With so many unknowns and almost half the Premier League under new management, it\u2019s hard to know where to look on this opening weekend.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s massive beyond the Barclays and these borders too, with must-see matches in the Championship and La Liga too.<\/p>\n
Just cancel your plans, ignore your obligations, and gorge on it all\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Game to watch \u2013 Newcastle v Liverpool
One of three opening games to feature new managers in both dug-outs, we winced when the fixture computer pitted Newcastle, in such a delicate state, against Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Even before the Magpies had been pillaged of their best players and shorn of their most popular manager since Sir Bobby Robson, they had not managed to beat the Reds at St James\u2019 Park in their last nine attempts. In the Premier League, home or away, Liverpool are 19 unbeaten against Newcastle.<\/p>\n
So Matthias Jaissle could have few tougher tests to begin his Newcastle reign before we all rush to judgement on the new manager.<\/p>\n
But the Reds seem no more optimistic for the new season under Andoni Iraola<\/a> than their Geordie hosts.<\/p>\n At least Jaissle is spared the expectation carried by Iraola. Both clubs may claim to be in transition, but circumstances mean the Newcastle manager has more licence to fail early than his Liverpool counterpart.<\/p>\n Not that many would blame Iraola if Liverpool get off to anything less than a flying start. The Reds\u2019 problems are not of his making, but his to navigate.<\/p>\n Liverpool have been slow to plug the holes in their squad<\/a> and even if they do so by the deadline, here is a window of opportunity for Newcastle to exploit.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Team to watch \u2013 Tottenham Hotspur Around their London derby at Brentford, where they haven\u2019t lost in their last five, Tottenham will be spending the rest of their weekend trying to tie up a double deal with Manchester City<\/a> while egging on Liverpool to get their business done so they can take Cody Gakpo off their hands.<\/p>\n So most of the focus of the inevitable kneejerk-ery will be on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. Brentford\u2019s record signing, Mamadou Sangare, will certainly have the \u00a3185million pair in his sights, desperate to highlight why so many think the Bees have got a bargain<\/a>.<\/p>\n But even if Tonali and Fernandes pull the strings, Spurs have to find a way to score goals until they get their new forwards through the door.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Player to watch \u2013 Enzo Fernandez Chief among them is Chelsea\u2019s vice-captain.<\/p>\n Fernandez is the focus of interest from Manchester City with the Argentina midfielder keen to follow Enzo Maresca up to the Etihad \u2013 a desire he\u2019s not too shy to hide.<\/p>\n Which prompted a mixed reaction from Chelsea supporters when Fernandez featured in their last pre-season friendly last weekend. Those dissenters were perhaps the Blues fans stared down by Fernandez at the AmEx last season, when it seemed clear he would be away this summer if he could.<\/p>\n With City and Chelsea still someway apart in their valuations, the former ignoring the latter\u2019s deadline last week<\/a>, Fernandez will be fascinating to watch.<\/p>\n How much is he prepared to push for a move? How will that affect his demeanour and performance at Fulham on Monday night? Fernandez seems the sort to overegg it, either performatively proving his commitment to his current club, or not-so-subtly hinting at his preference to join a new one.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Manager to watch \u2013 Enzo Maresca It began with a pummelling at the hands of Arsenal in the Community Shield<\/a> and continued with the release of Pep Guardiola\u2019s searingly-honest documentary, reminding City fans of the manager and the love they lost this summer.<\/p>\n The new fella already had a tall task to win over those wary that City have replaced Pep with Diet Pep. Those sceptics will feel emboldened by the startling difference last week in Cardiff between the champions and the runners-up.<\/p>\n
Two thirds of the brand new, surely-not-sh*t-anymore Spurs kick off their campaign on Saturday evening with a revamped defence, overhauled midfield and the same old attack.<\/p>\n
So many debutants to watch excitedly this weekend<\/a>,\u00a0but just as fascinating will be the players still hoping to get their moves.<\/p>\n
The new Manchester City manager has had a rough week.<\/p>\n