Chelsea give Sarri winning start, Salah shines for Liverpool and Everton stun Wolves: Premier League predictions

A look ahead to the opening weekend of action in England's top tier of football after the summer break

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 07:  Eden Hazard of Chelsea in action during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and Lyon at Stamford Bridge on August 7, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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The Premier League is back on Friday, just 90 days after the last campaign wrapped up.

The transfer window is shut and business is about to pick up. Here is a look forward to who is playing who, and when, and what to expect.

Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0

Friday, 11pm UAE time

Why? Jose Mourinho may not have the all the signings he wants, but he still has a strong squad overall.

Alexis Sanchez looked in good nick in pre-season in the United States and he could be the difference maker here as Leicester begin life without Riyad Mahrez.

Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - Bayern Munich v Manchester United - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - August 5, 2018   Manchester United's Alexis Sanchez in action   REUTERS/Andreas Gebert
Manchester United's Alexis Sanchez has looked good in pre-season. Reuters

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Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Saturday, 3.30pm

Why? A hard one to gauge as so many of Tottenham's key men - Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Kieran Trippier - have had almost no pre-season following their World Cup exploits.

Tottenham should have the quality though to repeat last year's winning start to the campaign at Newcastle.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - Girona v Tottenham Hotspur - Montilivi, Girona, Spain - August 4, 2018   Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino   Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. Action Images via Reuters

Bournemouth 3 Cardiff City 1

Saturday, 6pm

Why? Neil Warnock did a great job getting Cardiff promoted but staying there has always been a task too far.

This sadly looks another case in point and it will start with no points as Bournemouth's forward line of Josh King and Callum Wilson will be too much to handle.

Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - AFC Bournemouth v Olympique de Marseille - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - August 4, 2018   AFC Bournemouth's Callum Wilson in action with Olympique de Marseille's Hiroki Sakai   Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
Bournemouth's Callum Wilson, right, will look to trouble Cardiff. Action Images via Reuters

Fulham 1 Crystal Palace 1

Saturday, 6pm

Why? Fulham are another newly promoted side, but Slavisa Jokanovic has recruited well and players such as Andre Schurrle will add depth to their line-up.

Palace have kept Wilfried Zaha, which was their big summer goal, and he will be their leading threat at Craven Cottage in what could well be a case of honours even.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace during the Pre-Season Friendly between Crystal Palace and Toulouse at Selhurst Park on August 4, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha. Getty Images

Huddersfield Town 0 Chelsea 3

Saturday, 6pm

Why? Maurizio Sarri's first game in charge should see three points. Chelsea may still be a work in progress, with Eden Hazard just back in training, but Jorginho has fitted in well it seems and the London club will hope he hits the ground running.

Huddersfield's survival last season was based on a good start, but that won't happen this time around.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05:  Maurizio Sarri of Chelsea looks on during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Maurizio Sarri's first Premier League game as Chelsea manager is on Saturday. Getty Images

Watford 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

Saturday, 6pm

Why? Watford have failed to tackle their biggest problem from last season, their strikers, with Troy Deeney and Andre Gray set to lead the line again despite struggling in 2017/18.

Watford did not score in either game against Brighton last year and Chris Hughton's men will again keep it tight and look to more inspiration from Glenn Murray and Pascal Gross to give them the points.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03:  Pascal Gross of Brighton is challenged by Diego Carlos of Nantes during a Pre-Season Friendly between Brighton and Hove Albion and FC Nantes at Amex Stadium on August 3, 2018 in Brighton, England.  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Brighton will look to Pascal Gross for inspiration again this season. Getty Images

Wolverhamton Wanderers 2 Everton 3

Saturday, 8.30pm

Why? Everton have recruited well and the Marco Silva revolution can start with three points.

Wolves look set for a strong first season back in the top flight, but may find Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Theo Walcott too much for their defence to handle.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Richarlison de Andrade of Everton during the Pre-Season Friendly between Everton and Valencia at Goodison Park on August 4, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images)
Richarlison is one of Everton's new signings. Getty Images

Liverpool 3 West Ham United 1

Sunday 4.30pm

Why? It is a new era for West Ham under Manuel Pellegrini and their summer business certainly promises good times ahead.

But, Liverpool were one of the best sides in Europe last season and in Mohamed Salah had one of the finest players in the world.

There is no reason why Liverpool won't start the season as they ended the last one, delaying West Ham's new era at least for another week.

Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - Liverpool v Torino - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 7, 2018   Liverpool's Mohamed Salah      Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was player of the season in the Premier League in 2017/18. Action Images via Reuters

Southampton 0 Burnley 0

Sunday, 4.30pm

Why? Burnley were the surprise package of last season, but have already played football this season thanks to the Europa League.

Joe Hart has made a solid start in goal for Sean Dyche's men, and he will hope to continue his new start against a Southampton side looking to put last season's struggles behind them.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Istanbul Basaksehir v Burnley - Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey - August 9, 2018   Burnley's Joe Hart warms up before the match   REUTERS/Murad Sezer      TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Joe Hart is Burnley's new goalkeeper. Reuters

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3

Sunday, 7pm

Why? The champions beat Arsenal all three times they met last season and it is hard not to see Pep Guardiola's side making it four on the trot.

Despite missing the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling they outclassed Chelsea in the Community Shield and they will almost certainly give Unai Emery a losing start to life as Arsenal manager.

FILE PHOTO: Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez in action against Liverpool - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, USA - July 25, 2018.    REUTERS/Adam Hunger/File Photo
Riyad Mahrez could make his league debut for Manchester City at Arsenal. Reuters