Liverpool v Stoke
Anfield, 12.45, Saturday
With Mark Hughes at the helm, Stoke are understandably fighting a relegation battle from day one. However, Liverpool have only won one of their last seven meetings with Stoke in the league and will be without top striker Luis Suarez.
Bet: 16/5 draw
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Emirates, 15.00, Saturday
Despite all the talk this summer, Arsenal have only added one player to a squad many believe needs serious overall. Aston Villa’s best bit of business this summer was re-signing Christian Benteke but the home side should still have too much for Paul Lambert’s men.
Bet: 4/9 Arsenal
Norwich v Everton
Carrow Road, 15.00, Saturday
New Everton boss Roberto Martinez will obviously be hoping to kick off the new season with a win to calm any fans who have their doubts about the Spaniard. Many think Norwich over-performed last season so this game will offer the home side a chance to prove that thesis wrong.
Bet: 13/10 Everton
Sunderland v Fulham
Stadium of Light, 15.00, Saturday
Sunderland have added 11 new faces to the squad that finished 17th last season but will Di Canio’s ‘revolution’ be enough to let Black Cats’ fans breathe a little easier this year? Fulham’s new owner will want quick success but a win Saturday doesn’t look likely in a fixture that has produced four draws in the last seven.
Bet: 9/4 Draw
West Brom v Southampton
The Hawthorns, 15.00, Saturday
West Brom surprised many with their performances last year, including more than a few in TheScore.ie Towers and Nicolas Anelka’s partnership with Shane Long could prove to be a stroke of genius. Mauricio Pochettino will hope Rickie Lambert repeats his midweek heroics for England but the home side did score five without reply in their two fixtures last year.
Bet: 5/4 West Brom
West Ham v Cardiff
Boleyn Ground, 15.00, Saturday
Cardiff will hope their fairytale journey to the Premier League – 20 years ago they were in the fourth tier of English football – gets off to the winning start and will look to Kim Bo-Kyung to trouble the scoreboard operators right off the bat. West Ham won eight of ten preseason encounters though and should claim three points here.
Bet: Evens West Ham
Swansea v Man Utd
Liberty Stadium, 17.30, Saturday
David Moyes couldn’t have asked for a better game to make his Premier League debut as Manchester United manager after beating the Welsh side 3-0 and 2-0 in his last two visits to the Liberty Stadium. A Michu inspired Swansea managed a draw against the champions in this fixture last year but a similar result looks unlikely Saturday.
Bet: Evens Man Utd
Crystal Palace v Spurs
Selhurst Park, 13.30, Sunday
Palace’s first game in the top-flight is a tough one as Tottenham and Andrew-Villas Boas have a Champions League spot firmly in their sights this year. Palace look favourites to go straight back down at this stage, especially with last season’s top scorer Glenn Murray injured until at least Christmas.
Bet: 5/6 Spurs
Chelsea v Hull
Stamford Bridge, 16.00, Sunday
Jose Mourinho didn’t lose a single Premier League game at home during his first tenure in charge and there’s little to suggest that will change this weekend. Tom Huddlestone adds some more top flight experience to Hull but their host of new players are unlikely to create much of a stir Sunday.
Bet: 2/9 Chelsea
Man City v Newcastle
Etihad Stadium, 20.00, Monday
Manuel Pellegrini is far from the only new face around the Etihad this summer and new signings Fernandinho, Jesús Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic could all be involved. For Alan Pardew and Newcastle, you can’t help but feel it’s only a matter of time before the two part ways.
Bet: 1/3 Man City
Accumulator
So, if you were to put €10 on our ten game accumulator this weekend, you’d be looking at a return of over €13,000.
NAP
Wins for Manchester United, Everton and Spurs will return €88 on a €10 treble.
Stab in the dark
€10 will net you €144 if Coutinho, David Silva and Soldado score anytime.
Disagree? Of course you do. Feel free to leave your own predictions in the comments section >
