Premier League Week 1 Fixtures: Opening-Season EPL Picks and Predictions

The Premier League is back. After a summer feeding off the scraps of endless transfer speculation and inconsequential pre-season fixtures, competitive football returns for the 20 English top-flight teams this weekend.

Kicking off on Saturday lunchtime with a cracker, as Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, the opening day also sees newly-promoted Bournemouth, Norwich City and Watford all in action.

Week 1 will offer the chance to check out the numerous new signings made by each side and perhaps get an inkling of how things may pan out this season.

Read on for a full fixture list and predictions.

Date	Time	Fixture	Prediction
Saturday, August 8	12:45 p.m. BST/7:45 a.m. ET	Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur	2-1
Saturday, August 8	3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET	Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa	0-1
Saturday, August 8	3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET	Everton vs. Watford	3-1
Saturday, August 8	3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET	Leicester City vs. Sunderland	1-1
Saturday, August 8	3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET	Norwich City vs. Crystal Palace	1-2
Saturday, August 8	5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET	Chelsea vs. Swansea	2-1
Sunday, August 9	1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET	Arsenal vs. West Ham United	3-1
Sunday, August 9	1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET	Newcastle United vs. Southampton	0-2
Sunday, August 9	4 p.m. BST/9 a.m. ET	Stoke City vs. Liverpool	2-2
Monday, August 10	8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET	West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester City	1-2

Chelsea vs. Swansea City

Chelsea ran away with the Premier League title last season, finishing eight points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.

Manager Jose Mourinho will be hoping for more of the same in 2015-16, but it is likely to be more of a challenge for the Blues this term, as their main rivals have all strengthened significantly, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

They face a tough opener to the season against Swansea, Garry Monk's side having finished eighth in an impressive 2014-15 term.

That campaign began with a surprise 2-1 away win against the Red Devils for the Swans, and they will need a similarly fine performance if they are to pull off an upset at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Chelsea's star striker Diego Costa may not be available for the match, as Mourinho has suggested the Spain international is still recovering from a hamstring injury, per ESPN FC's Kevin Palmer.

However, in Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao, Chelsea have decent cover in the strike department, while Eden Hazard will be the main threat Swansea's defence have to deal with.

The aggregate result from both fixtures between Swansea and Chelsea last season was 9-2 in the Blues' favour.

The Welsh outfit will offer a tough opening challenge for the defending champions, but Mourinho's men should have enough to pick up a win.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

United are an intriguing proposition ahead of the new season, having brought in significant reinforcements over the summer.

While they are short on strikers—Wayne Rooney will likely be the main man up top—and still lacking in central defence, their midfield has been strengthened significantly, while Memphis Depay should be exciting to watch.

A slow start to the season in 2014-15 hamstrung Louis van Gaal's men from the off, and they will be looking to make a flying start on Saturday.

However, Spurs present a tough challenge, especially as Harry Kane has seemingly lost none of the goalscoring prowess he showed last season, per Eurosport:

Mauricio Pochettino has not added significant strength to his squad over the summer, though, and the memory of their most recent visit to Old Trafford—when they lost 3-0—will likely still be fresh on the memory.

United could be a genuine title-challenging proposition this season, and victories over the likes of Tottenham will be essential. Given the respective squads and the Red Devils' home advantage, it should be a winning start for Van Gaal this time around. 

Prediction: 2-1

Stoke City vs. Liverpool

On the final day of last season, Liverpool were trounced 6-1 by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium to top off a largely miserable season for the Reds.

In a nasty twist of fate for Liverpool, they have to return to the scene of that humbling at the first time of asking, as they face the Potters in their opening fixture on Sunday.

It offers a new-look Liverpool side a chance at redemption and vengeance, and that will surely be the message of manager Brendan Rodgers' team talk.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes can be confident of his side putting up quite a fight, not least as he recently added yet another Champions League winner to his side with the signing of Ibrahim Afellay, per football writer Chris Linnell:

The Reds have made a number of their own summer additions, and the likes of James Milner, Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino will all have a role to play on Sunday.

There should be plenty of goals, as both sides have decent attacking units, while Liverpool have struggled defensively over the last couple of seasons.

Another thrashing for the hosts is unlikely, but Rodgers should be happy to depart Stoke with a point after their opening fixture.

Prediction: 2-2