Alan Smith’s Expert Predictions: Opening Weekend Preview & Transfer Window

Alvarez, Barcola, Nico Williams or Osimhen

I’d probably go for Alvarez. Just because of the type of player he is, works really hard. He can run the channels. He can push back sides. He’s very mobile. I think we’ve got options on the left. Through the middle, he would be a good signing.

Advice for Louis Page amid Arsenal and Utd Links

Keep your head down in terms of working. Simple as that. Keep working, keep listening to your coaches. And keep improving. Don’t let things go to your head. Even if he does end up being a Man United player. For some players, that can be too much. Others get carried away with it. He’s only 18. He’s got a lot to learn. I might be wrong, but I don’t see him being overly involved in the first team this coming season, wherever he signs. But my advice to him would be to just keep working at it.

Coventry Chances of Staying Up

I did my predictions yesterday, and I had Hull and Ipswich to go down. I thought Coventry would just about survive. They’ve had a good pre-season, big, big season for Frank Lampard. He’ll be desperate to do well to keep their heads above water.

I think they might just about do it. I think there’d be a great atmosphere there at Coventry’s ground. It’s been a long time since they’ve been in the top flight, and I’m hoping they can stay up.

Carlos Baleba Linked with a Move to Newcastle

I understand what people are saying that it’s a sideways move, but Newcastle is a much bigger club than Brighton. It’d still be a good move for him. Newcastle badly need midfielders, having lost Tonali and Guimarães.

I know he’s going into a bit of a turbulent situation. If it happens, I don’t see it as a negative move for him. He’d have to dig in and show the form that he did early on in his Brighton career. But certainly Newcastle could do with some more talent in the middle of the park.

Isak to Challenge for the Golden Boot This Season

I think he can challenge for that top scorer spot. If he stays fit, he should be hungry, having been out of the game for a long time. I don’t see Liverpool challenging for the title, but they’re more than capable of creating chances.

So I think if he runs in and scores goals, he’s such a good player, such a smooth competitor, and makes the art of striking easy at times. So if he can get 20-plus league goals, that’d be a big boost for Liverpool.

Gritty Style Won’t Be Enough

This gritty style they have means that they’ve got to keep a few clean sheets and hope to nick a few 1-0 wins. I don’t think they’re going to be full of goals. Really tough. They need to get some points on the board early on to give those players just a little bit of belief, because they’ll be going into it and thinking, are we actually good enough?

Some of the opponents they’ll be facing. There’s this inferiority complex that can hit a promoted side. So to get early points on the board, that will help. But no, I don’t think that grittiness will be enough.

United to Finish Above City

I did a thing for Sky yesterday, and I did predict United ahead of City. It’s so hard to call at the moment. I don’t think City are going to be as bad as they were in the Community Shield. They’ve still got some fine players. But United finished third last season. Can they go one better? It’s a different situation for Michael Carrick now, being the permanent boss. He’ll feel differently about it. There’s more pressure on him than being that caretaker.

They’ve got Europe to think of as well, United. Will that work against them? But yeah, I’ve got them down to just about pip City for that second spot, which would be a great achievement. See what happens.

Sunderland European Finish Repeat

I don’t think they will finish in those European spots again. What an achievement it was. It almost took everybody by surprise. Brilliant season. But they’ve got that European workload to contend with as well. So if you could offer them mid to lower mid-table now, they’d take it, I think.

I think it might be hard now. Everybody knows what to expect. I don’t see them struggling, or I don’t see them getting relegated, but there might be some hairy moments when they are down towards the bottom this season.

Daizen Maeda’s Celtic Style in the Premier League

It’s obviously not going to be as easy. You’re playing for a dominant team, creating chances, and you’re going to a side that’s got their backs to the wall for most matches, trying to keep the ball out rather than trying to score. So he won’t be getting so many opportunities, so much support.

They’ve basically reconstructed their entire attack, so that’s got to all gel and come together. That understanding’s got to happen fairly quickly. But they’re certainly giving it a go. They certainly are. Liam Delap led the charge with goals last time. They’ve got a few to share the load now, and they’ll be hoping that can happen.

Leeds Best New Signing and Predicted Finish

Harry Wilson is the signing everyone mentions, the season he had at Fulham, the goals that he scored, the spectacular ones; if he can replicate that, he’d be an instant hero up there at Elland Road. So I see him as maybe one of the stars. James Trafford, it’ll be a busy season for him, but he should enjoy it in goal.

They’ve acquired a few players. 14th last season, 47 points. They might marginally improve on that, not by a lot, but just about. For a team like Leeds, it’s about just trying to establish yourself now, get a foothold in the Premier League and keep improving. So somewhere mid-table would be satisfactory, I think, more than satisfactory.

Brighton vs Villa

Brighton Villa, yeah, good game, 2-2.

Brentford vs Spurs

Brentford Spurs, yeah, Spurs will have a good season. 2-0 to Spurs.

Man City vs Bournemouth

City Bournemouth, 2-0 to City.

Fulham vs Chelsea

Yeah, Fulham, I had Fulham to go down yesterday in my predictions. They might have a bit of a struggling season, but Chelsea might have a good one. 1-0 to Chelsea.