MANCHESTER UTD V SWANSEA----- Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has a hamstring injury that could keep him out for a month. Jonny Evans missed Tuesdays friendly win over Valencia and could join the likes of Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick on the sidelines for Louis van Gaals first game in charge. Swansea duo Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge return after missing last weekends friendly against Villarreal. But Leon Britton, Marvin Emnes and Jay Fulton are injured. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • This is the reverse of last seasons opening fixture when Manchester United won 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium - Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck both scoring twice. • United also won the league clash at Old Trafford, but Swansea did win 2-1 in their FA Cup third-round tie in Manchester. • The Red Devils have never lost a home league game against Swansea (W9, D2), who have yet to beat United in the Premier League (D1, L5). Manchester United • They finished outside the top six last season for the first time since 1989-90, when they were 13th. • United lost seven home games last season, the most since the 1973-74 campaign. • Their points total of 64 was their lowest since 1990-91. • They have never lost a Premier League game at Old Trafford on the opening weekend (W8, D3). • United didnt lose a single game from a winning position last season. • Wayne Rooney scored three times in his four games as captain last season (W2, L2). Swansea • Swansea have lost seven of their last eight opening-day fixtures. • The Swans were bottom of the table at the end of August last season. • They won their last two away games of last season but ended with their worst-ever Premier League points tally (42) and finishing position (12th). Wilfried Bony scored two goals in three games against United last season------ ARSENAL Manager: Arsene Wenger Last season: 4th Player to watch: Arsenal paid a club-record $66 million transfer fee to Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil in 2013, a move that gave the Gunners one of the world’s best playmakers. Now with a season in England (not to mention a World Cup title) under his belt, the German superstar is looking to justify his huge price tag. Forecast: Once the envy of the Premier League, Arsenal has in recent years become synonymous with underachieving and failed expectations. Then again, only a championship is good enough for Gunners fans, meaning that this season will also end in disappointment. ASTON VILLA Manager: Paul Lambert Last season: 15th Player to watch: Star forward Christian Benteke has plenty to prove after an Achilles rupture ended his 2013-14 season ahead of schedule and ruled him out of Belgium’s World Cup squad. Forecast: An indifferent owner, an unpopular manager and a mediocre roster —welcome to the world of Aston Villa, which has flirted with relegation over the past four Premier League campaigns and will keep the “streak” alive this season. BURNLEY Manager: Sean Dyche Last season: Football League Championship runner up (promoted to Premier League) Player to watch: Last season’s Championship Player of the Year, forward Danny Inge, scored 26 goals to help the Clarets return to the Premier League. He’ll be Burnley’s main weapon in attack once again — provided another team doesn’t snatch him up before the transfer window closes. Forecast: It’s all about survival for Burnley, whose only real chance at remaining in the top flight depends on Dyche’s ability to make the most out of a limited squad. CHELSEA Manager: Jose Mourinho Last season: 3rd Player to watch: While not yet an elite player (see his underwhelming World Cup with Belgium), Eden Hazard makes Chelsea’s offense go with his dribbling skills, explosive pace and vision. Forecast: This year expectations are much higher, meaning that anything less than the Premier League championship will be considered a failure for the Blues. CRYSTAL PALACE Last season: 11th Player to watch: Yannick Bolasie has won over fans at Selhurst Park with his lightning speed, ball skills and heart. Forecast: Tony Pulis saved Palace from what seemed like certain relegation last season with a miraculous second-half run that earned him Premier League coach of the year honors. He’ll have to fight once again to keep the team in the top flight for a second straight season. EVERTON Manager: Roberto Martinez Last season: 5th Player to watch: Keeper Tim Howard became an overnight sensation this summer thanks to his heroic performances in goal at the World Cup, but Toffees fans have been singing the guy’s praises for years. Forecast: Following a record-setting point total (72) in 2013-14, things are looking up. HULL CITY Manager: Steve Bruce Last season: 16th Player to watch: You can’t grind out results in the Premier League without first-rate defenders, and Hull City has one in Curtis Davies. The team captain and reigning MVP, Davies also scored three goals in the Tigers’ improbable run to the FA Cup final last season. Forecast: Far better teams have failed to find a balance between league and international competitions, which means that Hull City may pay the price of relegation for qualifying for this season’s Europa League. LEICESTER CITY Manager: Nigel Pearson Last season: Football League Champ. (promoted to Premier League) Player to watch: Manchester United academy product Danny Drinkwater will get his first taste of top flight soccer, and the 24-year-old midfielder has all the tools to make his stay in the Premier League a long one. Forecast: Of the three newcomers, Leicester City appears to have the best shot at staying in the Premier League beyond this season. LIVERPOOL Manager: Brendan Rodgers Last season: 2nd Player to watch: With Luis Suarez now a Barcelona player, the scoring onus for Liverpool falls squarely on the shoulders of Daniel Sturridge. The 24-year-old striker is a proven finisher who found the back of the net 21 times last season — second only to Suarez’s 31 — and will look to build on those impressive numbers. Forecast: Liverpool came within a Steven Gerrard slip of winning it all last season, and things will be even tougher this time around now that Suarez is out of the picture. MANCHESTER CITY Manager: Manuel Pellegrini Last season: Premier League champions Player to watch: Superstar midfielder Yaya Toure is coming off a career-best, 20-goal Premier League season that ended in controversy with the Ivorian international threatening to leave the team over a perceived birthday snub. He has since changed his tune and now promises to stay at Etihad Stadium “for as long as possible.” Forecast: The Citizens should contend for the title, but a repeat is far from a sure thing for a team that needed a late-season collapse from Liverpool to win it all. MANCHESTER UNITED Manager: Louis van Gaal Last season: 7th Player to watch: He’s over 30 and injury prone, but Robin van Persie still ranks among the world’s greatest strikers. Wherever van Persie goes, goals follow, and they should be as plentiful as ever if he stays healthy. Forecast: With the dark days of David Moyes behind them, the Red Devils are looking for incoming coach Louis van Gaal to restore the team to its former glory. NEWCASTLE UNITED Manager: Alan Pardew Last season: 10th Player to watch: Newcastle made plenty of moves this summer, none more promising than landing Siem De Jong. The Dutch midfielder has already scored some impressive preseason goals and been named vice captain by Pardew. Forecast: It’s hard to take Pardew’s talk of making the Champions League seriously given Newcastle’s inconsistent play last season, but the Magpies may be able to earn a Europa League berth. QUEENS PARK RANGERS Manager: Harry Redknapp Last season: 4th, Football League Championship (promoted via playoff) Player to watch: What Joey Barton lacks in skill (and common sense) he more than makes up for with heart, grit and an unwavering will to win. English soccer’s bad boy may be a red card waiting to happen, but his return to the Premier League is welcome news for fans who like their soccer with some edge to it. Forecast: Both Redknapp and Man U legend Rio Ferdinand bring experience and leadership to a roster that could build the foundation for an extended stay in the Premier League. SOUTHAMPTON Manager: Ronald Koeman Last season: 8th Player to watch: Gone are Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana, and Jay Rodriguez probably would’ve followed them to another big-time club had he not injured his ACL near the end of last season. Forecast: The Saints filled the coaching gap with no-nonsense Dutchman Koeman and still have money to spend on reinforcements, which should secure another middle-of-the table finish. STOKE CITY Manager: Mark Hughes Last season: 9th Player to watch: Former Barcelona prospect Bojan Krkic could turn out to be the top signing of the Premier League offseason, as the 23-year-old journeyman looks to finally settle down with a team long enough to make a lasting impact. Forecast: If the preseason is any indication, the suddenly flashy Potters will be a handful for Premier League opponents and could be a legitimate threat to qualify for a spot in Europe. SUNDERLAND Manager: Gustavo Poyet Last season: 14th Player to watch: Dangerous with the ball at his feet and in front of goal, Jordi Gomez arrives at Sunderland via a free transfer from Wigan. The Spaniard should thrive in Poyet’s possession-heavy passing game. Forecast: The Black Cats needed a miraculous four wins in their final five games to avoid relegation last season. It shouldn’t be as dramatic this time, but Poyet and company will once again struggle to stay in the top flight. SWANSEA CITY Manager: Garry Monk Last season: 12th Player to watch: A target of several top Premier League clubs, Wilfried Bony scored an impressive 25 goals in all competitions for the Swans. The Ivorian forward would only increase his market value with a strong 2014-15 campaign. Forecast: With no Europa League commitments, Swansea can concentrate on the Premier League, allowing Garry Monk to work out the rookie coach kinks and get the most out of a squad that should avoid last season’s relegation struggles. TOTTENHAM Manager: Mauricio Pochettino Last season: 6th Player to watch: The best of Tottenham’s seven signings from last season, Christian Eriksen quickly established himself as the Spurs’ go-to midfielder while also scoring 10 goals. Forecast: Tottenham made its biggest summer splash by bringing in head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who lead Southhampton to a top 10 finish. Much more will be expected of him at White Hart Lane. WEST BROM ALBION Manager: Alan Irvine Last season: 17th Player to watch: Took a huge risk by signing Brown Ideye from Dynamo Kiev for a club-record $17 million, but the reward could be great for an up-and-coming striker who’s averaging one goal per two games in his career. Forecast: The Baggies went through three coaches in avoiding relegation last season, so incoming manager Alan Irvine knows he’ll have to get results quickly or possibly meet the same fate of his predecessors. WEST HAM UNITED Manager: Sam Allardyce Last season: 13th Player to watch: West Ham went big on offense this summer by signing South American forwards Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia, the latter having the most potential after scoring 18 goals in 23 games for Mexican club Pachuca in the first half of 2014. Forecast: Andy Carroll’s injury doesn’t bode well for a team that struggled with health issues, but the Hammers can certainly manage a mid-table finish if all goes well
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 05:41:32 +0000
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