Will we see Sergio Aguero on the first Super Sunday of the year?
The Premier League returns this weekend and Alex Johnson takes us through all the games in bitesize chunks.
Another exciting Premier League campaign gets underway this coming weekend, so we take a closer look at the opening fixtures.
Saturday 16th August
Man Utd v Swansea (12:45)
The first game of the new Premier League season is Louis van Gaal's first competitive match in charge of United. After last season's disappointments there is renewed optimism around Old Trafford as United have been impressive in pre-season. Wayne Rooney has hit great form and Ander Herrera has slotted right in. Swansea are a team in transition as Garry Monk gets rid of Michael Laudrup's players and puts his own stamp on the team. They lost their final pre-season friendly 3-0 to Villarreal and desperately need to strengthen. It should be a comfortable start for the van Gaal era.
Leicester v Everton (15:00)
Leicester won the Championship and are back in the Premier League after an absence of over a decade. Nigel Pearson has bought well, bringing in Leonardo Ulloa from Brighton along with good free transfer additions like Mathew Upson and Marc Albrighton. Everton spent 28million to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Goodison Park, while the signing of Gareth Barry will be equally as important. They haven't impressed in pre-season, losing to both Celta Vigo and SC Paderborn. Indeed, Leicester beat Everton 1-0 in a friendly in Thailand. Everton are notorious slow starters and Leicester are capable of repeating that narrow win again.
QPR v Hull (15:00)
Harry Redknapp has been busy at QPR since their last-gasp play-off win. The squad is now much better than the one he inherited two seasons ago and the new central defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Steven Caulker looks strong on paper. The addition of Jordon Mutch should also add energy to midfield while Charlie Austin will be backed to find the back of the net regularly. Hull are likely to be that bit sharper given their season has already got underway in the Europa League. Steve Bruce has built a squad capable of competing both at home and in Europe, so he has options to rotate his team ahead of play-off game with Lokeren next Thursday. Hull look capable of having a good season and can head back north with a point gained at Loftus Road.
Stoke v Aston Villa (15:00)
Mark Hughes surprised many at Stoke last season and he has added five new faces, including seasoned Premier League campaigners Phil Bardsley and Steve Sidwell as well as the exciting prospect of Bojan Krkic from Barcelona. The new style of football being played at the Britannia under Hughes should continue to reap dividends and they have a fairly comfortable start against Villa. Paul Lambert has tried to add experience in a bid to stave off a third successive relegation battle. The additions of Phillipe Senderos, Joe Cole and Kieran Richardson have done that, but they've hardly excited the Villa Park faithful. Villa did play some of their better football on the road, but you struggle to see where the goals are going to come from.
West Brom v Sunderland (15:00)
Many eyebrows were raised when Alan Irvine was announced as the new West Brom coach. He has no experience at this level and his sacking from Sheffield Wednesday hardly inspires confidence. Irvine's summer dealings include 10million on the unknown quantity of Brown Ideye and persuading Joleon Lescott to swap the Man City bench for the Hawthorns. Gus Poyet is trying to rebuild his Sunderland side after their relegation escape last season. He has brought in the likes of Jack Rodwell, Billy Jones and Jordi Gomez, with more faces guaranteed to arrive before the window closes. Both these two teams are among many pundits' three to go down and on paper a draw seems on the cards.
West Ham v Tottenham (15:00)
Sam Allardyce is rushing around trying to find a striker to start the season, with Andy Carroll injured again and 12m signing Enner Valencia set to miss out. West Ham have signed six players this summer and Mauro Zarate is likely to be relied on for goals in the absence of Carroll and Valencia. Spurs start their new life under Mauricio Pochettino full of confidence after going unbeaten in pre-season. So far the boss has brought in Ben Davies, Michel Vorm and Eric Dier but you can guarantee more business before the window closes. If Pochettino can get Spurs playing the same type of football he oversaw at Southampton then it could be an exciting season for Spurs. Indeed, Spurs have the firepower to reap more misery on Allardyce on opening weekend.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace (17:30)
Arsenal will come into the first game on a high after their convincing Community Shield win over Manchester City. Arsene Wenger has been splashing the cash, with the 30million on Alexis Sanchez really exciting the Gunners faithful. The additions of Calum Chambers and Matheiu Debuchy ensure Arsenal look really strong at the back, while there is also goals in the team. Crystal Palace were a surprise package last season as Tony Pulis masterminded a rise from relegation fodder to mid-table security. He brought in Fraizer Campbell and Brede Hangeland to beef up the squad but the biggest worry for Eagles fans has to be the dreaded second season syndrome. They have enough to survive, but it would be a big ask for them to get anything from the Emirates.
Sunday 17th August
Liverpool v Southampton (13:30)
Liverpool start life without Luis Suarez and are expected to have two new players facing their former side as Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren have all swapped the South Coast for Merseyside this summer. Adam Lallana followed the same path, of course, but he's set to miss the first few weeks of the season with a knee injury. Brendan Rodgers has spent big money boosting the squad after coming so close to the title last season and should get all three points against a Saints side still in transition. Ronald Koeman is shaping a squad that has lost five of its biggest stars - it is a major rebuilding job. He has brought in Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle from Holland and spent 10million on Fraser Forster. It might take a few weeks for the new side to really click.
Newcastle v Man City (16:00)
Alan Pardew has brought in a number of exciting new signings as he bids to overhaul his struggling side from last season and win back over the fans. He could do with a strong start to the season to reignite confidence around the club but it doesn't get much tougher than the defending champions. City were lacklustre in losing the Community Shield but the likes of Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna could all return to face Newcastle. If three of those four are on the teamsheet then it should be a comfortable win for City.
Monday 18th August
Burnley v Chelsea (20:00)
Burnley are back in the Premier League and face a baptism of fire against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. Burnley's big money signing has been Lukas Jutkiewicz from Middlesbrough for 2.5million and Sean Dyche has relied on free transfers. Meanwhile, Chelsea have spent almost 80million on Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Filipe Luis as Mourinho builds a squad ready for a massive crack at the title. It would require a phenomenal effort for Burnley to get anything off Chelsea - Dyche needs to hope the Blues suffer from a slow start out of the blocks.
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