Premier League questions: Who will replace David de Gea? Can Chelsea repeat? Will Theo Walcott start?

Ahead of the start of the 2015/16 Premier League season, we take a look at 10 questions that could be answered by the end of the weekend.

Who will come in for David de Gea? (Manchester United v Tottenham - Saturday, 12.45pm)

Louis van Gaal has confirmed that goalkeeper David de Gea will miss Manchester United's season opener with Tottenham because he has been affected by speculation regarding his future.

It means that either Sergio Romero or Sam Johnstone could be in line for their debuts at Old Trafford on Saturday.

After playing in the World Cup final last year and the recent Copa America final, Romero may be in a better position to handle the pressure of an opening day fixture.

Asked about who will start, Van Gaal said: "You have to wait and see."

Whether it is Romero or Johnstone, it would not be a surprise to see Harry Kane and co test them out with a few early attempts.

How will new-boys Norwich handle a strengthened Palace? (Norwich v Crystal Palace – Saturday, 3pm)

Of the three newly-promoted sides, Norwich have been the least active in the transfer market and will look a relatively familiar team to the one that earned promotion through the play-offs.

The Canaries have added just six players to the squad including Robbie Brady, Youssef Mulumbu and Andre Wisdom on loan from Liverpool.

Meanwhile, their opening day opponents Crystal Palace have spent heavily on their attack.

Yohan Cabaye, who has joined from PSG for £13m, along with strikers Connor Wickham and Patrick Bamford are just three of their seven signings made so far.

Their new-look frontline should provide a stern challenge for Norwich.

Can Everton get off on the right foot? (Everton v Watford - Saturday, 3pm)

After such a fantastic debut campaign for Roberto Martinez, last season was a huge disappointment for the Toffees.

Everyone seemed to struggle: Romelu Lukaku failed to hit the same heights after sealing a permanent switch, Tim Howard looked shaky between the sticks and Martinez himself seemed drained by the task of having to juggle league ambition and Europa League travels.

Everton start their new campaign against a newly-promoted Watford who have made 10 signings so far this summer and have a manager in Quique Flores who is new to the league.

The Hornets, though, still have goalscorers at their disposal. Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and Matej Vydra netted 57 between them in the Championship last season. Anything near that total this season and they will have a real chance of staying up.

Can Bournemouth follow the trend? (Bournemouth v Aston Villa - Saturday, 3pm)

The last two sides to gain promotion to the top-flight for the first time in their history were Reading (2006/07) and Hull City (2008/09). Both sides opened their campaign with a win at home, and both went on to stay up (before being relegated the season afterwards).

Along with a title-winning side, Eddie Howe has nine new signings to work with for their first-ever Premier League outing.

Striker Callum Wilson could lead the line against a Villa side who scored the joint-fewest goals in the top-flight last season (31).

With last season's top scorer Christian Benteke now at Liverpool, Tim Sherwood has also been busy in the transfer market in a bid to reinforce his squad.

But Bournemouth will be hoping to continue the free-scoring spirit that saw them net 98 times as they won the Championship last season.

Will any new signings make an instant impact? (Newcastle v Southampton – Sunday, 1:30pm)  

After Newcastle narrowly avoided relegation last season, new manager Steve McClaren has come in and made three new additions to the squad.

Highly-rated Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum joins from PSV for £14.5m while Chancel Mbemba and Aleksandar Mitrovic have both signed from Anderlecht. Big things are expected from Mitrovic after the 20-year-old scored 27 times in 49 appearances for the Belgian club over two seasons.

Southampton will be looking to build on another successful season in the Premier League as numerous changes have been made to the squad once again, with eight departures and eight newcomers.

Jordy Clasie, Steven Caulker and Ryan Bertrand are perhaps the standout names while Nathaniel’s Clyne’s replacement Cedric Soares has impressed during pre-season.

Can Leicester continue where they left off? (Leicester v Sunderland - Saturday, 3pm)

How Leicester must be hoping form can carry over the summer.

Only champions Chelsea and this Saturday’s opponents Sunderland were able to check the Foxes’ end-of-season surge as they won seven of their last nine games to avoid relegation in remarkable style.

Plenty has changed, though, since their last meeting with Sunderland on the penultimate day of the 2014/15 campaign.

The most significant change has happened in the dugout, where former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has come in to replace Nigel Pearson, who was sacked due to “fundamental differences” between himself and the board.

The Leicester squad for the new season includes signings made by Pearson – Christian Fuchs and Shinji Okazaki – and Ranieri - N'Golo Kante and Yohan Benalouane.

The challenge to continue Leicester’s momentum and, ultimately, avoid relegation again, all rests with the Italian though.

Will Chelsea click into gear? (Chelsea v Swansea – Saturday, 5.30pm)

After failing to win a single game in pre-season, defending champions Chelsea will be hoping to produce a performance when it matters this weekend.

In preparation for the new campaign, Jose Mourinho’s side have drawn with Paris St-Germain and Barcelona, but lost to New York Red Bulls, Arsenal and Fiorentina. Arsene Wenger also got his first win over Mourinho in 14 meetings in the Community Shield last Sunday.

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The Blues have also had a relatively quiet summer in the transfer window, making just two notable signings. Asmir Begovic joins from Stoke to replace the departing Petr Cech while Radamel Falcao has signed on loan from Monaco.

Their opponents this weekend drew four of their five friendlies, winning just one, but have been boosted by the arrivals of five new signings including Eder, Franck Tabanou and Andre Ayew.

With Swansea looking to build on a record-breaking season, it could be a tricky opener for Chelsea.

Who will lead the Arsenal line? (Arsenal v West Ham - Sunday, 1.30pm)

After finishing last season with a hat-trick against West Brom and a goal at Wembley in the FA Cup final, Theo Walcott was given a further chance to impress up front in the Community Shield last weekend.

This time, though, the England international did not manage to enhance his claim to start ahead of Olivier Giroud.

Arsene Wenger now has a choice to make over who will get the nod in the opener against West Ham.

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Giroud has netted five goals in five appearances against the Hammers and was Arsenal’s second top scorer last season behind Alexis Sanchez, who is unavailable following his exploits in the Copa America.

But after giving both players a chance in pre-season, will the Gunners opt to keep the faith with Walcott?

Can Liverpool bounce back? (Stoke v Liverpool - Sunday, 4pm)

Of all the opening day fixtures, Liverpool’s trip to Stoke is one of the most intriguing.

Coming just over two months since the Reds were thumped 6-1 at the Britannia on the final day of the 2014/15 season, it will be the first opportunity to see Brendan Rodgers’ new-look side in competitive action.

Seven new faces have come in at Anfield this summer while Raheem Sterling has been sold to Manchester City and skipper Steven Gerrard has left for the MLS.

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Rodgers says it is a “perfect fixture” for his side to start the season, but that could well depend on the performance and the result.

Certainly if Liverpool are 5-0 down again at half-time then Rodgers may be rethinking his assessment.

Can Raheem Sterling hit the ground running? (West Brom v Manchester City - Monday, 7.45pm)

In the end, Raheem Sterling said it was an “easy decision” to leave Liverpool for Manchester City.

But after a prolonged transfer saga and a £49m price tag, Sterling will be hoping for a fast start with his new club.

Last season he managed just seven league goals and a similar return this time around would be a disappointment for the 21-year-old.

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With Sergio Aguero expected to be fit for the trip to The Hawthorns, it is not yet known where Sterling will fit into the City starting XI.

However, the sooner he can get off the mark, the easier settling in should be.

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