EPL 2019/20 - Game Week 1

Your three-month wait is over. A new EPL season beckons. How will it pan out after a pulsating season last year. There will be three newly promoted teams in Aston Villa, Norwich City and Sheffield United. How will they fare? How about the rest of them plotting and scrambling. Everyone starts on a fresh sheet. Will there be surprises? How many would be the same old story?

Champions Manchester City will be the favourites. They have just signed Rodri, the strappling 1.9m midfielder who is like Sergio Busquets to eventually replace the ageing Fernandinho from Athletico Madrid while Vincent Kompany has left. Will his absence weaken their back line? Liverpool could have won last season with 97 points but were pipped by a mere point by City. Can they be even stronger than last season after being crowned European Champions. They have only spent a little for Dutch youngster Sepp Van Der Berg who perhaps Klopp may groom to be the next Virgil Van Dijk and Fulham wonderkid Harvey Elliott. This may not be enough since they have lost Daniel Sturridge, Alberto Moreno and Danny Ings. Of course they do have interesting youngsters of their own in Rhian Brewster, Harry Wilson (gone on loan to Bournemouth), Adam Lewis, Ryan Kent, Ki-Jana Hoever, etc. Naby Keita may yet reach his potential with the return of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Joe Gomez from injuries. Should they have signed a top forward in case Mane, Firmino or Salah are not available? A creative midfielder perhaps? Or will too many cooks spoil the soup? 

Tottenham has added well with Tanguy Ndombele. Manchester United have splashed big on Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire, desperate to make an impact this new season. Arsenal have surprised with the signing of Nicolas Pepe while they have lost captain Laurent Koscielny. Chelsea were early with the signing of Christian Pulisic but have lost Eden Hazard. What about the much-talked about Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon whom everyone wanted to sign but have not. Hang on tight right up for the next nine months marathon starting with the kick off at 3 am Singapore time opener between the two clubs who spent the least this coming season - Liverpool and Norwich (newly promoted).

Liverpool v Norwich - The European Champions missed the title by a point. They will have to be at their relentless best from the start to dislodge City. Winning titles are excellent but to stay right up there is difficult. The Reds endured a wretched pre-season but these are used to try out new roles, tactics, etc. They say do not read too much into it. The Canaries often play positive soccer and to face their host who were the European Champions in their fortress is daunting but stranger things  have happened in life and in an opening match, every dog has its day. Liverpool were not good in the first half against City in the Community Shield but roared back to life in the second and could have won it. Virgil Van Dijk's volley hit the crossbar and landed with more than half the ball across the goal line but no goal. Salah hit a post and had a header going in till Walker made a miraculous clearance. Liverpool wil be wary that as European Champions, every team in the Premier League and in Europe will want to have them beaten as a win over them is a win over the Champions of Europe so they have to be at their best at all times from the word go. Mane was just back from the Africa Nations Cup and my not be match fit so Divork Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may get to start. It could still be too much for a Morwich defence that concede 57 goals in their last season's Championship but they were the Champions who scored 93 goals so watch out Liverpool. Pukki (what a name!) will be their main threat. They also have Tettey (what a name!). This is Anfield and Liverpool could have a resounding win here but being the opener with a long season ahead, Liverpool could just control proceedings with a decent win. 2-0.

West Ham v Manchester City - The Hammers did well last season where Felipe Anderson was outstanding. The addition of Sebastian Haller from Enitracht Frankfurt was a really good acquisition and who had 15 goals and 9 assists in the Bundesliga and 5 goals in the Europa. Then there is Pablo Fornals who will add sparks to their midfield. Manuel Pelligrini will be building a good team. City will carry the same burden as Liverpool as English Champions but how many teams could take their scalp beginning with West Ham?This can be a tricky tie as the Hammers are on of at least three teams seeking to break into the top six and they have more than a decent attack. West Ham could surprise but City may still be too strong. 1-2.

Bournemouth v Sheffield United - The Cherries did really well last season and Eddie Howe has the backbone of the team to continue. Ryan Fraser was outstanding with the young David Brooks while upfront Callum Wilson and Joshua King were getting the goals. With Liverpool Harry Wilson on loan, they could do even better as they welcome newcomer Sheffield United to Dean Courts' Arena Stadium. Their defence will be bolstered with the addition of Llyod Kelly from Bristol. The most famous name that Shefffield United acquired was Phil Jagielka from Everton. His experience is needed for the newcomer. Sheffield United themselves are a famous club founded in 1857 and recognized as the oldest existing club now still playing football in the world. This is their rightful place. The premier league is a different kettle of fish though. Playing Bournemouth presents them a chance for a result but at home, Eddie Howe has a good team to win their first match. 2-1. 

Burnley v Southampton - Burnley will have a bit more firepower up front with the signing of Jay Rodriguez from WBA and Danny Drinkwater from Chelsea while the Saints remains much the same with only a permanent deal with Danny Ings from Liverpool but in recent years they have produced many fine young players through their ranks but while banking on youths is always good, they will be too inexperience through a season so Southampton may struggle in some part of the season. Burnley may just edge a narrow home win. 1-0.

Crystal Palace v Everton - Palace have not done much which means they may struggle to keep up but they do add on with Jordan Ayew from Swansea, Gary Cahill (Chelsea) who could lead the defence well and James McCarthy from Everton. Everton captured Alex Iwobi from Arsenal for a strong summer of business. He is only 23 and was a regular and had 100 appearances so ready-made for the premier league. At only 19, Moise Kean is a fine goal scorer and if he adapts quickly, the Toffees could be in for something this season especially the top six and Richarlison is still here. 0-1.

Watford v Brighton - Danny Welbeck has left Arsenal to join Watford and he could be a good addition as he resurrects his career. Brighton has a shrewd addition to their squad when they signed Neal Maupay who had 25 goals and 8 assists in the Championship last season as they were not scoring enough last season. The Seagulls have also got Aaron Mooy on loan from Huddersfield. Brighton is hard to beat but if the Hornets continued where they left off at home, they win. 2-1.

Spurs v Aston Villa - Spurs are finally spending. Giovanni Lo Celso is a dynamic Argentinian midfielder who joins on loan. Tanguy Dombele will be the one to add steel in the middle, often their weak point. Ryan Sessegnon has also come on board from Fulham while Kieran Trippier has left to join Athletico Madrid. Tom Heaton has joined Villa from Burnley giving them experience and may mean a few extra points. Brazilian young gun Wesley may also be just the tonic they need upfront. Villa signed twelve players so they may have been the biggest spender. Villa was founded in 1874 and was one of the original founders of the football league together with Wolves, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Derby, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke, Burnley, Bolton, Accrington and Blackburn Rovers. This is their rightful place too. They will give a good account of themselves and watch for Jack Grealish and John McGinn but  look at it this way - Spurs were Champions League Runners-Up. 2-0.

Leicester v Wolves - The Foxes will be stronger and more exciting this season thanks to Brendan Rodgers who already improved them when he came in late last season. The signing of Belgian international Dennis Praet from Sampdoria underlined their desires. Dennis is a player who could give them sharpness in transition. Youri Tielemans was already outstanding last season and has now sealed a permanent deal from Monaco. Ayoze Perez was a proven player at Newcastle and Rodgers has done shrewd business with money to boot with the big sale of Harry Maguire to United. They will be gunning for top six for sure. Wolves sealed a permanent deal for Raul Jimenez from Benfica and Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht plus nine more players making them a contender for top six too as they had a great season last year. Wolves should build on that platform under manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The Foxes versus the Wolves. There will be goals with two top strikers in Jamie Vardy who should get even better support this season and Raul Jiminez. Wolves will also see Diogo Jota back to his best. 2-2.

Newcastle v Arsenal - The Magpies have Joelinton on board from Hoffenheim and Andy Carroll returns on a free transfer from West Ham but they will miss the spark of Ayoze Perez. Losing Benitez was sad for the Toon Army but let us see how Steve Bruce can do. David Luiz moving to Arsenal was a big surprise deadline transfer and I believe a good one for the Gunners. Their defence was weak even as their attack can be fearsome. When they finally landed Celtic star Kieran Tierney, he could make a big impact for them. The loan signing of Dani Ceballos shall increase their energy in the middle. With a forward line consisting Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe. They should be flying. 1-2. 

Manchester United v Chelsea - While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed some games last season, Frank Lampard was Derby manager one level down but now begins his era with Chelsea. Both sides may be the most changed sides in the league this season. Both were ex players from their clubs, both facing uncertainties. Chelsea has an interesting and exciting young midfielder Mason Mount who was loan to Derby with Lampard as his manager. If Ross Barkely finally realised his potential with the return later of Reuben Loftus-Cheek and N'Golo Kante, Chelsea could still be quite formidable. Christian Pulisic should be the man to watch as he replaces Hazard. Old Trafford is a good place to showcase your talent. Poor Chelsea could only recall their loan players and showcase their youngsters. The Red Devils' first signing was Daniel James, a speedy Gonzalez who had a strong season with Swansea a tier lower down. Harry Maguire is overpriced and while he could hold the ball and play and can be deadly at set pieces he is not the fastest defender. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a good signing but also overpriced. He is a good addition. The rest largely remains unchanged. The teams are in transition and will suffer lost years. For now, they could be evenly matched. 1-1.