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Burnley v Swansea preview

Fernando Llorente is set for his Swansea debut

Record signing Borja Baston will have to wait for his Swansea debut as he sits out the Premier League opener at Burnley on Saturday.

Borja completed a club record £15.5m move from Atletico Madrid on Thursday, but Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin will not integrate the 23-year-old Spaniard into his squad until next week.

Burnley will be hoping to kick off their third Premier League campaign with victory at Turf Moor, as Sean Dyche’s side attempt to avoid relegation from the top flight for the first time since 1975.

Jon Flanagan will not be able to make his Burnley debut at Turf Moor. The Liverpool loanee barely featured in pre-season for his parent club prior to his switch and Dyche wants to see his conditioning improve before he thrusts him into action.

One full-back who may feature is Stephen Ward (hamstring) though striker Ashley Barnes, who is suffering from a similar problem, is unlikely to play in a game which could see Icelander Johann Berg Gudmundsson make his senior bow.

With Borja not in the squad, fellow new signing Fernando Llorente is set to lead the line for Swansea following his recent arrival.

Gylfi Sigurdsson will be among the substitutes for Swansea even though he has only just returned to training following Iceland’s summer exploits, while Wales defender Neil Taylor is not included as he builds up fitness after his post-Euro 2016 break.

Opta stats

Swansea have won four of their last five league meetings with Burnley (W4 D0 L1), including two 1-0 wins over Burnley in the 2014-15 Premier League season.

This will be the ninth occasion in the last 10 seasons that Swansea have opened their league campaign away from home.

There have been 21 goals scored in Swansea’s five previous Premier League matches on the opening weekend, an average of 4.2 per game.

Burnley striker Andre Gray was the Championship top goalscorer last season with 25 goals (23 for Burnley, two for Brentford).

Burnley didn’t manage to win a Premier League game until November 8 (11th match) in their last Premier League season back in 2014-15.

Swansea are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games played in the month of August (W5 D2 L0).

Since 2007-08, 47 of Llorente’s 104 league goals have been headers (45 per cent) – only Cristiano Ronaldo (48) has scored more with his head in the big five Euro Leagues in this period.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Swansea has 2.84  odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Burnley  has 2.60 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.03

Match preview : Manchester City v Sunderland

Pep Guardiola gets his tenure as Manchester City boss underway by hosting Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium in their Premier League opener on Saturday evening.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss will likely hand a debut to John Stones in central defence, after he joined from Everton for £47.5million earlier this week.

Guardiola will face off with David Moyes in the late kick-off, who returns to management for the first time since being sacked by Real Sociedad last season.

Moyes replaced Sam Allardyce at the Black Cats, after he left to take the England job last month having kept Sunderland up in impressive fashion last season.

Nicolas Otamendi requires a fitness test after a tendon problem while captain Vincent Kompany (thigh) is sidelined and Eliaquim Mangala has lacked match fitness after his late return to training following Euro 2016.

Two other summer signings in Ilkay Gundogan (knee) and Leroy Sane (hamstring) are injured but striker Nolito and midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko could make debuts.

New signings Adnan Januzaj, Paddy McNair and Donald Love will go straight into the Sunderland squad for Saturday’s opener at City.

Midfielder Januzaj, who completed a season-long loan move on Friday, will be joined in the travelling party by permanent signings McNair and Love, who are both defenders, although Moyes has a decision to make over wantaway centre-half Lamine Kone.

However, the Scot will definitely be without Seb Larsson, who is facing up to six months on the sidelines following knee ligament surgery, while fellow midfielders Lee Cattermole (groin) and Jan Kirchhoff (hamstring) and full-back Billy Jones (hip) are also out.

City are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League opening weekend fixtures (W6 D1), including winning each of the last five.

Guardiola has won the opening league game of the season as a manager in each of his last six seasons (three for Barcelona, three for Bayern) – he lost his first league game as Barcelona boss (0-1 at Numancia), however.

Sergio Aguero is the top scoring player in the Premier League so far in 2016 (17 goals in 18 games).

Jermain Defoe has scored in 15 different Premier League seasons and will be looking to become only the eighth different player to net in 16+ seasons in 2016/17.

Moyes is 5th in the all-time Premier League standings for most games managed (P461 W190 D129 L142).

The newly appointed Sunderland boss has won five times at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League – the only visiting manager with more wins is Arsene Wenger (6).

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Manchester City has 1.22 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while sunderland  has 11.50 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 6.12

Crystal Palace v West Brom EPL match preview

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Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has insisted Yannick Bolasie will be included in the squad to face West Brom, saying the forward is in condition to play despite reports linking him with a transfer to Everton.

Palace will host the Baggies in their Premier League opener on Saturday, and Bolasie will be involved at Selhurst Park.

Pardew’s side have managed just 11 points in the Premier League in 2016, so will be hoping for a more positive start to the new campaign.

West Brom, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on last season’s 14th-placed finish that saw them finish a point and a place above the Eagles.

Team news

Of Crystal Palace’s new signings, only Andros Townsend is expected to start in Saturday’s Premier League opener.

James Tomkins has a hamstring problem, while Saturday may prove too soon for Steve Mandanda – the goalkeeper made a late start to pre-season because of his involvement in France’s run to the final of Euro 2016.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis still has Saido Berahino available for the trip to Crystal Palace despite bids from the Eagles and Stoke being on the table.

James Morrison is still troubled by the hamstring injury he suffered in January which ruled him out for the end of last season while Chris Brunt is closing in on a recover from a serious knee injury, having missed Euro 2016, but is not yet fit.

Matty Phillips could make his West Brom debut after signing from QPR for £5.5million this summer but he remains the Baggies’ only summer signing so far.

Opta stats

Crystal Palace have won just three of their last 13 home matches in the league against West Bromwich Albion (W3 D6 L4).

Of all current Premier League teams to have played three or more opening weekend matches, WBA have the lowest win rate, winning one of their 10 previous games (10%).

Crystal Palace have won only one of their last eight season openers held at Selhurst Park (D4 L3) – 3-2 versus Leicester in 2010.

Of clubs still in the Premier League in 2016-17, Crystal Palace have won the fewest points in 2016 so far (11).

Crystal Palace lost the 2016 FA Cup final to Manchester United – the previous two losing FA Cup finalists have been relegated from the Premier League in the following season (Hull City and Aston Villa).

Tony Pulis (1.46) is the only permanent manager to have a better Premier League points per game as Crystal Palace coach than current boss Alan Pardew (1.30).

West Bromwich Albion ended 2015-16 on a nine-match winless streak in the Premier League (W0 D4 L5), with their last Premier League victory coming on March 6.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Crystal Palace has 1.93 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while West Brom has 4.19 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.23

 

Match Preview : Middlesbrough v Stoke

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Middlesbrough mark their return to the Premier League after a seven-season absence by taking on Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium.

Aitor Karanka’s side sealed their top-flight return on the final day of last season with a 1-1 victory over Brighton to finish second in the Championship behind Burnley.

It’s been a busy summer at the Riverside with Alvaro Negredo, Victor Valdes, Viktor Fischer, Marten de Roon and Antonio Barragan all joining the club and they will be looking to make a fast start in front of their home fans on the opening day.

Meanwhile, Stoke have been handed a boost with the news Marko Arnautovic and midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri have both been passed fit for Mark Hughes’ side’s trip to newly promoted Middlesbrough.

The visitors, who are winless in their last six opening day fixtures, were the victors the last time these two sides met in the Premier League back in 2009 with Ryan Shawcross striking late to score the only goal of the game.

Team news

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has no fresh injury problems as he prepares to send out his team for the first time in the Premier League against Stoke.

Defenders Dani Ayala, who has recovered from a troublesome ankle injury, and Bernardo Espinosa have returned to training after minor knocks and are available.

That leaves only midfielder Grant Leadbitter (hernia surgery) and full-back James Husband (dislocated shoulder) missing for promoted Boro.

Stoke’s former England right-back Glen Johnson is doubtful for the Potters’ Premier League opener at Middlesbrough with a quadriceps injury.

Wales midfielder Joe Allen, the £13m summer signing from Liverpool, is in contention to make his debut.

Forward Jon Walters is available after being eased through pre-season but midfielders Stephen Ireland (broken leg) and Ibrahim Afellay (knee) are long-term absentees.

Opta stats

Middlesbrough have won just four of their last 15 league meetings with Stoke City (W4 D3 L8).

Middlesbrough have won just two of their 14 previous season openers in the Premier League, including in their last campaign in the top-flight vs Tottenham in 2008/09 (2-1).

Indeed, they’ve never won on the opening weekend of a Premier League season as a newly-promoted team (D2 L1).

Mark Hughes has lost just one of his last eight Premier League meetings with Middlesbrough as manager, winning six (D1).

Stoke’s only previous win on the opening day of a Premier League season came against Burnley in 2009.

The Potters are winless in their last six Premier League opening weekend matches, losing four (D2).

Alvaro Negredo scored eight goals in his first 17 Premier League appearances, but netted just once in his subsequent 15 appearances in the competition for Manchester City in 2013-14.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Middlesbrough has 2.25  odd to win the match on NaijaBet while stoke has 3.35 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.07

 

Southampton v Watford preview

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Southampton and Watford will both start life under new managers when they take to the pitch at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Claude Puel will begin his tenure in charge of the Saints, after taking over from Ronald Koeman, while Walter Mazzarri has replaced Quique Sanchez Flores at the Hornets.

Both new bosses will want to get off to the best possible start in 2016/17, but while Watford have managed to keep hold of their stars in Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo over the summer, Southampton have lost yet more of theirs – with Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane both departing the club.

Southampton will be without Ryan Bertrand after the left-back suffered up a knee injury in training following his return from Euro 2016 with England.

Jose Fonte and Cedric Soares are doubts despite rejoining training but Virgil van Dijk has recovered from a knock.

New signings Isaac Success and Brice Dja Djedje will miss out for Watford with foot and leg injuries respectively.

Valon Behrami and Adlene Guedioura are also doubts as they recover from recent injuries, but Craig Cathcart is expected to play despite a back issue.

Opta stats

Southampton are unbeaten in their last five league meetings with Watford (W3 D2 L0).

Only Leicester City (42) have won more Premier League points in 2016 than Southampton (39).

Puel will become the seventh different French manager in Premier League history – just three of the previous six have managed over 20 matches in the competition.

Ighalo has scored just two goals in 18 Premier League appearances in 2016 so far; this after netting 13 goals in 19 PL apps for Watford in 2015.

The top two goalscorers for Southampton in the Premier League last season have both left the club this summer – Pelle and Mané (11 goals each).

This will be the first time two opposing managers have faced each other in their first-ever Premier League games since the opening day of the 2004-05 season (Iain Dowie v Nigel Worthington and Jacques Santini v Rafael Benitez).

The last Southampton manager to win their opening Premier League game in charge was Paul Sturrock back in March 2004 (2-0 vs Liverpool).

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Southampton has 1.79  odd to win the match on NaijaBet while watford  has 4.50 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.48

 

Everton v Tottenham preview match

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New signing Ashley Williams is set to sit out Ronald Koeman’s first competitive game as Everton boss when Tottenham visit Goodison Park on Saturday.

Spurs, however, could hand debuts to midfielder Victor Wanyama and forward Vincent Janssen as they aim to build on their third-place finish from last season.

Tottenham finished their 2015/16 campaign in disappointing fashion, but will be hoping for better this year as they prepare for life in the Champions League.

For Everton, now without John Stones following his move to Manchester City, it is a fresh start under new boss Koeman as they aim to improve on their 11th-placed finish from last year.

Koeman has said ahead of the Premier League campaign-opener that centre-back Williams, brought in from Swansea on Wednesday, will not be ready to make his debut for at least another week due to a late start to pre-season, and claims the Toffees in general are only on “70 per cent” of the fitness he wants.

Full-back Seamus Coleman (ankle) and striker Romelu Lukaku (heel) are doubts, but skipper Phil Jagielka is available to start in central defence after overcoming a hamstring problem, and two summer recruits are poised to make their bows in goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

Wanyama, who joined Spurs from Southampton this summer, is likely to start at Goodison Park as fellow midfielder Mousa Dembele remains suspended.

Jan Vertonghen is also in contention. The central defender has recovered from an ankle injury sustained at Euro 2016.

Opta Facts

Everton are winless in their last seven Premier League meetings with Tottenham Hotspur (W0 D4 L3).

No Premier League team has lost more games on the opening weekend than Spurs (9) – level with West Ham.

Everton have drawn their last three opening day matches 2-2, with Ross Barkley scoring two of their six goals in this run.

Koeman has won just one of his four Premier League games against Spurs (W1 D1 L2), but this was in their last meeting in May (Spurs 1-2 Southampton).

Harry Kane’s next Premier League goal will be his 50th – if he scores in this match, he’ll have reached the landmark in 87 games. Only eight players have needed fewer apps to reach 50 PL goals, and Kane will be level with Ian Wright (87 apps).

Kane is on the current longest run of consecutive appearances in the Premier League without missing a game for his team (68).

This will be the 20th Premier League season that Gareth Barry has played in – only Ryan Giggs (22) has played in more, while only Rio Ferdinand & Frank Lampard (20) have played in as many.

Vincent Janssen topped the Dutch Eredivisie goalscoring charts in 2015-16 with 27 goals.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Everton has 3.11  odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Tottenham has 2.28 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.25

Match Preview : Hull v Leicester

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Leicester City will begin the defence of their Premier League title live on Sky Sports as they travel to play newly-promoted Hull City at the KCOM Stadium at 12.30pm on Saturday.

It’s been just over 100 days since the Foxes stormed to their crown, and there is still plenty of optimism within Claudio Ranieri’s squad despite the loss of key midfielder N’Golo Kante to Chelsea over the summer.

Leicester will be hopeful of kicking things off with victory against Hull, who will start the season with Mike Phelan in caretaker charge following the departure of Steve Bruce.

The Tigers are yet to make a signing this summer, and have also lost key midfielder Mo Diame – who scored their winner in the play-off final – to Newcastle.

Leicester start the defence of their Premier League title without the suspended Robert Huth. The defender is banned after his three-match sanction for tangling with Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini at the end of last season.

Matty James is available after missing the whole of last season’s title-winning campaign with a knee injury, while record signing Ahmed Musa could make his debut after joining from CSKA Moscow for £16m.

New boys Luis Hernandez, Bartosz Kapustka, Ron-Robert Zieler and Papy Mendy are also in the squad but Ritchie de Laet and Gokhan Inler will not be included having been told they can find new clubs.

Phelan has just 13 fit senior players to chose from for Hull. Allan McGregor (back), Alex Bruce (Achilles), Moses Odubajo (knee) and Michael Dawson (knee) are all on the long-term injury list while Harry Maguire is a couple of weeks away from full fitness.

Jake Livermore is set to be asked to step in alongside Curtis Davies in central defence while winger Shaun Maloney has been passed fit.

Opta Facts

Hull City are winless in their last five league meetings with Leicester City (D2 L3).

The reigning Premier League champions have never lost the opening game of their title defence in the competition’s history (W19 D4).

A newly-promoted side hasn’t won on the opening weekend of a Premier League campaign since August 2012 when West Ham beat Aston Villa (1-0).

Jamie Vardy has only failed to score against three of the 22 different opponents that he’s faced in the Premier League and Hull City are one of these (alongside Man City & Swansea).

Abel Hernández scored 21 times for Hull in the Championship last season (including play-offs); more than twice as many as any other player for the club.

Ranieri will be looking to secure his 100th Premier League win as a manager in this game – he will be only the fifth non-British/Irish manager to reach this landmark.

Hull City have lost all five of their early Saturday kick-off games in the Premier League.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Leicester City has 1.84  odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Hull has 4.36 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match 3.39