Premier League Matchday 1: The top flight is back with a bang

Gavin Glicksman
LiveScore
The Premier League is back in business
The Premier League is back in business

Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Manchester City head to newcomers Burnley as the Premier League returns with a bang. 

Runners-up Arsenal host Nottingham Forest while Newcastle and Aston Villa collide on Tyneside in a battle of last season's surprise packages.

Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge in what promises to be a blockbuster clash before Manchester United and Wolves bring the curtain down on an action-packed Matchday 1 to kick off the 2023-24 campaign. 

Burnley vs Manchester City (Friday, 8pm, Sky Sports)

Treble winners City get up and running against Burnley, who just happen to be managed by club legend Vincent Kompany. 

Yet there will be no room for sentiment as the visitors look to register their 12th successive win against the Clarets in all competitions. 

The hosts have won just one of their last 23 league outings against the Citizens (drawn six and lost 16) but the Turf Moor faithful will be dreaming of getting off to a flying start on their top-flight return. 

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest (Saturday, 12.30pm, TNT Sports)

Arsenal lost six league games last term, with three of them coming in their final six outings as City marched to title glory. 

The Gunners will be keen to get off to a winning start in front of their own fans against a side they have beaten five times and drawn with on four occasions at home since a 3-1 defeat in March 1989. 

Forest beat the North Londoners 1-0 in their most recent league meeting in May but have not won consecutive games against them since September 1978 under Brian Clough. 

Bournemouth vs West Ham (Saturday, 3pm)

The omens do not look good for Bournemouth, who have lost their last three league outings against West Ham without scoring a single goal. 

But they will take heart from the fact they kicked off their campaign last season with a 2-0 home win over Aston Villa. 

Throw in the fact the Hammers have lost 22 of their 38 league outings away from their own patch over the last two seasons and the Cherries are likely to fancy their chances. 

Brighton vs Luton (Saturday, 3pm)

Roberto De Zerbi's men will fancy their chances against newcomers Luton
Roberto De Zerbi's men will fancy their chances against newcomers Luton

These sides have not met in the league since 2007-08, when Brighton won both encounters in League One. 

The Seagulls lost three of their six matches against promoted teams last term but Roberto De Zerbi's men are likely to come out all guns blazing at the Amex. 

Having only failed to score in one of their last 28 league outings, the hosts are hotly tipped to find the net at least once against the division's new boys. 

Everton vs Fulham (Saturday, 3pm)

Everton have lost their last two league games against Fulham, going down 3-1 in their most recent clast in April. 

Having kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets from the start of February, the visitors conceded at least once in 13 of their last 14 matches. 

But Marco Silva will be desperate to see his side get one over the Toffees, who could field new signing Ashley Young at the ripe old age of 38. 

Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace (Saturday, 3pm)

Sheffield United have lost just one of their last five home league games against Crystal Palace (won three and drawn one). 

And the Blades will draw confidence from the fact Palace have lost their opening match in each of the last two seasons. 

But in Eberechi Eze, the Eagles have a man the hosts will fear. In-demand Eze has been involved in four goals in his last four league games against them, scoring twice in the top flight. 

Newcastle vs Aston Villa (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League home games against Aston Villa (won eight and drawn six) since a 3-0 defeat in April 2005.

Villa beat the Magpies 3-0 at Villa Park in April but have not won consecutive league meetings against them since doing the double in 2004-05.

Worryingly for the visitors, no team lost fewer games last term than Newcastle, with Eddie Howe's side beaten just five times. 

Brentford vs Tottenham (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports)

Brentford have won just two of their 10 league meetings with Tottenham (drawn four and lost four). 

And worryingly for the hosts, Spurs have lost their opening league game in just one of the last seven seasons.  

But the Bees are unbeaten in their last nine league London derbies, winning the last four in a row. 

Chelsea vs Liverpool (Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports)

Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to get up and running with three points
Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to get up and running with three points

Each of the last six meetings between Chelsea and Liverpool in all competitions have been drawn. 

But both sides will be desperate to get off to a winning start after moving on a number of stars during the summer. 

And no team have won more of their opening games to a Premier League campaign than Chelsea (20).

Manchester United vs Wolves (Monday, 8pm, Sky Sports)

United have lost just one of their last 12 home league games against Wolves (won eight and drawn three), going down 1-0 in January 2022.

And the visitors have now lost five of their last six outings against the Red Devils. 

Add in the fact they have lost their opening league game in the last two seasons and the chances of an upset Old Trafford look far from promising. 

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Tags

Premier LeagueAFC BournemouthAston VillaBrentfordArsenalBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLiverpoolLuton TownManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSheffield UnitedTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton Wanderers