The first Saturday of the new Premier League season and it features seven games including defending champions Chelsea opening their title defence.

Chelsea host Burnley at Stamford Bridge looking to get off to a perfect start.

The day’s opening game sees Jurgen Klopp takes his Liverpool side to Watford.

Title favourites Manchester City face a tough looking trip to newly promoted Brighton as the AMEX hosts its first Premier League match.

Huddersfield are playing their first top-flight game since the 70s, when coincidentally they played Crystal Palace – who they face on Saturday.

Big spending Everton will look to impress as they host Stoke City.

Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino will have his first taste of Premier League action with the Saints as they welcome Swansea to St Mary’s.

Finally, West Brom take on Bournemouth at The Hawthorns,

See below for a run-down on each game, including predictions from former England, Crystal Palace and Tottenham midfielder and GamblingTimes.com columnist Andy Gray, super agent Barry Silkman and our own Football Insider Graeme Bailey  together with everything you need to know from the bookies – with Ladbrokes’s William Geldart.

Football INDEX is a stockmarket game where players, known as Traders, take a position on the “future success” of footballers with real money – CLICK HERE to play and start winning, and take advantage of your £20 cashback only with TheGamblingTimes.

Watford 12:30 Liverpool
Saturday, 12 August
Vicarage Road
Live on Sky Sports

TEAM NEWS: Craig Cathcart is out with a knee injury, whilst Troy Deeney is a major doubt having not returned to full training. Captain Jordan Henderson is fit again, an Daniel Sturridge could be fit despite suffering a thigh problem earlier this month. Philippe Coutinho is a major doubt and Adam Lallana is sidelined for three months.
KEY FACT: Watford have never won an opening day match in the Premier League
MATCH ODDS: Watford 19/4 Draw 29/10 Liverpool 4/7
ANDY SAYS: I fancy Liverpool to get off to a flying start and could win convincingly – 1-3 
GRAEME SAYS:  I like Marco Silva and think Watford will get something here for sure – 1-1
SILKY SAYS: Liverpool to win this, quite comfortable too – 0-2
LADBROKES PICK:  Liverpool to win and both teams to score @ 12/5
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow:  Andre Gray is currently at 73p and looks a real bargain if he can hit the ground running at his new club.

Chelsea 15:00 Burnley
Saturday, 12 August
Stamford Bridge

TEAM NEWS:  Eden Hazard and new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko miss out through injury, but new striker Alvaro Morata should start. Burnley have no injuries ahead of the match.
KEY FACT: Burnley have lost all their Premier League opening day fixtures in their history.
MATCH ODDS: Chelsea 1/4 Draw 19/4 Burnley 14/1
ANDY SAYS: I don’t see how Chelsea don’t win this  – easy win for me – 3-0
GRAEME SAYS: If Burnley can keep it tight early on their best hope is for a clean-sheet, but I can’t see it  – 2-0
SILKY SAYS: Chelsea will batter Burnley in this for me, easy win – 4-0
LADBROKES PICK:  Chelsea to win both halves @ 13/8
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Has to be Chelsea new boy Alvaro Morata – if he re-produces his form from Real Madrid, could be a bargain at £3.76

Crystal Palace 15:00 Huddersfield
Saturday, 12 August
Selhurst Park

TEAM NEWS: Yohan Cabaye is a doubt for Palace, whilst Connor Wickham is sidelined. Belgian youngster Jason Lokilo could be named in the starting line-up. Huddersfield are without Nahki Wells, Jonathan Hogg, Martin Cranie and Jon Stankovic
KEY FACT: Huddersfield’s last top-flight match was in April 1972 and was also away at Crystal Palace
MATCH ODDS: Palace 4/5 Draw 12/5 Huddersfield 15/4
ANDY SAYS: Be an interesting one this, and I think my old club might get held here – 1-1
GRAEME SAYS: Such a tough call, how do Palace play under De Boer, I will give them the benefit of the doubt  – 2-1
SILKY SAYS: Be a close game this one, but I fully expect Palace just to have too much – 2-1
LADBROKES PICK: Crystal Palace and under 2.5 goals @ 21/10
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Christian Benteke is still a class performer and for us could still be a very good addition to your portfolio

Everton 15:00 Stoke
Saturday, 12 August
Goodison Park

TEAM NEWS: Long-term injury victims Seamus Coleman, Yannick Bolasie and Ramiro Funes Mori are all missing for Everton, whilst Ross Barkley and James McCarthy are also sidelined. Bojan after overcoming a calf problem. Ibrahim Afellay and Stephen Ireland are both still sidelined with long-term injuries but are closing on their returns.
KEY FACT: Everton last four opening days have ended in draws.
MATCH ODDS: Everton 4/6 Draw 13/5 Stoke 9/2
ANDY SAYS: I can see Everton winning this, not so sure about Stoke this year, so home win – 2-1
GRAEME SAYS: I think Everton will open with a win, they have had the advantage of playing in Europe already – 3-0
SILKY SAYS: Everton have done some good business and will be too good for Stoke – 3-0
LADBROKES PICK:  Double Chance Stoke or Draw @ 6/5
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: We don’t get many goalkeepers on the INDEX but this season could really be huge for Jordan Pickford

Southampton 15:00 Swansea
Saturday, 12 August
St. Mary’s Stadium

TEAM NEWS: Captain Virgil van Dijk won’t feature for Southampton following his transfer request. Fernando Llorente, Ki Sung-yueng and Nathan Dyer are all out injured, whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson is not considered as his future is still up in the air.
KEY FACT: 
MATCH ODDS: Southampton 6/10 Draw 27/10 Swansea 5/1
ANDY SAYS: I can see Swansea getting something from this one, they finished last season well under Paul Clement – 1-1
GRAEME SAYS: Home win for me here and a comfortable one, I think the Saints could be much improved this season – 3-1
SILKY SAYS: Certainly be a close one, wouldn’t shock me to see Swansea get a draw but I will just go Southampton – 2-1
LADBROKES PICK: Nathan Redmond to score anytime @ 21/10
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Under the radar but Manolo Gabbiadini with the experience from last season could be one to watch here – available for under a £1

West Brom 15:00 Bournemouth
Saturday, 12 August
The Hawthorns

TEAM NEWS: Jonny Evans, Nacer Chadli and Chris Brunt should all be fit after overcoming injury. Jermain Defoe is set to make his second debut after overcoming a groin injury and Adam Smith should also be fit following a thigh problem.
KEY FACT: Bournemouth have lost only one of their four Premier League meetings with West Brom
MATCH ODDS: West Brom 11/8 Draw 21/10 Bournemouth 21/10
ANDY SAYS: Think we could see goals in this one and I will go for a draw – 2-2
GRAEME SAYS: Strange one here, I think Bournemouth might catch West Brom cold – 1-2
SILKY SAYS: Tough one, but I will go with a draw – 1-1
LADBROKES PICK:  First Away Team Goalscorer – Jermain Defoe @ 13/5
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: We have to go with Jermain Defoe and at 85p, what a bargain he is

Brighton 17:30 Man City
Saturday, 12 August
Amex Stadium
Live on BT Sport

TEAM NEWS: Sam Baldock and Beram Kayal are both sidelined for the home side. New signing Benjamin Mendy is sidelined, whilst Ilkay Gundogan is still a few weeks away from full fitness.
KEY FACT: Brighton make their first ever Premier League appearance.
MATCH ODDS: Brighton 9/1 Draw 4/1 Man City 1/3
ANDY SAYS: Easy win here for Man City I don’t see how they don’t win this – 0-3
GRAEME SAYS: I think Brighton might put up a good fight here, and will make it very hard for City, who should still win – 1-2
SILKY SAYS: Man City all day long, could be a cricket score – 0-4
LADBROKES PICK:  Half-Time/Full-Time – Man City @ Evens
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Gabriel Jesus is a superstar – he is going to have a great season. Get on him.