Gameweek 1. Everyone starts at 0.
We’ve spent all summer watching transfers, pre-season games, twitter, gossip pages and likely changing our teams 40/50 times. And it all comes down to this! I hope your team is picked, your formation is set and you have any last minute signings on your watch list, as you know they’re just getting 20 minutes!
So for the first time this season, here’s our preview, star players and predictions for gameweek 1.
Liverpool V Norwich 8pm Friday 9th August
Liverpool were unbeaten at home last year, and you know the majority of Twitter have 2 pool’ defenders and Salah, so we’ll all be hoping for a 3 or 4 nil Liverpool win. However, the one thing I see Norwich doing this year is scoring goals, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we are heartbroken after the first 90 minutes of the season!
Star Man: Mohamed Salah (£12.5m)
You know he’s starting the season with a bang
Prediction: Liverpool 4 – 1 Norwich
West Ham V Manchester City 12.30 Saturday 10th August
The defending champions start their defence at the London Stadium, taking on an as usual hard to predict West Ham team, full of possibility with the underlying feeling they’ll just end up 10th again next season.
Star Man: Raheem Sterling (£12.0m)
Aguero is likely to be on the bench, so expect Sterling to start through the middle
Prediction: West Ham 0 – 2 Manchestr City
Bournemouth V Sheffield United 3pm Saturday 10th August
The Blades are back in the Premier League and start with a tough away day at attacking Bournemouth who are always pretty free scoring at home. The injury to Brooks could affect them, but with fantasy darling Wilson, Fraser and King on the pitch I expect a long day for Sheffield’s roaming centre halfs.
Star Man: Callum Wilson (£8.0m)
He’s been good in preseason and I expect him to follow on from his breakout year last season.
Prediction: Bournemouth 3-1 Sheffield United
Burnley V Southampton 3pm Saturday 10th August
Burnley have had a cracking preseason and Southampton have really kicked on since Hassenhutal took over the reins. They’ve invested in Adams from the championship and Burnley will be looking to become the team they were 2 seasons ago. I expect them to be much better at the back this season.
Star Man: Nick Pope (£4.5m)
Burnley’s Number 1 is a bonus points magnet
Prediction: Burnley 0 – 0 Southampton
Crystal Palace V Everton 3pm Saturday 10th August
Palace look in disarray, losing defensive lynchpin Wan-Bissaka, on the verge of losing Zaha and losing their last preseason game 4-0. Everton on the other hand, are spending well by bringing in Delph and Kean, have a very solid back 5 however they have barely scored all preseason. This game is likely to tell us exactly where both teams are.
Star Man: Gylfi Sigurdsson (£8.0m)
The Icelandic central midfielder is always a threat from set pieces
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Everton
Watford V Brighton 3pm Saturday 10th August
The Hornets have again had a quiet preseason but seemingly seem to get their act together and win enough points to be comfortably safe every season. Brighton have really rung the changes with a new manager and new attacking option in Maupay and Trossard. I expect a lot more goals from Brighton this season, but the likelihood is they’ll also concede considerably more.
Star Man: Gerard Deulofeu (£6.5m)
Usually a flat track bully, with Brighton looking to score more goals it could be his time to shine
Prediction: Watford 3 – 1 Brighton
Spurs V Aston Villa 5.30pm Saturday 10th August
The last newly promoted side to play on the first weekend are Villa, who have bought like no other team this season. Some big signings will be tested against a strong Spurs side, playing their first opening weekend game at the new stadium. Will Tyrone Mings look great against Harry Kane? Can Wesley disrupt a strong Spurs defence?
Star Man: Harry Kane (£11.0m)
Never scores in August, does he?
Prediction: Spurs 2 – 0 Aston Villa
Leicester V Wolves 2pm Sunday 11th August
Brendan Rodgers men take on Wolves in a rearranged Sunday start due to Wolves European Adventures. From previous experience, early european games tend to mess with a team’s start to the season (see Burnley last year), however I think Wolves are stronger than most, with some really exciting players, and the introduction of Cutrone will be an impressive one.
Star Man: Jamie Vardy (£9.0m)
WKD on a Sunday night for the Vardy party
Prediction: Leicester 2 – 1 Wolves
Newcastle V Arsenal 2pm Sunday 11th August
No Rafa, No Rondon, No Perez, how will Newcastle start at home? A planned boycott may not happen, but I think Arsenals attacking prowess will likely overcome Steve Bruces latest team trying to avoid relegation.
Star Man: Patrick Aubameyang (£11.0m)
The lightning striker is likely to get off to a great start on Tyneside
Prediction: Newcastle 1 – 2 Arsenal
Manchester United V Chelsea 4.30pm Sunday 11 August
Lampard’s Chelsea debut, Maguire and Wan-Bissaka’s Manchester United debut, it’s going to be a Super Sunday. A tough game to call, but I think we will learn a lot about how Frank wants to line up, and if Manchester United are starting to fix their defensive issues
Star Man: Paul Pogba (£8.0m)
The mercurial Frenchman can be the best player in the league on his day…..or the worst
Prediction: Manchester United 1 – 1 Chelsea
Written by @LotmerFPL
