Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all to get off to winning starts? Here are Di Davidson-Amadi’s predictions for the opening round of fixtures.
Arsenal VS Sunderland: 2-1
Last season, even with the apparent gulf in talent within the squads, these ties spawned narrow victories for the men from down south.
Arsenal have made some acute acquisitions even in light of losing their captain, Robin Van Persie, whilst Martin O’Neill prepares for his first full season in charge.
Sunderland are still yet to invest in a target man; somebody who can assist the tireless endeavour of Sessegnon.
The slowness of the opening day will be evident as players feel their way back into the swing of things but Arsenal will just nick it.
Everton VS Manchester United: 1-3
Somewhat oddly, Everton have been, traditionally, United’s ‘bogey team’. They were very much that when they pulled off a bit of an upset in an amazing game at Old Trafford last season that effectively stifled the Red Devils’ title tilt terminally.
Everton have quality in their ranks; plenty of players, particularly in advanced positions, who are capable of changing games.
United, however, will be smarting after the 4-4 draw and are now buoyed by the addition of Robin Van Persie, who looks set to be handed his debut on Monday.
Fulham VS Norwich: 2-2
Neither team has transformed much from the outfits of 2011/12 yet.
Fulham have parted ways with Murphy who was the architect in their engine room and they now look set to lose Dempsey, who hasn’t been included in the team for their opening game.
Snodgrass is a tricky customer, capable of doing some amazing things on his day.
If this were at Carrow Road, I’d give this tie to Norwich; as it is, this game will possibly end up deadlocked.
Manchester City VS Southampton: 4-0
This is very much a baptism of fire for the Saints. They can only dream of being able to compete on the same level as the team from the Eastlands.
City have already picked up their first of what I predict will be many items of silverware this season so this match could result in an embarrassing score line for the newly-promoted side.
Newcastle VS Tottenham Hotspur: 1-1
Newcastle were, by a country mile, the surprise package in the top half of the table last season yet Spurs annihilated them at White Hart Lane in a 5-0 drubbing.
This game will not be taking place at the Lane, however, so home advantage, plus the always astonishing support of the Toon Army, will aid Newcastle’s cause.
Neither team has had a chance yet to improve their squad much, subsequently, it will be hard to separate the team come full time.
QPR VS Swansea: 2-1
It’s exciting times at QPR having spent so much money and effort on improving their squad further. Now, in all honesty, we can say that they have a team capable of doing something spectacular and possibly moving into the top half after a tough ‘bedding in’ period.
Swansea will be a good resolute challenge to see just how far the Hoops have come. It will be interesting to see how the Swans new manager, Michael Laudrup, fairs in his first competitive match also.
Reading VS Stoke: 0-1
Stoke showed last season that they’re not the greatest of travellers – particularly in the early part of the campaign.
No team truly wants to play the promoted sides as a first fixture. Reading will certainly have lots of the ball and display glimpses of what we can expect from them but they weren’t able to score an amazing amount of goals in the Championship.
Stoke fight for everything and will pose enough problems to steal this.
West Bromwich Albion VS Liverpool: 2-2
So much press has surrounded the Merseysiders for various reasons.
With Rodgers promising to incorporate his brand of possession football, Liverpool will be even more difficult to defeat.
Steve Clarke will know a thing or two about how Liverpool work from his time up there which may help him to execute a positive result in the same fashion that Hodgson was able to at The Hawthorns.
West Ham United VS Aston Villa: 3-2
Possibly the tie of the weekend: a fresh hungry West Ham, determined for another shot at the big time, against the young pacey attacking that Paul Lambert will no doubt endorse from the start; all of this set within a cauldron of noise.
Allardyce, along with several members of his squad, have bagsful of premiership experience making this tie effectively like a bout between two EPL old hands.
Expect plenty of goals and incident in a scintillating 90 minutes that I look forward to.
Wigan VS Chelsea: 0-2
Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar – if you had to spend £70 million, it might as well be on that lot. Now Chelsea are a vastly improved setup creatively and in terms speed with Hazard already displaying indications of what we can hope to see in his time as a blue.
Wigan gave Chelsea a torrid time at home last season but Chelsea may just have too much variation this time around. It’s difficult to see anything but a win for the Londoners.
What do you think? Let us know your predictions for the opening weekend.
image: © wshjackson
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