Premier League – Round 1 – Back in action
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
As always, trying to predict the first round games is never an easy task. The element of risk is somewhat higher. Apart from Manchester City all top sides have stern tests to face with Liverpool the likeliest to get three points. Arsenal and Chelsea travel to Newcastle and Stoke respectively and if focused on the match should get a good start to their campaign.
Fulham – Aston Villa
This may be a tricky game to call. Fulham are a very solid team, especially at home. However, they have one more hurdle to overcome before they get into the Europa League proper after having been awarded with the chance to compete due to a great fair play record last season.
Dnipro are waiting and should be enough of a distraction for Fulham. Just like Aston Villa they have a new manager. Although his appointment was less controversial than that of Villa’s McLeish, Jol, fresh from the Eredivisie title with Ajax, will need some time to get things going.
Aston Villa should have all players available for this London trip whilst Fulham are still awaiting on star player Zamora’s fitness. He has a broken arm but should still be involved in the game. If not fit enough though he may sit alongside Riise, who joined from Roma, Davies and the Norwegian’s brother.
Verdict: Aston Villa 0:0
In the past 19 encounters with the Villains Fulham have only won three times and always at Craven Cottage. Villa have not been scared much by the Cottagers over the years and with Dnipro lurking in the shadows McLeish’s team has all it takes to upset the home favourites.
Liverpool – Sunderland
The Reds have enlisted a number of good players this summer and with January signings Luis Suarez and Carroll should have guaranteed themselves an exceptional attacking potential for this year.
Gerrard will be missing for this match and Skrtel as well but Luis Suarez, despite reporting back for training just last Monday should not be left outside of Dalglish’s plans.
Last season, in this same fixture, with Bent still in the Sunderland ranks, the Black Cats went ahead with a 1-2 score but the home team leveled through captain Gerrard.
Sunderland should have few starters out of contention.
Verdict: Liverpool -1
Liverpool should be headed for a great season and there is no better way to start than with three points and the fans’ enthusiasm sky-high. Sunderland have awful records at Anfield and should be caught out cold by the Reds and an old acquaintance of theirs, Andy Carroll.
Newcastle – Arsenal
Fabregas and Nasri will be making the headlines and frustrating Wenger, who must by now have given up hope of retaining the two stars. Fabregas should be the first to go, joining his beloved Barcelona.
Wenger can, however, still count on Arshavin, Rosicky, van Persie and Chamakh. There are goals in this team and although they should also miss out on the services of Diaby and Wilshere I would rate them as having high chances of walking away with points here.
Newcastle should be poised for an uphill struggle this season. Star man Ben Arfa is still over a month from returning to action and some new faces still need to be tested. Places will be plentiful for the likes of Cabaye and Marveaux to get a run on the field after having offloaded Nolan and marginalized bad boy Barton.
Verdict: 2
With Fabregas and Nasri unlikely to feature in this match many pundits will be distracted by the potential the Gunners still enjoy in their squad. Newcastle, despite playing at home, have far worse problems to deal with and should be no match for Wenger’s men.
Stoke City – Chelsea
Like Fulham, Stoke City have a double encounter to plan for as they aim to get a ticket for Europe. After beating Hajduk Split with a 1-0 scoreline both home and away they now face Swiss side Thun, fresh from having kicked out Italian side Palermo.
It will not be an easy task and that is why manager Pulis may give more time to unfit trio Etherington, Delap and Upson. Fuller, Higginbotham and Sidibe are definitely ruled out.
Chelsea get an easy start and the chance to replicate last season’s great run at the beginning of their adventure. That race ended badly for them, once again runners-up to Manchester United. They should do their best to target nine points before they travel to the Stadium of Light and Old Trafford in September, when Champions League action kicks off as well.
Essien is a long term absentee for the Blues and David Luiz is also unavailable. Striker Sturridge is suspended after having been disciplined last season when on loan at Bolton.
Verdict: 2
Pulis has got many doubts about how to field his team after receiving some bad news from the team doctors. He has to remember that Thun are more important if they want to get a place in Europe. Chelsea are determined to start well with Villas Boas kicking off his adventure in the Premier League in the best possible manner.
14.08.2011, 10:47 CET
Hehe. You still have not forgiven Torres eh Joe.
I thought Liverpool really should have won it and Arsenal were close. But opening games are always tougher to predict as teams still try to get things going.
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14.08.2011, 09:19 CET
Perfect hit on the Villa game, let's hope Chelsea will get a draw. Ok, what i really mean is torres to start a new drought of NO goals!!!