Alan Smith’s Expert Predictions: Premier League GW1 Tips and Transfer Updates

Newcastle’s Poor Transfer Window

I’m sure Newcastle is still the top priority for the owners, but they’re still heavily involved, they still care, they still want the club to do well. I mean, the whole Isak thing has overshadowed everything, hasn’t it? And maybe restricted them in their dealings, kind of financially, if they don’t know where they stand. But I don’t know whether they are constrained by PSR.

It’s been – if you’re a Newcastle fan, as worrying a summer as we’ve had for a good 5 years or so. Isak is doing what he’s done, and not many are coming in to potentially replace him. So it’s not been great at all. And because of that, you do wonder in which direction the club’s heading. The real question is – can they keep themselves up, challenging towards the top of the league?

The Isak Saga

It’s a bit of a no-win situation for Newcastle. I mean, Isak, to do what he’s done, you’re thinking his agent has told him, look, Liverpool are going to stump up the cash. They’re going to go to a level that Newcastle are going to accept. Otherwise, he could leave himself out in the cold doing what he’s doing.

His teammates at Newcastle, I’m sure, won’t be overly impressed with it, and if he does come back into the group, it’ll take a bit of smoothing over. But it looks like he’s confident that he will be going to Liverpool. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, but it’s modern-day football. He’s not the first, he certainly won’t be the last to make a stand. Down tools to try and get what he wants. So we’ll see. But far from ideal for Newcastle.

Prediction

I’m predicting gone 1-1 for this fairly even fixture.

Aston Villa 1 – 1 Newcastle United

Arsenal’s Likely Starting XI

Raya in goal. Right-back’s an interesting one. I think he might go with Jurrien Timber. Saliba and Gabriel will start, with Lewis-Skelly as left-back. Zubimendi in the middle of the park, he’s done well in pre-season. Rice next to him, Ødegaard just in front, and then Saka, Gyökeres, and probably Martinelli. That would look to be the most likely line-up, I think.

Šeško vs Gyökeres Impact

What you would say about that is you’d expect Gyökeres to get more chances than Šeško, just because he’s going into a new-look attack, isn’t he? When you think of the other two signings – Mbeumo and Matthias Cunha, who may play as a number 10. Arsenal are a better functioning side, and if Gyökeres can slip into that way of playing, and they can adapt to him, then I think he’ll score more goals, because they’re going to be a more successful side.

But Šeško’s an interesting one. He’s young, still has developing to do. Big expectations for him. So many players have gone to United, big clubs, and it’s been a little bit too much. I’m not saying that’s going to happen with him, but Højlund, for example, couldn’t quite reach the levels. They’ll be hoping Šeško can, so it’s going to be a fascinating one to watch.

Prediction

I’m gonna go for an away win, so 2-1 to Arsenal.

Manchester United 1 – 2 Arsenal

Grealish to Everton

I think it’s a coup for Everton to get a player like Grealish. You could argue, with all due respect, that it’s a bit of a comedown for the player. He was a key part of the treble-winning side a couple of years back, and now he’s at a team that was struggling to keep its head above water last season and before.

But he’ll be glad, and you’d expect him to get regular football starting most weeks. He’ll be happy to get that, and he can give them something different. He can inject some great quality into the attack, and that attack has been lacklustre, hasn’t it, for a number of years.

So I think the fans will be excited when he gets out there, and hopefully he’ll be hoping he can show his best form. For David Moyes, he’s gonna be pleased with the signing.

Calvert-Lewin to Leeds

There’s always a big question mark hanging over Calvert-Lewin because of his injury record. It’s a gamble for Leeds, and being in that market, I think, where they’ve got to gamble. They either go for a youngster, perhaps from abroad, who’s scored a few goals in a lower league, a less strong league, and hope he can adapt, or somebody like Calvert-Lewin, who knows the Premier League.

But he hasn’t done the business for a variety of reasons, the injury being one of the main ones. I don’t know how that’s going to go. I mean, if he does stay fit, I think he can improve the team. But it’s a big if, and I don’t think he would be the difference between survival and relegation. They need more than that.

But a bit like Grealish, it’s a chance for him to get his career going again, isn’t it? So you’d hope he grabs it and does well.

Prediction

I’ve got this one down as 2-2.

Leeds United 2 – 2 Everton

Baleba to Manchester United

I wouldn’t say he’s got to stay at Brighton another year. He’s been in the Premier League for two seasons. I mean, he’s only 21, but he’s a very good player, a talented boy. So he’ll probably feel now he’s ready for that move.

You know, Brighton brings in these midfielders, MacAllister and Caicedo, and shifts them on for massive profit. And it looks like they’re going to do that with Carlos Baleba. I think United need a bit more energy and dynamism in midfield, so I think that’d be a really good signing for them. When you think they’ve got Kobbie Mainoo, and they’ve got Fernandes in there as well. One or two others would be ideal.

So I think he would be ready for a move. And if United come calling, I think it’d be hard to turn down for him.

Brighton’s Standout Player

It’s a hard one to pick this season. There’s always such a turnover at Brighton, buying and selling. They’ve still got good players in attack, Minteh and Mitoma. I do like Jack Hinshelwood. He’s still a young lad, he can play in a variety of positions, he’s done well, and he’s a crowd favourite. So I do enjoy watching him play.

You look at them, and you think, oh, how’s it gonna pan out? But they normally find an answer when they lose players, so we’ll have a look at that. They’re always an entertaining team to watch as well.

Prediction

I think Fulham might nick it 1-0. Marco Silva’s a canny manager, and it’s probably a bit steadier at Fulham, so I think it might be an away win.

Brighton 0 – 1 Fulham

Burnley’s Survival Chances

It’s going to be touch and go. What I would say about the recent signings of Broja, Dubravka, and Ogochukwu is that it’s important that they have got players in with Premier League experience. I mean, Broja is an interesting one. I’ve watched him over the years. Been on loan here, there, and everywhere. Sometimes he lights the place up, and it’s time for him to get his career kick-started now.

It won’t be easy at Burnley, because there’ll be large periods of matches where they haven’t got the ball and they’re defending, which has been their massive strength in the Championship. They’ve bought some wide players; whether those boys can provide the ammunition for him, we’ll wait and see. But I think it’s going to be a fight, and I think that goes without saying for Scott Parker.

Spurs Under Thomas Frank

They’ve got Kudus now as a replacement for Son, which is important. I thought he did quite well last night in the Super Cup. They want one more, but didn’t get Gibbs-White. Eze from Palace has been linked strongly, obviously, with Arsenal as well.

Maddison, who’s injured, and Son, who’s left, are two big misses, but last night I was impressed – they were organised and harder working than they were under Postecoglou. So they look to be going into the season under Thomas Frank with a better structure, which will help the team a great deal, I think, going forward this season.

Prediction

I’m going to go for a big home win, 3-0.

Tottenham 3 – 0 Burnley