THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE
Ten games. Three days. New faces, big matchups and everything you need before the Premier League weekend kicks off.
THIS WEEKEND FIXTURES All times ET / PT
GAME OF THE WEEK
NEWCASTLE VS LIVERPOOL
WHY THIS GAME:
Two new managers, two changing teams and one huge storyline: Alexander Isak returning to St James’ Park with Liverpool. Andoni Iraola begins his Liverpool era after an outstanding spell at Bournemouth, while Matthias Jaissle takes over a Newcastle side that lost several key players this summer. Add in the history of goals between these two clubs and this feels like the most intriguing game of the weekend.
ONE THING TO WATCH:
They’ve lost their manager, captain and several important players this summer. Jaissle now has to rebuild while introducing his own aggressive, attacking style. Against a Liverpool side packed with attacking quality and Isak facing his former club, we’re about to find out how quickly Newcastle have adapted.
BOT90 PREDICTION:
Newcastle 1 - 3 Liverpool
The St James’ Park crowd and the energy of a new manager should make this uncomfortable for Liverpool. But Iraola already knows the Premier League, his attacking style looks like a natural fit for this squad, and Liverpool simply have more firepower. Newcastle will make a game of it, but we’re backing Liverpool to pull away.
PLAYER TO WATCH
ALEXANDER ISAK
WHY HIM:
Alexander Isak returns to St James’ Park to face the club where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s elite forwards. Injuries disrupted his first season at Liverpool, but there were signs of the old Isak at the World Cup, one goal, three assists and a standout performance against Tunisia. Now fit, wearing Liverpool’s No. 9 and playing under Andoni Iraola, there’s a point to prove against his former club.
WATCH FOR:
Those runs in behind. Isak loves getting on a defender’s shoulder and attacking the space between the center backs and goalkeeper. His speed, movement and willingness to press should also fit Iraola’s high energy style perfectly. If Liverpool can release him early, Newcastle could have problems.
BOT90 SAYS:
He’s going to torment his old club. Two goals. We’re calling it.
3 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE KICKOFF
THE CHAMPS START AGAIN
Arsenal are defending Premier League champions for the first time in more than 20 years and they begin against newly promoted Coventry City. After beating Manchester City 3 - 0 in the Community Shield, the question is simple: can the Gunners do it all over again?
NINE CLUBS. NINE NEW BOSSES.
There's been a serious shake up in the dugouts. Liverpool (Andoni Iraola), Manchester City (Enzo Maresca), Chelsea (Xabi Alonso), Newcastle (Matthias Jaissle), Nottingham Forest (Oliver Glasner), Crystal Palace (Pierre Sage), Bournemouth (Marco Rose), Ipswich (Gary O’Neil) and Fulham (Álvaro Arbeloa) all start the season with new managers.
SAY HELLO TO THE NEW BOYS
Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City are up from the Championship. Coventry are back in the Premier League after 25 years away, Ipswich return after just one season out, while Hull are back in the big time for the first time since 2017.
For all three, the first mission is simple: stay here.
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BOT90 BIG TAKE
Bournemouth can shock Manchester City at the Etihad.
On paper, it’s one of the toughest assignments of opening weekend. But this is exactly why we’re calling it.
City enter a new era under Enzo Maresca, and opening weekend could be the perfect time to catch them before everything clicks. Bournemouth have the energy, organization and attacking threat to make this far more uncomfortable than most expect.
Almost everyone will have City winning this one.
We’re going the other way.
Manchester City 1–2 Bournemouth
THE FANTASY HURDLE
CAPTAIN PICK:
BRUNO FERNANDES
ELITE PLAYMAKER
AVOID LIST:
DECLAN RICE
WORLD CUP HANGOVER
SLEEPER PICK:
KAI HAVERTZ
LOW OWNERSHIP
HIGH UPSIDE
