Premier League clubs play openers this weekend
Buy cheap, guaranteed EPL Week 1 tickets at 1st4FootballTickets.com
The England Premier League campaign returns after its summer hiatus on Friday, August 11th when Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal host Leicester City at Emirates Stadium in the 2017-18 EPL season opener. Holding EPL champions Chelsea will begin their battle to retain the title for a second year after winning the 2016-17 Premier League title with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte's enjoying victory in his first season as manager. The England Premier League holders welcome Burnley in their opening game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, August 12th with the Blues hoping to get off to a perfect start to their reign.
New kids on the block Brighton & Hove Albion will host Manchester City in their first game in the Premier League, and Manchester United host West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Liverpool travel to Watford for their first encounter of the campaign, and arch-rivals and neighbors Everton will face Stoke City with superstar Wayne Rooney in their ranks again.
Chelsea v Burnley
Antonio Conte's side face a dangerous first match in the new Premier League season, with Burnley traveling south from Lancashire. The Turf Moor club have climbed to the top division finishing 16th last season, and reportedly are a dangerous prospect at home. Chelsea have added the talents of newly hired Alvaro Morata, Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko to their squad, as Conte intends to strengthen his core. Morata will be expected to be Chelsea’s top goal scorer this season after transferring from Real Madrid to be given the opportunity to prove himself as a world-class striker playing for the Blues.Twenty-one-year-old Morata hit 15 goals in the Spanish La Liga last season, and Conte hopes Morata will increase his tally for the season in England as Conte warned Chelsea supporters the season ahead will be a testing season.
"For sure, for me, it will be the most difficult season of my career. I’m sure about this. It will be the most difficult of my career as a coach,” said Conte. “For many reasons. It’s very difficult. I haven't a lot of time to explain a lot of these reasons. But I’m sure about this, that next season will be very tough, the most difficult of my career. I have this perception and I hope I’ve made a mistake." The Blues caught the giant Premier League clubs off guard taking them by surprise last season as they staged a dramatic recovery under Conte from Jose Mourinho’s term - but this season the big clubs will have a better idea of what to expect from the west London side this term.
Manchester United v West Ham
Manchester United finished last term winning the UEFA Europa League, giving them a spot in UEFA Champions League football. The Red Devils underachieved in the English Premier League in manager Jose Mourinho's first season at Old Trafford, however the Portuguese former Chelsea boss made his side hard to beat. The Special One hired high goal scorer Romelu Lukaku away from Everton, and Man United have appeared more dangerous in attack during pre-season. The signing of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea could be Mourinho's most stratigic buy, allowing Manchester United a defensive presence in midfield that will aid Paul Pogba. Lukaku arrived with a big fee, but “the Belgium international is schooled in English football, and his mobility and power will add a new dimension to United”.
Last term Manchester United scored 54 goals in the Premier League as compared to Chelsea's 85 goals. Mourinho collected two major trophies last season. West Ham have signed former Man United favorite Mexican Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. The hiring of Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta and Marko Arnautovic will make the Hammers harder to beat at the Theatre of Dreams. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has admitted Manchester United are unlikely to win Gareth bale away from Real Madrid in this summer's transfer window. Mourinho has previously talked about his desire to sign Welshman Gareth Bale before the Super Cup clash against Real last Tuesday night and suggested if Bale was benched then Mourinho would move to buy him. But Bale started the game after all and gave an impressive for his side as Real Madrid defeated Manchester United 2-1 to lift the Super Cup trophy. Mourinho spoke after the result about how he rated United’s chances of signing Bale.
“I think it’s over,” Mourinho told the media after the match. “Clearly the club wants him and the manager wants him and he wants the club. So for me, it’s game over before it really started. Now I think everyone knows he is going to stay.” Attacker Bale was asked about his future with Real Madrid after the match, but Bale insisted he had no interest in leaving Spain this summer. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane rates Bale highly and considers him a key figure in his team. Bale struggled with injuries last season and his Super Cup tournament start was his first for his side since late March. Jose Mourinho was reportedly hopeful he could make Bale his fourth summer signing of the summer but is now set to look elsewhere. United’s Premier League opener is on Sunday when they welcome West Ham to Old Trafford.
Premier League Season Openers
Guaranteed, legal, authentic England Premier League football tickets are still available for this weekend’s season opening games to watch your favorite England Premier League club in their season opener match to get a perfect start to their 2017-18 campaign. Buy all Premier League tickets now securely online from the 1st4FootballTicket.com online football tickets marketplace.
Friday, Aug. 11
Arsenal v Leicester City tickets
Saturday, Aug. 12
Watford v Liverpool tickets
Chelsea v Burnley tickets
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town
Everton v Stoke City tickets
Southampton v Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City tickets
Sunday, Aug. 13
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur tickets
Manchester United v West Ham United tickets
