The Premier League returns this Saturday, and it’s the most highly anticipated season for years. The top 3 teams of last season all have new managers in David Moyes, Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho, meaning the race for the Premier League title is wide open.
The opening Premier League fixture list features some tasty clashes, including Champions Manchester United who travel to Swansea, a London derby as Crystal Palace host Tottenham, and a new look Manchester City taking on Newcastle.
Here is a preview of this weekends fixtures, along with my predictions:
Liverpool v Stoke City (12:45pm)
The new campaign kicks off with Liverpool v Stoke, which despite not being the most appetising of the opening day fixtures, should certainly have a degree of excitement with both teams looking to get off to a good start for different reasons.
Stoke will be looking to showcase a new style of football, as promised by new boss Mark Hughes, who will also attract plenty of curiosity following the clubs controversial decision to appoint him. Their opponents, Liverpool, will be looking to hit the ground running following a disappointing 7th place finish last season, and will see an opening home fixture against a vulnerable side as the perfect opportunity to do so.
This game has potential, but as we’ve seen so many times in the past, the opening game of the season can also be very cagey and dull.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Prediction: Home win
Arsenal v Aston Villa
The new season is here and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is still yet to make that big name signing that was widely expected. There was talk of Jovetic, Higuain and Rooney potentially signing for the Gunners, and more recently Luis Suarez and Luiz Gustavo, but so far the only signing Wenger has made is Yaya Senogo on a free transfer. Even though I don’t support the Gunners, I’m beginning to understand the frustration of my LWOS colleagues who do!
Villa on the other hand have made several new additions to their squad, most of whom are young players, which is a huge risk for a club looking to stay in the top division. I don’t think many people expect Villa to get anything out of this game, but they do have the potential to surprise and on their day can match most Premier League teams.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Prediction: Home win
Norwich City v Everton
Another team with a new manager is Everton, who travel to Norfolk for their opening Premier League clash. Their new boss Roberto Martinez certainly has a lot to live up to after promising Chairman Bill Kenwright that he would guide the club to Champions League football, something which is, in my opinion, way beyond Everton’s reach.
Norwich will be hoping they don’t start this season like they finished the last, which barring a final day victory was worryingly poor. The club have obviously taken the deterioration of form seriously, significantly strengthening their squad in the window by recruiting players like Ricky Van Wolfswinkel, which emphasises the clubs ambition to stay in the Premier League.
This one is likely to be a close game, and could swing either way.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Prediction: Draw
Sunderland v Fulham
Sunderland have looked strong in pre-season, beating Tottenham and pushing Manchester City all the way in the final of the Asia Trophy, and the Black Cats will hope to continue that positive run of form going into the new season. They have a kind start to the season with Fulham, Southampton and Crystal Palace their opening three opponents. Boss Paolo Di Canio will see all of these as winnable game and should be looking to take advantage and get some early points on the board.
Their opening day opponents, Fulham, have been tipped for relegation by some and will be determined to prove a point and start the season well. Martin Jol is a top manager who has vast Premier League experience and has the ability to take the club forward, though getting off to a winning start is a tough ask at the Stadium of Light.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Prediction: Home win
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton
Last season’s surprise package, West Brom will be hoping to emulate their terrific start to the last campaign, which saw them climb to 4th in the Premier League table. They’ve lost star striker Romelu Lukaku, who has returned to Chelsea following a loan spell at the Albion, and are yet to bring in a replacement, leaving them short up front.
Their opponents, Southampton, have excelled in the Premier League since the arrival of boss Mauricio Pochettino, but are still vulnerable to the drop. The Saints have strengthened their squad significantly this summer in a bid to secure Premier League status and will be looking to get off to a winning start at The Hawthorns.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Prediction: Draw
West Ham United v Cardiff City
Cardiff are the favourites of all the newly promoted teams to stay in the top division, but it will still be tough for the Welsh side. They take a trip to London on the opening day, but luckily for them it isn’t Chelsea or Tottenham they face like their fellow newcomers, but West Ham.
The Hammers are now seen as a stable Premier League club under boss Sam Allardyce and will be favourites to win this game, but Cardiff will be full of confidence and are sure to pose a threat to the Clarets.
Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
Prediction: Draw
Swansea City v Manchester United (5:30pm)
The Saturday evening game sees Michael Laudrup’s Swansea take on Champions Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea will go into this one on the back of an excellent pre season and will be hopeful of exploiting United’s vulnerability, with the game marking David Moyes’ first Premier League game in charge of the reds.
United will see this one as a vital game with Chelsea and Liverpool taking on the Red Devils in the next few weeks. Despite not making an major signings this summer, United have so far managed to hold on to Wayne Rooney, who could turn out to be like a new signing if he finds his form.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Prediction: Away win
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur (Sunday, 1:30pm)
The first London derby of the season sees newly promoted Crystal Palace take on Tottenham. Palace’s promotion to the top flight came as a surprise to many and subsequently they are favourites to fall foul of the drop. They have a tough opening game against a Spurs team looking to beat rivals Arsenal to fourth spot this year.
For Spurs, it’s vital to get off to a positive, winning start – something they couldn’t manage on the opening day of last season, drawing against Newcastle. They will see this game as a relatively ‘easy’ start and Spurs fans will be expecting to take the 3 points back to White Hart Lane.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (County Durham)
Prediction: Away win
Chelsea v Hull City (Sunday, 4:00pm)
The “Special One” (or “Happy One”, as Mourinho now calls himself) returns with a home game against another of the newly promoted teams, Hull.
The Blues are tipped by many to win the title this season under Mourinho, and should the London club fulfil those expectations, they need to be winning games like these. Their opponents on Sunday, Hull, will go to Stamford Bridge with the mindset of looking to pick something up, and the likelihood is that they will defend in the hope of taking a point back to the KC. The difference in quality between the squads is vast, which will probably result in a comfortable home win.
Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)
Prediction: Home win
Manchester City v Newcastle United (Monday, 8:00pm)
The first Monday night game of the season features a new look Manchester City side take on Alan Pardew’s Newcastle.
The Citizen’s haven’t enjoyed a great pre-season, but will be looking to get off to a good start to put up a fight for the Premier League crown. New, big money signings such as Fernandinho and Stevan Jovetic should help the blues do that, though they have a challenging opening encounter against Newcastle.
The Magpies have resolved their dispute with start-striker Papis Cisse and will be looking to regain the form which saw them challenging for the Champions League just two seasons ago. Like City, they have made some good summer signings, one of which is Loic Remy, who showed what he could do on the Premier League stage last season with QPR.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Prediction: Home win
Chelsea v Aston Villa (Wednesday 7:45pm)
Chelsea’s second game in a matter of days sees the Blues take on Aston Villa. This is another game Chelsea will be looking to win. Chelsea could have 6 points on the board before their title rivals even play their second match, which is a great way to kick start their title challenge.
Aston Villa will travel to Stamford Bridge just days after taking on Arsenal at the Emirates. No team likes to kick the season off with two away games, especially when it’s against two of the top four. Villa will be lucky to get anything from either game, making their next game at home to Liverpool an important one.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Prediction: Home win
View the full referee appointments here.
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