So here we are, just 5 days until the kick off of the 2014/2015 Premier League season. With 3 new teams and various players leaving and joining the Premier league, here is our round up of what we could be in for in the first round of fixtures.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs SWANSEA
Louis van Gaal and his new Manchester United squad start off their campaign at home against Swansea. Gary Monk and his Swansea team will be looking to build on last seasons performances, especially avoiding an early heavy defeat against Manchester United like they did on the opening weekend of last season. However we feel that with Louis van Gaal’s first game at Old Trafford, Swansea will do well here to leave with any points.
STAR MAN – Wayne ROONEY
With Robin van Persie out due to fitness for the first couple of games, Rooney will look to be United’s main source of goals.
LEICESTER vs EVERTON
Leicester return to the Premier league with their first game coming against Martinez’s Everton. With numerous new signings, namely Lukaku, Everton will look to build on last seasons performances, and should comfortably beat Leicester in this opener.
STAR MAN – Romelu LUKAKU
Lukaku has now fully signed for Everton after a £28m bid was accepted by Chelsea. After 15 goals with the Toffees last season, he will now want to show Chelsea what they are really missing.
QPR vs HULL
Harry Redknaap brought QPR straight back up to the Premier League, courtesy of the player offs. He will this time want to keep them there and what better opportunity they have to start this than a home game against Hull.
STAR MAN – Steven CAULKER
QPR’s new signing will be vital to the R’s survival as he will look to organise their defence and keep them solid at the back, which will be vital to them picking up points.
STOKE vs ASTON VILLA
This is probably the most even game of game week 1 as there isn’t really a clear cut winner. Both teams finished mid table last season, and will look to better their performances last season.
STAR MAN – BOJAN krkic
The “next Messi” has joined Stoke City on a permanent transfer this summer and with 3 goals in as many pre-season games, he looks like he could play an important part in the Potters attack.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION vs SUNDERLAND
After Sunderland’s phenomenal survival last season, they will be determined not to leave it that close this season. West Brom also narrowly escaped relegation and will be looking to avoid the drop again this season.
STAR MAN – Adam JOHNSON
Johnson had a somewhat successful season with Sunderland, seeing him score 8 and assist 6 goals during the 2013/2014 campaign. He will be aiming to replicate this and will be aiming to break into the England ranks, so we should see him in and around the goals.
WEST HAM vs TOTTENHAM
Last season West Ham did the treble over Spurs, beating them 0-3 and 2-0 in the Premier league and 1-2 in the a Capital One Cup. However, with Pochettino as the new manager at Spurs we think that West Ham will be very lucky to beat them.
STAR MAN – Christian ERIKSEN
The Spurs playmaker finished the last campaign off in impressive form, and he will be eager to carry that through to the start of this season too. He should have enough quality to get a goal or assist.
ARSENAL vs CRYSTAL PALACE
Arsenal’s title challenge this year starts off at the Emirates with a tough game against Tony Pulis and his men who last season took points off Chelsea and Liverpool. However, Asenal and their new signings should have enough class to crack the code on the Eagles defence.
STAR MAN – Aaron RAMSEY
After the season he had, he deserves to be the key man, as he is at the heart of the Gunners midfield. He will look to replicate his last campaign and a game at home against Crystal Palace is a good place to start.
LIVERPOOL vs SOUTHAMPTON
With most of the Southampton XI of last season moving to Anfield (ok, just 3 but it feels like more), this will be a fascinating encounter. With other big Southampton names moving on to other clubs we could see a somewhat new looking team, which we expect a strong Liverpool squad will beat.
STAR MAN – Raheem STERLING
After the transfer of Luis Suarez, someone is going to need to step into the big shoes he left behind, and we think the youngster is more than capable of that with the form he showed last season.
NEWCASTLE vs MANCHESTER CITY
The 2013/2014 champions will start their campaign away at Newcastle, after beating them 3 times last season (once in the Capital One Cup). Newcastle have brought in 7 new signings to strengthen their squad, but whether or not they have fully gelled is another question, and may therefore be for the the taking by Manchester City.
STAR MAN – Sergio AGUERO
The Argentine is somewhat of a doubt for the first game of the season but if he plays no doubt he will be in and around the goals. After picking one goal up against Newcastle last season, and after a bit of a lacklustre World Cup, Aguero will want to step up to the plate on this occasion.
BURNLEY vs CHELSEA
Premier league new boys Burnley are in for a tough start against Chelsea at home, but will be well up for it in their first Premier league game since 2010. Chelsea on the other hand will look to get their title challenge started on the right foot with a win here at Burnley.
STAR MAN – Diego COSTA
Costa has been brought into the Chelsea ranks for one reason – goals, and what better place to tackle that cause than a game against Premier League new-boys Burnley.
