Premier League preview: How the first games of the season are likely to unfold
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And so here we are again – the dawn of a new Premier League season.
The Bees are buzzing for their first game in the top flight, as Thomas Frank’s Brentford welcome Arsenal as the 2021/22 campaign gets under way with some Friday night football.
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Hide AdThe excitement of the Euros is already a distant memory. England’s heroes are back in the bosom of their clubs and all attention turns to the self-styled greatest league in the world. Will anyone be able to topple Manchester City? Can champions of Europe Chelsea regain their Premier League crown? Will it be yellow peril for Norwich and Watford after their promotions, or could one of them do a Leeds and finish in the top half.
So many questions, none of which will be answered this weekend. Nonetheless, we’ll take a look at the opening fixtures and see who might come out of the blocks like Elaine Thompson-Herah and whose hopes might dive quicker than Tom Daley.
Brentford vs Arsenal
Regular Championship watchers will know all about Brentford and their style of play. They won’t be coming into the Premier League just for the ride – they are more than capable of giving a few bloody noses during their stay in the top flight as they’ve shown in cup competitions in recent years.
Arsenal’s possession game will be challenged by Frank’s men. They play at a high tempo, look to retrieve the ball quickly and boast pace and power on the counter attack.
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Hide AdWatch out for Ivan The Terrible back page puns from some of the nationals. Not that he is terrible – more that he can terrorise defences better than Arsenal have.
Bakayo Saka could feature from the bench for Arsenal. Just keep him off penalties.
Prediction: Brentford 2-1 Arsenal
Manchester United v Leeds United
Mouthwatering contest between two sides whose fans have, ahem, a lot of time for each other. Or not. Don’t think there’ll be many half and half scarves on show around Old Trafford.
If this one lives up to the bonkers 6-2 goal bonanza of last season then we’ll be in for a treat. There certainly won’t be as many goals as the number of occasions people get upset on social media over pundits referring to ‘United’ though.
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Hide AdBoth teams have been active in the transfer market. Ole’s at the wheel for the Red Devils and he’s bought big to hopefully ensure Victor Lindelof and Daniel James don’t play this season.
Keeping hold of the Yorkshire Pirlo, Raphinha & Co has arguably been the best business for Marcelo Bielsa and he could be set for another great season.
Prediction: Man United 2-3 Leeds United
Burnley vs Brighton
Two clubs who finished in the bottom five last season and who have barely strengthened doesn’t bode well for the upcoming campaign. Brighton have the bite of a newborn baby and have let go their best defender at the other end in Ben White. There’s £50m burning a hole in Graham Potter’s pocket – buy a flipping striker!
Burnley have only added defender Nathan Collins and Wayne Hennessey as Sean Dyche's squad remains light and in need of reinforcements. However, owner Alan Pace says they are in ‘live conversations’ with transfer targets – as opposed to dead conversations, we presume, so that sounds, well, good. We think.
Prediction: Burnley 0-0 Brighton
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
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Hide AdBig Rom is back in the house. Chelsea’s genius transfer strategy of selling young players off then buying them back a few years later for much more continues.
Lukaku’s arrival, however, should see Chelsea go close to adding the Premier League title to their Champions League crown. They should batter Palace, regardless of the Patrick Vieira impact. Palace’s transfer activity has largely centred on the defence, with Joachim Anderson signing for £15million after his impressive loan spell at Fulham, while Marc Guehi has joined from Saturday’s opponents Chelsea for around £20million.
No doubt Chelsea will buy him back in 2028 for £188million.
Prediction: Chelsea 4-0 Crystal Palace
Everton v Southampton
Rafa the Gaffa is back on Merseyside, and it’s caused a stir. Benitez will expect a warm(ish) reception from the Everton faithful when he takes his place in the Goodison Park dugout for the first time.
If he thinks he’s got issues, he just needs to look over to the other dugout, however. It’s less of a case of Wreck-it Ralph and more a story of Rebuilding Ralph as Hassenhutl must try to work his magic on a Saints side that capsized in the second half of last season and has then seen Danny Ings, Ryan Bertrand and Mario Lemina depart – and now probably Jannik Vestergaard.
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Hide AdThey have signed Adam Armstrong to replace Ings and he’ll be hungry to prove he’s Premier League clash, having been sold by Newcastle in 2018. The manager who let him go? One R Benitez.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Southampton
Leicester City v Wolves
Brendan Rodgers’ side blew their big Champions League chance at the end of last season. Again. An FA Cup triumph more than made up for it but if the Foxes are to push on, they need to get off to a strong start with competition tough for the top four this year.
Jamie Vardy is about 42 now but is showing no sign of slowing down and Harvey Barnes’ return is (CLICHE KLAXON) like a new signing for Leicester.
Wolves are one of my tips for relegation. The impact of Nuno’s departure is potentially huge and they are another team who need a strong end to the transfer window if they are to keep away from the drop zone. Goals again could be an issue.
Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Wolves
Watford vs Aston Villa
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Hide AdCould Jack Grealish’s departure actually be good for Villa? The golden boy took his massive calves, rolled down socks, flowing locks and hairband over to Man City where he will continue to be the most fouled player in the league.
Villa have invested that £100m wisely, by the looks of things. Danny Ings will bring goals if he stays fit, Axel Tuanzebe is a clever loan signing, while the double capture of Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey for around £65million could fill the creativity and flair void left by Captain Jack.
In comparison, Watford have gone cheap. Danny Rose, Ashley Fletcher and Josh King on free transfers won’t get anyone excited and will do little to help the Hornets survive the drop. A long season awaits.
Prediction: Watford 1-2 Aston Villa
Norwich City v Liverpool
Anyone else surprised by Liverpool’s transfer activity so far? Gini Wijnaldum has left and not been replaced, no new striker in to put pressure on the front three. It all looks very samey, bar the capture of defender Ibrahima Konate from Leipzig for £36million, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his arrival and the return to fitness of Virgil Van Dijk will be enough to get them back in the title hunt.
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Hide AdThey should have too much for Norwich, but what will be intriguing is to see whether Daniel Farke changes his style of play this season. The Canaries refused to bow to their open style when they were last promoted, and subsequently sank like a stone again.
This time, Farke has invested in a few defenders, including Kristoffer Ajer from Celtic who he’s hoping will be the new Van Dijk.
Prediction: Norwich City 0-3 Liverpool
Newcastle United vs West Ham United
A repeat of last season’s opener for both clubs, though with the fixture reversed. If you’d said after that game, won 2-0 by Newcastle at the London Stadium, that one of the clubs would finish in Europe and the other would be battling against relegation for much of the campaign, you’d have been surprised by the outcome.
Steve Bruce and David Moyes have been involved in more Premier League games than any of the other top flight managers this season. Yep, it’s a mystery to me too.
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Hide AdWhat can we expect at St James’s Park? Well, Moyes – having guided Sunderland to relegation a few years ago – may actually get a better reception from the home faithful than Bruce, but in terms of the action, I have a sneaky feeling that Newcastle will deliver a win.
While their squad looks remarkably similar to the one that finished last season, they did end with a flourish and when Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson are on form, they can trouble most defences.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 West Ham
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Or as we like to call it, the Harry Kane audition.
The England captain looked set for a £120million move to City this summer, but that deal now looks dead in the water unless he kidnaps Daniel Levy’s dog and demands a transfer as ransom.
Kane will line up for Spurs hoping to show Pep Guardiola that City should make one last bid for him before the window closes. The champions, dspite romping to the title, are in desperate need for a striker still, having allowed Sergio Aguero to leave and only having the hit-and-miss (usually miss) Gabriel Jesus as a main frontman.
This is an opportunity for Kane and Spurs to make amends. City will probably win the title again, but it’s not a bad time to play them.
Prediction: Spurs 1-0 Man City