More expendable than a manager, spending more money they we should on transfers in a desperate attempt to stay up, facing the prospect looking for a buyer for new reality TV series, and playing in a formation that was unfashionable and illegal 60 years ago, but somehow still getting the full support of the Chairman and Board, it’s our first weekly preview effort of the season with our Premier League Gameweek 1 Predictions, Stats & Preview.
Each gameweek in this 2026-27 Premier League season we offer up a stat filled prediction preview, with some barely interesting stats and visuals, just enough to bluff your way through various tipping competitions or betting shops.
Premier League Gameweek 1 Predictions, Stats & Preview
Help yourself to a buffet of barely interesting stats, quick one liners and more to help pick a winner.
Best of Premier League Gameweek 1 Stats
- Going back to 2015, Everton have lost just one of their last 22 games v Crystal Palace (W11 D10 L1).
- Looking back at the past four seasons, the results for the teams that were eventually relegated that season on the first game of the season are W1 D2 L9. With Leeds in 2022-23 being the only team that won on GW1 and went down. The two draws belong to Leicester.
- Five of the last six games at Brentford v Spurs have been draws.
- Only four clubs avoided defeat to a promoted side last season (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Aston Villa)
Premier League Gameweek 1 Summary
FRI 8PM – ARSENAL v COVENTRY
Arsenal were W5 D1 v promoted clubs last season. Only four clubs avoided defeat to a promoted side last season (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Aston Villa), and two clubs failed to beat a promoted side last season – Wolves and Bournemouth. The last time Arsenal met Coventry was in January 2014 when they won their FA Cup clash 4-0. Coventry coach Frank Lampard’s record v Arsenal as a manager is W1 D1 L4. Coventry were in the fourth tier League Two as recent as the SSSS season. The last time Coventry were in the Premier League was the 2000-01 season and Arsenal did the double over them.
Verdict: It sure wasn’t very nice of the Premier League to make the first game for newly promoted Coventry an away game against the reigning Champions.
Prediction: Arsenal 4 Coventry 1
SAT 12:30PM – HULL v MANCHESTER UTD
Man Utd’s record v promoted clubs last season was W2 D3 L1. Hull are undefeated in their last two matches v Man Utd, a League Cup win and a Premier League draw. The teams played each other four times that season, Man Utd won the first two matches. Home matches on a Saturday for Hull v Man Utd are more competitive than you think with four wins each and two draws.
Verdict: It sure wasn’t very nice of the Premier League to make the first game for newly promoted Hull against the huge club that is Man Utd. At least it’s at home.
Prediction: Hull 1 Man Utd 3
SAT 3PM – IPSWICH v SUNDERLAND
It was less than five years ago when these teams faced off in the third tier of League One. These two clubs have spent the most on transfers by a promoted club in the history of the Premier League. Ipswich won both of the games last time these teams were in the same division (23/24 Championship). Sunderland were W2 D1 L1 v promoted sides last season as one of the promoted sides. Ipswich’s all time home record v Sunderland is W17 D6 L6.
Verdict: The biggest spending promoted clubs in the history of football meet. Ipswich will do very well to survive, let alone match Sunderland’s effort from last season.
Prediction: Ipswich 3 Sunderland 0
SAT 3PM – EVERTON v CRYSTAL PALACE
Going back to 2015, Everton have lost just one of their last 22 games v Crystal Palace (W11 D10 L1). They are unbeaten at home in that run with 6 wins and 4 draws. Overall, Everton have only lost five of the 30 homes v Crystal Palace with a win rate of 50%. Everton have won four in a row at home on a Saturday to Crystal Palace, scoring three goals in three of those games. On a Saturday overall at any ground Everton lead the H2H 21-9 with 10 draws. Everton have lost all four MD1 games over the past four seasons.
Verdict: Everton’s really good record v Crystal Palace has really gone under the radar. But we suppose these clubs often do in general and no one really cares too much about their H2H.
Prediction: Everton 2 Crystal Palace 0
SAT 3PM – NOTTINGHAM FOREST v LEEDS UTD
The last four Premier League clashes between these sides have been won by the home side (either team) and the home side advantage stretches out across the leagues to nine games (W6 D3). Specifically at Nottingham Forest, the home side there have won four in a row. Leeds were W2 D5 L5 away to non London teams last season.
Verdict: Wonder if Forest lose this game they’ll sack their manager?
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0 Leeds Utd 2
SAT 5:30PM – BRENTFORD v TOTTENHAM
Brentford are a great team for Spurs to play first – they have lost just of the last 21 games v Brentford going back as a far as 1949. Spurs are also undefeated in their last 10 trips to Brentford – W4 D6. But five of the last six games at Brentford have been draws. Brentford were undefeated at home to London clubs last season but five of the six games were draws. Spurs’ record away to London clubs last season was W2 D1 L3.
Verdict: If Spurs were a normal club they’d be a special for relegation. But they aren’t a normal club. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
Prediction: Brentford 1 Spurs 1
SUN 2PM – BRIGHTON v ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa have won eight of their last ten games v Brighton (W8 D1 L1). Aston Villa have won four of the last five games at Brighton. Aston Villa have lost just one of their last 11 visits to Brighton (W6 D4 L1). Brighton are undefeated on their last four seasons of Matchday 1 (W3 D1), Aston Villa were W1 D1 L2.
Verdict: Wouldn’t have thought Aston Villa’s record against Brighton was so good, but they you go. These clubs are way too hard to predict at this time of the season. These teams had only won just the one game between them across the first five gameweeks last season.
Prediction: Brighton 1 Aston Villa 1
SUN 2PM – MANCHESTER CITY v BOURNEMOUTH
Up to the 2023-24 season, Man City had never lost a game to Bournemouth. Since then, Bournemouth’s record at home v Man City is W1 D1. These teams have only met on a Sunday twice, and Man City have won both games by 3-1, which is the score not the odds of Bournemouth winning. Man City have won their last four opening weekend matches and not conceded a goal in that run.
Verdict: New coaches all round for these two, and after Man City were well beaten by Arsenal last weekend, will we see Man City become just another regular club? Probably not while they still have Haaland.
Prediction: Man City 3 Bournemouth 0
SUN 4:30PM – NEWCASTLE v LIVERPOOL
Going back to 2016, Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 matches v Newcastle, winning 14 and drawing five. Only twice in that 19 game run has the overall goals scored from both sides come under two goals. Liverpool are unbeaten in nine trips to Newcastle – W6 D3. Liverpool’s record on a Sunday v Newcastle isn’t as grand – it’s W3 D2 L2 from the last seven meetings in the league.
Verdict: Is Newcastle’s off season one of the worst by a team in a while without a scandal? New managers for both sides, but one looks like a good idea. Newcastle are tipped to go down by a few pundits this season, and I’m sure Isak would hate to get that party started.
Prediction: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 2
MON 8PM – FULHAM v CHELSEA
Fulham have been reasonably competitive against Chelsea of late, with a W3 D1 L4 record from the last eight meetings. The H2H from the last four games a Fulham is 2-2. Fulham won their only Monday game last season while Chelsea lost their only Monday game. Chelsea have lost only one of ten matches v Fulham on a Monday – W5 D4 L1.
Verdict: Fulham look a bit shaky this season and will be hoping the promoted sides are as bad as they were two years ago, and as Burnley are every time they come up. Chelsea will probably buy a $100M player between writing this and the game on Monday.
Prediction: Fulham 0 Chelsea 3
Premier League Gameweek 1 Predictions Summary
And here are all the tips together in one place for your convenience.
Arsenal 4 Coventry 1
Hull 1 Man Utd 3
Ipswich 3 Sunderland 0
Everton 2 Crystal Palace 0
Nottingham Forest 0 Leeds Utd 2
Brentford 1 Spurs 1
Brighton 1 Aston Villa 1
Man City 3 Bournemouth 0
Newcastle 0 Liverpool 2
Fulham 0 Chelsea 3
