EPL Week 1: Bleacher Report Writers Make Their Picks
The English Premier League is back.
After a summer full of transfer speculation and big-name signings, it's time to get back to business and back to the football that we know and love so much.
We can't wait.
Throughout the season, you'll find comprehensive and in-depth analysis on the English Premier League from a host of writers right here on Bleacher Report.
However, we always want to know who knows the league best—who can predict the season to come, the results, the success and the failures. Which Bleacher Report writer knows the most about the English Premier League and can attest to being the EPL guru?
Every week, the site's best football minds will put together their selections for the upcoming week. They'll predict a result and a score, and we'll track these results to see just who knows the most about the Premier League.
We'd love interaction from you, the readers, about how to make each week different from the next—be it special challengers or simply who we should tip to win. Hopefully this will be a lot of fun for all involved and even more so, hopefully I don't come last.
General Housekeeping
1 of 11Before we begin, let's get some general housekeeping down for this competition.
For our week-to-week predictions, points will be allocated as followed—one point for a correct result (i.e. Chelsea victory) and three points for a correct scoreline (i.e. Chelsea win 3-0). You'll be able to track the Bleacher Report league table every week on our predictions article.
If a writer doesn't get their tips in before kickoff, they'll be allocated a 2-0 victory to the home side—regardless of who's playing.
Let's take a look at the writers who will be competing for the prestigious honor of Bleacher Report's "best" Premier League writer.
| Dan Talintyre | Featured Columnist | @dantalintyre |
| Ed Wyman | Featured Columnist | |
| Joe Tansey | EPL Featured Columnist | @JTansey90 |
| Karl Matchett | Featured Columnist | @karlmatchett |
| Michael Cummings | Lead Blogger | @MikeCummings37 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Featured Columnist | @Mo_Hendy |
| Sam Tighe | Featured Columnist | @stighefootball |
| Will Tidey | Featured Columnist | @willtidey |
Arsenal vs. Sunderland
2 of 11Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Emirates Stadium
The talking point in this one will be solely around whether there is life at Arsenal following the transfer Robin van Persie to Manchester United.
Ed Wyman comments on why the Gunners will still have a strong season without RVP, and I've picked a starting side that doesn't include the Dutch international.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Arsenal win 2-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | Arsenal win 2-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | Arsenal win 2-1 | |
| Karl Matchett | Arsenal win 2-1 | |
| Michael Cummings | Arsenal win 1-0 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Arsenal win 2-1 | |
| Sam Tighe | Arsenal win 2-1 | |
| Will Tidey | Arsenal win 3-0 |
Fulham vs. Norwich City
3 of 11Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Craven Cottage
Could this one be a close match? The Bleacher Report writers seem to think it might be, meaning that goalkeepers will be of the utmost important in this one. Check out Karl Matchett's power rankings of all starting goalkeepers in the EPL this year to see who has the edge in this match.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Fulham win 1-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Joe Tansey | Fulham win 1-0 | |
| Karl Matchett | Fulham win 2-0 | |
| Michael Cummings | Fulham win 2-0 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Sam Tighe | Draw 1-1 | |
| Will Tidey | Fulham win 2-1 |
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Queens Park Rangers vs. Swansea City
4 of 11Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Loftus Road Stadium
QPR and Swansea kick off their season with a match at Lofus Road, with Rangers shaping as a possible surprise to many teams this year. Joe Tansey agrees—check out his work on how QPR are shaped for a strong season under Mark Hughes this year.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | QPR win 3-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | QPR win 1-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | Swansea win 1-0 | |
| Karl Matchett | QPR win 1-0 | |
| Michael Cummings | QPR win 1-0 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Swansea win 2-1 | |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 2-2 | |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 1-1 |
Reading vs. Stoke City
5 of 11Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Madejski Stadium
An evenly-matched Reading and Stoke will clash on Sunday to kick off their Premier League seasons, but who is going to emerge the winner of the two? In my season's guide to the Premier League, I hinted that Reading could be a surprise team this year—can they deliver against Stoke?
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Reading win 2-1 | |
| Ed Wyman | Draw, 0-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | Draw, 0-0 | |
| Karl Matchett | Stoke win 1-0 | |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 0-0 | |
| Sam Tighe | Reading win 2-1 | |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 0-0 |
West Bromwich Albion vs. Liverpool
6 of 11Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Venue: The Hawthorns
There's been some big changes at Anfield over the summer—new managers and new players—but how will it affect the Reds' chances at success this year? Sam Tighe shares some thoughts on how Liverpool are likely to set up under Brendan Rodgers this year.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Liverpool win 1-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | Liverpool win 3-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | Liverpool win 3-2 | |
| Karl Matchett | Liverpool win 4-1 | |
| Michael Cummings | Liverpool win 2-0 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Sam Tighe | Liverpool win 2-1 | |
| Will Tidey | Liverpool win 1-0 |
West Ham vs. Aston Villa
7 of 11Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Upton Park
West Ham are back in the English Premier League and are at home to Aston Villa to start the new season. Can the Villans respond from the disappointment of last year? Joe Tansey has an opinion that you definitely don't want to miss.
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Ed Wyman | West Ham win 1-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | West Ham win 2-1 | |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 2-2 | |
| Sam Tighe | Aston Villa win 3-1 | |
| Will Tidey | Aston Villa win 2-1 |
Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
8 of 11Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Sports Direct Arena
Both Newcastle and Tottenham had strong seasons last year and will be looking to build on that again this year. They both benefited over the summer transfer window, but whose signings are going to have more of an impact this year? Mike Cummings looks at some of Tottenham's key signings, whilst Joe Tansey reflects on Newcastle's latest transfer.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 0-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | Tottenham win 2-1 | |
| Joe Tansey | Tottenham win 3-1 | |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Sam Tighe | Draw 0-0 | |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 2-2 |
Wigan Athletic vs. Chelsea
9 of 11Date: Sunday, August 19
Time: 8:30 a.m. ET
Venue: The DW Stadium
Chelsea should start their season off with a win against Wigan. Every writer on the Bleacher Report team seems to suggest so, but have we jinxed them in the process?
The Blues' key summer transfers this season should hold them in good stead for success this season, and should get them the win here—check out who else could be coming to Stamford Bridge as I look at the latest Chelsea transfer news and updates.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Chelsea win 1-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | Chelsea win 3-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | Chelsea win 4-0 | |
| Karl Matchett | Chelsea win 2-1 | |
| Michael Cummings | Chelsea win 2-0 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Chelsea win 2-0 | |
| Sam Tighe | Chelsea win 3-1 | |
| Will Tidey | Chelsea win 3-0 |
Manchester City vs. Southampton
10 of 11Date: Sunday, August 19
Time: 11 a.m. ET
Venue: Etihad Stadium
A match at the Etihad against Southampton; this is not a matter of whether City will win or not but rather, how much will they win by? We all tend to think it will be quite significant, but what formation and tactics if Roberto Mancini going to employ to get the result? Sam Tighe takes a look at how Mancini will set up his team this season.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Manchester City win 3-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | Manchester City win 4-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester City win 4-1 | |
| Karl Matchett | Manchester City win 4-0 | |
| Michael Cummings | Manchester City win 5-0 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Manchester City win 3-0 | |
| Sam Tighe | Manchester City win 4-0 | |
| Will Tidey | Manchester City win 4-0 |
Everton vs. Manchester United
11 of 11Date: Monday, August 20
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Venue: Goodison Park
After a thrilling 4-4 draw in their last encounter, this one will no doubt be a thrilling match to conclude the Premier League round. Will Tidey shares his thoughts on what the Robin van Persie deal means for Manchester United's season—something that Joe Tansey also offers his opinion on.
Mohamed Al-Hendy has a starting squad that we could see from Everton this year, whilst I've gone with some thoughts on why this will be a strong year for the Toffees.
Predictions for the match are as follows.
| Dan Talintyre | Manchester United win 2-0 | |
| Ed Wyman | Manchester Untied win 2-0 | |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester United win 2-0 | |
| Karl Matchett | Everton win 2-1 | |
| Michael Cummings | Manchester United win 2-0 | |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Manchester United win 2-1 | |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 1-1 | |
| Will Tidey | Manchester United win 1-0 |
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