DC Predicts: The opening Premier League weekend fixtures - Predictions

Welcome to my weekly premier league predictions article. I will be predicting the Premier League fixtures every week and tracking my progress as I go along using a points system that I have devised which will be as follows:

Getting the outcome of the match wrong: 0 points

Getting the outcome of a match correct: 1 point

Getting the exact score of a match correct: 3 points

BONUS POINTS

Getting five outcomes in a set of fixtures correct: 2 points

Getting five exact scores in a set of fixtures correct: 4 points

I will also be comparing my progress to BBC Sport’s Mark Lawrenson and seeing how our prediction success compares throughout the season.

So here goes for week one's predictions:

I haven’t got time for a hugely detailed preview this week as I returned from holiday an hour ago but it will be better in the future.

Arsenal Vs West Brom

I think this will be a closer game than most people expect but I can’t see Arsenal dropping points at home here.

West Brom have a stronger squad than in any of their previous brief visits to the premiership and have a great young and determined manager in Tony Mowbray.

In the Championship they weren’t great defensively so therefore I can see their defence being under threat here.

Arsenal isn’t an easy place to start the Premier League season. Arsenal have had a couple of high profile departures this Summer but they are still a great team and they should have enough in their locker to send West Brom back to the Midlands with no points.

Prediction: 3-1

Bolton Vs Stoke

I really can’t see Stoke having any chance of survival this season. They will put a lot of effort in and fight really hard for the cause but the lack of quality throughout their side will be their biggest downfall. You have to some quality in your side to survive at this level.

Under Gary Megson we have seen the Bolton of old return. A side which are very physical and hard to beat. Real fighters. However they still haven’t replaced Nicolas Anelka in my view.

They will rely on new striker Elmander settling in very quickly. Signings from the French league aren’t always the best though so it could easily prove 10 million down the drain. Only time will tell.

I think this will be a close but dull game. I can’t see where the goals will come from in this game so therefore I can see a bore draw.

Stoke will be very happy with a point in their first game and away from home too.

Prediction: 0-0

Everton Vs Blackburn

Everton’s squad lack depth, but there are a lot of great players in their starting eleven, including from the likes of Yobo, Cahill and Yakubu among others. As long as Everton keep all their main players fit they will figure highly again this term.

For Blackburn this will be a transitional year. However Paul Ince had a huge affect on the players at Macclesfield and MK Dons and achieved great success and I see no reason why he can’t carry that through to the Premier League.

Everton are definitely favourites but I fancy Blackburn to nick a result here and give Paul Ince a good start to Premier League management.

Prediction: 1-1

Hull Vs Fulham

I think this could be a very interesting game. This is going to be a dream day for Hull and their fans and Fulham is a good game for them to start with. I think they can compete for a result here.

Hull are likely to try and play good football and out-football their rivals rather than play a defensive formation and rely on breakaways. Especially at home they will give it everything in front of their fans.

I think Fulham may spend the first two or three games still celebrating the fact they somehow managed to survive for another season and may be lacking against a promoted team who will be really fired up for this big occasion.

Hull will have to make sure they stop new Fulham strikers Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora but as long as they do that I can see them winning on their Premier League debut.

Prediction: 2-1

Middlesbrough Vs Tottenham

I think this is going to be another transitional year for Spurs. Keane has gone and Berbatov looks likely to leave as well.

I think Gareth Southgate is doing a decent job at the Riverside. Boro seem a solid mid-table side and he is building them bit by bit. Also Boro seem to be good at bedding in young players from their academy into their starting level.

David Wheater was one of the success stories of their squad last season. I expect more fresh names as the season goes on. If Alves, Mido and Tuncay can score a decent number of goals then I can see Boro making progress towards the top half of the table rather than flirt with relegation.

Spurs' new signings of Modric and Bentley will come good as the season goes on but it is going to be hard for the team to gel straight away so it could be another slow start to the season.

Despite that I still think Spurs will be strong enough to get a result here and not go home empty handed but I don’t see a goal-fest.

Prediction 1-1

West Ham Vs Wigan

West Ham will have another solid season if unspectacular. They have some good players in their squad and when all their players are fit they look a strong team.

Steve Bruce has done an excellent job since taking over at Wigan. They survived comfortably and as you would expect from a Steve Bruce side they are well organized and extremely difficult to beat. Expect more of the same this season.

The main problem I have with Wigan is where are the goals going to come from?

Therefore I can see West Ham with home advantage just edging what will be a tight match.

Prediction: 1-0

Sunderland Vs Liverpool

Liverpool really need to sort out their consistency in the Premier League this season if they are ever going to challenge for the title. The squad is stronger than ever and if all the key men including: Gerrard, Torres, Carragher and new man Keane can all hit top form then they are capable of challenging.

It’s a shame they haven’t signed Barry thought. I thought he may be the missing piece of the jigsaw.

Roy Keane did well at Sunderland last season to keep them up and their squad looks stronger this season. There is now a good blend of youth and experience in the side. At home I reckon they will be tough to beat this season.

I think Sunderland might just cause Liverpool another frustrating start to a Premier League campaign.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea Vs Portsmouth

This I think will be one of the best games of the weekend. I think Scolari will be more attacking minded than previous Chelsea managers and Harry Redknapp has yet again built another very strong Portsmouth side. Chelsea have a great chance of Premier League success and Portsmouth of qualifying for Europe again.

Portsmouth have a back four as good as anyone’s and in Defoe and Crouch have a good striker partnership which has been lacking. Deco and Bosingwa will both be great signings for Chelsea and Lampard staying will be a boost.

This one will definitely have goals in it and I think Scolari will discover that the Premier League will be a very tough cookie to crack. I can see a good battle ending in a score draw.

Prediction 2-2

Aston Villa Vs Manchester City

This is a tough one to call. Aston Villa are building a team of good young players who are going to get better and better. The likes of Davies and Young will make even more progress and I expect Sidwell, Young and Shorey to all make similar success stories.

Mark Hughes has inherited a good squad at Man City after doing a great job at Blackburn for so long. However I think he is a few signings short of the squad he really needs to challenge furthur up the table. Finishing in a UEFA spot will be a good result in his first season.

There will be goals in this one I think it will go either where. With home advantage though I expect Martin O’Neil’s young lions to nick the game.

Prediction 3-2

Manchester United Vs Newcastle United

Newcastle recovered well in the end last season but things don’t look all too rosy for them at the moment. The relationship between Keegan and Mike Ashley isn’t perfect and there are more names hidden in the background including the likes of Dennis Wise. Is Keegan in total control at the club?

Also the squad isn’t at its best either. Owen is the only real star player, it looks like he is unlikely to start this game. Ronaldo will be missing for Man United on the other but there are so many goalscorers and star names in the side he won’t be heavily missed in this game. Newcastle lack quality players all over the field in my view, including the defence of course which again will be a problem for them.

At home which will be a very comfortable game for United. I think Newcastle will just be pleased to pack their bags and go home without too much damage and forget about the match. It won’t come close to the mauling that Newcastle received in this fixture last season but I can’t see Man United being under too much pressure.

Prediction 4-1

I hoped you enjoyed my predictions. Next week I will review how well I got on in this week’s set of predictions and reveal how I compared to Mark Lawrenson’s predictions points wise.

And of course expect a more detailed prediction of the next set of fixtures.

Enjoy the first weekend of the Premier League!!