Premier League Prediction - Opening Fixtures

Arsenal V Sunderland

A straightforward home fixture for Arsene Wenger's side against Sunderland, As good as Sunderland were at times last season you can bet that Arsenal will want to set out a statement of intent on the silverware this season especially at home and with a potential front three of RVP, Podolski and Giroud it's going to take some defensive organisation at best to stop Arsenal here.

Prediction - Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1

Everton V Manchester United

It's not the start Manchester United were hoping with Goodison Park not being particularly easy for them recently and that perhaps unsettled Wayne Rooney on occasion so you can expect another tough fixture for United with Everton providing some strong resistance up until the hour mark but I think United's desperation to start their league challenge with a victory will prevail. Will be a tough encounter with a few goals either way.

Prediction - Everton 1 Manchester United 2 

Fulham V Norwich

Fulham at home last season were imperious at times but also very poor at others so it's hard to call this one. Norwich will really be up for this one and this Fulham side looks particularly weak this season so it could be a really close encounter really decided by the odd goal here. Norwich have a settled side and know exactly where they want to be which bodes well for them this season. Could be the closest encounter this weekend.

Prediction - Fulham 1 Norwich 1

Manchester City V Southampton 

Southampton were the side to get the baptism of fire on the opening day this season after last season it was Swansea City. It's going to be hard for any side going to the Etihad but particularly a newly promoted side but they will go there with no fear. It all depends on an early goal for Man City. If City get an early goal then it could be dangerous for Southampton and it will be all hands on deck but if Southampton can hold on and provide resistance and even steal a goal it could be a valuable point. I expect Man City to win comfortably in contrast.

Prediction Man City 4 Southampton 1

Newcastle v Tottenham Hotspur

This has to be the best fixture of the weekend and on ESPN. Last season's 5th v 4th on the opening day there struggles to be better highlights than this over the course of the weekend. Spurs have assembled well during the summer and will mount a good start this season although a lack of a clinical striker still proves to be their undoing. Newcastle were very poor at Cardiff recently and haven't had a strong pre-season so it's guage where they are right now. I think Spurs could really attack the so called top four mantra this season and a good start is key to this. 

Prediction - Newcastle 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 

QPR V Swansea

As I have mentioned before Loftus Road is not a happy hunting ground for the Swans and another hostile atmosphere is expected. QPR have assembled plenty of players to field their arsenal this season but perhaps with so many addition they will struggle for fluidity against an established Swansea side. With QPR struggling for a sustainable squad and Swansea's fear factor, it could be a topsy turvy match. One thing is for sure many of the Swans additions won't be fazed by this so the fear factor won't be there for some of them.

Prediction - QPR 1 Swansea 1

Reading V Stoke

Reading gained promotion to the Premier League last season and have been granted a pretty standard start at home this season against Stoke. Reading will already be flying high after last season and will be full of confidence heading into the opening weekend particularly after how they finished last season. Stoke are pretty much all solved out at the moment so hopefully they will have developed some alternative ideas because the long ball approach isn't as unpreventable anymore. I believe Reading will take this one after a tough long battle.

Prediction - Reading 2 Stoke City 1

West Bromwich Albion V Liverpool

Liverpool have a new manager in the form of Brendan Rodgers who has tactical nouse to really provide Liverpool with a motive to succeed this season. Former assistant of Steve Clarke will want to start strongly so it will be the battle of the new managers here. Liverpool's pre-season has been very encouraging including their Europa League exploits. They have players who can cross the ball and now after adding Fabio Borini and Joe Allen there is plenty of passing and precision but most importantly ball retention. I expect a tough old encounter here with Liverpool coming out on top the difference being Suarez and Borini.

Prediction - West Brom 1 Liverpool 3

Wigan V Chelsea

Without discounting Wigan here they only seem to perform to their potential towards the latter end of the season and against Chelsea's multi-stars they won't be given an opportunity to do just that. Wigan like to play their football there's no doubting that the slight problem is they come up against the champions of Europe. Eden Hazard, Oscar and Marko Marin have all signed this season and are all ball players and very exciting with points to prove which is a beautiful combination. Also a side note if Chelsea manage to sign Victor Moses from Wigan then they will be bereft of their best players and so close to the season would be hugely morale damaging.

Prediction Wigan 1 Chelsea 4

These are just predictions remember, it could go in any direction particularly this season which is why it's so hard to predict the outcomes, finally the season is upon us, excitement is building.

Much appreciated
D.John