1) Arsenal to avoid opening night encore
Arsenal have traditionally looked a little undercooked going into a season, but this time their hosts have more of a question mark. Although they were beaten by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in April, another game soon looks set for the visitors and it’s hard to fault Patrick Vieira’s prediction of a “completely different game”. Palace have yet to find a replacement for Conor Gallagher, whose energy was so fundamental to their better performance last season, although Cheikhou Kouyaté remains and the current injury list includes James McArthur and Michael Olise. Reinforcements have taken longer to arrive than Vieira might have wanted, while Mikel Arteta has managed to strengthen in key areas and find something close to his preferred starting XI of late. A year ago Arsenal’s weak Arsenal side got off to a disastrous start at Brentford, but Friday night’s fears don’t seem as likely this time around. Nick Ames
2) Núñez ready to go for Liverpool
Darwin Núñez does not consider it necessary to relax. The Uruguayan forward started on the bench in Liverpool’s win over City in the Community Shield last weekend, but seemed to be on the same wavelength as his new team-mates after coming on in the game. second half. The runs were smart and effective, the link-up was clever and there were signs of understanding with Mohamed Salah, who was involved when Núñez scored his first Liverpool goal with a brave header. The question is whether Klopp will decide to play the former Benfica striker when Liverpool visit Fulham on Saturday. Is there any benefit in keeping the 23-year-old defender and playing Roberto Firmino through the middle instead? Firmino is an excellent, subtle player, but Fulham’s defenders must be terrified as they try to keep Núñez quiet. Jacob Steinberg
3) Everton look short on firepower
It was against Frank Lampard’s old club last season that Everton finally found the spirit, style and support that kept them in the Premier League, but that was courtesy of a winner from Richarlison – with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Salomón Rondón on the bench as a backup. The goalscorer is gone, the English international is out injured for the next six weeks and Rondón is suspended. There is likely to be another iterative approach, with no known front man available for the first game of a new campaign. And it seems that it is Thomas Tuchel who has been criticized in his club’s summer transfer business so far. At least Chelsea have some new faces to herald an ambitious new era under Todd Boehly in Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Carney Chukwuemeka, with the promise of more to come. They have lost on their last four league visits to Goodison Park, however, and only a fifth of Tuchel’s requests for reinforcements will be tougher. Andy Hunter
4) Will the Pope push Dubravka out?
Nick Pope or Martin Dubravka? That is the dilemma facing Eddie Howe as his Newcastle team prepare to face Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Saturday. Pope arrived from Burnley for £10m earlier this summer only to sit on the bench. Instead the 30-year-old has made it clear that he intends to play first-team football which will secure him a place on England’s World Cup flight to Doha in November. Accordingly, the consensus is that Howe will start Pope ahead of Dubravka on Saturday. That, in turn, is ready to upset the Slovakian goalkeeper and his agent, who reiterated that his client is too good to be anyone’s understudy. Something has to give; could a part-swap deal between Dubravka and James Maddison be Newcastle’s answer? Louise Taylor
5) Kane can hit the ground running
If pre-season is a time of hope, it is particularly evident at Tottenham. First Antonio Conte committed to the project, then the club made quick and targeted signings. But there is one player who holds the key to glory and, happily for everyone, Harry Kane looks calm and poised. This time last year, the striker wanted out. When his wish was denied, he worked, only scoring one league goal before mid-December. He found his back under Conte, who arrived at the start of November, to finish with 17 in the competition and carries momentum into the opener against Southampton, having had a proper pre-season this time around. Conte’s system is based on getting the most out of his front men, and Kane plans to embrace the expectations. David Hytner
6) Hammer the City’s tough opening test
The champions are not off to an easy start to their title defence. West Ham are winless in their past three home games against Manchester City and play in a way that frustrates Pep Guardiola’s side. A lot of it is centered on Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio’s animosity on the counter, and while West Ham have looked short of creativity during pre-season, that probably won’t be as much of a problem against City. After all, David Moyes will not be making plans for his team to take over. It will be up to West Ham to keep a low block, keeping a close eye on Erling Haaland and looking for ways to release Bowen, whose cross ran from right to left as he scored twice as Moyes’ side succeeded the city came out victorious 2-2. in this game last season. Jacob Steinberg
7) Parker seeks points early on board
Great prospects. This phrase probably doesn’t sum up the attitude of Bournemouth fans ahead of their return to the Premier League. With Scott Parker’s men working hard for automatic promotion last season, and a lack of summer spending so far, the club look set for a strong campaign. After hosting Aston Villa, Bournemouth next travel to Manchester City before facing Arsenal at home and Liverpool at Anfield. They may need a point at the Lively Stadium on Saturday to avoid the dire prospect of losing their first four league games and see them start to wash out along the south coast by the end of August. Villa fans will be hoping for more than last season’s 14th place finish, and if Steven Gerrard’s players are to make big progress, picking up three points in games like this should be essential. them in pursuit of the first half. from promotion in 2019. Joel Mians
8) Will Ronaldo make an appearance?
Cristiano Ronaldo is not expected to be included in Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United first XI for the Premier League game due to the striker’s lack of fitness. The manager said the 37-year-old’s early departure from Sunday’s friendly with Rayo Vallecano was “unacceptable” and anyone watching Brighton’s visit will be body language experts, parsing any interaction for a clue of disagreement. The Portuguese’s decision to go awol was certainly premeditated as the latest ploy in the push to leave a club he adores. With the new manager looking to somehow rebuild a shattered side, how the Ten Hag deal with Ronaldo and an unwanted side-by-side show could define his tenure. Jamie Jackson
9) Bamford gives a big boost to March again
The injuries that restricted Patrick Bamford to only nine appearances for Leeds last season, played a big part in not only the team’s dalliance with relegation but Marcelo Bielsa’s replacement of Jesse Marsch. The good news for the latter is that Leeds’ main attacker, and top scorer of 2020-21, is almost 100% fit and looks set to start against Wolves at Elland Road on Saturday. If Marsch can keep Bamford fit he has a good chance of buying time to bed his exciting new signings, perhaps most notably attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson and winger Luis Sinistra, into the first XI and help Leeds fans forget the summer’s departure. of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha. The American’s chances of making it this season will be greatly improved if he can keep Bamford fit. Louise Taylor
10) Foxes face uncertainty at the beginning
This has been a difficult summer for Leicester. Kasper Schmeichel has left, the futures of Wesley Fofana and James Maddison are up in the air, and the Foxes are the only Premier League club yet to sign a player. A club that came close to qualifying for the Champions League in 2020 and 2021 found last season not quite as planned, with Brendan Rodgers’ side finishing eighth, six points adrift of a Europa League place. There is a different mood among Leicester fans compared to the start of other recent seasons. They welcome a Brentford side who beat them twice last season, although they were lucky. The visitors have had a busy transfer window marked by the departure of their midfield maverick, Christian Eriksen. Given the uncertainty in LE2, Thomas Frank’s team may not have a better chance to stop their hosts. Uzzi Majid