Premier League: Predicting the winners of every opening weekend fixture

Arsenal still have to deal with the loss of important full-back White and substitute Tomiyasu. Also absent on the last day, the starting defenders Gabriel and Calafiori are, for their part, uncertain but both are announced among the starters. Against Manchester United, it was defenders Timber and Saliba who shook the nets. Attacking executives Odegaard (1 goal and 2 assists in PL), Saka (5 goals and 10 assists in PL) and Havertz (5 goals in PL) are applying to start. Everton must still do without potentially starting midfielders Garner and Iroegbunam as well as replacement Chermiti, injured.

In addition, starting defender Keane is doubtful. On the other hand, unavailable since his arrival at the club this summer, Albanian striker Broja played his first minutes this week. He will have his say in a fairly lackluster offensive sector where we find Ndiaye (2 goals in PL), McNeil (3 goals and 3 assists in PL) and Calvert-Lewin (2 goals in PL).

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On the Liverpool side, number 1 goalkeeper Alisson, senior defender Konaté as well as interesting full-backs Tsimikas and Bradley are missing. Furthermore, the participations of attackers Diogo Jota and Chiesa are very uncertain. Finally, midfielder MacAllister is suspended. Essential this season, Salah (13 goals and 8 assists in the PL) scored twice this week while midfielder Curtis Jones (2 goals in the PL) also scored against Newcastle. Forwards Gakpo (2 goals in PL), Luis Diaz (5 goals and 2 assists in PL) and Nunez (2 goals in PL) are available. The Fulham coach is without important defender Andersen and substitute Reed ( middle), insufficiently recovered from their physical problems.

In addition, midfielder Cairney is still suspended. Finally, striker Reiss Nelson, who is on loan for the season from the Gunners, will not be allowed to play this Sunday. The good news comes from the return from suspension of the holder Lukic (middle). Author of a double this week, winger Iwobi (5 goals and 3 assists in PL) should be renewed this weekend as should playmaker Smith Rowe (3 goals and 2 assists in PL). On the bench against Brighton, executives Andreas Pereira and Raul Jimenez (4 goals and 2 assists in PL) could find a starting place.

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Present in the Big 4 in 2023 and close to the European folding seats last year, Newcastle hoped to join the fight for the top of the table this season. Unfortunately, the Magpies are disappointing for the moment and today occupy 12th place in the Premier League with 5 points out of 6th place. In slow motion for several weeks now, they have only won 2 of their last 11 league matches, for 4 draws and 5 defeats. After sharing points with Crystal Palace 1-1 and leaders Liverpool 3-3, Newcastle lost at Brentford last weekend 4-2. Back in the elite this season, Leicester is currently 16th in the Premier League and is 5 points ahead of the red zone.

The promoted appears sufficiently armed to avoid the descent but it will be necessary to avoid any relaxation. After a bad series of 5 games without a win, 1 draw and 4 defeats, the Foxes gave themselves a little breathing room in the standings during the last 2 days. They first took the upper hand, at home, over West Ham 3-1. Still in front of their fans, Leicester then held an attractive Brighton team to a draw last weekend 2-2.

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For Nottingham Forest, important midfielders Danilo and Sangaré who have been absent for a long time are still unavailable this weekend, injured. However, no other absences are to be reported. New Zealand striker Chris Wood (9 goals in the PL) has been in very good shape since the start of the season. He could still be supported by playmaker Gibbs-White (1 goal in PL). For Aston Villa, midfielder Onana is announced as doubtful while potentially starting winger Ramsey has not yet recovered from his injury.

England internationals Rogers (4 goals and 2 assists in PL) and Watkins (7 goals and 3 assists in PL) form an effective attacking duo. After finding the net against Brentford this week, they should be paired together again this weekend. French international Kamara is available, as is important Belgian midfielder Tielemans.

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Wolverhampton must do without starting defender Mosquera and long-term absentees Boubacar Traoré, Kalajdzic and Gonzalez, all injured. In addition, the former Parisian has little use this season Sarabia (1 goal is still uncertain) after missing the last matches. The good news comes from the return of the important full-back Semedo from suspension. The influential attackers Strand Larsen (6 goals and 2 assists in PL) Matheus Cunha (7 goals and 3 assists in PL) are there. Wolverhampton sank against Bournemouth and Everton during the last 2 days (4 goals conceded each time) and confirmed its status as the worst defense in the championship. For Ipswich, we must mention the withdrawals of the important full-back Tuanzebe, the absent defender long-serving Donacien and replacement forwards Ogbene and Hirst.

After a small injury, potential starters Johnson (defender) and Phillips (midfielder) returned to the group this week, without coming into play. They are still uncertain this Sunday. Winger Szmodics (3 goals in PL) remained on the bench against Crystal Palace. He could return to the offensive sector where we find Hutchinson (1 goal and 1 assist in PL) and Delap (6 goals in PL).

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Brighton is in good shape this season, which allows it to occupy 7th place in the Premier League with only 3 points behind the Big 4. Replacing Roberto De Zerbi who left for OM this summer, the young German technician Fabian Hurzeler, 31, has convinced everyone since his arrival. However, after winning against Manchester City 2-1 and Bournemouth 1-2, the Seagulls have dropped points in the last 3 days. They fell to Fulham 3-1 and were held to a draw by poorly placed Southampton 1-1 and Leicester last weekend 2-2.17th in the Premier League with 4 points ahead of the relegated top spot, Crystal Palace is one of the biggest disappointments of the start of the season.

The London team has nevertheless shown more resistance in recent weeks, as evidenced by the only setback suffered during the last 7 days, for 2 victories and 4 draws. This dynamic allowed Oliver Glasner's men to get out of the red zone. After a valuable success acquired at relegated Ipswich 0-1, Crystal Palace took advantage of the support of its fans to hold off Manchester City last weekend 2-2.

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Back at the forefront this season, Chelsea are currently 2nd in the Premier League and are 4 points behind 1st place. The London team is in good shape which should allow it to return to the Champions League next year. Beaten by leader Liverpool at the end of October 2-1, the Blues have not tasted defeat since 5 wins and 2 draws. They remain on 4 victories acquired against Leicester 1-2, Aston Villa 3-0, Southampton 1-5 and Tottenham last weekend in a stunning 3-4 scenario. Brentford has made a good impression this season and is now in 9th place.

rank of the Premier League with only 4 points behind the Big 4. Bryan Mbeumo's teammates hope to go the distance in order to join the fight for European places. With confidence, they have pocketed 3 victories in the last 5 days, for 1 draw and 1 defeat. After falling to Aston Villa 3-1, Brentford reacted last weekend by beating Newcastle 4-2.

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Ultra-dominant on the national scene for several years now, Manchester City has won the last 4 championships and 6 of the last 7 editions. It is therefore quite natural that the Cityzens have taken on the role of big favorites this season. Unfortunately, they are far behind on their progress, as evidenced by their 4th place in the Premier League with 8 units of expenditure behind the leader. Authors of a very consistent start to the championship, the Skyblues have however been seriously marking time for some time. After having suffered 4 defeats in a row against Bournemouth, Brighton, Tottenham and Liverpool, they reacted by dominating Nottingham Forest 3-0. The draw conceded at the poorly ranked Crystal Palace last weekend 2-2 confirmed the current poor dispositions.

Like previous years, Manchester United does not meet expectations at all. The Red Devils are doing even worse since they only occupy an unworthy 13th place in the Premier League with 19 points taken in 15 games. The poor results led to the dismissal of coach Erik ten Hag at the end of October. Under the orders of Ruben Amorim, Bruno Fernandes' teammates started with a draw at poorly ranked Ipswich 1-1 before inflicting a real correction on Everton 4-0. Unfortunately, they have already fallen back into a negative spiral by losing at Arsenal's den 2-0 and especially against Nottingham Forest at home last weekend 2-3.

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The return to the elite has proven very difficult for Southampton so far. With only 5 points taken in 15 games, the promoted team is quite simply last in the Premier League and already finds itself lost in the race to maintain 8 units of expenditure on the first non-relegation. The Saints gleaned their only success against Everton in early November 1-0. Since then, they have gone 5 games without a win, 1 draw and 4 defeats. After taking a point at Brighton 1-1, Southampton lost against Chelsea 1-5 and Aston Villa last weekend 1-0. Considered a serious contender for the Big 4 before starting this 2024/2025 financial year, Tottenham does not meet expectations.

Spurs are now only 11th in the Premier League, 7 points behind 4th place. On the tough side, they have won only one of their last 5 championship matches, for 1 draw and 3 defeats. This success was acquired in style in the den of Manchester City 0-4. Since then, the London team have been held to a draw at home by Fulham 1-1 before losing to Bournemouth 1-0 and Chelsea last weekend 3-4.

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Author of a very promising start to the season, Bournemouth is currently 8th in the Premier League and only concedes 3 units of expenditure in the Big 4. The Cherries display an interesting quality of play which allows them to dream of European qualification. After a series of 3 matches without a setback, 2 wins and 1 draw, they suffered 2 setbacks against Brentford 3-2 and Brighton 1-2. Bournemouth has resumed its march forward since with successes against Wolverhampton 2-4, Tottenham 1-0 and Ipswich last weekend 1-2. Eager to fight for the last European seats this season, West Ham disappoints for the moment.

Indeed, the London team now occupies 14th place in the Premier League, 6 points behind their opponent of the day. The Hammers display too much irregularity, as evidenced by the 4 losses suffered during the last 8 days, for 3 victories and 1 draw. After losing to Arsenal 2-5 and Leicester 3-1, they showed a reaction last Monday. In front of their fans, West Ham defeated relegated Wolverhampton 2-1.

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