Premier League 2008/9 Predictions – Week 1

By: Daryl | August 15th, 2008

It’s a bit of a Premier League predict-o-rama on The Offside today. I’ve already taken a shot at what the final 2008/9 Premiership table will look like (or more likely won’t) and Chris has weighed up the likely winners and losers in the sack race (if the sack race actually has winners.) But now it’s time to get specific.

Below are my picks for the final scores of this weekend’s opening Premier League games. If you’re reading this in the future, and even one of these predictions comes true, then yay me.

If – as is more likely – it come to pass that none of the below is even remotely accurate, then just ignore it and wish me better luck next time.

Arsenal 2-0 WBA
Both teams play pretty-pretty pass-pass football, which should make for good viewing. But only one of these teams has Emmanuel Adebayor, the other has Luke Moore. The one with Adebayor wins.

Aston Villa 3-1 Man City
Mark Hughes nightmare start at Man City will get even worse at Villa Park.

Bolton 2-1 Stoke
Battle of the battlers. But Bolton will battle harder and wiser and take an ugly three points.

Everton 2-0 Blackburn
Two words: Paul and Robinson. The world waits for his first Blackburn Rovers howler, Yakubu will be there to profit.

Hull 1-1 Fulham
How will Hull fare against some proper Premier League opposition? Find out next week. Honours even in a game that belongs in the Championship.

Middlesbrough 2-3 Spurs
I see a goalfest at the Riverside, with Darren Bent scoring the winner. The man’s on fire.

Sunderland 2-2 Liverpool
Liverpool will do well this year, and Robbie Keane will deliver an assist for Fernando Torres today (or possibly vice versa) but Sunderland are looking a lot better and will give Rafa’s men a tough time at the Stadium of Light by equalizing in the last ten minutes.

West Ham 1-1 Wigan
Amr Zaki might live up to his billing as the world’s best striker (source: FIFA) with a debut goal, but Dean Ashton will live up to his billing as the best injury prone bleach blond receding hairline striker in East London and score the equalizer.

Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth
Frank Lampard to celebrate his new contract with the only goal of the game. From the penalty spot.

Man Utd 2-1 Newcastle
Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence (through injury, not Madrid house hunting) will prevent any distractions, and S.A.F. will once again thwart K.K.

Predictions of your own? Back it up with some wonga here.

You can also see the complete 2008/9 Premier League schedule here.