Premier League Round 1 Predictions!

The Premier League returns this evening as Manchester United take on Leicester City at Old Trafford in this season's curtain-raiser and I for one can't wait. This year has a slightly different feel to it due to the transfer window closing before a ball is kicked - we now know who will be in each squad right up until January (with the exception of a few departures abroad) - which I think will cause a few managers to feel a little nervous if they can't get out of the blocks quickly this weekend.

With many players still lacking match fitness following this summer's World Cup, fantasy team selection and score predictions are made quite tough for this opening week. I'll be running through my thoughts on each game in just a second, but my general advice would be to avoid over-thinking the team news too much when making your picks, as many World Cup stars will be as desperate as their managers are for them to play from day one.

Before we get into my picks, a quick reminder that our Exact Score Challenge is in play again this season! Just by making your predictions as usually would for your Superbru pools each week, you'll be in with a chance of winning up to £50,000 in every round of 10+ matches.

Manchester United vs. Leicester

Leicester were also involved in last season's opening match in a 4-3 thriller they narrowly lost at the Emirates against Arsenal. Against Jose Mourinho's Manchester United at Old Trafford, I can't see things being quite as entertaining. A lot has been made of United's poor summer of recruitment and while I'm surprised that they haven't done more to close the gap between themselves and City, this is a game they should win anyway. I can see United edging ahead in a relatively cagey affair before grabbing a second late on to kill off any chance of a Leicester point. The Foxes have a couple of nicer fixtures after this so can still build momentum so long as they put in a good performance here. Prediction: 2-0

Newcastle vs. Tottenham

Two teams that have also had a poor summer transfer window. Mike Ashley continues to put Newcastle in danger of relegation by adding virtually nothing to an already poor squad, while Tottenham literally didn't sign anyone! To become the first ever team to not sign a single player in a Premier League summer window is pretty embarrassing and Daniel Levy is playing with fire ahead of the season that will see Spurs arrive at their new stadium. Fortunately for Tottenham, this is a game they should still be able to steal three points from provided they have enough of their World Cup players featuring. I've gone for a narrow away win but may change to 1-1 that if there are too many missing. Prediction: 1-2

Bournemouth vs. Cardiff

I can only see Cardiff going straight back down this season so I doubt I'll be backing them to win too many games at Superbru. Bournemouth on the other hand are one of around 10 teams that could all conceivably be in a relegation fight this season if they don't start well. The Cherries play quite good football at home so I'm backing them to score a couple here. I must admit I didn't see a lot of Cardiff last season so will be looking to pick up on their style of play in these opening weeks to see how many goals I should be tipping them to score/concede! Prediction: 2-0

Fulham vs. Crystal Palace

What a window Fulham have had! Both they and Wolves have made some serious signings this summer and it will be fascinating to see how they each get on. Even more importantly for the Whites, they've kept all of their top players including Cairney, Sessegnon and Ream as well as re-signing Mitrovic who was excellent on loan at Craven Cottage last season. I think there'll be a real buzz there this Saturday and that will be enough to get a strong win over Palace. The Eagles will do OK this season I think now that they've held on to Zaha but this is a tough opening fixture for them. Prediction: 3-1

Huddersfield vs. Chelsea

This second season in the Premier League will be very tough for Huddersfield and it will be even more impressive if they can stay up again this time out. They're probably playing Chelsea at the best possible time as Maurizio Sarri will be still be way off getting the Blues playing how he'd like them to. That said, Chelsea head into this one with a bit of optimism after some interesting transfer business has seen the arrivals of Kepa and Kovacic. I'm backing the away side to clinch a victory, especially if Hazard is involved, as they should be should be able to control possession and therefore most of the game in Yorkshire. Prediction: 1-2

Watford vs. Brighton

Each of these sides could be in for a long nerve-racking season as they battle to stay in the top flight. Watford look very short of goals while Brighton may be dependent on having to recreate some pretty incredible home performances they managed last year. I don't think there'll be many goals here and I'm going to go with home advantage on the opening day. This is the kind of game that both teams would see as a huge opportunity if late in the season when desperate for points and it is of course of equal value now. Prediction: 1-0

Wolves vs. Everton

These two have both signed so many players that it may take a few weeks before we really see either get into their stride. Like Fulham, Wolves had a great team last year and have added great quality with the likes of Rui Patricio in net and Joao Moutinho to boss the midfield. I'm struggling to pick this one as I'm not sure how Wolves will fare with so many new players and Everton will be playing competitively under Marco Silva for the first time. Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool vs. West Ham

Many are understandably backing Liverpool to push for the title this season, and while I'm personally not sure Mo Salah can replicate his 2017/18 season, this is a promising fixture to have first up. I can see West Ham doing well under Pellegrini especially given their good summer transfer business but this is a nightmare game to have first up. I can only see a home win. Prediction: 3-0

Southampton vs. Burnley

It's fantastic to see Burnley in the Europa League and I'm hopeful they can progress to the final qualifying stage following their first leg 0-0 draw in Turkey last night. That European distraction is likely to make life very tricky in the Premier League though and I've gone from seeing this as a Burnley win, to thinking it will be a draw, to even considering a Saints win. Home advantage on the opening day is huge as I've already said and Southampton will be well up for this. I'm siding with the hosts, especially now Deadline Day signing Danny Ings is supposedly set to feature straight away. Prediction: 1-0

Arsenal vs. Manchester City

The big one in Round 1! I'm excited to watch Arsenal this season to see how Emery gets on following the Wenger era and though this is obviously a very tough match first up, it's arguably the best time to play City. Guardiola's men are likely to stroll to the title again this year and I think they'll win this match simply because of how impressive they were in the Community Shield with half of their first team missing. When you can replace David Silva with Bernardo Silva, who is as good if not better than any of the Arsenal midfield, you've got quite a squad. Prediction: 1-2

It's never easy on the opening day so be kind.. but let me know what you think in the comments! Best of luck to you all in Round One and indeed the rest of the Premier League season at Superbru. I'll be doing these articles ahead of each round in the hope that we can generate a good weekly discussion and you can find links to each of our Premier League games here:

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