The Premier League is back!
After a summer in which international football grabbed the baton with Euro 2024, the Copa America and the Olympics, top-flight domestic football returns in England this weekend as the 2024-25 Premier League campaign gets underway.
Manchester United and Fulham will kick things off at Old Trafford on Friday night, before newly-promoted Ipswich Town welcome Arne Slot's Liverpool to Portman Road in Saturday's early kickoff - the Tractor Boys' first Premier League game since 2002, and Liverpool's first without Jurgen Klopp as manager for almost nine years.
That begins a busy first Saturday of action for 2024-25, with expected title challengers Arsenal and top-four hopefuls Newcastle United, West Ham United and Aston Villa among those to feature.
A double-header on Sunday sees a London derby between Brentford and Crystal Palace before Manchester City get their latest title defence underway at Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, in arguably the headline fixture of the opening weekend.
Championship winners Leicester City then return to the big time on Monday night, closing the gameweek out against Tottenham Hotspur.
Each gameweek, Sports Mole is taking on a famous musician or band in a prediction competition, and this week it is the turn of Nick Hodgson of alt-indie quintet Everyone Says Hi.
Man Utd vs. Fulham
Friday, 8pm
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Nick: Man Utd 0-1 Fulham
Sports Mole: Man Utd 2-2 Fulham
The last seven Premier League openers have seen a total of 25 goals - close to four per game - and we could be treated to more attacking action on Friday night.
Neither side is renowned for their defensive discipline, and with several new players still settling in, a wide open score-draw may be the final outcome.
Ipswich vs. Liverpool
Saturday, 12.30pm
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Nick: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool
Sports Mole: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool
Ipswich switching to a three-man central defensive shape in order to stifle Slot's Liverpool is not beyond the realm of possibility, but the full-strength Reds are sure to wear down their hosts' backline eventually.
While McKenna's men should still keep the scoreline respectable, having demonstrated their defensive prowess in pre-season, we can only envisage Liverpool heading back up north with their first three points of the Slot era.
Arsenal vs. Wolves
Saturday, 3pm
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Nick: Arsenal 3-1 Wolves
Sports Mole: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
Neither of Arsenal's last two opening-day wins over Crystal Palace or Nottingham Forest have been entirely convincing, but none of Arteta's squad - or even Arteta himself - had been born the last time that the hosts failed to score in a competitive game with Wolves.
That club-record streak of 33 should become 34 on Saturday afternoon, as Wolves were inconsistent in the second half of pre-season and should prove no match for an Arsenal unit boasting a fully-fit attacking contingent
Everton vs. Brighton
Saturday, 3pm
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Nick: Everton 2-2 Brighton
Sports Mole: Everton 1-2 Brighton
Brighton breezed past their opposition in pre-season, and although Saturday's clash with Everton should be a much sterner test for the Seagulls, we believe they have enough quality in the final third to break down the Toffees' backline en route to a narrow victory, kick-starting the Hurzeler era on a positive note.
Newcastle vs. Southampton
Saturday, 3pm
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Nick: Newcastle 2-0 Southampton
Sports Mole: Newcastle 3-1 Southampton
Despite failing to finish in the top three spots of the Championship table, Southampton led the division in terms of average possession and passes last season, as well as ranking second for shots per game and expected goals per game.
Such praiseworthy statistics means that the travelling army should have something to cheer, but it may only be the odd consolation goal, as home specialists Newcastle will surely prove too potent in the final third.
Nott'm Forest vs. Bournemouth
Saturday, 3pm
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Nick: Nott'm Forest 1-1 Bournemouth
Sports Mole: Nott'm Forest 2-2 Bournemouth
Five of the last six competitive meetings between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have seen both teams score, and another entertaining contest with plenty of goalmouth action could be on the cards this weekend.
Although Bournemouth will be without Solanke, who scored a hat-trick in this fixture last season, they have shown in pre-season that they still pose a threat in the final third and they may do enough to claim a share of the spoils this time around.
West Ham vs. Aston Villa
Saturday, 5.30pm
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Nick: West Ham 5-0 Aston Villa
Sports Mole: West Ham 2-2 Aston Villa
Both West Ham and Aston Villa have been tipped to perform well in the Premier League this season, although neither team have a particularly good record on the opening weekend of a new top-flight season.
Following a mixed pre-season for both clubs, it is difficult to confidently predict a winner for this contest, so we feel that an entertaining score draw could be on the cards.
Brentford vs. Crystal Palace
Sunday, 2pm
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Nick: Brentford 0-3 Crystal Palace
Sports Mole: Brentford 1-3 Crystal Palace
One look at that Crystal Palace starting XI, and one would not put it past Glasner's men to make a charge for the European places in 2024-25, so long as their prized assets remain at the club after the transfer window slams shut.
Facing a Brentford side with a depleted defence and a misfiring striker in Toney, the Eagles should pick up where they left off at the end of last season with a dominant opening-day win.
Chelsea vs. Man City
Sunday, 4.30pm
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Nick: Chelsea 0-6 Man City
Sports Mole: Chelsea 1-3 Man City
If last season's Stamford Bridge showdown is anything to go by - a thrilling 4-4 draw in November last year - then we could be in for an entertaining, end-to-end contest on Sunday between two teams hoping to kick-start the new season with a statement victory.
The absence of Rodri is a huge blow for Man City, who struggled without his presence last season, but they remain a formidable outfit who will likely have plenty of joy in the final third against a defensively frail Chelsea side.
Leicester vs. Spurs
Monday, 8pm![Head Coach Steve Cooper of Leicester City as his side takes on FC Augsburg on August 3, 2024 [on August 8, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/steve-cooper.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Head Coach Steve Cooper of Leicester City as his side takes on FC Augsburg on August 3, 2024 [on August 8, 2024]")
© Imago
Nick: Leicester 0-2 Spurs
Sports Mole: Leicester 0-2 Spurs
As Leicester are lacking two of their principle goal threats and failed to score in their last three matches of pre-season, those backing a Tottenham clean sheet should be left with a smile on their face come full time.
The Lilywhites were not exactly solid at the back in pre-season either, but Postecoglou's men have a taste for goals and should subject their hosts to a harsh welcome back to the Premier League.
Nick Hodgson Q&A
How did you come to support your club and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?
Nick: My dad was a Newcastle fan but he started to take me and my brother to Elland Road in the early 90s so we got into it then. Was a very good time to start.
Favourite memories, there's loads but the one that springs to mind before any others is the promotion game from League One to the Championship in 2010 against Bristol Rovers. Best game I ever saw. A real rollercoaster, down to 10 men, a goal down and then two goals to get us promoted. What a day.
Who have been your favourite five players for your club?
Nick:
1. Jermaine Beckford
2. Raphinha
3. Pablo Hernandez
4. Lucas Radebe
5. David Batty
What's going on with the band at the moment?
Nick: We did our first gigs a few weeks ago and now gearing up towards our October tour and new single. The album is done and coming out soon too. We've even started writing the next one so it's nice and busy.
'Only One', the latest release from Everyone Says Hi, is available now on all digital streaming platforms.
You can follow Everyone Says Hi on Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter).
Barney Corkhill
