Burnley vs. Manchester City
H2H: W1 D3 L16
Fab: The Vincent Kompany derby is here to kick things off and it couldn’t be more intriguing. No one could have thought that Kompany’s coaching stardom could soar so high when he traded the Jupiler Pro League for the Championship but my oh my! His Burnley side in swashbuckling fashion tore apart the Championship in a manner hardly witnessed before. So, it’s only fair that his maiden bow in the English top flight comes against the club that made him (and that he made). City are reeling off that dramatic Community Shield loss to Arsenal last weekend that may just have given hope to everyone else. My gut says a draw, but Pep Guardiola has traditionally done well against the Clarets so yeah, a win for the champions.
Prediction: 2-3
Bobo: Welcome back to the Premier League Burnley and what a welcome this is! The champions of the top tier and the second tier is a good way to kick off 23/24. Burnley are back and they have a new style this time under the leadership of former Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany. Manchester City are still the team to beat this season. They may seem weaker but do not be fooled. This will be an interesting match but it should be a win for Manchester City.
Prediction: 1-2

Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest
H2H: W9 D5 L4
Fab: Arsenal ran riot 5-0 in this fixture last season and it could easily be replicated. Caution though, for the home team, is that they lost to Forest at the City Ground in May. The story this Saturday lunchtime will be about American goalkeeper Matt Turner who could make his Nottingham Forest debut against the club he left just this week. He will no doubt have a point to prove to his former employers who just couldn’t give him the number one shirt. Can Arsenal be more impenetrable at the back at home? It was such a concern last season, their inability to keep clean sheets at the Emirates. Speaking of keepers, could Turner’s replacement (pending confirmation) David Raya make a surprise debut in goal? Probably not, but it should be a statement-making win for title-chasing Arsenal.
Prediction: 4-1
Bobo: Arsenal fans will be hoping that Arsenal have forgotten the end of last season which included a 1-0 loss to the first opponents of this season. Both teams have strengthened and Forest are certainly looking more stable at the start of the season. That said, Arsenal should have the weapons required to get all the three points.
Prediction: 3-1

Bournemouth vs. West Ham United
H2H: W4 D2 L2
Fab: Bournemouth did quite commendably well to retain top flight status last season but they did dispense with the mastermind of that, Gary O’neill and have replaced him with Andoni Iraola, probably hoping for a more continental approach to their game. West Ham have had quite a time in the last 3 months. They won a European title, lost their captain Declan Rice for a (then) British record fee and could still lose another of their key midfielders, Lucas Paqueta to Man City for quite a tidy sum. Still, you wonder if their inability to get deals of their own over line leaves them just a tad bit weak and precarious. I expect their start of the season to be rough, and it will start at the Cherries.
Prediction: 2-1
Bobo: The Cherries are an exciting team and play some beautiful attacking football. West Ham had a paradoxical time last season, winning a European cup and constantly being mentioned in the relegation battle. The Hammers have also lost their best player and do not seem to have adequately replaced him. I think they are in too much of disarray at the moment and the Cherries can capitalize on this.
Prediction: 2-0

Brighton vs. Luton
H2H: W1 D0 L1
Fab: Admit it. You have missed watching Brighton in PL action. Thankfully the wait is over and we get to see what Roberto de Zerbi has in store for us this season. Also, of curiosity is the kind of test that Luton Town will provide after securing promotion via the play offs last season. Either way this has all the hallmarks of a baptism by fire for Luton.
Prediction: 3-0
Bobo: Brighton were so impressive last season and they are likely to better this season even after losing Alexis Mac Allister and the potential loss of Moises Caicedo. I do not know much about Luton but I am excited to have them in the Premier League. This is one of the worst starts they could get though and I expect a resounding win for Brighton.
Prediction: 4-0

Everton vs. Fulham
H2H: W19 D3 L12
Fab: Serial underachievers Everton welcome Fulham to Goodison Park hoping that this season is kinder and that lessons have been learnt. But that’s just it – hope. There isn’t much in terms of what they’ve done in recruitment to suggest that they’ve well and fully turned the corner. Fulham look to pick up from where they left off last season and despite coach Marco Silva having flirted with a mega money move to Saudi Arabia in the summer, they should be able to heap misery on the home side.
Prediction: 1-2
Bobo: A match between last season’s strugglers and a high-flying Fulham team. Everton have only added Ashley Young and Arnaut Danjuma to their ranks. Quite baffling for a team that simply could not score last season. Fulham look set to continue where they left off last season and they will be a thorn on many teams’ sides. I think they will start their challenge with a win and Everton’s struggles will continue from last season.
Prediction: 0-2

Sheffield United vs. Crystal Palace
H2H: W4 D0 L6
Fab: Sheffield make a return to the big time and they welcome a tricky customer in Palace. Even without Wilfried Zaha, you still have to fancy the visitors here. Then again, the Blades at home are no pushovers so the spoils just might be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
Bobo: Crystal Palace were looking good at the end of last season. They have lost Zaha but they still have lots of talent in their team that can make a difference for them. Sheffield have also experienced their own losses and particularly painful is Iliman Ndiaye’s departure. They have also lost James McAtee and Tommy Doyle which makes them seem weak against a really good Eagles side. Still, I do not want to write Sheffield off and I think they will share the spoils at Bramall Lane.
Prediction: 2-2

Newcastle vs. Aston Villa
H2H: W24 D17 L12
Fab: Could Aston Villa be the surprise package of the season? Indeed some pundits are tipping them to gatecrash the top 4 party cum May so maybe there’s something in there? Newcastle themselves will be playing Champions League football and just how ready they are to juggle between domestic and European assignments remains to be seen. Unai Emery came in and transformed the Villans so impressively and with the addition of, in particular, of Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, he definitely wants to kick things up a notch. This should be one of the stand out games of the weekend.
Prediction: 2-2
Bobo: This is the match of the gameweek. Two interesting sides on the rise. They were both brilliant last season and they have added some immense talents to their ranks. Sandro Tonali for the Toon and Diaby for Villa are the picks. I think it will be an interesting match, end-to-end stuff with the Toons just about edging it.
Prediction: 3-2

Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur
H2H: W1 D2 L2
Fab: Grudge match, anyone? So Spurs wanted Brentford goalie Raya but baulked at his club’s valuation. Weeks later Brentford negotiates with Spurs’ mortal enemy Arsenal for the same player at a reduced valuation and on a loan deal to boot! Even I would be seething. Oh, and there’s the small matter of Spurs’ talisman Harry Kane having just agreed a move away to Bayern Munich and you suddenly wonder how long a season they will be experiencing. The home side too have to embark on life without their main man Ivan Toney who’s serving his suspension after his betting misdemeanors. It will either be feisty or drab, but I fancy Brentford for the win.
Prediction: 2-0
Bobo: Brentford were also a standout team last season while things did not go as well as expected for Spurs. Brentford do not have Ivan Toney for some months while Spurs hired a new coach and added James Maddison to their ranks. This is a difficult one to call and I think it may end up being a draw.
Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea vs. Liverpool
H2H: W27 D24 L28
Fab: Talking of grudge matches, this one is up that same alley. Both clubs, especially Chelsea underperformed during the last campaign and will be looking to right some wrongs to avoid permanent membership in mid-table mediocrity. By the time this match kicks off Moises Caicedo could well be lining up for Liverpool (or could he?) after seeming to be headed to Stamford Bridge all summer. Chelsea could well be still reeling from that smash and grab by the Reds. Christopher Nkunku’s lengthy injury lay off also throws a spanner into the Blues’ works and it remains to be seen where the goals will come from. Liverpool may have lost a number of generals in their midfield engine room including captain Jordan Henderson but they should still have more street-smarts in them to get the result here.
Prediction: 1-2
Bobo: I definitely did not expect such a match on the first day but here we are. Chelsea were a shambles last season. They seemed to have lots of money and no plans. They have done some business but it is not clear what they are trying. We have to wait and see. Liverpool have gone about their business quietly. They have acquired some good players, done their replacements, and look just about set for the new season. This will likely be a break out season for Darwin Nunez and an important one for Cody Gakpo. I think that Liverpool are just a bit more organized and they should get an important 3 points.
Prediction: 1-3

Manchester United vs. Wolves
H2H: W15 D4 L5
Fab: Wolves are anything but headed in the right direction. Julen Lopetegui quit as manager after disagreement with the board on transfer activity and has been replaced by Gary O’neill – hardly the ideal preparation for a trip to, of all places, Old Trafford. United begin life without long serving goalkeeper David De Gea and in his stead there’s the interesting character in Champions League finalist, Andre Onana. The Cameroonian offers what the Spaniard couldn’t with his feet, but can he also offer the reflexes and saves that defined De Gea? Wolves won’t have as much attacking power to bring Onana into sharp focus so probably seems like a heavy win for Erik Ten Hag’s men.
Prediction: 4-0
Bobo: Manchester United are addressing some of the problems that affected them last season. They have a goalkeeper better suited to the modern game and have a striker that may provide much needed goals and upfront play. They are in a good position to retain their top four position, at the very least. Wolves have issues from here to wherever. I’d predict that they are relegation fodder and should be there for the taking for Manchester United. This should be a routine win for the Red Devils.
Prediction: 3-0