After a hectic opening weekend of Premier League action, we have a proper Super Sunday of action to wrap things up.
In the day’s blockbuster match, Unai Emery makes his Arsenal bow at home as the Gunners welcome reigning champions, Manchester City.
West Ham meanwhile visit Liverpool and last season’s surprise package – Burnley face a long trip to Southampton.
Liverpool vs West Ham United (1:30pm)
Embed from Getty ImagesThis should be a cracker with little goalkeeping howlers after both teams made massive signings this summer.
Liverpool have heavily invested with Alisson being one of their headline signings but West Ham will provide a tough opening test, after spending strongly up front on players like Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson.
Jurgen Klopp meanwhile leads Manuel Pellegrini 2-0 in their managerial league head to head, from two meetings in the latter’s last season at Manchester City in 2015-16, so will be confident of another win here.
Throw in the fact that Liverpool have scored four goals in last three matches against the Hammers then a Liverpool win looks likely.
This time around, it will be a much tighter result than what Liverpool fans have come to expect.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United
Jake predicts: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United
Result: Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United
Southampton vs Burnley (1:30pm)
Southampton will be hoping for a much better season after only just staying up in May, as they welcome a distracted Burnley.
Both sides have been relatively quiet in this window but enter this match without two key players in Dusan Tadic and Nick Pope respectively.
Pope is out injured for Burnley but Southampton could well end up regretting the decision to sell joint top scorer, Dusan Tadic after he scored seven goals last season.
Ultimately, what will decide this match is how Burnley approach this game ahead of Thursday’s return leg in Europa League.
Sean Dyche said the league is their priority so I am expecting him to put out a strong team, who will make life difficult for the Saints.
For me, Southampton weren’t creative enough particularly at home, which has to change now or I reckon Burnley will continue their surprise away surge from last season, to make it five defeats in 19 away league games.
Prediction: Southampton 0-1 Burnley
Jake predicts: Southampton 1-1 Burnley
Result: Southampton 0-0 Burnley
Arsenal vs Manchester City (4:00pm)
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal are entering unchartered waters as they embark on their first Premier League campaign since 1996 without Arsene Wenger at the helm.
Manchester City’s ‘Centurions’ meanwhile are still together (except Yaya Toure) and they have added some bright stars in Daniel Arzani and Riyad Mahrez.
That stability is good but could very well leave City vulnerable because clubs might suss out how to beat them over course of this season.
Arsenal definitely will be the first test of whether that is the case, although the Gunners just need a good performance themselves to provide fans with belief that Unai Emery can bring back the glory days.
This however isn’t how Arsenal probably want to start the season after conceding three goals in each of their three meetings last season with City.
To be frank, if Emery can get Arsenal playing better than they were for much of last season then they should have a stronger season.
For this match, I however can see a City victory here because it will take time for Arsenal to adapt to Emery’s style in competitive football.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
Jake predicts: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
Result: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City
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