Premier League predictions: Man City begin title defence with win at Chelsea

The new Premier League season has arrived and the opening weekend is set to serve up 10 intriguing fixtures as fans get a first look at how their teams are shaping up.

Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford in the first game of the season on Friday night, before Liverpool travel to promoted Ipswich Town in Saturday's early fixture.

Four matches then take place at the traditional Saturday afternoon kick-off time as Arsenal host Wolves, Everton entertain Brighton, Newcastle play promoted Southampton, and Bournemouth head to Nottingham Forest. Saturday's late game is at London Stadium, where West Ham face Aston Villa.

There will be three games on Sunday, including the biggest match of the first round as Chelsea and their new manager Enzo Maresca welcome four-time defending champions Manchester City – and his old boss Pep Guardiola – to Stamford Bridge.

That will take place after Brentford play Crystal Palace at home and before promoted Leicester and Tottenham conclude the weekend at the King Power Stadium.

Here are the predictions.

Friday: Manchester United v Fulham (kick off 11pm UAE time)

Remember the days when Alex Ferguson was the unchallenged lord and master at Old Trafford? How times change. Erik ten Hag has umpteen different line managers now.

Ultimately, he is accountable to the fans, and at least the majority of those seem to be giving him their backing ahead of the start of the new season. Cautious optimism it may be, but it is optimism nonetheless.

Marco Silva used to struggle to last a year at clubs before getting itchy feet. Now he is one of the Premier League’s longest-serving managers. His Fulham side could well pose a threat to United, bolstered as they are by the arrival of Emile Smith Rowe.

Prediction: Man United 2 Fulham 1

Saturday: Ipswich Town v Liverpool (3.30pm)

Ipswich earned rave reviews during their promotion from the Championship last season, and the buzz at the club has only been enhanced by Kieran McKenna signing a new long-term deal as manager.

Can he mastermind an opening day shock? Liverpool themselves are in for something new, with Arne Slot in the dugout rather than Jurgen Klopp.

With his ideas still fermenting, Ipswich could be set to profit – at least to the tune of a point – on their return to the big league after 22 years away.

Prediction: Ipswich Town 1 Liverpool 1

Arsenal v Wolves (6pm)

The mood of optimism ahead of the new campaign seems greater at the Emirates Stadium than anywhere else.

If the home team get anywhere near the standards they set last season, it should be too much for a Wolves side who might need time to find solutions following the departures of Max Kilman and Pedro Neto.

Prediction: Arsenal 2 Wolves 0

Everton v Brighton (6pm)

While uncertainty and unease continue to linger at Everton, optimism abounds at Brighton with the arrival of a little-known and extraordinarily youthful manager in the form of 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler.

Expect those moods to play out in the styles of play – the hosts edgy and combative, the visitors full of zest – but Everton to be good enough for a point.

Prediction: Everton 1 Brighton 1

Newcastle United v Southampton (6pm)

Lee Carsley’s appointment as England’s interim manager means Newcastle can look forward to continuing their progress under Eddie Howe, at least for the foreseeable future.

Southampton fans’ opening day excitement may be tempered a little by having the longest journey in the league. And when they reach Newcastle, the going will be pretty tough, too.

Prediction: Newcastle United 3 Southampton 0

Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth (6pm)

The opening weeks of last season might have been tricky for Bournemouth, but players and fans greatly warmed to Andoni Iraola’s methods. They will be better for another pre-season with him.

Expect them to be easier on the eye than their hosts on the opening day, but whether they can weigh in with some goals after the departure of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham will be intriguing to see.

Prediction: Forest 1 Bournemouth 2

West Ham United v Aston Villa (8.30pm)

The Spanish manager derby. West Ham will be a different proposition under Julen Lopetegui, but he has his work cut out straight away against his compatriot.

Unai Emery is well into his work at Villa, who were vastly improved last season and will hope they can build on that this time around, starting with a win at the London Stadium.

Prediction: West Ham United 1 Aston Villa 2

Sunday: Brentford v Crystal Palace (5pm)

How expectations change. Simply being in the Premier League does not appear to mean all it once did for Brentford, with ambitions ever rising.

Palace, meanwhile, will be hoping the promising signs after Oliver Glasner’s arrival last term can help them move on from the stasis of recent seasons.

Prediction: Brentford 2 Crystal Palace 2

Chelsea v Manchester City (7.30pm)

It is difficult to make predictions about Chelsea three days out from their first game. It means Todd Boehly still has enough time to sign four or five new players to foist on his manager.

Enzo Maresca has more chance of making sense of his first league opponents than he does his own team. The former assistant to Pep Guardiola knows he has his work cut out on opening night.

Prediction: Chelsea 1 Man City 2

Monday: Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur (11pm)

Pre-season games are not a reliable guide, but Tottenham fans might have felt familiar feelings of foreboding watching their 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich on Saturday.

They had a bright start, and played some neat attacking football at times, but were let down by inadequacies defending set pieces.

Even if they are approaching the campaign with trepidation, newly promoted Leicester will certainly get chances against Spurs in Steve Cooper’s first league game in charge. But their guests are likely to fashion too many of their own.

Prediction: Leicester 1 Tottenham 3