The Premier League season kicks off with a mouthwatering clash between West Ham United and Aston Villa, two clubs undergoing significant transformations. Both teams have invested heavily in their squads, with Villa looking forward to the Champions League.
West Ham, under the stewardship of Julen Lopetegui, have undergone a squad overhaul, with the likes of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Niclas Fullkrug joining the club. The Hammers will be eager to showcase their new-look team and make a strong start to the season.
Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, have also strengthened their squad with a focus on attacking reinforcements. The Villans will be looking to build on their impressive performance last season .
Paul Merson has warned that Saturday’s Premier League opener against West Ham United could be a ‘difficult’ start to a tricky season ahead for Aston Villa.
In an interview with Birmingham Live, the former Arsenal and England midfielder’s full-time prediction was a 1-1 draw.
“West Ham have bought well this summer and will be hard to defeat,” he explained. “[Crysencio] Summerville was ripping it up in the Championship last season, but he is now playing against better full-backs – we’ll have to wait and see.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments your score predictions for Saturday’s game which is live on Sky at 17.30.
3-3
I’d be happy with that!!!!
Happy Hammers 2-0
Well at least Summerville won’t be playing against Wan-Bissaka when we are playing Man U!
I’m going for 2-2, it’s optimistically cautious or cautiously optimistic, whichever way you look at it! I mean, with a whole new reconditioned engine we just don’t how it will perform for the first few miles! 🤔
West Ham utd 3 Aston Villa 1
The heart says a 2-1 win for West Ham, but common sense suggests a repeat of the 1-1 result in March based on how well the new team is developing. Overall quality has increased but those players have not had a lot of time to build any sort of understanding. Personally, I am more interested in seeing how they play on Saturday than whether they win, lose or draw. Watching them over the second half of last season was painful with defeat almost inevitable, so I am looking forward to those who did not understand last April/May, finally realizing exactly what we were wishing for.
1-0 to the Irons, and Merson to win Strictly!!
I don’t take too much notice of what Merson says after his well documented support for Moyes and him telling the owners they should be offering him a new contract.
I think the words Merson used were “A good season for West Ham each year would be mid table with a decent cup run”. Plum !
West Ham 3 Villa 1
COYI
Why even listen to what that @@@@ has to say……….
A draw is probably the most likely result, but I think that our team will run the risk of unfamiliarity with each other (due to multiple new arrivals); & we still haven’t got enough capable defenders. My forecast is 0-2. Hope I am wrong !
It’s Villa … it’s always 1-1
There’s been so many changes that nothing will surprise me. We can field a staggeringly strong team now but will it gel this quickly, that’s the bit that nobody can know. Nothing will surprise me.
3 – 0 to West Ham. Antonio hat-trick.
I don’t see this being a single goal apiece. despite Villas pre season travels they had none of their top players in the mix and the hopeful side of me suggests a big scoring game as both teams are at the beginning of getting a new squad with many additions to gel properly. all needing to learn and read one anothers actions and expectations but ALL are top class players. So the realistic side of me fortells a big scoring game as defence mistakes and set piece errors on both sides …. my result guesstimate is a big scoring 3 a piece or maybe, just maybe, bringing on Duran to put his skills and apologies on the pitch in the latter half hour scoring a decisive winner!
So hard to day with first games but I’m sure there’ll be plenty of goals. Hopefully this lands our way so let’s go with 3 – 2 to us 🤞
I can’t wait for this game being a season ticket holder for many years big change all round draw yeah but I obviously want a win coyi
Right on well said coyi
As a Villa fan, I would be thrilled with a point but expect a defeat.
VILLA HAS REAL CLASS AND SATUDAY WILL PROVE IT. 3-1 TO VIILA