Dan’s EPL Predictions Week 1: Arsenal at Old Trafford, Liverpool’s Big Win and More

The Prem Predictions is back.
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1 point for correct result
3 points for correct scoreline
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Winner gets an Arsenal shirt
Top 48 qualify for the World Cup

Liverpool 4-1 Cherries

Including their keeper, the Cherries have essentially lost four out of their back five. Like a lot of clubs, I think Bournemouth are waiting for the final weeks of the window to see where certain dominoes fall to find value. While he will never publicly admit it, I think Adoni Iraola will treat Friday as a free hit. Even if he can bring in bodies in the next couple of days, that is not exactly a lot of time to prepare for the champions.

Anfield will remember Diego Jota. Let us hope the away end shows more class than some fans did last Sunday at Wembley.

Villa 2-1 Newcastle

If you had said to me in May the Toon Army would be starting the season going through the motions, I would not have believed you. Of course I do not want Isak to go to Anfield, but there are Geordies who deserve this after some arrogant statements since their takeover. Over £110 million is a lot of money to refuse for a player who wants to leave. Liverpool are aware of this, which is why they hold all the cards.

Why though did the Swede wait for the champions to buy a striker before pushing for a move? Is he sowing the seeds for an exit next summer? Even if Newcastle choose to force the 25-year-old to stay, it is going to take them a few weeks to lift the mood around the club. It is almost like lifting the Carabao Cup did not make them a massive club after all.

Brighton 2-2 Fulham

Two teams who punched above their weight last season so much it was almost taken for granted. Fulham have done some of the least business of the window so far. As for the Seagulls, keep an eye on Charalampos Kostoulous who will be introduced gradually.

Sunderland 2-1 West Ham

It is odd that the team who won the play-offs seem to have the best chance of the promoted sides of staying up. You cannot say Sunderland are not giving this a proper go, which is not always the case with clubs from the Championship. If you get the Mackems excited, the Stadium of Light becomes a tough place to play.

Early season match-ups with an edge

I think if you picked an opponent for the opening weekend, West Ham would be near the top of that list. The Hammers have not really got going under Graham Potter.

Spurs 3-1 Burnley

This will be a different Burnley from the last version we saw in the top flight. Instead of a ‘you play, we play’ ethos, they will focus on being organised and hard to break down. If you are limited in ability, that second option is your best one.

The home team are going to look so different from the last time we saw them. No more defenders pressing on the halfway line, no more ignoring set-pieces and hopefully no more telling supporters it is okay not to be winning in the league as long as you are doing well in a secondary cup.

Wolves 1-2 Man City

I am interested to see if Pep Guardiola throws in the likes of Cherki and Reijnders at the deep end. Normally, the Spaniard likes to introduce new faces to the physical culture of English football gradually. Even in the years he lifted the title, City often started the season slowly and took a while to find their rhythm. With the competition this season, they cannot afford to do that anymore.

Chelsea 1-1 Palace

I like Palace as a club and think Steve Parish is one of the good guys in the sport. Yet I fail to sympathise with them being kicked out of the Europa League. I have a zero tolerance about this kind of situation where they knew the rule, a very simple one to follow, and chose to ignore it.

Chelsea remind me of Arsenal in Arteta’s first years as a manager, a young squad who will only get better but will have moments of inconsistency.

Notts Forest 1-0 Brentford

There are not many examples of a team starting a season looking so drastically different to the last one. Brentford have lost their top scorer, captain and manager. They need to get a result on the board early to have something to build on. Under Thomas Frank, the Bees would have had all the ball, which would have played into the home side’s hands.

Given the visitors’ changes, many might now arrive at the City Ground expecting Forest to take the initiative. They are not comfortable doing that.

Man United 1-1 Arsenal

Sometimes there is luck in football that you cannot control, such as when the fixtures fall. In a couple of months Man United could be the same version as last season, making this a more straightforward game where the atmosphere might have been dampened. Going to Old Trafford on the opening weekend, meanwhile, means rightly or wrongly the United faithful will be full of hope and optimism and will be behind their team.

At least now Amiriom has some goal scorers he can trust. It is written for Sesko to score — for so long this summer it looked like he would be playing in this match but as a Gunner. For very different reasons, you sense both managers need a good start to the campaign. Therefore, if it is a draw with 20 minutes left, are either taking that gamble to win? After all, is a point at the Theatre of Dreams the end of the world?

Leeds 1-0 Everton

By all accounts Leeds have gone down the physical route, buying a lot of players over six foot. While at times they will lack quality, they will not get bullied and will be willing to fight. Elland Road, night-time kick-off, under the floodlights, it is set up for a romantic win.

Editor Note: Please drop your predictions  into the comments and Dan will pick your entries up from there.

Good luck peeps.

Dan Smith

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