The anticipation for the new Premier League season is building, with football analysts and personalities sharing their predictions for the opening weekend fixtures. BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has weighed in, alongside Courteeners frontman Liam Fray, offering distinct forecasts for the upcoming matches. AI also contributed to the prediction pool.
Sutton highlighted Hull City's approach to the Premier League, noting that assistant head coach Dean Holden has spoken about the team being prepared to be "horrible to play against" and willing to play direct when necessary. He suggested that a strong start at home against Manchester United could set the tone for Hull's season. However, Sutton expressed concern about Hull's ability to retain their Premier League status, pointing to their performance last season where they lost a third of their Championship games. The remarkable journey of Sergej Jakirovic, who guided the team from 21st place to the play-offs and promotion, was acknowledged, though Sutton anticipates a difficult season ahead for the club in the top flight.
Regarding Manchester United, Sutton observed that the club has not been highly active in the summer transfer market but acknowledged Youri Tielemans as a solid acquisition. He expressed concern that participation in the Champions League could stretch the squad thin, suggesting that Erik ten Hag perhaps overachieved by securing a third-place finish. Sutton stated that while expectations are rising, the team is currently not on the same level as Arsenal. He also posited that European football could give United an advantage over rivals like Tottenham and Chelsea, influencing the season's dynamics and leading him to exclude United from his top four predictions. Sutton anticipates United should win their opening match but cautioned that it marks the beginning of a demanding campaign that may require further squad additions.
Chris Sutton predicted a 1-2 scoreline for the Hull City vs. Manchester United match.
Liam Fray, anticipating a "party atmosphere" at Hull, suggested it might play into Manchester United's hands. He expressed a hope that United could start the season strongly, similar to their finish last season. Fray initially predicted a 2-0 win for his team, but then revised it, stating, "I am going bigger," and predicting a 0-3 victory.
Fray also commented on Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United. He expressed his admiration for Rashford, stating, "I love Marcus, and the fact he is one of ours, and I would love him to come back and be as good as he was for us." Fray believes that manager Michael Carrick might be the right person to help Rashford regain his top form. Reflecting on the potential for a successful return, Fray empathized with the player's position, saying, "If I was Marcus, I'd be thinking 'I am going to make this work' because of how special it could be if it does."
AI's prediction for the fixture was a 1-3 scoreline.