After a short “Summer” break, the Premier League resumes on Saturday, September 12 with the start of the 2020/21 campaign. 20 teams will do battle over the next 8 unpredictable months to determine the winner! John Newsome delivers his unique and detailed preview of all the upcoming English Premier League week 1 matches. You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday.
Please note all prices quoted below were correct at time of publication.
FULHAM v ARSENAL
Craven Cottage hosts the Gunners in the 1st game of the 2020/21 Premier League season, with this fixture kicking-off at 12.30 PM in England, live on BT Sport.
Fulham are back in the Premier League under the guidance of Ronald McDonald boy Scott Parker.
Many may not get that reference but when Scott was a kid, aged about 13, he appeared in a McDonald’s advert, doing keepy-ups in the back garden, then went off for a Big Mac and Fries.
Nowadays it would be a plant-based burger and some carrots, poor kids!
Fulham’s opening game of the 2019/20 season, saw Scott and his boys, head North to Oakwell and come away empty-handed after a 1-0 defeat against Barnsley FC.
Barnsley then went on to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage in January, doing the double over the promoted team.
This will be a tough start for Fulham back in the big time after a year away, with Scott and his team being one of the favourites to be relegated again and there’s no real evidence or new signings that can doubt that favouritism.
One player that will be key to survival, is Aleksandar Mitrovic.
If the Big Serbian can score on a regular basis, then Fulham will stand more of a chance of survival.
Arsenal start off the new campaign as FA Cup winners, followed up by being the Community Shield winners, comfortably beating Liverpool in the showpiece final a couple of weeks back.
That statement isn’t strictly true as the victory against Liverpool was less than comfortable and came about only by way of a penalty shootout.
In truth, Liverpool were all over Arsenal in the 2nd-half and Mikel’s boys were lucky to hold on.
However, a win is a win and Pep 2 will use that as motivation to take into this new term.
New signing Willian didn’t take part in the Charity Shield so should be fit and raring to go in this relatively easy start against a relegation favourite.
It was virtually 2-years ago, October 2018, when the Gunners went over to Craven Cottage and came away with an easy 5-1 victory.
Alexandre Lacazette scored Arsenal’s first with Andre Schurrle equalising for Fulham just before the break.
Andre, by the way, has announced his retirement aged just 29-years old, due to injury.
What’s not probably known about the ex-Fulham boy, is Mr Schurrle provided the assist when Mario Gotze scored the German winner in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina.
All the best for the future Andre.
Alexandre Lacazette added Arsenal and his 2nd goal early after the break.
Aaron Ramsey made it 3-1, seconds after coming on as a substitute.
Pierre-Emerick then added 4 and 5 for the Gunners to give Unai Emery and his boys an easy victory over their London rivals.
- Bet 365 offer Fulham at 9/2, the Draw at 16/5 and Odds On 11/20 for Arsenal to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 4/1 that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Scores First and 7/4 that Arsenal Win To Nil.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
CRYSTAL PALACE v SOUTHAMPTON
One of only 2, 15.00 PM kick-offs in England, with the cardboard Saints heading to London, to take on the Eagles.
The good thing for the Eagle Ultras is that their star man, Wilfried Zaha is still a Palace player, for the time being, however, the Transfer Window is open until October the 5th, so plenty of time left for suitors to make their move.
Palace, under Roy Hodgson, will never be relegated, yet do the Ultras want more from their team?
This will be a fair test against a Southampton team who finished last season strong.
After the destruction of the 9-0 defeat against Leicester almost a year ago, the Saints have improved immensely and Ralph Hasenhuttl is slowly working his Austrian magic.
With the new England Internationals in the ranks, Southampton will always be a threat upfront.
Both James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings played in the drab game against Iceland.
It’s rumoured, the day after the game in Reykjavik, B and Q had sold out of paint, as most that watched the poor England performance, went out the next day, bought some paint, did the walls and watched it dry, as it was more entertaining than the footie.
James was actually a bit naughty when Iceland were awarded a last-minute penalty, by digging up the penalty-spot, just prior to the Iceland player missing his kick.
Roy Keane wasn’t happy in the Sky Sports studio but when is Roy ever happy?
The Saints came away from Selhurst Park with a 2-0 victory last season, prior to the lockdown back in January.
Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong were the goal-scorers, either side of the break to give the travelling faithful an enjoyable journey back to the South Coast.
- Bet 365 offer Crystal Palace at 15/8, the Draw at 9/4 and 29/20 for Southampton to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 6/5 that there are Over 2.5 Goals and 5/1 Luka Milivojevic Scores Anytime.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
WEST HAM v NEWCASTLE
The 2nd of the two, 15.00 PM start-times in England sees Newcastle head South to the London Stadium.
West Ham haven’t signed anyone of note up to now and will probably start the new campaign with the same starting eleven as the last match of the 2019/20 season.
Oldtimer and ex-Man City Left-Back Pablo Zabaleta has left the Hammers with the Bubbles faithful wishing the Argentinian all the best for the future.
With Michail Antonio in the team, the Hammers will always be a threat and at the minute, Declan Rice is still a West Ham player.
Doctor Declan was in Central-Midfield for England against Iceland, however, played, along with the rest of the other Three Lions, like they were in Iceland, on the Chicken Aisle, pushing a shopping trolley.
Newcastle warmed up for this trip to the Capital with a pre-season friendly against the Super Reds of Barnsley.
The Magpies narrowly beat the Yorkshire club by a 2-1 scoreline, with the watching Hammers spy, taking plenty of notes on how to take on Steve Bruce’s boys.
Andy Carroll notched against the Reds, with Jacob Murphy getting the winner.
It looks like Big Brucey has got his preferred striker after Cherry picking Callum Wilson from Bournemouth, bringing in the lad for about £20 Million.
Another good player that Steve has recruited is Jeff Hendrick from Burnley.
It really is a surprise that the Clarets have decided to let Jeff leave and join a mid-table rival.
Unless Big Sean and Jeff have had a fall-out.
This game will be a good test for both teams to see who maybe has progressed the most in the short close-season.
Newcastle got all 3-points following a victory at the London Stadium last November by a 3-2 scoreline.
What’s probably a surprise in that is the Magpies were 3-0 up at one point with goals from Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez in the 1st-half and Jonjo Shelvey after the break.
The Hammers, still under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, then staged an attempted comeback with Fabian Balbuena and Robert Snodgrass scoring to give the home Bubbles hope, however, time ran out and Newcastle got the victory.
- Bet 365 offer West Ham at 11/10, the Draw at 12/5 and 12/5 for Newcastle to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 5/1 that Michail Antonio Scores First and 5/2 that there are Over 3.5 Goals.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
LIVERPOOL v LEEDS UNITED
This fixture is a 17.30 PM kick-off in England, live on Sky Sports.
Jurgen Klopp starts the defence of the Premier League title, with a tricky game against last season’s Championship winners.
This could go one of two ways, one being an easy victory for the champions or two, a hard game against Marcelo Bielsa’s energetic young Leeds United team that won’t fear anyone.
With no real new signings, the Reds start off the new campaign with the same starting eleven as how they finished in July, with Jordan Henderson now fit and raring to go after missing the last few games of the season.
What was strange was Liverpool took on and comfortably beat Blackpool by a 7-2 scoreline on Saturday, at the same time that a few of their star players were on International duty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomes, and Virgil Van Dijk were all on show in their various country guises.
Liverpool will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season but it is a big ask to retain the Premier League title, especially with Chelsea on the spend and both the Manchester clubs investing, whereas at the minute Jurgen is happy with his current boys.
Sir Alex Ferguson always made signings to make his teams stronger over the years, when they had just won the league.
Will that be one of Klippertys mistakes come the end of the season?
Leeds United’s new signings Rodrigo and Robin Koch, both played for their respective country’s in the recent Euro Nation internationals.
Even playing against each other in the 1-1 draw between Germany and Spain.
Rodrigo looks to be of similar ilk to the Whites current striker, Patrick Bamford, with some commenting that he’s a faster version of Pat.
Although Robin did get game time for Germany against Spain, the boy was only on the pitch for a minute, so there wasn’t much time for the Leeds faithful to make up an opinion of their new defender.
Another defender on the way to West Yorkshire is the big Croatian Josko Gvardiol, who has signed from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee of around £17 Million.
The youngster is only 18, so is definitely one for the future but after failing to land Ben White on a permanent deal, Marcelo needed a replacement.
What will surprise the current Premier League teams is how fit the Leeds United players will be.
In this modern era, all the clubs are relatively fit but Marcelo is renowned for making his players run, even installing a 1-Kilometre running track at the Thorp Arch training facility.
Leeds United may find themselves on the end of some poor results, with this opener a possible yardstick to how the season will unfold but one thing that is for certain, Marcelo Bielsa will be a very good addition to the Premier League dugouts with his bucket to sit on and his 13-step rule, watch out for El Loco!
It was almost 17-years ago, in October 2003, that Leeds United last played at Anfield in the Premier League.
The Reds got the victory with goals from Michael Owen, Danny Murphy and Florent Sinama-Pongolle in a 3-1 scoreline.
Alan Smith scored the Leeds consolation.
A few other names to mention, Harry Kewell, a Leeds United youngster, played in the Liverpool team and James Milner, who’s just won the Premier League with the Reds, was in the Leeds starting eleven.
Nick Barmby also started for Leeds with El-Hadji Diouf playing for Liverpool.
- Bet 365 offer Liverpool at Odds On 1/4, the Draw at 5/1 and 9/1 for Leeds to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 6/4 that there are Under 2.5 Goals and 7/2 that Leeds Win Either Half.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
WEST BROM v LEICESTER
Early Sunday Afternoon kick-off with this game at the Hawthorns starting at 14.00 PM in England, live on Sky Sports.
West Brom finished 2nd, behind Leeds United in the Championship, gaining automatic promotion after spending 2-seasons out of the Top Flight, following relegation from the league back in 2017/18.
Slaven Bilic is now at the Baggies helm and if someone was brave enough to tell the big man to shave off his beard, the Croatian would look more like the 52-year old he is and not 73!
Grady Diangana has made his loan move from West Ham permanent in a £20 Million deal.
There’s no one at the Hawthorns that will think other than this being a really tough season back in the Premier League but the Baggies faithful will take that every week just to see their boys playing against Liverpool, the Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Leicester, instead of Luton, Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday.
Leicester haven’t really invested in any new signings and come into the new campaign with the same starting eleven as that finished in July.
The Premier League’s Golden Boot winner and Sheffield Superstar, Jamie Vardy will be back to terrorise the defences of all 19-teams and will want to get off to a good goal-scoring start, feeling this game against the Baggies is a good place to start.
Rod Stewart is still not happy with Brendan for leaving his beloved Celtic in the Scottish Pub League.
It’s rumoured, Rod has gone out and purchased shirts from all of the other 19-Premier League teams, with ‘Stewart’ and 75 on the back and has vowed to wear each one when Brendan’s Wonderful Human Beings play.
He’s Celtic, United but Brendan has decided that Leicester is the best place to be.
It’s not been quite as long as the Leeds visit to Anfield, since Leicester headed the short distance over to the Hawthorns.
Back in March 2018, Salomon Rondon actually scored 1st for the Baggies but goals from Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Kelechi Iheanacho and Iborra, gave the Foxes an easy victory by a 4-1 scoreline.
- Bet 365 offer West Brom at 13/5, the Draw at 13/5 and slight Odds On 19/20 for Leicester to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 5/1 that Jamie Vardy Scores First and 13/5 that Leicester Win To Nil.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
TOTTENHAM v EVERTON
This game is the late Sunday Afternoon fixture kicking-off at 16.30 PM in England live on Sky Sports.
Jose Mourinho will have his players fit and strong for the new campaign as is Jose’s DNA.
Tottenham have brought in Matt Doherty from Wolves who is an excellent signing and despite being an Arsenal fan, will give his all for his new club.
Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is another new recruit to bolster the midfield with the ex-Man City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart coming in also to warm the bench as backup to Hugo Lloris.
Dracula won’t win the Premier League title with Tottenham but should finish in the Top Six, if not, the Top Four and will give any team a run for their money, especially with Harry Kane up top.
Everton have let a few players leave the club and with Leighton Baines announcing his retirement, will be down to the bare bones.
The Toffees faithful will no doubt wish Leighton all the best and will always have a place for the talented Left-Back in their hearts.
Morgan Schneiderlin and Oumar Niasse have also left the club.
Morgan seemed to be an enigma.
For some unknown reason, Manchester United signed him after his displays for Southampton which from the outside was a surprise as it’s not known what Mr Schneiderlin has to offer.
Maybe he’s a good driver who doesn’t drink and the boys got him in as the designated?
With just Niels Nkounkou through the Goodison Park door, Carlo has pretty much the same team that finished the last season to start this new one.
James Rodriguez and Allan are supposedly on the way but it’s unclear as to whether the pair will arrive before Sunday.
This fixture from last season, only took place in July, with the cardboard Tottenham faithful seeing their beloved Lilywhites beat Everton by a 1-0 scoreline.
Probably what will have annoyed the Toffees, is Michael Keane, scored the solitary own-goal to gift Spurs the points.
- Bet 365 offer Tottenham at slight Odds On 4/5, the Draw at 13/5 and 10/3 for Everton to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 4/1 that Harry Kane Scores First and 2/1 that Tottenham Score in Both Halves.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
BRIGHTON v CHELSEA
Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports with 20.00 PM kick-off in England.
Brighton start the new campaign without the old stager Glenn Murray who is off to Vicarage Rd to play with Watford in the Championship.
There are a few new faces at the Amex, most noticeably, Adam Lallana who arrives from Liverpool and will definitely enhance the Seagulls.
This will be a tricky start against the potential Premier League winners.
Frank Lampard’s new-look Chelsea are hopefully going to rival the big boys of Liverpool and the Manchester clubs with the 5-top quality signings of Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell.
At the Amex, last season, this was a New Year’s Day fixture, with both teams hungover and playing out a 1-1 draw.
Cesar Aspiliqueta scored the Chelsea goal with Alireza Jahanbakhsh equalising late on for the Seagulls to give both teams a new year point.
These two actually met just a week ago, in a pre-season friendly, which also ended in a 1-1 scoreline.
The fixture at the Amex saw a limited number of fans allowed in, which hopefully is the way forward and it won’t be too long before crowds are back in the stadium’s watching sport!
- Bet 365 offer Brighton at 4/1, the Draw at 14/5 and Odds On 13/20 for Chelsea to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 2/1 that there are Over 3.5 Goals and 7/2 that Chelsea Win Both Halves.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
SHEFFIELD UNITED v WOLVES
The final fixture of Game Week-1, kicking-off, also at 20.00 PM in England, however, not a live TV game.
Sheffield United will want to regain momentum after a relatively flat finish to the last season.
Little James from Swinton is so excited about the new campaign, that he went for a night out in Sheffield with his mates on Saturday.
After a couple of fruit Kopparberg’s the boys were in full flow of the legendary John Denver parody that the Blunts faithful sing.
Bless ‘em.
‘Like a night out in Sheffield’
Wolves are just thankful that there’s no Europa League this season and can stay at home on a Thursday night instead of flying out to Kazakhstan.
Conor Coady was called up into the England squad for the games against Iceland and Denmark but didn’t see game time in Reykjavik and will be hoping for a run-out against Denmark on Tuesday.
This was another post-lockdown game last season, taking place in early July, with John Egan getting a very late solitary goal to give Sheffield United a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane.
- Bet 365 offer Sheffield United at 23/10, the Draw at 11/5 and 5/4 for Wolves to come away with all 3-points.
- Bet 365 offer 8/5 that Billy Sharp Scores Anytime and 6/5 that Sheffield United Win Either Half.
- Go to Bet365 To View Latest Odds
MAN CITY v ASTON VILLA
Although these 2-remaining Game Week 1 fixtures are postponed due to the Manchester clubs being useless in Europe, here’s just a bit of fun, for those who want to read on.
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were Sleepless in Seattle, Pep and Ole, that’s Pep, not Stan, were Useless in Europe.
On September the 4th, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Talksport and any other sport, had headline news that Lionel Messi was staying at Barcelona.
On August the 31st, 4-days before the supposed ‘expert Sports outlets’
ran the ‘breaking news’ story about Lionel, EveryTip published the following,
‘MAN CITY
Finally, it is that time to discuss Man City and put to bed a story that as risen up over the past week or so.
Lionel Messi is not leaving Barcelona!
BREAKING NEWS
Repeat, Lionel is not leaving Barcelona and is not joining Pep in Manchester.
For a start, the fee in itself would be £632 Million, the release clause amount in Mr Messi’s contract.
After that, there would be wages of approximately £32 Million a year, which is £600,000 a week, (a week!)
Lionel would probably want a 5-year deal, so the Math says, that’s £156 Million, on top of the fee.
It’s not going to happen and is just a brilliant story that gets the Sky Sports pundits excited in this close-season.
There’s even one based in Barcelona talking nonsense every hour.
Nice work if one can get it.
Imagine the scenario, Little Lionel goes home to the missus who’s in the backyard sunbathing in the Spanish sun and says,
‘Hi lovely, I’ve signed for Man City, we are moving to Manchester, England’
Mrs Messi lifts her head up, pulls down her Louis Vuitton sunglasses and replies,
‘Have you been drinking Leo, come and have a sit down my dear and rest your head’
‘Has that funny man, Arturo Vidal, him with the silly hair given you one of those sweets again, you know what they do to you’
Little Lionel’s determined and carries on the discussion,
‘No love, I’m signing for Man City!’
Mrs Messi takes a drink of her Cubre Libre and coolly replies,
‘If you think I’m leaving the sunshine of Barcelona and taking the kids to Manchester, where it rains for 324-days a year, they all talk funny, (ya’orr-right) and wear funny kagool’s because it rains 324-days a year, then you must have had a bang on the head love!’
‘Yeah, ya right lovely, I’m not eating anything Arturo gives me again, I’m going for a lie-down, be feeling better later’
End of conversation!’
Stick with EveryTip, for the breaking news stories.
BURNLEY v MANCHESTER UNITED
John Newsome is 51 on September the 7th.
Happy Birthday JB
To mark the great mans birthday there’s a game to play in picking out a favourite song for each year an individual has been alive.
JBs song list is as follows.
1969-Suspicious Minds-Elvis
1970-Lola-The Kinks
1971-Maggie May-Rod Stewart
1972-My Ding-a-Ling-Chuck Berry
1973-Little Willy-Sweet
1974-Annie’s Song-John Denver
1975-Killer Queen-Queen
1976-Convoy-CW McCall
1977-Lucille-Kenny Rogers
1978-Matchstalk Men-Brian and Michael
1979-I Don’t Like Monday’s-Boomtown Rats
1980-Going Underground-The Jam
1981-Imagine-John Lennon
1982-Town Called Malice-The Jam
1983-Karma Chameleon-Culture Club
1984-My Ever Changing Mood-The Style Council
1985-Little Red Corvette-Prince
1986-Papa Don’t Preach-Madonna
1987-Live it Up-Mental As Anything
1988-I Owe You Nothing-Bros
1989-For Spacious Lies- Norman Cook/Lester
1990-Ghetto Heaven-Family Stand
1991-All Together Now-The Farm
1992-Damn-Sophie B Hawkins
1993-Good Day-Ice Cube
1994-Crazy For You-Let Loose
1995-Wonderwall-Oasis
1996-Born Slippy-Underworld
1997-Drinking In LA-Bran Van 3000
1998-Save Tonight-Eagle Eyed Cherry
1999-You Get What You Give-New Radicals
2000-This Years Love-David Gray
2001-Stan-Eminem
2002-1000 Miles-Vanessa Carlton
2003-White Flag-Dido
2004-She Will Be Loved-Maroon 5
2005-Dakota-Stereophonics
2006-Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol
2007-How To Save A Life-The Fray
2008-Chasing Pavements-Adele
2009-Love At First Sight-Kylie Minogue
2010-Fireflies-Owl City
2011-Someone Like You-Adele
2012-Mr Brightside-The Killers
2013-Digital Love-Daft Punk
2014-Blurred Lines-Robin and Pharrel
2015-Shine-Years and Years
2016-Bat Out Of Hell-Meatloaf
2017-Something-Coldplay and The Chainsmokers
2018-Starz In Their Eyes-Just Jack
2019-Someone You Loved-Lewis Capaldi
2020- You’re The Best Thing-The Style Council
If ones bored one day, try it, it’s a good game to play.
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