After a long wait, the first round of the Premier League is finally taken off this weekend! Today, we launch the Premier League Weekly Predict - Our predictions on the weekly round of English top football. Enjoy!

Liverpool - Stoke City
17-08-2013 @ Anfield Road 12.45 UK









Probable lineup:

Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Johnson, Agger, Touré, Enrique; Allen, Gerrard, Lucas; Aspas, Sturridge, Coutinho.

Injuries: None. Doubts: Agger (Knee), Skrtel (Knee). Bans: Suarez

Stoke City (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Peiters; Walters, Whelan, N'Zonzi, Etherington; Adam; Crouch

Injuries: Shea (Leg). Doubts: None. Bans: None.

Liverpool and Stoke often play some very tight matches, with only two goals. However, the last meeting between the two sides ended in a 3-1 win to Stoke at home. That said, Stoke have not won any of the last five matches played on Anfield Road, and when comparing the two teams, Liverpool are favorites for this one. The Merseyside club has on paper the best squad, and I believe we will see a 2-0 victory to Liverpool.


Arsenal - Aston Villa
17-08-2013 @ Emirates Stadium 15.00 UK










Probable lineup:

Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Szszesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Walcott, Ramsey, Arteta, Podolski; Wilshere; Giroud.

Injuries: Diaby (Knee), Vermaelen (Back). Doubts: Miyachi (Rib), Nacho (Back), Ramsey (Ankle).

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan; Lowton, Baker, Vlaar, Luna; Sylla, Tonev, Delph; Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor.

Injuries: N'Zogbia (Achilles). Doubts: None. Bans: None

Aston Villa have not won against Arsenal since May 2011 where they left Emirates with a 2-1 victory in their back. At the same time, that is the only win against the Londoners in ten matches. We will see the complete same Arsenal team as we saw last season, however; Sanogo might be given his debut. In Aston Villa can give their two new Danish faces Okore and Helenius their PL debut, but it is not likely. This will be a close match, and as Arsenal have not brought in some reinforcements I believe that Aston Villa will be prepared well. With a Benteke in top form,  I could see the Villas leave Emirates with a small win.


West Ham - Cardiff
17-08-2013 @ Upton Park 15.00 UK








Probable lineup: 

West Ham (4-3-3): Jääskeläinen; O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Rat; Morrison, Nolan, Noble; Cole, Maiga, Jarvis.

Injuries: None. Doubts: Carroll (Foot), Collins (Knee), McCartney (Knee). Bans: None

Cardiff (4-3-3): Marshall; Brayford, Caulker, Turner, John; Gunnarsson, Mutch, Bo-Kyung; Noone, Campbell, Bellamy.

Injuries: None. Doubts: Cornelius (Ankle). Bans: None.

Cardiff is back in the best company in England and will have their first chance of revenge from the Championship Play-off in 2012. West Ham is without the star on the team, Andy Carroll, which can turn out to be a vital loss for the Hammers. However, West Ham usually have a good take on Cardiff who have only won 2 of the last 9 meetings between the two sides. Not an easy starter for any of the clubs, but I believe that West Ham will pull this off 1-0.


WBA - Southampton
17-08-2013 @ The Hawthorns 15.00 UK









Probable lineup:

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Dorrans, Yacob, Mulumbu, Morrison; Long, Anelka.

Injuries: Thorne (Knee). Doubts: Brunt (Knock). Bans: None

Southampton (4-4-1-1): Boruc; Chambers, Hooiveld, Lovren, Shaw; Do Prado, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Lallana; Rodriguez; Lambert.

Injuries: None. Doubts: Clyne (Lack of match fitness), Shaw (Knee). Bans: None.
 
West Bromwich Albion was one of the big surprises in the Premier League last season. However, the main player behind the success, Romelu Lukaku, is back in Chelsea. Instead, WBA has brought in Nicolas Anelka. Southampton has reinforced their midfield with Celtic star Wanyama, and especially the midfield will be important in this match. West Bromwich have won the last two matches between the sides, and they might add this match to their statistics.




Sunderland - Fulham
17-08-2013 @ Stadium of Light 15.00 UK








Probable lineup: 

Sunderland (4-4-1-1): Westwood; O'Shea, Roberge, Cuéllar, Colback; Giaccherini, Larsson, Cabral, Johnson; Sessegnon; Altidore.

Injuries: None. Doubts: Cattermole (Knee), Fletcher (Ankle). Bans: Gardner, Vaughan.

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Stekelenburg; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland. Richardson; Dejagah, Sidwell, Boateng, Duff; Ruiz; Berbatov.
 
Injuries: None. Doubts: Kacaniklic (Hamstring). Bans: None

Fulham and Sunderland do not sound sexy at all. Of the ten last matches between the two sides, five of them have ended in a draw, and this one will probably be just another one. On paper, Fulham have a better team, and especially the back four with Captain Hangeland seems strong. On the other hand, the attack is not the most frightening. Let's face it - Berbatov has had his time. Sunderland's new star striker Altidore will do what he can to make an impression, but I doubt he will get many chances in this match.

Norwich - Everton
17-08-2013 @ Carrow Road 15.00 UK









Probable lineup:

Norwich (4-4-1-1): Ruddy; Martin, Bennett, Turner, Garrido; Snodgrass, Tettey, Johnson, Olsson; Hoolahan, van Wolfswinkel

Injuries: None. Doubts: Bassong (Lack of match fittness), Hooper (Shin), Pilkington (Knee). Bans: Fer

Everton (4-3-3): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Fellaini, Gibson, Osman; Mirallas, Jelavic, Pienaar.

Injuries: None. Doubts: Alcaraz (Hamstring), Gibson (Knee), Hibbert (Knock). Bans: None.
 
Everton have won four of the last ten matches against Norwich, but the Canaries won the last meeting. This summer, Norwich has really invested in players with van Wolfswinkel as the most prominent name. The Dutch striker will have his debut against Everton, who hasn't seen much change during the summer. During the pre-season Norwich have played draws in almost every match, while Everton have lost two and won three. I will bet you this match ends in a draw, as well.

Swansea - Manchester United
17-08-2013 @ Liberty Stadium 17.30 UK








Probable lineup:

Swansea City (4-4-1-1): Vorm; Rangel, Williams, Chico, Davies; Routledge, Britton, Shelvey, Hernández; Michu; Bony

Injuries: None. Doubts: De Guzmán (Head). Bans: None.

Manchester United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Jones, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Zaha, Cleverley, Carrick. Giggs; Welbeck; van Persie.

Injuries: Fletcher (Illness). Doubts: Carrick (Eye), Hernández (Thigh), Nani (Knock), Powell (Unknown), Rooney (Hamstring), Young (Knock). Bans: Rafael.
 
Swansea is opening the season with a tough opponent; Manchester United has won the four meetings between the two teams in the past. Laudrup has brought in some exciting players this summer, but they might not have many chances against Manchester United. While some of the new players will have their debut for Swansea, the United lineup will probably look much the same as last season. That is also why I do not leave Swansea with many chances against last season's champions.


Crystal Palace - Tottenham Hotspur
18-08-2013@ Selhurst Park 13.30 UK









Probable lineup:

Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Speroni; Ward, Ramage, Delaney, Moxey; Williams, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Thomas; Wilbraham, Gayle.

Injuries: Murray (Knee). Doubts: Thomas (Knock) Bans: None.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3) Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose; Sandro, Paulinho, Dembélé; Lennon, Soldado, Chadli.

Injuries: None. Doubts: Bale (Foot), Vertonghen (Ankle). Bans: None.

 
Tottenham will not travel far for their first match in the Premier League, when they visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. On paper, this looks like a straight walkover for Spurs, and Palace's changes can be counted on one hand. This can be really ugly for Crystal Palace as I believe that their defends is too weak for the Tottenham attack. It will be really exciting to see Soldado in his first match, in the Premier League - can he keep his scoring streak going?
Chelsea - Hull City 
18-08-2013 @ Stamford Bridge 16.00 UK








Probable lineup:

Chelsea (4-4-1-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole; Mata, Ramires, van Ginkel, Hazard; Oscar; Lukaku

Injuries: Kalas (Leg). Doubts: None. Bans: None.

Hull City (4-3-3): McGregor; Elmohamady, Chester, Davies, Figueroa; Koren, Meyler, Brady; Aluko, Graham, Sagbo.

Injuries: Quinn (Hamstring). Doubts: None. Bans: None.

As mentioned in yesterday's predictions for the season, I believe that Chelsea will be one of the best teams this year. They are starting with Hull at Stamford Bridge, and it should be an easy step towards the title. Ian Holloway's boys are not left with many changes against Chelsea who might give both Lukaku and van Ginkel the chance from the start.
Manchester City - Newcastle United
19-08-2013 @ City of Manchester Stadium 20.00 UK








Probable lineup:

Manchester City (4-4-1-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Navas, Touré, Fernandinho, Silva; Jovetic; Dzeko.

Injuries: Nastastic (Ankle). Doubts: None. Bans: None.

Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Krul; Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon; Ben Arfa, Tioté, Cabaye, Gutiérrez; Sissoko; Cissé.

Injuries: Taylor (Knee), Remy (Calf). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
 
The last match in the first round of the Premier League will be between Manchester City and Newcastle at City of Manchester Stadium. Newcastle had their problems last season, and if they start bad this season, Alan Pardew might be the first manager to get sacked. The problem is that Newcastle has not won against Manchester in the last ten matches, why this City will be favorites for this match.