GETTING A FEEL FOR IT: So we’re one week into the new Premier League season and we’ve already been treated to a few excellent games. Such is the excitement of the Premiership, and expect much the same from the next 37 rounds of fixtures. We missed last week on this column so let’s see if we can start our season off with a winning start. Here’s my picks for the the weekend.

STOKE CITY v MANCHESTER CITY
Mark Hughes loves hosting his ex club Manchester City at the Britannia. It is a real challenge for him, and he relishes the chances to get one up on his former club. He is very cute tactically when facing City, and he certainly won’t need any extra motivation to get his side up for this one. At the start of the season teams are well up for it, expectations are high for the upcoming season, and taking a big scalp at this stage can do wonders for a team’s confidence.

I’m looking back at this fixture from last season where Stoke got the better of Man City, and truth be told they bossed that entire game. Hughes set his team up perfectly to face Pelligrini’s side and they played a fantastic game. New season, new manager for Man City but I still think Stoke can be a real thorn in Guardiola’s side. Hughes’ team are a great blend to face City. They have strength, speed and plenty of skill in the side. They will get in the faces of Man City players, giving them no time on the ball whatsoever, and then they will hit them on the break. It is something that worked against Man City last year, and until they show they can cope with it, this is how teams should approach these games.

Man City are very short away from home against quite a good team. Stoke have plenty that can threaten City at the back, especially with all the uncertainty in goals. Stoke will play cautiously and hit City on the break. If they play an open game, City will destroy them as they do so many teams. I think Mark Hughes is a very clever manager, and I see him having his side well drilled and well set up to cause a nuisance in this one. I am tempted to put a small back bet on Stoke at 5.7, but for me the smart bet is to Lay City. Verdict – Lay City @ 1.74

SWANSEA v HULL CITY
Hull had an excellent start to life back in the Premier League, beating the last year’s Champions, Leicester City. As good a performance and of course result as this was, Hull should have lost that game. Leicester had so many chances but they just couldn’t convert. Looking at this Hull City side to start the season I just feel they are way too short on numbers. They will struggle to stay up if they are relying on playing Livermore at centre back to start the year.

Swansea have lost a few players this summer, including their leader Ashley Williams but I still think they can have a good season. I am shocked that no big teams came in for Montero. He is a top, top player in my eyes. one of the best out and out wingers in the league when right. He did have a few injuries last year, but when fully fit I see him having the quality to play for a Man United or a Chelsea. With him in the side Swansea will always be a goal threat, and I see him doing some damage this weekend.

Hull will be on a real high after their first result but I think this weekend will prove to be a reality check for this side. Life in the Premier League is tough, especially with the lack of depth that Hull have. Of course it is the start of the season so fatigue will not be a problem, but almost every game this year will prove to be an uphill battle for the Tigers. Verdict – Back Swansea @ 1.82

LEICESTER CITY v ARSENAL
Both sides are coming of defeats in their first week. Leicester will be very disappointed in their loss to Hull, feeling they really left that game behind them. They did gain a big boost during the week in re-signing star man Riyad Mahrez, which will give them confidence for the season ahead. After a tough loss to start, the last thing you would want would be to face this Arsenal side considering Wenger’s men did the double over the Foxes last season.

Arsenal lost an epic encounter with Liverpool to start their season. An Arsenal loss in the first game really seems so familiar. It happens so much, but under Wenger one thing I have noticed is that they always bounce back. Every season Arsenal seem to stutter out the gate, fans complain, Arsenal grow in strength until an eventual collapse. Well this is the beginning of the strengthening stage. Arsenal always bounce back from an early loss.

Wenger rested too many players last week, giving them an extra week after EURO 2016. This was a mistake, but you can be sure they will all return this week and they will be determined to make up for last week’s loss to Liverpool. Couple this with the fact they did the double over Leicester last year, you can be sure Arsenal will be confident for this one tomorrow evening. Verdict – Back Arsenal @ 2.52

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