PL Game-week 1 Preview

The opening weekend of the Premier League is one of the most highly anticipated times in sport and this year is no different. With the arrival of new managers, new players and it being one of the hardest seasons to predict due to the financial and squad strength of all the clubs, this year could see a bunch of teams aim for the title and for European places. The opening weekend also sees some top matches, with a high profile London derby with Chelsea hosting West Ham, also Tottenham travel to Everton, and the biggest of them all, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool go to the Emirates to face Arsenal. Every team knows how important it is to get off to a good start, but who will do that, I give my views on who I think will make a statement on game-week one of the Premier League.

Hull City v Leicester City (Saturday 13th August 12:45pm, SkySports)

The champions kick off the new season when they travel to the favourites to go down, who are also manager-less going into the opening game. Leicester may not be 5000/1 like they were last season, but they are also not one of the favourite to repeat their success. Claudio Ranieri will be hoping to start as strong as they did last season when they thumped Sunderland last season, however going away this time could be different. Hull are a club in the middle of nowhere at the moment and they should be excited and raring to go after promotion back to the top flight, but with the problems that have encountered with Steve Bruce, and the fact they have failed to sign players will prove their squad can't be good enough for the Premier League. I like Mike Phelan though because he knows what he's doing, he’s experienced and could easily get the job permanently if they give him a chance in the first few games. However Leicester have recruited well and could be a good shout for Europe again this season and I think they'll beat Hull, they have Mahrez still, at the moment anyway, they have Vardy and I think Musa could be a good player for them, and I also like Demarai Gray, I think they have enough class to start well.

My prediction – Hull City 0-2 Leicester, first scorer, Jamie Vardy

Burnley v Swansea City (Saturday 13th August 3pm)

Burnley haven't invested and they needed to. The club haven't got the most money and when you get into the Premier League, you need to improve your squad because the gap between the two leagues can be massive at times. Swansea are similar as they haven't invested hugely but now with the arrival of Fernando Llorente and Borja Baston, that may give them the goals they need, Paloschi was never going to be good enough and Gomis isn't taking them in the right direction. The only disappointing thing is that they are letting Andre Ayew go to West Ham, they should be aiming to be as good as them and compete with them but when you sell your best player to them, you fall behind. Between the two sides though I can see it being a game with a good atmosphere. Burnley will be buzzing to be back and they have talented players such as Andre Gray, Michael Keane, George Boyd and Sam Vokes. They will score goals and they will also have the passion to get points. Swansea also have a talented group, they can't let Ashely Williams go, he's vital to their squad and this could be a good game, I’m going to go for a Burnley win though, they can do it with the crowd behind them.

My prediction – Burnley 2-1 Swansea, first scorer, Andre Gray

Crystal Palace v West Brom (Saturday 13th August 3pm)

This is a game that will show how both their squads are shaping up, because both need work. Palace desperately need a striker and probably another midfielder or defender. West Brom could do with a few new faces, but that could happen now with the new owners coming in as Jeremy Peace probably just didn't want to spend because he was thinking of selling up. This could see a lot of players have their future determined as Connor Wickham will probably start up top for Palace and will try to prove he's good enough and who knows what's happening to Berahino, possibly moving to the club he visits this Saturday. Bolasie needs to step up and so does Zaha, they are talented players but they need to start strong and show they're worth relying on. I'm tipping Palace to win this won and that could be a wake up call to West Brom but I think the game will be dull. There's not much between the two sides but Palace might just win this.

My prediction – Crystal Palace 1-0 West Brom, first scorer, Scott Dann

Everton v Tottenham (Saturday 13th August 3pm)

This is a tricky one. I don't know what team Koeman will put out, will he play Lukaku, Stones and who will play in the centre of midfield. Tottenham are slightly more predictable as of who will be in the starting eleven, with the side being so good last season. Both sides have been relatively quiet in the transfer window, Spurs don't need to do much but Everton could really do with a few new faces to freshen things up and start again, but they could also be waiting for Lukaku and Stones’ future to be decided, the latter now moving on. I see this one being a good game though as Everton will be stronger than yesteryear and Spurs will want to make their last season at White Hart Lane one to remember. I don't feel Koeman has made the squad his own yet though and Pochettino knows his squad inside out, I think the away side will knick it.

My prediction – Everton 1-2 Tottenham, first scorer, Erik Lamela

Middlesbrough v Stoke (Saturday 13th August 3pm)

This is an interesting one for me, Middlesbrough have got a decent side now and I feel they can stay up, on the other hand Aitor Karanka has a job on his hand to make them a team and all push for the same thing together, and the question is if they can do that from the first game. Stoke are a side with quality, the likes of Shawcross, Butland, Imbula, Shaqiri, Bojan and Arnautovic show the decent players they have in their ranks but they never push for the top 6, which they should. The game however is close to call, Stoke ended last season miserably and Mark Hughes needs to galvanise his side to play good football again, and Middlesbrough will be hoping to start off well at home. I can see this going down as a draw, both sides have a strong 11 now and will look to counter each other but I don't think either will want to lose their first game so they will settle for the draw and a point each.

My prediction - Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke, first scorer, Marko Arnautovic

Southampton v Watford (Saturday 13th August 3pm)

I've gone for a Southampton win here but really anything could happen, Watford have been quiet over the summer in terms of who they've signed, not because they haven't signed many, but because they've gone under the radar, but the players they already had were good. But also their pre-season hasn't been spoken of at all really, I actually couldn't tell you a single game they played. But with Southampton they had a good pre-season, winning 5 and drawing 1, and they also made good signings with Hojbjerg and Redmond coming in to replace Mane and Wanyama. This game will be a good game though as Watford love to attack and score goals with their deadly duo of Deeney and Ighalo and then Southampton are always well drilled from back to front. But as I said I think the saints will get over the line.

My prediction – Southampton 2-1 Watford, first scorer, Virgil Van Dijk

Manchester City v Sunderland (Saturday 13th August 5:30pm, BT Sport)

The Citizens face their boggy team on the opening day, but with Pep in charge will that change, I don't think so. They may not struggle in this game but that doesn't me they will throughout his tenure, a boggy team doesn't change just from the manager. I can see Man City battering the black cats in this game and it will see them go top of the league. I like David Moyes but he hasn't been there long enough to know his side and get his plans across. But Pep will know his starting eleven already I assume, he is the master of coaching and knows everyone at the clubs ability. I don't know who they will play in the starting line up but they have a fantastic group to choose from. I don't know if Sterling will play, I don't know if he's good enough, he wasn't last season and he wasn't at the Euros. But Aguero and De Bruyne will run the show and with David Moyes only having about 10 players to pick from his senior side, the home team should cruise.

My prediction – Manchester City 4-0 Sunderland, first scorer, Sergio Aguero

Bournemouth v Manchester United (Sunday 14th August 1:30, SkySports)

This is really tricky, I think Bournemouth has a place in everyone's heart and everyone will be hoping that they can test this United side and bring them back down to Earth. But Manchester United have rebuilt their empire in the space of 2 months. They needed a top striker, in comes Ibrahimovic, needed another creator, in comes Mkhitaryan, needed a centre-back, the arrival of Eric Bailly is announced and they needed a superstar, world record, Paul Pogba returns with the much used hashtag #pogback. They will be a force and Mourinho will make them challenge for the title, no doubt about it. Bournemouth have been busy as well, Jordan Ibe has been the marque signing but others have been good arrivals too, the likes Lewis Cook and Nathan Ake(only on loan) have shown their desire for youth and that could push them into a mid table team in the next few years if they manage to stay up in between. I don't feel they will have the sudden impact of Manchester United though, and that will see them lose in this game, but they shouldn't get a complete bartering.

My prediction – Bournemouth 0-2 Manchester United

Arsenal v Liverpool (Sunday 14th August 4pm, SkySports)

This game will be excellent and will show if Arsenal need more players and if Liverpool’s signing really fit the bill. We saw recently Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 and then go and lose 4-0 to Mainz a couple of days later. The inconsistency could still be there from last season and that could really go against them. They need to show they're competing with the top 4 and get something from this. Arsenal are an accident waiting to happen with the continued hesitation on spending money, they need a striker and they need a centre-back, if they do that they'll be fine and could even challenge for the title but if they keep waiting then one day they'll finish outside the top four and the fans will give up, they need to spend now and get themselves in the right direction. Jurgen Klopp always seems to get his sides up for playing against the big teams and I think he will do that and I think they will beat Arsenal, that may just make Wenger realise he needs to throw some money at the situation. But Liverpool might be building something special and Klopp will get it right.

My prediction – Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool, first scorer, Roberto Firmino

Chelsea v West Ham (Monday 15th August 8pm, SkySports)

A London derby on the opening weekend is always good. These two sides had contrasting seasons last term and it's hard to think of who will be under the least pressure, West Ham want to be pushing higher up the table and Chelsea want to win the league, but no one expects them to. It's hard to predict how Conte will line up his Chelsea side on Monday night because he deployed the 3-5-2 in the Euros and it worked well. He has talented players but having Eden Hazard as a work-horse left midfielder isn't the most appealing to the supporters or the player. Juan Cuadrado can do that role down the right but I sense Hazard could play just behind a front two or even up top of the formation was to be used. West Ham will be hoping to be even better than last season in which 7th didn't reflect how good they were at times. They have great players now with Payet and the recent arrival of Ayew to go along with players who are underrated to say the least. This game will be exciting and could be tight and I think it'll be a narrow win for Chelsea, I nearly went for a draw but I'm not sure if they'll be able to cope with the fantastic squad Chelsea have now.

My prediction – Chelsea 2-0 West Ham, first scorer, Eden Hazard

So that's my predictions done and why I think them, let's hope for an exciting, goal-filled opening weekend, and for this to be the start of the best Premier League season ever.