Key events
Would you like 10 things to look out for this weekend? Of course you would.
In other news … Liverpool are 2-0 up at Ipswich thanks to goals from Jota and Salah.
Today is the start of the final season at Goodison Park, one of the few great old stadiums still around today. It will be sad when its gone but as a regular I can fully accept the reason to modernise.
This season’s predictions come with many asterisks, or often just with a big Asterix if you listen to the right people. Profitability and sustainability rules, points deductions, looming charges mean a lot of the biggest news will happen nowhere near a football pitch. At Manchester City it’s a big season for … Lord Pannick. It’s a tight call between him and Rodri for their key player. They can cope for a bit without Haaland using all manner of false 9s but without Pannick – have they got enough depth to fight off the Premier League?
Max Rushden on the perfect season for the neutral.
There are your teams from the four 3pms in the Premier League. Which debutant are you most looking forward to seeing?
Starting lineups: Forest v Bournemouth
Starting lineups: Everton v Brighton
Starting lineups: Newcastle v Southampton
Starting lineups: Arsenal v Wolves
🔴 ⚪️
🧱 Saliba at the back
🪄 Odegaard pulling the strings
✊ Havertz leads the lineLooking to start strong – COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 17, 2024
Preamble
We are back baby! The Premier League started in style under the lights on Friday as one of the richest clubs in the world scraped three points against Fulham. The question is, dear reader, what will the traditional 3pm kick-offs on Saturday bring to us?
Last season’s runners-up Arsenal begin by welcoming Wolves to north London. Mikel Arteta has not changed much in terms of personnel but I am sure he will have a couple of cunning plans up his sleeve in order to take the Gunners to the next level. The players have had an extra season together and the difference between them and City is miniscule.
Everton take on Brighton as Sean Dyche comes up against Premier League debutant Fabian Hürzeler. Will the old master of keeping things simple and effective give a painful welcome to the 31-year-old new boy. Knowing that managers are so young nowadays is becoming somewhat painful for the ego.
Elsewhere Newcastle host Southampton who are back in the top flight and will be eager to prove they deserve to be here. Meanwhile Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth in what both teams hope becomes a mid-table fixture for years to come.
3pm BST kick-offs:
Arsenal v Wolves
Everton v Brighton
Newcastle v Southampton
Forest v Bournemouth
