Premier League Opening Day Predictions

FRIDAY:

ARSENAL V COVENTRY

Arsenal are rightly the favourites to win and defend their title this season and why showed why in their Community Shield win over Man City last weekend.

Their squad strength was heavily praised last season and this season it arguably looks stronger because of the players they've brought in.

Bruno Guimaraes gives their midfield more depth and I can see him form a formidable midfield partnership with Declan Rice. His signing will also give them chance to rest Rice in certain games so they can save him for the bigger games.

They will however be without a few key players for this one including Jurrien Timber, who is still recovering from an injury he picked up towards the end of last season, and William Saliba, who is set for a long spell on the sidelines following the injury he picked up at the World Cup.

These injuries leave them short on option at the back but they are in talks to sign Ezri Konsa from Villa which would be a good signing.

Coventry are back in the Premier League for the first time in 25 years and it's good to have a club of their stature back in the top flight.

They've been on some journey since their last appearance in the top flight as they've dropped right down to League 2, been in administration and even spent a few years without a permanent home.

Frank Lampard continued the good work his predecessor Mark Robins started when they were in League 2 by guiding them to the Championship title and I think he comes back to the Premier League a better manager.

His side couldn't have had a tougher start on their top flight return and with Arsenal having such a strong squad, I can see them teach the Sky Blues a harsh lesson about Premier League football.

PREDICTION: 5-0

SATURDAY:

HULL V MAN UNITED

Hull are back in the Premier League after a decade away and have a nightmare start with this game against United, Chelsea and Villa in three of their opening four games.

They defied the odds to get promoted last season after being among the favourites for relegation in the Championship and they'll come into this season once again as the favourites for the drop.

Performing another miracle this season is one big ask because the Premier League is one big step up from the Championship and their squad doesn't have the quality to compete.

Man United will rightly be feeling optimistic heading into this season following a strong end to last season after Michael Carrick took over.

Carrick will be judged more this season because he's now the full time manager whereas last season he was just asked to get the players playing with a smile on their face.

His team will have more games to play this season as a result of them being back in the Champions League which will create even more pressure because he'll need to be able to rotate his squad because of the demand on the player.

They should definitely get off to a winning start here as they should have more than enough quality to win the game and I'm backing Bruno Fernandes to continue where he left off last season by picking a goal and an assist each.

PREDICTION: 0-3

EVERTON V CRYSTAL PALACE

Everton didn't have a great home record last season in their first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and they should fare better after having a season to adjust to a new stadium.

Their record on the opening day of the season isn't great either and especially recently as they've lost their last four opening fixtures.

Crystal Palace have a new manager in charge in Pierre Sage who will have big shoes to fill in replacing Oliver Glasner, who put the club on a map with the success he achieved.

Their squad is still stretched like it was for the whole of last season because of Europe and after a quiet transfer window, I think they'll have a similar kind of season.

They were stronger on the road than they were at home last season and with Everton having had a poor home record, I fancy the Eagles to get their season and the Pierre Sage era off to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 1-2

IPSWICH V SUNDERLAND

Ipswich had a far from convincing season last season despite winning promotion but they're arguably better equipped to stay up this season than they were the last time they came up.

Losing manager Kieran McKenna is a big blow after all he achieved at the club, but in new boss Gary O'Neil they have someone who has managed in the Premier League before and did a decent job at the respective clubs he managed in Bournemouth and Wolves.

But I still see them struggling because they're lacking that 10-15 goal a season striker which they didn't have in the Championship after most of their goals came from their wide men.

Sunderland had an incredible season last season but repeating that this season will be very tough as they'll be in Europe.

A number of clubs have struggled to manage both European and Premier League commitments over the years due to the lack of squad depth and I fear Sunderland will struggle to compete on both fronts this season.

I can see this being a close game because I think both teams will play a similar way and will be evenly matched.

Because of this I can see the teams share the points.

PREDICTION: 1-1

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V LEEDS

Forest will be hoping for a less chaotic season than last season where they were through four different managers but still managed to stay up.

They made yet another managerial change in the summer with the appointment of Oliver Glasner who I think is a good appointment following the success he had at Crystal Palace.

But I do think they'll compete near the bottom of the table again because they've lost Elliot Anderson and I can see goals being a problem for them again.

They might have Chris Wood back after missing a big chunk of last season out injured, but he'll be turning 35 during the season and they not be as effective as he once was.

Leeds have made some exciting signings this summer and I don't see them having any relegation fears because of this.

They're going to look dangerous going forward with a front line of Harry Wilson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor and I can see all three of them score a good amount of goals between them.

Daniel Farke proved his doubters wrong last season by keeping his side in the Premier League and he'll now need to prove if he can establish them as a Premier League club.

Forest have had a strong home record in recent seasons and because of this I'm backing them to get their season off to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BRENTFORD V TOTTENHAM

Brentford had an incredible season last season and I have them down as one of my dark horses for this season.

They just missed out on Europe by one point last season and I fancy them to go one better and clinch that final European spot.

Spurs surely can't be any worse than they were last season where they were very close to going down and especially after spending over £200 million in the summer.

No European football will certainly help as they'll hopefully have fewer injuries and injuries are what have affected them in each of the last two seasons.

Brentford have had a strong home record since they've been in the Premier League and because of this, I think they'll come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

SUNDAY:

BRIGHTON V ASTON VILLA

Brighton had an up and down season last season but still made Europe and this season will be more challenging as they'll be in Europe.

They've also lost key players in Jean Paul Van Hecke and Danny Welbeck who will both be big misses because of how important they both were.

Villa will also have a challenging season ahead of them as they'll be back in the Champions League and have lost two of their best players in Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers.

They were a side who reached their prime last season by winning the Europa League alongside finishing 4th and this season could be one where Unai Emery might've taken them as far as he can.

Despite the players they've lost, I still think they'll get their season off to a winning start as they should have enough quality in them to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MAN CITY V BOURNEMOUTH

A new era begins at Man City under Enzo Maresca who no doubt has big shoes to fill in replacing a legend such as Pep Guardiola.

Compared to when Ferguson left United and when Wenger left Arsenal, City are in a better place in that they have a team that is relatively young and still capable of challenging for major trophies.

Losing Rodri is of course a huge blow and his absence was sorely felt in the Community Shield last weekend where their midfield got overrun.

But if Elliot Anderson can get himself up to speed following his arrival from Forest, he should be a more than capable replacement.

Bournemouth also have a new boss in charge in Marco Rose who also has big shoes to fill in replacing Andoni Iraola who took the Cherries onto another level.

The Cherries will have a more challenging season ahead of them simply because they'll be in Europe which test the depth of their squad.

City may not be as strong as they were in recent seasons, but they're still a quality side and I can see them winning this game without too many problems.

PREDICTION: 3-1

NEWCASTLE V LIVERPOOL

It's quite fitting that these two sides are playing each other on the opening day following the passing of Kevin Keegan who was an icon at both clubs.

Newcastle have had another difficult summer after losing three of their best players in Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes alongside manager Eddie Howe.

New boss Matthias Jaissle already has a big jobs on his hands this season and although the Magpies will benefit with not having the distraction of European football, another tough season lies ahead.

Liverpool should have a much improved season under new boss Andoni Iraola who will be bringing in a more front footed style of football which is what the fans wanted.

There have been a few concerns in pre season and especially defensively due to the lack of options and goals they've been conceding alongside a lack of fitness as Iraola pointed out.

But I still think they'll have a decent season as they'll be playing a better brand of football and one that will suit the players and the club.

Alexander Isak will be returning to St James' Park for the first time since making that big money to move to Liverpool last summer and he will without a doubt get a toxic reception because of the way he left Newcastle last summer.

Isak should have a better season this season simply because he's had a full pre season under his belt which is what he didn't have last season after going on strike at Newcastle.

Newcastle fans will hate this, but I'm backing him to score in this game and for Liverpool to get their campaign off to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MONDAY:

FULHAM V CHELSEA

When the fixtures came out, I don't think anyone had both teams to be managed by ex-Real Madrid managers.

Fulham have Alvaro Arbeloa in charge now following Marco Silva's departure and his appointment has been received as risky because he's never managed in the Premier League and doesn't have a load of managerial experience.

The Cottagers have been well established in the Premier League ever since they've been here and this season could be the first one where they struggle after losing a big chunk of goals from their attack following the departures of Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson.

They've brought in younger players this summer who are unproven and because of this I can see them struggle this season.

New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso was harshly treated by Real Madrid in my opinion as he was sacked when they were only one or two points behind Barcelona.

I can see him doing well at Chelsea as he'll be taking over a team with no big named egos and will be able to play his 3-4-3 system he adopted at Leverkusen which suits the players Chelsea have.

I think he'll use that formation because he has two natural no.10's in Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers and if he's to fit them both in the same team, he has to play them in the two no.10 positions.

I'm backing Palmer to have a big season following the injury disrupted campaign he had last season and I can see him making the difference here and Chelsea coming out on top.

PREDICTION: 0-2