A new season, a new weekly Premier League preview is ready offering up our Premier League Predictions Matchday 1.
If you’re new, each week we offer up some Premier League predictions, some based on a stat or far fetched premise, some based on our own thoughts.
This week’s alternative tipping method is based on the first weekend form of each side in honour of this being the first weekend of Premier League.
We include just enough quick and barely interesting stats to help you decide a winner.
Enjoy the long Premier League Predictions Matchday 1 and preview.
BLATANT PLUG – OTHER STUFF YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
OUR 2019-20 PREMIER SEASON PREDICTIONS
EPL MATCHDAY DIFFICULTY RATINGS
ADOPT AN EPL SIDE PERSONALITY QUIZ
FANTASY FOOTBALL BIG QUESTIONS
FANTASY FOOTBALL DIFFERENTIALS
Premier League Predictions Matchday 1 2019-20 – First Weekend Form
First weekend – average points per game for 10 seasons in brackets.
LIVERPOOL (1.8) to beat Norwich (0.8)
MAN CITY (2.8) to beat West Ham (1.2)
BOURNEMOUTH (1.5) to beat Sheffield Utd (1.3)
DRAW – Burnley (1.3) v Southampton (1.3)
EVERTON (1.2) to beat Crystal Palace (1.0)
WATFORD (2.0) to beat Brighton (0.9)
SPURS (1.8) to beat Aston Villa (1.7)
ARSENAL (1.2) to beat Newcastle (0.9)
WOLVES (1.9) to beat Leicester (1.6)
MAN UTD (2.4) to beat Chelsea (2.2)
TIPS BACKGROUND: We got the first weekend results from all league from the last 10 seasons, and devised an average points scored for each team. The one with the higher average point gets the tip.
Premier League Predictions Matchday 1 2019-20 – GAME BY GAME PREVIEW
Here’s our match by match review. With loads of stats as below. But keep in mind the following…
All stats are based on the last 10 years of Premier Leagues fixtures,except where stated.
The match rating is our thoughts on how exciting a neutral should get about the game. We rank it by if it is a great rivalry, whether at least one of the teams are in good form, whether they play decent football or dross, and general interest. Whether the team has a star player, crazy manager, give away lots of red cards, or have a Rene Higuita style goalkeeper. We wish anyway. Each field is rated out of five and the grand total out of 20.
Last 5 matches are Premier League fixtures only.
The barely interesting fact is just that, barely interesting.
LIVERPOOL v NORWICH
FRIDAY 8PM
The season and our Premier League Predictions Matchday 1 opens at the flashy time of Friday night, which is rather inconvenient for most of the world, and features the Champions League and Championship winners. Now that Europe has been conquered, surely Liverpool are all about the EPL title. Norwich will surprise this season, and their manager Daniel Farke will be discussed a lot. This looks an easy Liverpool win for many reasons, the rustiness of some Liverpool stars is the big question.
OUR MATCH RATING
Not much rivalry to speak of but it is Champions League winners v Championship winners. Both teams play good football, and the interest is at max being the first game of the season.
MATCH STATS
Norwich haven’t beaten Liverpool in the last 10 seasons, but at least there’s a handful of draws. These teams haven’t met on a Friday before. Or August.
POINTS OF INTEREST
More Salah magic to start the season, and any hangover from two great seasons where he has scored more Fantasy points than most players have done in three seasons.
Tired players from international off season – Mane, Salah, Firminho.
Norwich were the kings of the late goal/s last year in the Championship, so keep an eye on a sneaky Canary.
Pukki put away a lot of goals last season, but it is hit and miss for Premier League success.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
There have been 5 goals or more in four of the last five games between these sides.
OUR FINAL SAY
Liverpool 3 Norwich 1
BEST BET
Liverpool to win and both teams to score @ $2.70
WEST HAM UTD v MANCHESTER CITY
SATURDAY 12:30PM
OUR MATCH RATING
No real rivalry again, but few teams have ever had so much form in the EPL. The high mark for Style is just down to the fact that Man City are playing.
MATCH STATS
All form points to Man City, especially being unbeaten v West Ham in August.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Kevin De Bruyne is back, and looking as good as ever.
Sebastien Haller is the big name forward recruit from the Bundesliga, who scored loads of goals, But forgotten in the hoopla of Haller is the recruit from Villareal Pablo Fornals who was an early transfer window signing. Eyes on him too.
Can Man City score 4 goals again. Great lunchtime kick off.
We get an early glimpse after this game at the two title contenders.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Including an FA Cup match Man City’s last four visits to West Ham have yielded 17 goals scored, 1 against .
OUR FINAL SAY
West Ham 1 Manchester City 3
BEST BET
Man City to score 3 goals or more @ $1.91
AFC BOURNEMOUTH v SHEFFIELD UTD
SATURAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
The mild interest is the unknown, can Bournemouth surprise early again this season, and Sheffield Utd’s first game. Outside of that and Football League nerds cheering on a lower division team, it is one for the fans.
MATCH STATS
No fancy graphic as these two sides haven’t met in the EPL before. So have some general stats…
POINTS OF INTEREST
Can Ryan Fraser continue his outstanding form of last year. He certainly overperformed on previous seasons.
Sheffield Utd were the best defensive team last year, and a Wilson, King and Fraser at full flight will be an early test of their EPL defensive resolve.
If recently signed loanee Harry Wilson gets a go. He is quality and a great addition to Bournemouth.
Will Ravel Morrison complete his comeback and play first week?
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
These two teams haven’t met since 2013 in League One. Sheffield Utd won both of those games that season. In fact Bournemouth haven’t beat the Blades since 1987 (eight straight losses).
OUR FINAL SAY
Bournemouth 1 Sheffield Utd 1
BEST BET
Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.91
BURNLEY v SOUTHAMPTON
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
The least interesting game of the weekend for us. It’ll probably end up a 3-3 thriller to teach us for trying.
MATCH STATS
Southampton haven’t beaten Burnley away in the Premier League’s last 10 seasons. No team has scored more than one goal in the last five games.
POINTS OF INTEREST
We are big fans of Che Adams, and are hoping for his sake and our FPL reputation that he serves up some goals.
Wood and Barnes for Burnley were a very underrated front duo last season, and Burnley’s survival will rely on their continued performance again.
Is Sean Dyche going to sound even more gruffier this season.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
You have to go back to 2009 for when Burnley last socred more than one goal in a game against Southampton in the League.
OUR FINAL SAY
Burnley 0 Southampton 1
BEST BET
Burnley to score one goal or less @ $1.40
CRYSTAL PALACE v EVERTON
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
It may be rated at 10/20, but it has the potential to be the best game of the weekend. Especially if Everton nab Zaha before the transfer window closes.
MATCH STATS
The interesting things has to be Crystal Palace’s poor record in the last 10 season at home to Everton.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Will Zaha go to Everton, and who will come to Selhurst Park in return.
Moises Kean will hopefully make his debut, and will hopefully show what a talent he will be in the Premier League. With his talent, at that price, and Everton’s status in the Premier League, it could be the buy of the decade.
Everton a building a team that could chase a top six spot and more. They have an easyish start.
Will the heavily fouled Zaha get an easier life with VAR. Zaha was the most fouled player last season by some distance.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Crystal Palace last beat Everton at home since 1994.
OUR FINAL SAY
Crystal Palace 1 Everton 2
BEST BET
Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.15
WATFORD v BRIGHTON
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
Another potential stinker, with interest just above minimal to see if there’s any improvement in relegation favoured Brighton and their new Manager.
MATCH STATS
Look at that goals per game. Brighton’s record at Vicarage Road isn’t much better.
POINTS OF INTEREST
New manager for Brighton, Graham Potter who did a great job at Swansea last season in the Championship.
A few new signings for Brighton are a point of interest too. Another stellar performer in the Championship last year – Neal Maupay from Brentford – is one to watch.
Not as much player movement for Watford, but it is essentially the same side that surprised the Premier League early last season.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
In seven of the past eight seasons these teams have shared a division, at least one game has ended in a draw.
THE FINAL SAY
Watford 1 Brigton 0
BEST BET
Undr 2.5 Goals @ $1.64
TOTTENHAM v ASTON VILLA
SATURDAY 5:30PM
OUR MATCH RATING
No rivalry, but decent interest, style and form from both sides.
MATCH STATS
Stats are biased against Aston Villa who were truly awful for a few seasons before the relegation in 2016.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Depends on what happen to Spurs before the end of the transfer window. Will Eriksen still be there? Will Dybala come in? Or finally Ryan Sessegnon. Or nothing.
Tanguy Ndombele is a potential excitement machine.
Will Harry Kane look like a sad puppy all season.
Will Aston Villa fly the flag for the promoted sides.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Five of the last eight games between these teams have been won by the away side.
THE FINAL SAY
Spurs 2 Aston Villa 1
BEST BET
Aston Villa +2.0 goal handicap @ $1.83
NEWCASTLE v ARSENAL
SUNDAY 2:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
Interest lies in some exciting new signings. The two for style is pro ably a bit harsh and should be higher. Other than that, there isn’t much to get excited about.
MATCH STATS
No surprise that Arsenal lead the way in these stats. Including being unbeaten on Sundays and in August.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Arsenal new player Pepe looks like one excellent signing.
Newcastle broke the bank for Joelinton too.
First game post Rafa for Newcastle. How will Steve Bruce be received by the local fans.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Newcastle won their home game v Arsenal in 2018, but prior to that game the last win was in 2006.
THE FINAL SAY
Newcastle 0 Arsenal 2
BEST BET
Arsenal -1.0 Handicap (win by two or more) @ $3.10
LEICESTER v WOLVES
SUNDAY 2:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
Potential as the game of the weekend between two sides looking to break into the top six.
MATCH STATS
Limited Premier League stats between these sides, with both games going to the home side last season in their only season of EPL crossover in the last ten seasons.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Any second season syndrome evidence for Wolves.
How will Leicester spend the Maguire windfall.
Youri Tielemans and Ayoze Perez.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Both teams have scored in six of the last eight league games.
OUR FINAL SAY
Leicester 2 Wolves 1
BEST BET
Leicester to win and Both Teams to score @ $4.50
MANCHESTER UTD v CHELSEA
SUNDAY 4:30PM
OUR MATCH RATING
The big name clash for the weekend sees two of the former challengers for the title now battling for the final top four spot. There’s a decent rivalry there, but it’s probably going to be one of those disappointing top six clashes.
MATCH STATS
One of the graphs looks the Czech Republic flag. Man Utd have a decent home record of late. And only draws for games in August. Sunday games are split nicely.
POINTS OF INTEREST
More references to the club being Manchester United by Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
More references to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea in the battle of the former players turned managers.
Will Pogba still be there?
Who will stand up for Chelsea in the post Hazard era?
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
The away side has only won two league fixtures between these sides in the past ten seasons – both times it was Chelsea.
OUR FINAL SAY
Man Utd 1 Chelsea 1
BEST BET
Draw @ $3.25
WITH THANKS TO
Racing Post for some Head to Head statistics
S&C Sports Data for the Stats/Graphics
