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The 2024-25 edition of the Premier League has finally come around and features its first set of games this weekend. Manchester City defended their Premier League crown yet again last season and edged Arsenal to the league title by a narrow two-point margin.
Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal are my favourites to make it to the top three this season. I can't look past Man City to win the league title yet again and if Erling Haaland is able to stay fit and play 20 games, he'll win the Golden Boot.
The fourth place is open this season, and there's not a lot between teams like Manchester United, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. The Premier League's big names have been active in the transfer market this year and could pull a few surprises before the window closes this month.
Ipswich Town, Southampton, and Leicester City are the new entrants in the Premier League this season and will need to adapt to stronger opponents in the top flight. Without further ado, here are my predictions for this weekend's round of Premier League games.
Manchester United vs Fulham
This is going to be a hard game for Manchester United. They can have their days where they look really good, but they'll be up and down this season. If they can win this game, it'll be a good result for them.
Manchester United's transfer window has dragged along a bit. Matthijs de Ligt didn't feature for the Netherlands at Euro 2024, and he's played for a Bayern Munich team that dominates the ball. It'll go one of only two ways - he'll either be unbelievable or horrible for them. They've sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and I thought he was one of their better defenders.
Lisandro Martinez is fit again, and he did very well before his injury. With Luke Shaw ruled out till the international break, he could play out at full-back, with De Ligt and Harry Maguire as centre-backs. Diogo Dalot was one of Man United's better players last season and should feature in their defense this week.
Fulham are a good team if their players can stay fit. They keep the ball well and can cause problems - this could be a funny game. Man United will need to be patient to win this game. Fulham could frustrate United in their opening game, and I'm backing them to pull off a draw here.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Fulham
Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
If you're a big team, you wouldn't want to play promoted teams at the start of the Premier League season. You'd want to play them later in the season when reality has kicked in. The atmosphere will be buzzing at Ipswich, and this would definitely be an easier game in January.
Liverpool remind me of the Tottenham team from six years ago. They've got a very good starting eleven, but you can't buy a defender or winger for £50 million and not play them because Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk play every game. If Liverpool don't win the Premier League this year, they're not going to win with the same players next year, and they will need to make changes.
Liverpool are a bit like Arsenal - if they keep their players fit, they are major challengers. If they have two or three injuries to deal with, they'll compete for the top four at best.
Arne Slot might pick Diogo Jota this week. Jota can drop short and link up play cleverly, and Salah is one of Liverpool's best runners off the ball. Darwin Nunez would be better suited for this game, however, because Ipswich will sit back. Liverpool will need to get the ball into the box.
We'll be able to see the gulf in quality between the two sets of players as this match goes on. This is a difficult start for Ipswich, but it could also be difficult for Liverpool. I expect Liverpool to win, but Ipswich will be able to find the back of the net.
Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-3 Liverpool
Arsenal vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves punched above their weight in the Premier League last season but fizzled out towards the end. Pedro Neto was a bad sell and will be a massive miss - he was a match-winner for them. This could be a season where they finish in the bottom half of the league table.
Mikel Arteta has options up front at the moment with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. If Erling Haaland stays fit, however, I don't think Jesus and Havertz could score as many goals as him put together - that's the worry. Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard played a lot of matches last season. If Arsenal lose three of these players, they're a run-of-the-mill team. They need to keep their players fit.
I think Riccardo Calafiori is a clever signing for Arsenal. William Saliba and Gabriel played more times than any other centre-back partnership in the Premier League last season, and Arsenal struggled when Saliba was injured. This is a good signing and covers their bases, but I still think they need a forward.
Wolves won't get relegated, but I don't see them hitting the heights they did last season. Arsenal are the better team and should be able to win this game.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton might be one of the teams that struggle this season, and this is a big opening game for them. If Everton don't beat Brighton this weekend, it's going to be a long season for them. It's so important that a team that has struggled the previous season gets off to a good start in a fresh campaign.
I think Everton will be safe yet again this season. As long as Sean Dyche stays at Everton, they won't get relegated. I think they'll be better than what they were last season. I'd be shocked if Brighton pull off a victory here, and I'm backing Everton to win this game.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United vs Southampton
Southampton play good football, but they'll need to change it up in the Premier League. We saw it last season with Burnley - they kept shooting themselves in the foot last season. Vincent Kompany has now got the Bayern Munich job, and that sums it up - everyone's fascinated by the ball rolling out the back these days.
These teams have got to be flexible. Southampton have got to go to Newcastle and keep the crowd quiet. You can't be passing the ball out the back and have it knocked off you - Newcastle will run away with it.
Newcastle will be competitive again this season, and they've got quality players. They've made steady progress. Newcastle have got to stay fit and if they do, they'll have a good season.
There are not too many worse places to visit at the opening weekend if you're Southampton. Newcastle should be able to win this game.
Prediction: Newcastle United 3-0 Southampton
Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth
I know there are 37 games for either team after this one, but both Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have got to start winning games quickly. This is already a six-pointer.
Dominic Solanke brought Bournemouth a lot of money, but staying in the Premier League every season is worth more. That's a bad sell for me, and it's going to put them in a difficult situation. This could be a long season for Bournemouth.
There's not a lot of difference between these two teams. The teams that have been promoted will fancy their chances against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. I think Forest are going to win this game.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Bournemouth
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
West Ham have bought well this summer and will be hard to defeat. Crysencio Summerville was ripping it up in the Championship last season, but he will now be playing against better full-backs - we'll have to wait and see.
If you're City, Arsenal, or Liverpool and you take four out of six points off Aston Villa, that's a bonus. Those are points that you have gained on your competitors. They're a difficult team to beat but they're in the Champions League. This will be a long season for them, and they're not used to it. Some of their players have not played in Europe at all. Aston Villa have a very good manager, however, and that will make a difference.
This is a difficult game for both teams. West Ham have bought well but their players will have to gel well together. A draw will be a good result for both sides this weekend.
Prediction: West Ham United 1-1 Aston Villa
Brentford vs Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace were their own undoing last season because they finished their campaign so well. Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze could now be leaving the club, and I'd be worried if I was a Palace fan. Before you know it, they could become a massive relegation contender. I'd watch this space with Crystal Palace till the transfer window ends.
I'd be shocked if Ivan Toney left now, and he's like another signing for Brentford if he stays. On their day, they're a solid team and can beat anybody. I'm going with Brentford to win this game.
Prediction: Brentford 1-0 Crystal Palace
Chelsea vs Manchester City
This is a massive football match. Chelsea are playing against their benchmark in the Premier League, and this is a good time to play against Manchester City. You'd want to play against them at the start of the season, before all their players are at their best.
Chelsea haven't had the best of preseason, and their manager will need to find his best team quickly. With 20 games gone last season, Pochettino hadn't found his best team, and that was his downfall. Chelsea have a problem of plenty - they'll need to find their best eleven and hope that players like Cole Palmer and Reece James stay fit this season.
Manchester City had to take the money for Julian Alvarez, but it could come back to bite them. Alvarez did his job quietly and was a very good squad player. Jack Grealish always plays big games for Guardiola, and he'll need to play his part this season. City also need to keep Haaland fit - they could get 30 goals from him this season.
This is a good time to play Man City, and this was a brilliant game last season. Chelsea could hold City to a draw this weekend.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City
Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham are dark horses for the top four in the Premier League this season. They've bought really well in the transfer market, and Dominic Solanke is a great signing. He's got plenty of pace to burn and he'll make his runs - that will help James Maddison as well.
Leicester have lost their manager this summer and have their work cut out for them this season. I'm going to go with Tottenham to win this game.
Prediction: Leicester City 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
