SATURDAY Man Utd 3 - 0 Swansea 1.45pm All eyes will be on Luis van Gaal and Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford in this lunchtime kickoff. The last time the Swans beat United in the league, yours truly was three months from joing this world in 1982. Even under David Moyes’ ill-fated tenure, all Swansea could manage was a win in FA Cup. Van Gaal has his fixtures easy and this first one will be a ticket to thumping his authority on the game in clinical fashion. Rooney won the battle for captaincy, a role that suits his temperamental character and game. Added to this is the fact that many United players are coming out to try and impress the new manager. Easy win. SATURDAY Leicester 1 - 1 everton 4pm Nigel Pearson helped the Foxes earn a return to the Premier League after a decade in the cold with six games to spare. And now he will trust that Kasper Schmeichel has the gloves firmly in place to try and make soccer fans relive something about his legendary father, Man United’s Peter Schmeichel. The Foxes have luck on their side that they are opening the league against familiar foes, Everton. Ninety-one games between the two sides have seen 29-30 wins. However, Everton’s last victory at King Power Stadium came 16 years ago. It doesn’t look like even the permanent signing of Romelu Lukaku will help much for Roberto Martinez’s side that competed fervently last season, getting their most points ever. SATURDAY QPR 3 - 1 Hull City 4pm Harry Rednapp is back. And with him, former England manager Glenn Hoddle as first team coach. Of course, the astute Rednapp also snapped the services of Rio Ferdinand, whose league experience alongside that of Loic Remy, will be a big boost for the team. The returnees will get off to a good start against Hull City at Loftus Road today. SATURDAY StoKE 0 - 0 Aston villa 4pm Two bogey sides. Last season, Stoke City beat Villa home and away in the league, but neither side have added any firepower to the squad. This is a kick-and-rush fixture with little to the scoresheet. A draw. SATURDAY W. Brom 0 - 1 Sunderland 4pm Sunderland needed a miracle to stay in the topflight last season. Gus Poyet’s side got that miracle against West Brom, thanks to Jack Colback and Fabio Borini goals. But it has been seven years since the Black Cats won at The Hawthorns, their last meeting seeing Paolo Di Canio sacked after a 3-0 beating. But Poyet is no Di Canio and will use his experience to outsmart Alan Irvine. SATURDAY West Ham 0 - 2 Spurs 4pm Big Sam has managed to stick around Boleyn Ground despite fans’ anger. But with hardly any significant additions to his squad yet Spurs have a new manager and a squad good enough to win the league with a shrewd manager. Pochetino’s side will have it easy here. SATURDAY Arsenal 5 - 0 Palace 6.30pm You have to give it to Gunners. They are bristling with confidence after mauling Manchester City in Charity Shield. Although Palace are a hard nut to crack, they flatter to deceive at The Emirates. An easy win for an Arsenal side with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Carzola and new signing Alexis Sanchez all fit and out to prove a point. Palace are in a crisis after Tony Pulis quit over transfer control dispute. SUNDAY Newcastle 1 - 1 Man City 5pm Manchester City’s season did not get off to the best of starts with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the curtain raiser. Manuel Pellegrini admitted his side are not ready for the league, but the Magpies have vastly overhauled their roster, with Alan Pardew, who retained his job despite protests from fans, out to prove that the 10th place finish last season can be improved further. Draw. MONDAY Burnley 1 - 3 Chelsea 9pm Will Mourinho continue his tactic of parking the bus? Didier Drogba is injured but Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas are sure to shine. Burnley have it rough in opening day. *Seaman is a Liverpool fan
