English Premier League first round preview

The wait is over football fans, the new English Premier League season is finally upon us.

Remember that caffeine addiction that got you through the World Cup and only just kicked? Good, because you’re going to need to get back on itfor the next nine months. With the league’s big teams spending massive amounts of money during the off-season, you won’t want to miss a minute of what is shaping up to be one of the most enthralling seasons in recent memory.

Without further ado, sit back and read up on all you need to know about the opening round of matches.

Manchester United v Swansea
Date: Saturday, August 16
Time: 9:45pm (AEST)
Venue: Old Trafford

Fresh from one of their most disappointing campaigns in Premier League history, the Red Devils have undergone an overhaul during the off-season. Ex-manager David Moyes is gone, replaced by former Netherlands boss Louis Van Gaal and the early signs are good with the Dutchman leading the club through an undefeated pre-season. New signings Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw appear to be fitting in well in Van Gaal’s preferred 3-5-2 field structure, and a home game against Swansea is the perfect opportunity for the Devils to show they are still a force to be reckoned with. The Swans couldn’t have asked for a tougher ask to begin their campaign and despite knocking United out of the FA Cup last season, they will have to be at the top of their game to get anything out of this match. Some average pre-season form (three wins, three losses and a draw) combined with a host of new signings mean Garry Monk’s side will need time to work their way into the season. This should be a fairly comfortable win for United.
Prediction: 2-0 Manchester United

 

Leicester v Everton

Date: Sunday, August 17
Time: 12am (AEST)
Venue: King Power Stadium

Leicester are back in the EPL for the first time in 10 years and face a stern opening day test in the form of Roberto Martinez’s Everton. The Foxes actually beat Everton in a pre-season friendly in Bangkok but this will be a completely different affair with three points on the line. The Toffees have done well to keep their impressive squad together over the off-season and their fans will be expecting big things this season with a spot in the UEFA Champions League not an unrealistic goal. If this is to happen, Everton will have to make the most of games such as this and while Leicester will be full of confidence after their promotion from the Championship, expect Martinez’s side to get the job done away from home.

Prediction: Leicester 1-3 Everton

QPR v Hull
Date: Sunday, August 17
Time: 12am (AEST)
Venue: Loftus Road Stadium

After just one year in the first division, QPR are back in the top flight and millionaire owner Tony Fernandes will be keen for his side to stay there for good this season. However, the club has only brought in three new faces so far during this transfer window and there are question marks over their capacity to perform consistently in one of the world’s toughest leagues. Despite signing the likes of Jake Livermore, Tom Ince and Robert Snodgrass, many pundits are tipping Hull to be involved in yet another relegation dog fight. Expect this one, the two sides’ first meeting with each other in three years, to end in a stalemate.
Prediction: QPR 1-1 Hull

Stoke City v Aston Villa
Date: Sunday, August 17
Time: 12am (AEST)
Venue: Britannia Stadium

Aston Villa face the undesirable task of travelling to the Britannia on opening day, a notoriously hard ground to get a result at. Stoke enjoyed their best finish to a first division season since 1974-75 last campaign, a stark contrast to Villa who had the dark clouds of relegation hovering over their heads for much of it. The Potters did the double over Paul Lambert’s side last season and with players such as Bojan Krkic and Mame Biram Diouf joining their ranks over the summer they should have no problems picking up all three points at home.
Prediction: Stoke 2-0 Aston Villa

West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland
Date: Sunday, August 17
Time: 12am (AEST)
Venue: The Hawthorns

Both these sides were in last year’s relegation battle. The Black Cats’ escape was nothing short of a miracle, with WBA finishing just one game outside the drop zone. As a result, both squads underwent major overhauls during the off-season and this match will provide an interesting glimpse into how well the various newcomers are settling in. From an Australian perspective, left-back Jason Davidson could be in line to make his EPL debut for West Brom and what better way to do it than with a win in front of the vocal Hawthorns crowd. However, Sunderland proved they are a team on the rise at the back end of last season after they collected 13 points from their last six games. With manager Gus Poyet having a full pre-season to work with his squad for the first time since he came to the club in October last year, expect the Black Cats to pick up where they left off last time around.
Prediction: West Brom 0-1 Sunderland

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
Date: Sunday, August 17
Time: 12am (AEST)
Venue: Upton Park

Another season, another manager for Spurs with former Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino the third boss in as many years to step into the hot seat at White Hart Line. His first test will be against neighbours West Ham who have enjoyed a reasonable off-season recruitment drive, with Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia the man to watch out for. An ever-expectant Upton Park faithful will be keen for an opening day win but after an unsuccessful pre-season which included a disastrous trip to New Zealand, it’s hard to see anything but an easy victory to Tottenham.
Prediction: West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Date: Sunday, August 17
Time: 2:30am (AEST)
Venue: Emirates Stadium

The signing of Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez and an emphatic 3-0 win in the Community Shield over Manchester City has Gunners fans dreaming of their side’s first title in 10 years. Arsene Wenger’s charges have looked scarily good over the pre-season and should easily account for a manger-less Crystal Palace side who have been rocked by the shock resignation of Tony Pulis just days out from the start of the season. It is shaping up to be a very bad day at the office for Aussie captain Mile Jedinak and the rest of his Palace teammates.
Prediction: Arsenal 4-0 Crystal Palace

Liverpool v Southampton
Date: Sunday, August 17
Time: 10:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Anfield

In a twist that will surely fire both sets of fans, the Reds will prepare to face the team from whom they bought three players over the summer break. Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren will all front up against their former side should they take part in Sunday’s game against Southampton, a team who have been gutted over the transfer period. Not only did they lose manager Mauricio Pochettino they also lost five key players and have so far failed to adequately replace them. While they started last season in stunning fashion it is hard to see them replicating this form. Even without Luis Suarez Liverpool are a formidable side and have shown in pre-season they don’t need their former talisman to win games and they should have no trouble collecting their first three points on Sunday night.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Southampton

Newcastle United v Manchester City
Date: Monday, August 18
Time: 1am (AEST)
Venue: St James’ Park

Reigning champions Manchester City face a tricky trip north to open up their campaign, a task compounded by their shock 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield last Sunday. Manuel Pellegrini has only dipped into the transfer market sparingly this window, clearly not needing to add too much to what is already one of the most impressive squads in world football. While on paper this may seem like an easy victory for City, they must be wary. Newcastle had an extremely disappointing campaign last season and with the players they have at their disposal it is hard to see this being repeated, and a result against City on the first day of the season would be the perfect way to start their push for European football. However, City have one of the deepest squads in the world right now and should prove too classy for Alan Pardew’s side.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Manchester City

Burnley v Chelsea
Date: Tuesday, August 19
Time: 5am (AEST)
Venue: Turf Moor

Premier League new boys Burnley couldn’t have asked for a more daunting fixture to kick off their season. By their own lofty standards, Chelsea were disappointing in the league last year and Jose Mourinho has worked wonders in the off-season to improve what was already a star-studded squad. Newly acquired striker Diego Costa has looked the goods in pre-season, scoring four goals, and he’ll be raring to justify his $58 million price tag in the season proper. With the Blues also boasting the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Cesc Fabregas and world-cup winner Andre Schurrle in the front third, it is hard to see how Burnley’s defensive unit will cope.
Prediction: Burnley 0-4 Chelsea