.
Wolves have had a slightly better summer than they did last year in that they've been able to bring in new players. But they have lost two important players in Max Kilman and Pedro Neto.
They had a good first season under Gary O'Neil last season and they'll want to build on it this season. But it could be tough because of them losing Kilman and Neto.
They'll look to make it difficult for Arsenal as they're a competitive side. But I think the Gunners will have enough quality to win the game.
PREDICTION: 2-0
EVERTON V BRIGHTON
This season will be Everton's final campaign at Goodison Park and from a neutral point of view, it will be sad to see it go.
Sean Dyche's side will definitely want to kick on this season after spending the past few season fighting relegation and they'll also hope their off-field issues are behind them, after being deducted points twice last season.
Brighton have the youngest manager in Premier League history in charge for the first time here in Fabian Hurzeler at the age of 31.
His appointment might be seen as risky as he's a very young manager with very little experience at the top level. But he could turn out to be a good appointment as Brighton are such a well run club and with an excellent recruitment strategy.
He's been handed a tough start here as he'll be up against an experienced manager in Sean Dyche whose teams are always difficult to break down.
The Seagulls will definitely look to play on the front foot as that is the style they're likely to adopt under him. But I think the experience of Dyche will come out on top here.
PREDICTION: 2-1
NEWCASTLE V SOUTHAMPTON
Newcastle had an injury ravaged season last season and they'll be hoping to avoid another one. Especially as they won't be in Europe.
No European football will definitely be an advantage for the Magpies this season as they won't have as many games to play. Eddie Howe will want his side to make the most of this and I think they will.
Southampton had a shocker of a campaign the last time they were in the top flight and they'll be hoping to fare better this time round.
Main man Adam Armstrong used to play for Newcastle when he was a youngster and he'll want to prove point after netting just 4 times during the Saints' last spell in the top flight. He scored 24 times in the Championship last season and the pressure will be on him to deliver in the Premier League because of that.
The Saints are a possession based side under Russell Martin and whilst he'll be looking to stick to his principles, there will be games where his side don't have as much of the ball
This game could be one of them as Newcastle are a side who like to dominate possession and I think the Magpies will do that here and win this game comfortably.
PREDICTION: 4-1
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V BOURNEMOUTH
Nottingham Forest will be looking to kick on this season after spending the last two seasons fighting relegation and they have a manager who can help them do that in Nuno Espirito-Santo.
There will be questions about them defensively as that has been their Achilles heel since they've been in the Premier League. But going forward, they should have enough firepower.
Bournemouth had a promising debut season under Andoni Iraola last season but repeating that this season could be tough following the departure of top goal scorer Dominic Solanke to Spurs.
They do have players who can score goals like Antoine Semenyo who got 8 last season. But the Cherries need to buy a replacement for Solanke before the window shuts and they can use the money they got for Solanke to do so.
I can see this game being close as both sides will get chances. But I don't see either side finding a winner as I think they'll cancel each other out.
PREDICTION: 1-1
WEST HAM V ASTON VILLA
This game might as well be called the Sevilla derby as both managers used to manage Sevilla.
West Ham have Julen Lopetegui in charge for the first time here, and their fans will be hoping that he'll play a more attacking style of football after some of them were not happy with that they were watching under David Moyes, despite the success the had under him.
The Hammers have recruited well this summer with Niclas Fullkrug no doubt being their big name signing after impressing for Germany at the Euros. He'll certainly give them what they've lacked in recent years in a clinical centre forward.
Aston Villa have also recruited well this summer and I can see them have another crack at the top four as they have a big enough squad to do so.
Unai Emery will definitely want to kick on after guiding his side to 4th placed last season and with a strong squad at his disposal as a result of the signings he's made, I can see Villa have a similar season to last.
Most games between these two sides usually end in a draw and I can see this one ending that way. It will definitely be a close game and with both sides likely to be missing key players, I can only see a share of the points.
PREDICTION: 1-1
SUNDAY:
BRENTFORD V CRYSTAL PALACE
Brentford had a injury disrupted season last season as they got sucked into a relegation battle. Rico Henry was arguably the biggest miss and although he's still recovering from the ACL he picked up last season, getting him back at the end of August will be a massive boost.
Ivan Toney's future is still very much up in the air and the Bees prepared for his departure with the signing of Igor Thiago, only for him to be ruled out till the end of the year with a knee injury.
Crystal Palace ended last season very strongly and Oliver Glasner's side will be determined to carry on from where they left off.
Losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich is a blow and they could still lose Marc Guehi to Newcastle, but they still have Eberechi Eze and keeping him will be of the upmost importance.
These two sides have drawn all but one of their games against each other and I think this one will be the same.
Both teams will score as they're both attack minded sides. But I think the points will again be shared.
PREDICTION: 1-1
CHELSEA V MAN CITY
New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's assistant at City two seasons ago and he faces off against his former master for the first time as a manager.
I thought Chelsea appointing Maresca was a big risk as he's an inexperienced manager and especially at the top level. He managed Leicester for just a season in the Championship last season.
I'm worried that he might end up like Graham Potter as he's not a big name manager and is struggling to fit in several new players into his team.
The blues took points off City both home and away last season and despite the problems they've had in pre-season, they might fancy their chances to do again here as City are missing a few key players.
The champions are likely to be without Rodri, who is still recovering from the injury he picked up in the Euros final and the same could be said about Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden, who have all been recovering from their late involvement at the Euros.
But they will have Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland available and the latter will almost certainly have another golden boot in his sights after having a full summer to refresh due to him not going to the Euros.
I think Haaland could have a similar campaign to his first where he broke all sorts of records and I can see him get off the mark with a double here to give City the win.
PREDICTION: 0-2
MONDAY:
LEICESTER V TOTTENHAM
Leicester come into this season under a cloud as they have a potential points deduction hanging over their head after breaking spending rules going back to their last season in the top flight.
Despite that, the Foxes are arguably the best equipped side to stay up out of the three newly-promoted sides as they have a lot of Premier League experience in their squad. Most of their players including Jamie Vardy, Wilfred Ndidi and Ricardo Pereira were with them the last time they were in the top flight and their experience will be crucial.
They have however had a quiet transfer window as they've made very few signings with their only one of note being Bobby Decordova-Reid from Fulham.
They also have a different manager in charge in Steve Cooper who will need a good start if he is to get the fans onside due to his Forest connections.
Spurs had a promising first season under Ange Postecoglou last season, but this season will be more challenging as they're back in Europe and teams might've figured them out from last season.
Dominic Solanke looks like a good signing and he'll certainly make a difference for them at the top end. Spurs lacked a clinical no.9 last season following the departure of Harry Kane and I think Solanke can be that man after a brilliant season for Bournemouth last season.
James Maddison returns to Leicester for the first time since he left them last summer and he'll come into this season with a point to prove after a disappointing end to last season, which saw him miss out on a place the England Euros squad.
Spurs' high intensity style of play should be too much for Leicester here and with the quality they posses in attack, this should be a comfortable win for win for Spurs.
PREDICTION: 0-3
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