PREMIER LEAGUE: Week one as it happened.
StrumSolo > 17/08/2013, 10:46
A look ahead to this weekend's opening Premier League fixtures.
SATURDAY
Liverpool v Stoke 12:45
Given his history at Man Utd, Mark Hughes can expect a lively reception at Anfield as he takes charge of his first match as Stoke boss. This is the sort of game that Liverpool have all too often failed to win over the last few years, and while Stoke would most likely settle for a point, Brendan Rodgers will want to make sure his side get off to a flying start.
Luis Suarez still has 6 games left on his ban but new signing Iago Aspas could make his debut. Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are expected to be passed fit as well. Stoke could hand debuts to new signings Erik Pieters and Marc Muniesa.
Arsenal v Aston Villa 15:00
The pressure will be on Arsene Wenger here to lay down a marker and show that despite his side’s inactivity in the transfer market, they’re ready to challenge this year. Anything less than a win will have the fans and media throwing fits, demanding (expensive) new faces. Injuries to Mikel Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal will only make the task harder and the spotlight will be on Yaya Sanogo should he make his debut.
Paul Lambert will need to decide whether or not to hand debuts to his summer signings. Antonio Luna, Jores Okore and Aleksandar Tonev are the most likely starters but despite Arsenal’s problems, the Emirates is never an easy place to go and the manager will be wary of getting turned over.
Norwich v Everton 15:00
Chris Hughton could hand debuts to Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel, his new look strikeforce, against a defence he’ll be hoping will be more Roberto Martinez’s Wigan than David Moyes’ Everton. Leroy Fer, another summer signing, is suspended while injury rules out Anthony Pilkington and Sebastien Bassong.
Martinez should be able to call on Marouane Fellaini for his first competitive fixture in charge of Everton. However Darron Gibson is doubtful, while Tony Hibbert, Antolin Alcaraz and Magaye Gueye are all definitely out of a game he’ll be desperate to make a good first impression with.
Sunderland v Fulham 15:00
It’s anyone’s guess how Sunderland will line up this afternoon, with the majority of their ten summer signings in contention to make their debuts. The fixture list has been kind to Paolo Di Canio here, pairing his side up with a Fulham side who are notoriously sluggish on the road. Though the flip-side of this is that he’ll be under pressure to get a performance out of his hastily assembled team. Of the old guard, Wes Brown, Craig Gardner, David Vaughan and Steven Fletcher are all ruled out.
For Fulham, loan signings Adel Taarabt and Darren Bent are likely to miss out due to a lack of match fitness while midfielder Alex Kacaniklic is an injury doubt.
West Brom v Southampton 15:00
Today will be the first opportunity to see how West Brom fare post-Romelu Lukaku, and how well Nicolas Anelka and Matej Vydra can fill the young Belgian’s shoes. Diego Lugano for the home side, and Maya Yoshida and Gaston Ramirez of Southampton all played in the Japan v Uruguay fixture earlier this week and might not be risked on the back of such heavy travelling.
Southampton should hand debuts to Diego Lovren and Victor Wanyama, while Rickie Lambert will most likely start after his England heroics Wednesday night.
West Ham v Cardiff 15:00
Cardiff make their top-flight return after an absence of 51 years and will be hoping their stay doesn’t turn out to be a short one. They’ve spent big in an effort to boost their survival chances and of those new faces, Gary Medel and Steven Caulker should feature today. Andreas Cornelius is doubtful.
An away trip to West Ham isn’t the easiest of starts though, and the Hammers will likely call on new signing Stewart Downing. However, there are still doubts over Andy Carroll’s fitness and defenders George McCartney and James Collins are likely to miss out too.
Swansea v Man Utd 17:30
Tonight’s evening kick-off is arguably the highlight of the day, as everyone waits to see how David Moyes will deal with life at Man Utd. Swansea is by no means an easy place to go but nevertheless, United will be expected to win comfortably. Wayne Rooney, after proving his fitness on Wednesday night, has travelled to South Wales with the squad so his involvement (or lack of) will be another intriguing sub-plot. Michael Carrick and Javier Hernandez are doubtful while Rafael serves the final match of his suspension.
Swansea will welcome back Jonjo Shelvey and Pablo Hernandez after injury, and Wifried Bony could feature despite clocking up the air miles mid-week. Jonathan de Guzman misses out due to concussion.
SUNDAY
Crystal Palace v Tottenham 13:30
Gareth Bale is unavailable (injured?) for this one but Spurs will still be hoping to have enough in reserve to get past a Palace side widely expected to struggle this season. They’ll also have to make do without Jan Vertonghen, Lewis Holtby and Emmanuel Adebayor but their summer signings are all ready to feature.
Palace are without new signing Jerome Thomas, as well Yannick Bolasie, Paddy McCarthy and long-term absentee Glenn Murray. Marouane Chamakh could make his debut though, with all at Selhurst Park hoping he’ll get one over on his old North London rivals.
Chelsea v Hull 16:00
It’s Jose Mourinho’s return to English football and Hull’s return to the top flight, no prizes for guessing which is the bigger story. Chelsea could hand debuts to summer signings Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel while Romelu Lukaku could also feature on his return from West Brom. Cesar Azpilicueta and Victor Moses are doubtful after long flights midweek.
Hull have almost been as busy as Sunderland this summer so debuts are possible for any one of Allan McGregor, Curtis Davies, Maynor Figueroa, Danny Graham, Yannick Sagbo, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore. Take your pick.
MONDAY
Man City v Newcastle 20:00
The last of the big managerial reveals sees Manuel Pellegrini begin life in the Premier League with a Monday night fixture. Matija Nastasic is making better than expected progress in his comeback from injury but this game will still be too soon for the young centre half. Jovetic, Negredo, Fernandinho and Navas could all feature.
It’s been a quiet summer (in terms of transfers at least) for Newcastle but loan signing Loic Remy could be involved.
Predictions please ladies and gents, and let us know how you think your team will get on.