Featured image courtesy of Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Now Scott Parker has become the first managerial casualty of the season, other men on rocky ground will be feeling nervous as owners will not have to worry about being the first, but the one certainty till January is the Transfer Window has closed and the playing staffs are settled.
This new chapter to the season kicks off with one of the world’s classic derby matches. All games are 3pm kick-offs unless stated.
Everton v Liverpool (Saturday 3rd September, 12:30, Live on BT Sport)
Goodison Park will need to be at its ultra ferocious best to support its players to any positive result. Currently the injuries within the Liverpool side would make you feel like the opposition had a chance but Lampard’s Everton are lacking quality all around the squad.
The home side’s signings reek of desperation but if new striker Neal Maupay plays he will cement hero status if he performs like he has for Brentford and Brighton in big games. He wears the badge of his team with pride and always endears himself to his support. The red half cannot drop any more points, the superior class will show by the time the game finishes.
Player to Watch – Mo Salah
Goal droughts are usually brief for the Egyptian superstar and he will thrive lining up against the flimsy Toffee left hand side.
Brentford v Leeds United
Both sides will feel they should have accumulated more points and their performances bode well for the coming months. The players have bought into the style of play created by each coach, the contrast of Leeds energy and Brentford’s passing patterns surely will result in a victor by knockout.
Jesse Marsch seems to want to create a soap opera narrative to every match, whether it be issues with his peers, referees or just the result/performance. Injuries mean some players are missing but also a few major men are returning like Patrick Bamford for Leeds and Pontus Jansson for the home side.
Player to Watch – David Raya
Jesse Marsch’s hundred mile an hour side will press high and ultra physically therefore the Spaniards kicking ability will be key to setting up Brentford’s attacking moves.
Chelsea v West Ham United
Chelsea seem to have no identity and the blame falls solely on Thomas Tuchel, as his enthusiasm for the job appears to have dispersed. Despite a major collective of talent he cannot coach them to positive results, where the Spurs game showed the brightest point as they smothered a highly-fancied opposition, but they drew after throwing away the lead.
David Moyes is also in a perilous position because while new players have come in, results have not followed. To me it would not be surprising if both coaches have left their jobs by the start of the World Cup. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will not be making his debut due to his jaw injury therefore the goal scoring responsibility remains with Raheem Sterling.
Player to Watch – Tomas Soucek
The Czech international was a shadow last season of the imposing warrior from 2020/21, but he’s rediscovered that form so this season. His threat aerially from set pieces could be match winning.
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
Both sides will feel like their teams are better than the league position they currently occupy. A winner in this game will take the team above the other and in the case of Newcastle could see them go on a lengthy positive run as fixture difficulty is on their side till mid October.
Palace cannot say the same regarding their upcoming fixtures and high hopes for this promising side could take a downturn in the run up to the World Cup break. Despite Eze and Olise offering a great deal of promise and threat the continual dangerman is Zaha, after Tuesday’s battle with Aaron Hickey he now faces England international Trippier who offers a different challenge.
Player to Watch – Miguel Almiron
It’s good to see the Paraguayan international impacting games for the Toon as many outsiders felt he would be shipped off now they can buy who they want. If Joel Ward lines up at left back again Saturday he will have another difficult game like Tuesday night.
Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth
Forest are trying hard for this fixture not be a EFL one again for a very long time, the transfer purge this summer creates scepticism from many within football but it cannot be doubted some very good players have been recruited like Emmanuel Dennis, Dean Henderson and Neco Williams.
Defeat is not a option for either team, surely Bournemouth will park the bus while looking for a moment of brilliance in front of goal. This has last on MOTD written all over it!
Player to Watch – Dominic Solanke
Wednesday night The Cherries kept a much needed clean sheet, the next step is scoring a goal and this former starlet needs to step up in the top flight for his side or faces always being a nearly man.
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
Mitrovic facing off with Sanchez promises to be a battle which belongs inside a UFC cage, it’s highly likely both will end up in the referees book and one may not finish the match. Dan James was linked with Spurs before Thursdays deadline but now will face them instead, he’s likely to take Cordova-Reid’s place and will offer a greater goal threat. Ben Davies and Perisic need to lock up, to keep the former Man Utd man quiet on debut. The New White Hart Lane has witnessed some breathtaking displays already and if the home side score early it could be a similar result to the opening game of the season.
Player to Watch – Richarlison
This weekend could see the Brazilian start a first PL game for his new team as Son continues to struggle for form. He enjoys being the villain like Mitrovic for Fulham but I can see the former Everton man being top bad guy!
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton
Supporters for both teams are getting restless with their Head Coaches, discord is rife and both men will survive Saturday night but this type of head to head can define the boards decision in the long run. Liverpool and City are next up for Wolves so a positive result is essential, where the goals are going to come from though? New signing Kalajdzic will likely come off the bench if Jimenez continues to fire blanks.
The Saints are becoming the Man City B team as they continue to recruit from the champions, if half succeed the future looks bright at St Mary’s. Molineux can be very intimidating, this young Southampton side will need to listen to their leaders and use the experience for the greater good of their career.
Player to Watch – James Ward-Prowse
Quite a few underachieving technical players will grace Moulineux on Saturday but the England international is never far from controlling a games result with his world class set pieces and stone cold penalties.
Aston Villa v Manchester City (Saturday 3rd September, 17:30, Live on Sky Sports)
Saturday ends at Villa Park and boy do the home side need a twelfth man to help them. Gerrards team selection will be scrutinised prior to kick off as he’s proven he does not know what is he strongest eleven. The whole Premier League are racking their brains to conjure up a plan to stop Haaland, fielding Mings & Konsa seems like a major mismatch. Pep will be looking towards next week’s Champion League game so rotation via the five subs available will be sought and like many games lately, City will look for the win early.
Player to Watch – Erling Haaland
Who else can you pick currently, the Norwegian is an Elite Superstar and the missing piece to European success for City.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Leicester City (Sunday 4th September, 14:00, Live on Sky Sports)
Billy Gilmour joining Brighton for £10m is a steal and potentially outside the top four clubs the deal of the window. He is a player I rate very highly and must be a contender for young player of the year this season. Leicester showed glimpses of the class they possess on Thursday, scoring let alone beating Brighton is a different prospect.
The pace Leicester possess up top will be vital in stretching the pitch and potentially causing space for supporting players. The AMEX doesn’t see the home side lose often and after losing to Fulham in midweek at Craven Cottage, Graham Potter will set his side to be as thorny as ever.
Player to Watch – James Maddison
He looked bright and near to his best against United on Thursday, finding pockets of space at The Amex will be hard but if he does I expect full punishment for the home side.
Manchester United v Arsenal (Sunday
United feel like they are on the right track but despite Arsenals injury woes in midfield they will be the home sides toughest test this season. The away side bar Man City are the most confident squad in the Premier League currently.
Saliba has looked imperious during his first few games, keeping Ronaldo, Sancho and co quiet during the top PL TV slot is his audition to be considered among the best already. Both sides would accept the draw now, to me the team who scores first will soak up any pressure and extend the lead before their defence is breached.
Player to Watch – Bukayo Saka
With numerous injuries within the centre midfield of Arsenal, Saka could find himself playing inside more due to a change in formation and his pace will cause United heaps of trouble.
The season is taking shape now and this weekend promises to be the best one yet.
