Afternoon everyone. The first day of the Premier League is finally here! The focus here today will be on The Hawthorns and Southampton's visit to West Brom. Team news coming right up...

WEST BROM XI: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Morrison, Mulumbu, Yacob, Dorrans; Anelka, Long

SAINTS XI: Boruc; Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Lallana, Ward-Prowse; Rodriguez, Lambert

SUBS: And the two benches today:

West Brom: Myhill, Vydra, Rosenberg, Brunt, Dawson, Berahino, Popov
Saints: K Davis, Clyne, S Davis, Ramirez, Cork, Mayuka, Hooiveld

Plenty of debuts then. For the home side Nicolas Anelka makes his Baggies debut, while Callum Chambers, Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama all make their Southampton bows.

Away from The Hawthorns briefly, one game has already been completed at Anfield. Liverpool are now top of the league after a 1-0 win over Stoke. Daniel Sturridge scored the only goal but there was plenty of drama as Simon Mignolet made a debut penalty save from Jonathan Walters late on. Read our report here.

REFEREE WATCH: Today's man in charge is Kevin Friend

PREDICTION TIME! With 10 minutes until the off, it's time for my thoughts on the match ahead. I expect it to be a draw but I reckon goals too so am going to plump for 2-2.

KICKOFF! We are underway in the West Midlands.

Dangerous cross from Shaw that Olsson has to stoop to head out for a corner.

UPDATE: First goal of the day goes in at the Emirates, with Olivier Giroud sweeping home to give Arsenal the lead against Aston Villa.

Shaw has looked very lively down the Southampton left. He breaks into the area and has his cross-cum-shot blocked just wide of the goal by McAuley.

Ward-Prowse lets fly from all of 30 yards. It's a good hit from the youngster but too close to Foster who collects at the second attempt.

Careless corner kick given away by Lovren. McAuley meets the delivery but can't keep his header down.

The visitors almost take the lead as West Brom fail to clear a corner and Lambert sees his shot fail to get through a heap of bodies in front of him.

UPDATE: More goals elsewhere as Christian Benteke opens his account for Villa by equalising at Arsenal while West Ham lead Cardiff thanks to Joe Cole.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Oh this is cruel on Southampton. They've been the better side and should be in front. Lambert heads back across goal and Lallana's there to volley in from a yard or so. The linesman's flag is up on the far side though and, looking at replays, it was actually Rodriguez who had strayed past the last man, not Lallana.

Dorrans goes for goal with a 30-yard free kick. It's an accurate, if fairly tame effort from the Scot that dips onto the roof of the net.

There's been very little to show that Long and Anelka will be a deadly duo up front for the Baggies this year. Reckon they'll miss Lukaku this term? I reckon so.

GOOD HIT, GREAT SAVE! I said that Shaw was looking confident and he's just let fly with a rocket from 25 yards or so. It's a swerving effort that Foster has to tip away.

ONE minute added on at the end of the first period.

No goals after the first 45 then. You have to say that Southampton have been the better side, which is surprising away from home on the opening day.

Click here to see all of the half-time results.

Looking at the stats from that opening half, Southampton's possession count of 60% is very impressive. The Saints also had more shots and shots on target than the hosts.

No changes from either manager as the two sides make their way out for the second half. Has Clarke sorted out the Baggies?

YELLOW! First booking of the match goes to McAuley for tugging back Rodriguez who had done him for pace.

UPDATE: First goal of the second half elsewhere comes at Carrow Road as Steven Whittaker puts Norwich ahead against Everton.

Lambert is picked out at the back post but his jump is restricted and he can't get any power on the header.

UPDATE: Another deadlock-breaker, this time at the Stadium of Light where Pajtim Kasami puts Fulham ahead against Sunderland. That means that this is the only 3pm game still goalless.

Anelka brings the ball down inside the area and squares for Long whose shot is blocked.

YELLOW! Another navy and white shirt goes into the book as Ridgewell brings down Chambers.

@anelkaofficiel in action during first game of the season against @southamptonfc #wbavsot pic.twitter.com/daUraPCiYB — WBAFCofficial (@WBAFCofficial) August 17, 2013

SAINTS SUB: Pochettino brings on Gaston Ramirez in place of Lallana. Can the Uruguayan inject some flair into this Southampton side?

Foster miscontrols a backpass from Jones and it trickles wide of the post before Foster sprints after it to keep it in. The England international flashes a wry smile but that was nearly disastrous.

YELLOW! A third Albion defender goes into the book as Jones trips up Rodriguez, who has been too quick for the Baggies defenders at times today.

SAINTS SUB: That's the end of his afternoon though as Steven Davis takes his place. Pochettino perhaps settling for a point.

YELLOW! A fourth Baggie in the book as Mulumbu clearly shows dissent after being whistled up for a faint handball.

WEST BROM SUBS: Clarke makes a pair of changes with Matej Vydra (making his debut) and Markus Rosenberg forming a new frontline in place of Anelka and Long.

The attendance here today is 25,927.