FRIDAY:
CRYSTAL PALACE V ARSENAL
Palace had a good first season under Patrick Vieira last season and they'll definitely want to follow it up with another good campaign this season. They have a squad with a lot of potential due to the young players they have and although they've had a quiet summer, they've still made some good additions to bolster their squad.
The Eagles completely battered Arsenal in this fixture last season and they'll be expecting a tougher game in this one. The Arsenal side they'll be facing will be a lot stronger than the side they beat 3-0 last season and Patrick Vieira will certainly be aware of that.
Arsenal are looking pretty strong going into this season thanks to their summer signings which have strengthened their overall squad as well as their team. They have some strength in depth in their attack after the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira and that strength in depth will be vital as they're back in Europe this season.
Both Jesus and Zinchenko will make their debuts in this game and Jesus in particular will be going into it full of confidence after a clinical pre-season. Zinchenko will probably start at left back with Kieran Tierney a doubt for this game and Nuno Tavares having left the club on loan.
PREDICTION: 0-2
Arsenal don't have a fantastic record on the opening day of the season but I do think they'll win here. Palace will go for it but with the exciting attack that Arsenal are likely to line up with, they might be too strong for Palace here.
SATURDAY:
FULHAM V LIVERPOOL
Fulham scored goals for fun in the Championship last season netting 106 times with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring a record breaking 43 of them. Where will be questions whether the Serb will finally deliver in the Premier League this season and I have a strong feeling he will because he's got better players around him and is playng in a system that suits his game.
I do think the Cottagers are the best equipped to survive out of the three newly promoted team but I do have my concerns about them defensively. Marco Silva teams of the past have conceded a lot of goals by playing too open for which he got heavily criticized for during his time at Everton. If they play like that against the big teams, they're likely to get punished.
Liverpool are my favourites to win the title this season because I think they have a stronger squad than Man City. Losing Sadio Mane is a blow but they have a signed a more than capable replacement in Darwin Nunez who has already showed what he offer after impressing in the Community Shield on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp may want to gradually ease the Uruguayan into the team as he's new to the Premier League and the way Klopp wants his team to play. But still think he'll play in this one because of his performance in the Community Shield.
PREDICTION: 0-3
I'm backing Liverpool to win this one because I can see them be too strong for Fulham. The Cottagers will try and play their open and expansive style of play but with the forward players that Liverpool have in Salah, Diaz and Darwin Nunez, I can see them punish Fulham and teach them a lesson on their Premier League return.
BOURNEMOUTH V ASTON VILLA
Bournemouth are probably the most likely to go down out of all the newly promoted teams as they don't have many goals in their side. Dominic Solanke scored more than a handful of their goals last season and there will be questions on whether he can deliver at this level having struggled here before.
The Cherries' first ever Premier League game was against Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium back in 2015 where there was arguably more excitement than there will be in this one. The fans will be looking forward to another Premier League journey but I get the feeling that they're not as exciting this time as they were seven years ago.
Aston Villa will have aspirations for Europe but this season will be more about finishing in the top 10. They have made some signings to help them get onto the next level in the form of Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara alongside Philippe Coutinho who made his loan deal permanent at the end of last season. But short term I think the aim for them this season will be a top half finish.
Consistency will be key for Villa this season because it was one of their main problems from last season. If they are to really push for those European places, they'll need to be more consistent and Steven Gerrard will be eager to address that problem.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing Villa to win this one because I can see their quality winning them the game. The Cherries will have the home crowd on their side but I think Villa should still win this one comfortably.
LEEDS V WOLVES
I really do fear for Leeds this season because they've lost arguably their two most important players in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha. They have made a lot of signings this summer but the majority of them are unknown and the signing them has been viewed by many as a big risk.
Having Patrick Bamford back will be a boost though as he was a massive miss for them last season. With a full pre-season under his belt he'll be eager to show the fans what they really missed last season.
Wolves had a pretty sombre end to last season as they saw potential European challenge fade away badly. With no major signings this summer alongside that, the pressure will be on Bruno Lage's side to start well.
Having Pedro Neto back and fully fit will be a welcome boost but not having Raul Jimenez for a number of weeks is a massive blow. Goals were in short supply for Wolves last season and could be again if they don't sign a striker before the window closes.
PREDICTION: 0-0
I can't see much happening this one with both sides having reasonably low expectations this season. Both sides don't have a huge amount of goals in them and I can see that coming to fore here.
NEWCASTLE V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Eddie Howe worked wonders with Newcastle last season as they went from relegation certainties to top 10 hopefuls. The new signings made a massive difference as they brought some extra quality to the table and that would not have happened without their new owners. There is a better mood around the place because of them and the manager.
A top 10 finish should be the main aim for the Magpies this season but it would not be surprising if they did push for a place in Europe. They've got some quality players in their squad which has been strengthened further with the arrivals of Nick Pope and Sven Botman who could both make their debuts in this game.
It's great to have a club like Nottingham Forest back in the big time after so many years away. Their fans have waiting for this day for 23 years and they'll be more than glad that the wait is finally over.
Steve Cooper is building a side capable of competing in the Premier League as well as a side capable of staying in it. With a number of good signings through the door, Forest are showing a desire to be competitive.
PREDICTION: 2-2
I can see this one be a good game as both sides are good to watch and have good managers in charge in them. Both teams will go for it because of the way they play and with both sides likely to go for it, I can see it being a very close contest.
TOTTENHAM V SOUTHAMPTON
Spurs got their business done early this summer and with those signings they look the most likely challengers to City and Liverpool. They've got a dangerous front three in Harry Kane, Heung Min Son and Richarlison whilst Yves Bissouma will add some extra energy to the midfield. Not to mention Djed Spence adding some creativity from wing back.
Richarlison won't make his debut here as he's suspended but Bissouma, Lenglet and Spence all could though. I think they will because I can't think of a reason why Antonio Conte wouldn't play them.
Southampton are another side who had a poor end to last season and the pressure will be on Ralph Hasenhuttl to get his side off to a good start. Especially with not many major signings being made over the summer. They have managed to keep hold of Ward Prowse but overall their team isn't looking any better to what it was last season.
The Saints won this fixture last season in an entertaining contest which is unlikely to happen this time round. They'll be up against a much stronger Spurs side in this one and because that they'll be expecting an even tough game.
PREDICTION: 4-0
I've got to back Spurs here because I think they'll be too strong for Southampton. With their team looking solid in all areas and their forward having a full summer to recover, they should win this one very comfortably.
EVERTON V CHELSEA
Everton couldn't have had a tougher game to start the season with. They might've won this fixture for the last four seasons but without Dominic Calvert Lewin for six weeks, achieving a fifth consecutive home win against Chelsea looks very unlikely.
The Toffees will be hoping for a much better season this time round after the mess they put themselves in last season. They've made a couple of good signings in James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil from Burnley who will both improve things at both ends but with Calvert Lewin out they really need a striker to fill in for him.
This is the start of a new era for Chelsea following the arrival of the new owners who have big shoes to fill in replacing the very successful Roman Abramovich. The uncertainty surrounding the ownership had an effect on their form towards the end of last season and getting it sorted as soon as the season ended was key.
The Blues have made some good signings during this window yet there are still question marks over them going into the season itself. I know they're not going to challenge for the title because they don't have a striker who will guarantee them goals but they do look strong in the other areas. Because of this they should get into the top four as they do have the quality to do so.
PREDICTION: 0-1
I think Chelsea will edge this one simply because Everton don't have Dominic Calvert Lewin. The blues too don't have a an out an out no.9 who can score goals but I still think they'll edge this one and start the season with the three points.
SUNDAY:
LEICESTER V BRENTFORD
Leicester are the only club yet to sign someone this summer which surprises me because I was very much expecting them to refresh their squad. I still think they'll have a decent season as they're not in Europe but after losing Kasper Schmeichel and potentially others too, they really need to bring some players in.
Injuries hit the Foxes hard last season and with no European football this season, they shouldn't have as disruptive a season. Having Wesley Fofana back is crucial and especially if they keep him because he was a massive miss for them last season alongside Jonny Evans. If Jamie Vardy can carry on delivering at the age of 35, the Foxes could still push for Europe.
Brentford had a very good first season in the Premier League last season but this season could be more challenging. Some teams do struggle in their second season and Thomas Frank will certainly be aware of that. I still think they'll stay up but this season will still be a bit more challenging for them.
The Bees have made some decent signings this summer and they're close to getting another one through the door in Mikkel Damsgaard. They need someone to fill the void left by Christian Eriksen and I believe he'll certainly do that.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm backing Leicester to win this one because I they'll have that extra bit of quality to win the game. Brentford will try and cause them problems but with the Foxes having the likes of Maddison and Vardy available, I think they'll just edge this one.
MAN UNITED V BRIGHTON
Man United had an absolute joke of a season last year both on and off the pitch in terms of the performances on it and the decisions being made behind the scenes. Erik Ten Hag has started sorting out the mess in getting rid of some of the deadwood and making a few good signings himself. But it's still going to take him time to get United to where they want to be.
It will be interesting to see whether Cristiano Ronaldo plays in this game with his future at the club still very much up in the air. He left at half time in one of their recent pre-season games which in some peoples eyes is a sign that the player wants to leave.
Brighton completely hammered United the last time they faced them winning 4-0 at the AMEX towards the end of last season. That win will give them confidence going into this game as they look to earn their first Premier League win at Old Trafford.
The Seagulls had a pretty good season last year by finishing 9th which will definitely be something for them to build on this season. But repeating that this year will be challenging as they've lost Yves Bissouma and are about to lose Marc Cucurella to Chelsea. Their old problem in failing to finish teams off could also come back to bite them again despite them signing a striker in Deniz Undaz.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I think United will win this game but I don't think it will be a good performance from them. They're still getting used to Ten Hag's style of play whilst Brighton have known what their style of play is for three or four seasons. It won't be pretty but I think United will nick it here.
WEST HAM V MAN CITY
West Ham have taken points off City in this fixture for the last two seasons and will believe that they can do so again in this one. It will be tougher this time round as City will be starting with a recognised striker with a knack of scoring goals, But the Hammers will still fancy themselves to get something like they did last season against the big boys.
The Hammers will again be in Europe this season as they'll be taking part in the Europa Conference League which will again require a lot of travelling and a lot of games to be played. They did manage to compete on both fronts for much of last season but doing so again this season will be more of a challenge as they again have a small squad.
I have the feeling that Man City have a slightly weaker squad this season as they've lost both Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko who were both crucial squad players last season. They have signed Erling Haaland who will make massive difference for them but in losing Sterling and Zinchenko, their squad isn't as strong as it was last season.
Having a recognised striker of Erling Haaland's quality will definitely give City a boost this season and particularly against teams who defend with a low block. He didn't have the best of games in the Community Shield on Saturday but once he's up and running, the goals will eventually come.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing City to win this one because I can see Erling Haaland really make a difference for them in this game. West Ham will try and make it difficult for them but with Haaland leading their attack and the players they have to support him, City should win this one without too many problems.
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