Premier League Preview

The weekend is upon us and that can mean only one thing to all of us - The excitement that is English Football is back! Gone are the days of shopping with the girl, buying mummy flowers and watching Brian Lara smashing boundaries left, right, centre with Jack Russel watching as his mustache blows in the wind, in "The Best of Lara" series.

It's time for bloody gums and dirty bottoms and all the thrill attached to the 8-month roller coaster simply called the Barclaycard Premier League!

Here's my preview of the matches on this weekend. My prediction for the table at the end of the season is coming up soon.

Saturday

Chelsea vs Hull City
Kick-off 12:45
Chelsea 1/6
Draw 11/2
Hull 20/1

Chelsea have had a great pre-season, culminating in the Community Shield victory over title rivals Manchester United. But they have not been involved in any high-profile transfers usually associated with them, this summer. The fans will have to wait a bit to get a taste of new boy Yuri Zhirkov who is sitting out injured, but Chelsea's biggest coup of the summer has to be to have hung on defender Ricardo Carvalho and captain John Terry. The Tigers on the other hand have been rejected by almost all players (Michael Owen among many others). Hull's start to the season will be what has everyone scanning their names in the back pages of tabloids, who they sign, will not figure in the readers to do list. Still, irrespective of any signing either of these two teams may have made over the summer, I believe Chelsea will be too strong for Hull at Stamford Bridge.

Prediction

Chelsea 3 - 0 Hull.

Aston Villa vs. Wigan
Kick-off 15:00
Aston Villa 4/6
Draw 13/5
Wigan 9/2

The biggest test Martin O'Neill faces this season is how he will string together this squad with his most influential midfielder gone to the blue half of Manchester. Add to that, the loss of Martin Laursen, the clarets will find it hard to repeat the performance of last season. Something similar to what the problems their opposition will face this season. 11th place is a great return for a team like Wigan but they have since lost Antonio Valencia and the manager who brought in unknown South Americans like Valencia - Steve Bruce! Wigan have got a classy young manager in Roberto Martinez, but the ex- Swansea manager will struggle in his first full-season in the Premier League. Martin O'Neil's side will have too much quality for Wigan to handle. The midland outfit can expect to start the campaign with a victory at home, without being troubled too much.

Aston Villa 2 - 1 Wigan.

Blackburn vs Man City
Kick-Off 15:00
Blackburn 13/5
Draw 9/4
Manchester City 11/10

You could not have seen a paper this summer without a $ or a £ or € or sometimes even a ¥ sign in a headline where a certain Manchester City were also mentioned. The sky blues could not have asked for a better acid test to the beginning of their new campaign. Ewood Park is not a place anyone would like to start a friendly, let alone a full blown Premier League campaign. But a lot rides on Mark Hughes' men and the outcome of this game. Simply because his team didn't do well away at all last season and his high profile signings will be expected to deliver from day 1. And Sam Allardyce will give his team the license to give former Rovers' Striker Roque Santa Cruz and Manager Mark Hughes a kick in the teeth (maybe quite literally for Roque if he were to take the field, which is highly unlikely). Still, City has too much firepower to nullify any long ball inspired goal that Blackburn can score. It should be an exciting draw and a complete defense vs. attack off the season (unless Blackburn go 2-0 up... you can forget about a World XI beating them then).

Blackburn 1 - 1 Man City

Bolton vs Sunderland
Kick-Off 15:00
Bolton 5/4
Draw 9/4
Sunderland 9/4

The least anticipated match of the season, even for fans of Bolton and Sunderland. If Steve Bruce were asked where he was allowed to start the season, except the Stadium of Light, one of the last places on his mind would have been the Reebok. Much will be expected of his team who have money, some quality and a good manager in him. Bolton on the other hand have a manager who will once again be happy with the 35 draws + 3 wins necessary to play in the Premier League again next season. Expect that to happen. This will be a cagey match, with Bolton choosing to defend and Sunderland trying to play under Brucey's new system. If the pre-season results are anything to go by, expect a draw.

Bolton 0 - 0 Sunderland.

Portsmouth vs Fulham
Kick Off 15:00
Portsmouth 13/8
Draw 11/5
Fulham 7/4

Pompey is going down this season. You read it here first. They just don't have enough. They have sold arguably their best player in Glen Johnson, this summer, and their most potent strike force to Spurs in half a year. It almost seems like they are preparing for life in the championship and don't want the expensive wage bills weighing them down. Still, Fratton Park remains a ground managers like to avoid during the beginning of their season. Much like Craven Cottage which is home to the team coming to Pompey. But unlike their opponents, Fulham has a solid team, still have their best player from last season in Brede Hangeland and a manager who knows exactly what he needs to do. Still, expect their European adventure to continue next year only if they manage to win the Europa League in this campaign. As far as this match is concerned, I am going for a Fulham win - despite their appalling away record last season.

Portsmouth 0 - 1 Fulham

Stoke vs Burnley
Kick Off 15:00
Stoke 10/11
Draw 23/10
Burnley 10/3

Another name for hell on earth - The Britannia. Yet another stadium in a managers' "Places to avoid in August" checklist. Stoke will probably face a similar atmosphere at Turf Moor, but Tony Pulis's men don't have to worry about that till January. Burnley had a great cup run last year and defeated 2 of the top 4 on their way to the Carling Cup semifinal, only to lose (rather unfortunately) to the Spurs. Expect nothing similar in a campaign that will last 38 games, and nothing even close in the opening game of the season. Stoke will be too physical for the new comers - 25 minutes, Rory Delap's second throw in of the game, Beattie volleys it home... and the celebration begins for the Potters.

Stoke 3 - 0 Burnley.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham
Kick Off 15:00
Wolves 13/8
Draw 23/10
West Ham 17/10

Mick McCarthy will have learnt a great deal from his last time in the Premiership when Sunderland recorded the all time low return from any team in the Premiership - ever. And his team will reflect the nerves he will be showing in their return to the top flight. Expect them to improve as the season continues and play some exciting football by the time we reach November. Could they be the Hull of this season? Maybe, at least if Sylvan Ebanks Blake has a say in things. They have had a good off season but they will face a different quality in the Hammers. Zola's charges will want to hit the ground running if they are to pursue their hunt for European spots. Expect a win for the West London outfit.

Wolves 0 - 2 West Ham.

Everton vs Arsenal
Kick Off 17:30
Everton 11/5
Draw 9/4
Arsenal 13/10

The last game of the day is at Goodison Park where the Merseysiders play host to a certain North London outfit who will be well under scrutiny all season long. Arsenal start their season without influential Centre Back Kolo Toure who has signed for Manchester City. Everton could very well be in a similar position by the end of this month with Joleon Lescott also headed there. But whoever has written off Arsenal, especially as a probable top 4, is a fool. Arsene's kids have a years' worth of extra experience from last year. They lost just the one game out of their last 24 of last season. Admittedly there were a few draws there, but they will be better off without Adebayor and with a fit again Eduardo. Everton on the other hand, well, what can be said that is enough about this team. They have, for the last 4-5 seasons, punched well above their weight and they will do it again with a fit squad. Although Arsenal have the edge as far as pre-season results are concerned, I expect a highly entertaining draw with Tim Cahill scoring from a corner, a freak own goal while a touch of class from Arshavin and a rocket from an off-the-bench Diaby will seal this result. If you can avoid it, do not bet on this one.

Everton 2 - 2 Arsenal.


Sunday

Manchester United vs Birmingham
Kick Off 13:30
Man Utd 1/5
Draw 5/1
Birmingham 16/1

The champions kick-off Super Sunday inviting Alex Mcleish's Blues to Old Trafford. The Midland outfit could not have asked for a worst start. While the Champions could not have asked for an easier one. Perhaps the only solace for Birmingham is that they will know the results of all their relegation rivals and could try and remain on damage limitation mode with a rampant United who will be intent on sending a message out to their title rivals with a resounding victory over the Blues. Birmingham might have been a little successful in their plans if the match was being played at St. Andrews. The highest scoring game of the weekend by a country mile.

Manchester United 4 - 0 Birmingham

Tottenham Hotspurs vs Liverpool
Kick-Off 16:00
Tottenham 11/5
Draw 9/4
Liverpool 13/10

What can be expected to be one of the best matches of the weekend has been slated as the last game off the weekend. If pre-season results are anything to go by, well, neither team is going to do too well in this game. But last season's runner's up will want to hit the ground running while Tottenham will want to do anything to avoid last season's start where relegation seemed like a realistic threat. Enter Harry Redknapp and a top ten finish later, Europe is where the Spurs are headed this season. With Defoe showing the form he is in against Holland and Liverpool hanging on to Mascherano this should be a cracker. Tottenham to edge it if Gerrard doesn't play. I expect the same return as last season's corresponding game.

Tottenham 2 - 1 Liverpool.

All times are BST. All odds are from bet365