Round 1 Predictions

1 - 1

The Game Notes: We've gone for honours even because Everton's engine room has been hollowed out. Garner, Iroegbunam and Nørgaard all miss out, which means a Premier League debut for Hayden Hackney and a makeshift look alongside Dewsbury-Hall against a Palace side fresh from a European final. Moyes will lean on Pickford and a settled back line to keep this tight, and Ndiaye and Dibling have the spark to nick one at the Hill Dickinson. Palace's uncertainty in the dugout blunts them slightly away from Selhurst, so a share of the spoils feels right on opening day.

2 - 1

The Game Notes: Home advantage and a new-manager bounce swing this one Forest's way. Yes, Savona is out and both Hudson-Odoi and Wood are major doubts, but the City Ground on the opening afternoon is a hostile place to bring three competitive debutants in Wilson, Muharemović and Trafford. Leeds have had a lovely summer - Liverpool and Leipzig beaten in pre-season - yet Farke still has seven bodies out or doubtful and Trafford will be tested early. We expect Leeds to carry a threat and get on the scoresheet, but Forest to edge a scrappy six-pointer between two direct rivals for safety.

1 - 2

The Game Notes: Spurs' spending gets rewarded here. Tonali and Robertson making competitive debuts adds serious quality to a midfield and defence that shipped goals under Frank and Tudor, and De Zerbi has had a full summer to drill his ideas. Van de Ven, Kulusevski, Simons and Odobert are all sidelined, which thins the attacking options, but Brentford are missing Dasilva, Carvalho and Milambo long term and Igor Thiago's fitness remains a nagging worry. Keith Andrews' side will make the Gtech uncomfortable and get a goal for their pressing, though we back the visitors' extra class to settle a derby under the Saturday lights.

3 - 0

The Game Notes: A comfortable City win is the call, even without verified team news. Guardiola's squad depth means World Cup fatigue simply gets absorbed by rotation, and the Etihad on an opening Sunday has been a graveyard for sides asked to defend for ninety minutes. Bournemouth's recent summers have followed the same pattern - defenders sold, Iraola rebuilding on the hoof - and a back line still bedding in is exactly the kind Erling Haaland and City's rotating attackers punish. Iraola's press can cause problems for twenty minutes, but once City land the first goal we expect the floodgates to creak open.

1 - 2

The Game Notes: Congestion decides this. Brighton play a Conference League play-off tie on the Thursday before kick-off - the very reason this was moved to Sunday - with a second leg looming four days later, so rotation and heavy legs are guaranteed. Villa arrive fresher and, under Emery, are ruthlessly efficient at picking off tired hosts on the counter. The Amex crowd will lift a much-changed Brighton side and we expect them to score, but a patched-up XI against Villa's settled spine points one way. We're backing the visitors to take all three points in a game that turns on freshness.

1 - 3

The Game Notes: Newcastle have been dismantled and Liverpool should take full advantage. Guimarães, Tonali, Gordon and Trippier have all gone, Howe with them, and Matthias Jaissle's first home league game comes with Joelinton out, Livramento short of fitness, Willock limping out of the final friendly and Schär a doubt at best. Central midfield is where Liverpool will feast. St James' Park will be raucous and we fully expect a goal for the hosts on the emotion of the occasion, but an inexperienced, injury-hit side against Liverpool's depth only ends one way. Away win, and with a bit of room to spare.