Saturday 13 August 2016 07:12, UK
The opening day of the Premier League season is upon us, and Sky Sports' pundit Paul Merson is back with his first round of predictions...
Defending champions Leicester City kick-off the campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Hull City, live on Sky Sports from 12.30pm.
The first slate of 3pm games includes Ronald Koeman's first match in charge of Everton, who welcome Tottenham to Goodison Park.
Over the course of the weekend, we will also get a glimpse of new eras at Manchester United and Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho's side in action against Bournemouth on Super Sunday and Antonio Conte's outfit hosting West Ham on Monday Night Football.
So who is getting off to a fast start? The Magic Man gives us his predictions...
It's a good first game for Leicester but the result does depend how Hull approach it. I think they will probably sit back and be pretty defensive.
Still, even if they do, I don't see anything other than a win for Claudio Ranieri's side. I just don't think it is right to get rid of your manager so close to the season, like Hull did with Steve Bruce, and I can't see how they will be able to live with Leicester in attack.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
I worry for Bournemouth this season. They are a good footballing team but opponents got used to facing them, they didn't finish the last campaign well, and they have lost Matt Ritchie too.
I think Man Utd will win this game quite comfortably. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is such a presence, he's full of confidence, and I just don't see how Bournemouth will cope.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)
The injuries are a major concern for Arsenal. They have one centre forward in Olivier Giroud when their rivals have three or four each. Don't tell me Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott are centre forwards. They might be able to step in for one or two games but you are not going to win the Premier League that way.
As for Liverpool, they are decent going forward, they are quick and score goals on the break, but again, defensively they are not too good either. I see plenty of goals in this one.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)
It's a difficult start for both teams but I'm going for Chelsea to win the league so I'm going for a Chelsea win here too. People say they weren't great defensively last season but Conte is a great tactician and they will improve.
If N'Golo Kante gets around Dimitri Payet, I don't see Payet touching the ball too often. He's a top player and you don't want to be giving away free-kicks around the box, but he's not really going to run away from defenders.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)
What Palace need to do this season under Alan Pardew is to break their slumps quicker than they have done in the past. They can reel off six wins in a row but they can lose eight games on the spin too, and that's why they are so inconsistent. If Pardew can sort that out I think they'll have a good season.
West Brom will go to Selhurst Park on Saturday to frustrate their opponents, but I think Palace will just about have enough to break them down before the end of the game.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
This is a must-win game already for Burnley. They haven't really bought many players and it's going to be a difficult season.
It will be interesting to see if Andre Gray can score goals in the Premier League because if he can, he could go for a lot of money come January.
He won't get as many chances as he did in the Championship so it will be a challenge, and I think Swansea will get a draw on Saturday.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
I have played at Everton enough times to know this is a tricky first game for Tottenham. It's a difficult place to play, especially on the opening day, and I like Ronald Koeman's business so far - selling John Stones for £47.5m and buying Ashley Williams for £12m, I like that.
For Spurs, it depends if there is a hangover from Euro 2016 for players like Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Tottenham have a team already but I feel they need to add more to their squad because they're a bit light.
I don't think they've done enough yet to go on and win the Premier League.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
I think Middlesbrough have done alright in the transfer market so far. I like Alvaro Negredo, who I think is a good centre forward that will give them options. If they can play to his strengths, they will be OK.
On this occasion, though, the nice big pitch at the Riverside Stadium suits Stoke's style of play and I think they will get a draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
Sadio Mane will be a big miss for Southampton but I'm not sure about Watford this season. I know they have always done well after changing managers, but sometimes that can catch up with you and I'm going for a narrow Saints win.
Towards the end of last season, teams got comfortable playing against Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo and they figured out once you stop those two, you've virtually won the match.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
There won't be a lot between the two teams in this match. David Moyes' Sunderland will go to the Etihad to make it hard for Man City, but as the game goes on, I think Pep Guardiola's side will break them down.
They will be patient, and to be fair to Moyes, it's not the best of starts for Sunderland.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
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