AT last! The Premier League is back! After three months of lockdown-enforced closure, we can finally get a definitive answer to the question 'Surely it would make more practical sense to just cancel the season?'
There will be a possible five substitutions for each team, and no fans in the stadiums, but by God, there's are European places up for grabs and a relegation battle to sort out. Helpfully, Week 1 of the Premier League restart is an absolute corker and there is plenty of value to be had.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United | Wednesday June 17, 18:00 GMT
Prior to the Premier League being suspended, it was all doom and gloom at Aston Villa. Dean Smith's side had lost five straight matches – four in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup final against Man City. The Villains had slumped to second bottom and even worse, player of the season John McGinn was injured for the foreseeable. Well, now McGinn is back and so is the optimism at Villa Park. A game in-hand which looked a forlorn hope in March is a serious advantage in the rescheduled Premier League.
In terms of form, it was just the opposite for Sheffield United who were seven unbeaten – with a remarkable six wins – when the league was stopped. However, Chris Wilder was likely grateful for the chance to rest his small squad who have worked tirelessly on their return to the top flight.
There's a lot at stake here: Villa can leap from 19th to 16th and give their survival hopes a serious boost, Utd can leapfrog Wolves and Man Utd into fifth position, and continue their staggering push for a Champions League place. But with a point representing a decent return both, and rustiness likely to be a factor, back the draw.
Match Odds: Aston Villa (49/20) Draw (47/20) Sheff Utd (13/10)
Tip: Both teams to score (4/5)
Correct score: Aston Villa 1-1 Sheff Utd (5/1)
Man City vs Arsenal | Thursday June 18, 20:15 GMT
Welcome news that Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte are available means Pep Guardiola can call on a fully fit squad for the first time this season. City's attention may be entirely focused on the Champions League this season given next year's looming ban, not to mention the possibility of a cup treble this season, but there's not a chance Guardiola will be taking lightly his first clash with former assistant Mikel Arteta who left City for Arsenal in December.
Although it took Arsenal time to settle under Arteta – five draws in their first eight games, for example – the Gunners have lost just two of the Spaniard's first 15 games, and managed to win six of their last eight pre-lockdown. But in the context of Man City specifically, Arsenal really struggle. They've lost their last five league meetings, having only incurred a worse run of defeats to the same opponent against Ipswich in 1975-77. What's more City have scored 12 of their last 16 goals against the Gunners in the first half, scoring at least two in the first half in each of the last four meetings.
Put simply, Arsenal's defence cannot contain City's attack. With everybody back fit, and Kevin De Bruyne within five of beating Thierry Henry's Premier League assists record (20), the outlook is bleak.
Match Odds: Man City (4/11) Draw (23/5) Arsenal (15/2)
Tip: Man City to be winning at half-time (7/10)
Correct score: Man City 3-1 Arsenal (17/2)
Tottenham vs Man Utd | Saturday June 20, 20:15 GMT
The injury crisis that decimated the last few weeks of Spurs' pre-lockdown season is over. Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, and Steven Bergwijn have all returned to boost Spurs' attack immeasurably, while at the back Hugo Lloris has emerged the other side of the nasty elbow injury he suffered in November to take his place behind Jan Verthonghen and Toby Alderweireld.
Man Utd's post-Bruno Fernandes signing form has been outstanding – nine games, six wins, no defeats, just two goals conceded. In fact, taking in the two games before Fernandes arrived, United have kept nine clean sheets in their last 11 matches. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has steadied the ship sufficiently to at least stave off calls for the sack, and maybe even push into next season with confidence if he can secure a top four finish.
For all Spurs' returning superstars, Solskjaer is entitled to a little pre-match confidence here. That impressive recent run including wins home and away against Man City, and away against Chelsea, all without conceding a goal. Kane and Son maybe be back but will they be up to speed against a now well-drilled defence? It seems likely. At the end, can Spurs keep Utd at bay? Remember, they had lost five of their last six games before lockdown and have just two clean sheets of their own to boast of in their last 21 matches. Back Utd to pick up where they left off.
Match Odds: Tottenham (19/10) Draw (23/10) Man Utd (6/4)
Tip: Man Utd to win to nil (18/5)
Correct score: Tottenham 0-1 Man Utd (8/1)
Watford vs Leicester City | Saturday June 20, 12:30 GMT
Watford fought hard for the right to play at Vicarage Road as opposed to neutral venues, and you can see why. In the last six at home, the Hornets have won four, beating Man Utd (2-0), Aston Villa (3-0), Wolves (2-1), and of course Liverpool (3-0), whilst also drawing 0-0 with Spurs. The only blip in that run – a 3-2 defeat to Everton – even involved squandering a 2-0 lead. Naturally, it will be different without fans, but Watford's home form has given them a platform for survival. Expect Nigel Pearson to target these type of fixtures.
Leicester on the other hand just have to do enough. They won't catch Liverpool, they're unlikely to overtake Man City, and with an eight-point buffer between themselves and Man Utd in fifth, should comfortably finish in the top four. A few good results early on in the restart and the Foxes can probably relax.
Pearson was fired as Leicester boss after keeping them up from relegation the year before they staggeringly won the Premier League. The club have moved on and consolidated since then, but this is Pearson's first shot at revenge on the field. He managed a 2-0 win over Man Utd in his first game – after a one win in the previous 12 – so in these similar circumstances where Watford must dig deep and start again, back Pearson's motivational power to come to the form. Watford to edge this one.
Match Odds: Watford (12/5) Draw (49/20) Leicester City (23/20)
Tip: Over 2.5 goals (9/10)
Correct score: Watford 2-1 Leicester (10/1)
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace | Saturday June 20, 19:45 GMT
If there was one Premier League side in serious need of regrouping – other than Spurs – pre-lockdown, it was Bournemouth. One injury crisis after another saw the confidence drained from Eddie Howe's side – the Cherries managed just four wins in their last 23 league matches. But while Charlie Daniels and Philip Billing remain sidelined, everyone else is back – the lift to Bournemouth's struggling attack will be a source of comfort for Howe, particularly with influential midfielder David Brooks finally available for the first time this season.
Roy Hodgson has no injuries to contend with but between now and the end of the season, he may have a problem motivating his players. With 39 points on the board already, and very little chance of qualifying for Europe, Palace could effectively phone it in for the next month or so and suffer no serious consequences. That would be disappointing after what has been excellent two thirds of the season so far, but as the games come thick and fast, it's going to be a genuine problem for Hodgson.
This will be the league's fifth worst defence (47 goals conceded) hosting the league's sixth best (32 goals conceded), so from a purely defensive perspective, you'd have to suggest Palace have the advantage. However, I fancy the Cherries' boosted attack to make the difference here.
Match Odds: Bournemouth (6/4) Draw (9/4) Crystal Palace (39/20)
Tip: Callum Wilson to score any time (15/8)
Correct score: Bournemouth 2-1 Crystal Palace (17/2)
Everton vs Liverpool | Sunday June 21, 19:00 GMT
Everton are currently enduring the longest winless run in Merseyside derby history – 21 matches and counting, including the painfully embarrassing 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Liverpool's under-23 side in January. If that wasn't bad enough, they also come into this game with an almost comical injury crisis. Jean-Philippe Gbamin, a summer signing from Mainz, has become the first player in Premier League history to suffer two season-ending injuries in the same season, Yerry Mina will miss the first few weeks of the restart, and Fabian Delph's injury leaves Tom Davies as the only first team centre-midfielder currently available.
And if that wasn't bad enough, an Arsenal win at Man City could mean Liverpool have the chance to lift the Premier League trophy at Goodison Park. Despite three months without football, despite the intense intra-city rivalry, if Everton fans decide to give this one a miss, well you'd have to say fair enough.
Jurgen Klopp boasts a fully fit squad and having come close to securing Liverpool's first league title for 30 years in March, he and his players will be raring to go here. No Premier League manager makes better use of his time on the training ground than Klopp so expect the Reds to be quick out of the block on Sunday.
Match Odds: Everton (19/4) Draw (13/4) Liverpool (11/20)
Tip: HT Liverpool, FT Liverpool (13/10)
Correct score: Everton 0-3 Liverpool (10/1)
