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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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