The first Saturday of the new Premier League season is here, with six games on offer.
The day’s opener sees Newcastle United play host to Tottenham at St James’ Park.
That is followed by new boys Cardiff’s trip to Bournemouth whilst fellow promotion winners Fulham host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.
Maurizio Sarri’s first league game in charge of Chelsea is at Huddersfield, and Watford entertain Brighton.
The final game of the day sees much fancied Championship winners Wolves welcome Everton to Molineux.
See below for a preview on the game, including predictions from former England, Crystal Palace and Tottenham midfielder Andy Gray and our own Football Insider Graeme Bailey and bet365’s Steve Freeth.
Newcastle United 12:30 Tottenham Hotspur
St. James’ Park
TEAM NEWS: Newcastle are missing Florian Lejeune after he has knee surgery, but new signings Yoshinori Muto, Salomon Rondon and Federico Fernandez should be available for selection.
Juan Foyth, Erik Lamela, Victor Wanyama and Harry Winks are all missing due to injury for Spurs – who are assessing their World Cup players, who have only just returned to training.
KEY FACT: Spurs are playing their first match of the season away from home for the eighth consecutive campaign
MATCH ODDS: Newcastle 29/10 Draw 5/2 Spurs 21/20
bet365 Pick: Draw @5/2
ANDY SAYS: I am going with Tottenham here, my former club may not have spent anything but they are still a class outfit and I believe they will have too much for Newcastle…1-2
GRAEME SAYS: Can Spurs be caught napping by Newcastle, yes very much so and I think Rafa could get his boys up for this one to at least get a draw, if not more…1-1
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Salomon Rondon – could have a very good time at Newcastle, keep an eye on him
AFC Bournemouth 15:00 Cardiff City
Vitality Stadium
TEAM NEWS: Record signing Jefferson Lerma is not ready for selection, whilst fellow new boy Diego Rico is suspended. Junior Stanislas and Kyle Taylor are both sidelined.
Cardiff can’t use new signing Harry Arter – as he came from Bournemouth on-loan and can’t play against his parent club but their over new deadline day arrival Victor Camarasa could be involved.
KEY FACT: This will be the first ever meeting between these clubs in the top flight
MATCH ODDS: Bournemouth 10/11 Draw 13/5 Cardiff 7/2
bet365 Pick: Under 2.5 goals @17/20
ANDY SAYS: Tough first game, and I am not convinced by Cardiff at all, so I have to think that Bournemouth come away with the three points here…1-0
GRAEME SAYS: Whilst I am not sure Cardiff can stay up, they will bleedy some noses along the way and this might be one of those occasions…0-2
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Callum Wilson – I think he will play for England this season, get on board
Fulham 15:00 Crystal Palace
Craven Cottage
TEAM NEWS: Fulham are without both Tim Ream and new signing Alfie Mawson, and Dennis Odoi is suspended – they have a host of new names available including record signing Jean Michael Seri and former Chelsea ace Andre Schurrle.
Scott Dann, Connor Wickham and Jonny Williams are all out for Palace whilst new boy Max Meyer is unlikely to feature but fellow new signings Cheikhou Kouyate, Vicente Guaita and Jordan Ayew are available.
KEY FACT: In all league meetings, Fulham have suffered only one defeat in their last eight matches against the Eagles
MATCH ODDS: Fulham 6/4 Draw 12/5 Palace 2/1
bet365 Pick: Draw @12/5
ANDY SAYS: I like how Palace play under Roy Hodgson, I think he has them playing well – they had a decent window and I am just not sure about Fulham, so going for my old club here…1-2
GRAEME SAYS: Fulham are a great footballing team, if the new players they have can be blended into the team then they should have few worries seeing off Palace…2-0
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow:Max Meyer – a fascinating signing for Crystal Palace, he could be huge in the Premier League
Huddersfield Town 15:00 Chelsea
John Smith’s Stadium
TEAM NEWS: Huddersfield won’t risk new signing Erik Durm, but fellow newbies Ramadan Sobhi, Adama Diakhaby and Isaac Mbenza could feature.
Chelsea’s new signings Jorginho, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mateo Kovacic are all in-line to make their debuts. It remains to be seen which World Cup stars will be involved, with N’Golo Kante, Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Gary Cahill all returning late.
KEY FACT: Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight league meetings with Huddersfield
MATCH ODDS: Huddersfield 11/2 Draw 3/1 Chelsea 8/13
bet365 Pick: Under 2.5 goals @4/5
ANDY SAYS: I don’t see Chelsea have too many problems here, Sarri is a good boss and I don’t think that Huddersfield will be catching too many teams out this year…0-2
GRAEME SAYS: Opening games are never easy, but Chelsea need a good start and I think they will get one in Yorkshire, against a Huddersfield side who could struggle this term…1-3
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Mateo Kovacic – could take the Premier League by storm this season
Watford 15:00 Brighton & Hove Albion
Vicarage Road
TEAM NEWS: Star midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has overcome appendicitis and will feature but but Nathaniel Chalobah, Stefano Okaka, Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu are all ruled out for Watford – who could hand a debut to Ben Foster in goal.
Brighton’s record signing Alireza Jahanbakhsh is in line for his debut but Florin Andone and Jose Izquierdo are ruled out.
KEY FACT: Neither of these sides have ever won on the opening day in the Premier League
MATCH ODDS: Watford 11/8 Draw 11/5 Brighton 5/2
bet365 Pick: Both Teams To Score @Evens
ANDY SAYS: Tough game this one, and I think both will be happy to avoid defeat on the opening day so has to be a draw for me…1-1
GRAEME SAYS: This will be close, and I can see them cancelling each other out – could be an opening day bore draw…0-0
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Alireza Jahanbakhsh – could be a real star for Brighton
Wolverhampton Wanderers 17:30 Everton
Molineux
TEAM NEWS: Wolves could hand debuts to new signings Rui Patricio, Joao Moutinho, Raul Jimenez and Jonny, but other new boys Adama Traore and Leander Dendoncker may have to wait.
Everton will hand debuts to Richarlison and Lucas Digne, but deadline-day acquisitions Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes, Bernard or Kurt Zouma won’t be involved.
KEY FACT: Wolves have not scored in any of their last three home league matches against Everton
MATCH ODDS: Wolves 11/8 Draw 23/10 Everton 23/10
bet365 Pick: Under 2.5 goals @7/10
ANDY SAYS: I love the look of Wolves I really do – yes Everton did some good work on deadline day, but they are coming in very late and I think they lose this opener…3-1
GRAEME SAYS: A great looking game, I just have to go with Wolves here, they have had a good pre-season whilst Everton’s new boys have been late coming in…2-1
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow:Joao Moutinho – a genius of a player who will grace the Premier League
