^ ^ Gary Lineker says only one team can stop Arsenal winning the Premier League

Former England striker Gary Lineker (Picture: The Rest Is Football)

Gary Lineker views Arsenal as clear favourites to win the Premier League and predicts only one team can stop the Gunners from retaining their title.

Mikel Arteta’s side got their title defence underway with a convincing 3-0 win over newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates last Friday.

The Gunners have enjoyed another strong transfer window, signing Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis while adding further depth in defence after a £51million deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.

A potential blockbuster deal for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez remains on the cards as Arsenal look to add even more firepower to their attacking ranks before the transfer deadline.

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Regardless, Lineker believes that the defending champions are the clear favourites to win the league again, as he backed Arteta’s side to retain the title with ease.

‘Even though some people say it’s easier to win your first title than retain it, I disagree,’ he said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

‘I think they’ll retain it. I think not only the fact they’ve added to where they were last season when they won the league and added well, but I also think that pretty much all the big teams around them are in transition.

Arsenal are the defending champions (Picture: Getty)

‘So I’m actually going to go Arsenal by at least 10 points.’

It has been a summer of change for many of Arsenal’s potential title challengers, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all appointing new managers over the off-season.

And Lineker believes that Xabi Alonso’s Blues are the only team that could run Arsenal close this season, insisting: ‘I’m not sure it’s a hot take, but I think Chelsea might finish second.

‘I’ve got the feeling that Xabi Alonso has got something about him. If the club as a whole doesn’t completely implode, which is a possibility, I think he’ll do well with them. I think he’s good.

Chelsea have started brightly under Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty)

‘I think they have got, obviously, a lot of talent there. If you go Rogers and Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro up front, that is a good front three.’

Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola are both new to the dugout at City and Liverpool, but Lineker can’t envisage either being in the title conversation this season.

‘City are definitely in transition mode in more ways than one and probably more than anyone,’ he said.

Lineker doesn’t think Manchester City will challenge for the title (Picture: AFP)

‘So, anything could happen this season; I still see them making the Champions League, but I don’t envisage them being in the title race.’

On the Reds, he added: ‘Obviously a new manager has come in, he’s got to change the style and has actually said himself that he’s not sure they’re quite ready yet for what I want, so it might take a bit of time and one or two signings.

‘They’ve obviously lost a couple of experienced players, so I think they’ll just make Champions League football.’

Similarly, Lineker finds it hard to picture Manchester United mounting a title challenge given their added fixture load upon returning to the Champions League.

‘The big question is, can Michael Carrick continue with how well he was doing last season, given the fact that this time they have Champions League football as well?’ he mused.

‘I think the squad looks a tad light to compete on all fronts at present, so I think they are fourth or fifth with Liverpool.’

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^ ^ Alan Shearer’s Premier League predictions, including Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer (Picture: Getty)

Alan Shearer is back with his Premier League predictions for the second week of the season after an opening weekend full of surprises.

Defending champions Arsenal got their title defence underway with a victory and will look to make it two wins in two against Aston Villa on Monday.

Elsewhere, Xabi Alonso will look to continue his good start to life at Chelsea on Sunday, but faces a tricky fixture against Brighton, who thrashed Villa 4-0 last weekend.

And plenty of eyes will be on Old Trafford as Manchester United look to bounce back from their defeat to Hull City up against another newly-promoted side in Ipswich Town.

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As ever, England legend and Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer has revealed his Premier League predictions to Metro.

Crystal Palace v Man City

Manchester City won late against Bournemouth last weekend (Picture: AP)

Whatever you think of the performance from Man City, they again managed to find that way, get back into the game, and win by a piece of brilliance from Cherki to Gvardiol.

I do worry about Crystal Palace this season. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next week with Mateta and Sarr. I’ll go for an away win to Man City.

Prediction: Man City win

Betfair Predicts

Crystal Palace: 19%
Draw: 24%
Man City: 58%

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest

I wasn’t that impressed with Liverpool at Newcastle. Problems that existed last year still exist this year.

It’ll be really interesting to see how long they give Isak and Wirtz playing together. I wasn’t impressed with those two either at Newcastle, they need to click into gear pretty quickly. But I still think they’ll have enough to beat Forest at Anfield.

Prediction: Liverpool win

Betfair Predicts

Liverpool: 64%
Draw: 21%
Nottingham Forest: 16%

Coventry City v Hull City

Hull shocked Manchester United on opening day (Picture: Shutterstock)

Hull were brilliant against Man United and thoroughly deserved the three points. Coventry couldn’t have had a tougher start than going to the champions away from home. It would have been very different if it had been at home.

Already, I think most people will look at this as a huge, important game in the second round of the season. I’m probably going to go for a draw.

Prediction: Draw

Betfair Predicts

Coventry: 52%
Draw: 27%
Hull: 22%

Bournemouth v Everton

It was a good win for Everton. Bournemouth were unlucky. Everton were a tad fortunate in the first half hour when Crystal Palace missed a couple of big chances.

Bournemouth have got some good players in there. They had a brilliant season last year after everyone thought they’d struggle because of the player’s they’ve lost. They had a great year and were impressive at times at Manchester City. They’ll certainly be more than OK.
I’m going to go a point each in this one.

Prediction: Draw

Betfair Predicts

Bournemouth: 47%
Draw: 29%
Everton: 26%

Tottenham v Newcastle

Matthias Jaissle is looking for his first league win as Newcastle boss (Picture: Getty)

This is a really tough one to call. Judging by the first games, you’d probably have to edge with Newcastle, but Spurs cannot be any worse than what they were at Brentford. They were embarrassed there, so clearly there’ll be a response and they will improve.

But they’re going to have to attack Newcastle, and I guess that will suit Newcastle because of the pace they have on the break, the way they hit Liverpool on the break, that is what they’ll try to do away from home at Spurs. I’m going to go Newcastle away win.

Prediction: Newcastle win

Betfair Predicts

Spurs: 43%
Draw: 26%
Newcastle: 32%

Chelsea v Brighton

Chelsea beat Fulham on opening weekend (Picture: Getty)

What a result and performance that was by Brighton against Aston Villa. I think they’ll find it a lot more difficult against Chelsea, who had a great result against Fulham. I’m going to go for a home win.

Prediction: Chelsea win

Betfair Predicts

Chelsea: 52%
Draw: 25%
Brighton: 24%

Leeds v Brentford

This is a tough one to call because I was hugely impressed with Brentford. Everything they did, whether they knocked it long, played football, or pressed, was almost perfect in their performance against Spurs. But Leeds also had a really good result and great win. The goalkeeper, Trafford, will be massive for Leeds this year. It’s a tough one to call. I’m going to go Leeds home win.

Prediction: Leeds win

Betfair Predicts

Leeds: 38%
Draw: 29%
Brentford: 35%

Sunderland v Fulham

Sunderland were on the right end of one-nils or winning by one goal last year, which can be easily flipped around, as it was at the weekend for them against Ipswich. With European football this year, I think they will struggle. Teams will have looked at what they do and how well they did it last season, and they will go in with a very different attitude.

Gonzalo Garcia looked good for Fulham against Chelsea, he had a decent game actually. I had Fulham to struggle as well as Crystal Palace this season, so I’ll be intrigued to see how they go. The last thing you want is two defeats on the spin early on in the season, then you tend to look at all sorts of negativity. So, it’ll be really interesting how they approach the game and the result. I’m going to go one point each in this one.

Prediction: Draw

Betfair Predicts

Sunderland: 39%
Draw: 30%
Fulham: 32%

Manchester United v Ipswich

Manchester United face newly-promoted Ipswich (Picture: Getty)

They would have had to work on so much this week because everything Man United at the weekend did was hopeless. They didn’t look fit. It looked as if they could just turn up at Hull and win the game, and that was never going to happen. Whether it was set pieces, they were awful, defensively all over the back line, they were terrible.

Up front they offered nothing. Sesko came on in the second half with Rashford, and I wouldn’t be surprised if those two started at Old Trafford after another week’s training. I am going to go for a home win.

Prediction: Man United win

Betfair Predicts

Man United: 68%
Draw: 19%
Ipswich: 13%

Aston Villa v Arsenal

What a mess at Aston Villa with the manager and Ollie Watkins at loggerheads. You could tell he was pretty angry and rightly so. God knows what they were trying to do, playing out from the back when Brighton loved to do that press.

It could be a tough season for Villa. They’ve suffered like Newcastle, having to sell their best players, and it’s very difficult to come back from that. Arsenal looked brilliant, and without doubt they’re the team to beat. I’ll say Arsenal three points.

Prediction: Arsenal win

Betfair Predicts

Aston Villa: 14%
Draw: 23%
Arsenal: 64%

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^ ^ Jack Hinshelwood injury update ahead of Chelsea vs Brighton

Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood (Picture: AP)

Jack Hinshelwood is a doubt for Brighton’s Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday after picking up an injury in training.

Hinshelwood produced a stellar performance on opening day, scoring twice as Fabian Hurzeler’s side romped to a 4-0 victory against Aston Villa.

However, the 21-year-old was absent from Brighton’s 4-0 win over Tromso in the second leg of their Conference League play-off on Thursday.

The Seagulls face a quick turnaround and return to league action on Sunday when they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on a Chelsea side who have won both competitive matches so far under new boss Xabi Alonso.

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However, Hinshelwood could be unavailable after Hurzeler confirmed that the midfielder picked up a ‘small issue’ on Wednesday.

‘He had a small issue in training yesterday, so we have to go day by day with him and see how it progresses over the next few days,’ the Brighton boss said after his side’s victory over Tromso.

‘I can’t give you a clear schedule for when he will be back. It could be a really short thing, or it could be a few days longer.

Fabian Hurzeler confirmed Hinshelwood faces a spell on the sidelines (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘Let’s see how he presents himself, and then we can make a decision.’

Hinshelwood joins Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas and Yankuba Minteh on the sidelines for Brighton.

Striker Georginio Rutter is also a doubt after missing Thursday’s game with a minor issue.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will hope to welcome back both Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo after the pair missed the 3-2 win over Fulham last weekend with injury.

Enzo Fernandez was a substitute against Fulham, but was left out of the matchday squad against Luton Town in the Carabao Cup as speculation linking him with Manchester City continues to swirl.

Asked about the Argentine’s absence post-match, Alonso said: ‘It was a decision from myself and from the club. It’s just because of the game today and we had other players that needed minutes and it was that way.

‘He’s a good professional. He’s training well and I have nothing to say about him. It was just a decision that we had to take, thinking about the game that we’re playing tonight and we’ll see for Sunday.’

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^ ^ Everton set huge asking price for Arsenal and Manchester City transfer target

David Moyes is fighting to keep one of his star players at Everton (Credits: Paul Currie/Shutterstock)

Everton fear they could be fighting a losing battle to keep Iliman Ndiaye amid interest from Arsenal and Manchester City.

The Senegal international has proven to be a shrewd addition since his arrival from Marseille two years ago.

Ndiaye’s refusal to sign a new contract has left Everton vulnerable, however, especially with two of the Premier League’s biggest fishes registering interest.

The 26-year-old appeared destined to move to Saudi Arabia earlier this summer with a move to Al-Hilal all but agreed before the winger performed a lateU-turn.

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Arsenal are desperate to strengthen their forward line before next week’s deadline and had been focusing their efforts on convincing Julian Alvarez to abandon his dream move to Barcelona.

It remains unclear whether or not they will be successful in convincing the former City forward and are considering the Everton star as a potential alternative.

City, too, are keeping a close eye on Ndiaye as they continue to reshape their squad with Enzo Maresca at the helm.

Iliman Ndiaye featured in Everton’s Carabao Cup win over Preston (Credits: Shutterstock)

Omar Marmoush is set to join Savio at Tottenham, while Jack Grealish is contemplating several offers, including a potential return to the Toffees after last season’s successful loan spell.

Losing three forwards on top of what they have already lost this summer would mean City are potentially light on attacking options and could yet make a move for Ndiaye.

One of the Premier League’s most creative players won’t come cheap, however, and Everton, according to talkSPORT, value their prize asset at around £80m.

Everton want 80m for Iliman Ndiaye (Photo: Steve Taylor/PPAUK)

Thierno Barry scored the first hat-trick of his Everton career in the 4-0 Carabao Cup win over Preston but manager David Moyes still wants more from the striker.

Barry took his tally to four in two games – he managed just eight in his first season – with new signing Brennan Johnson scoring his first club goal since November.

‘I think he (Barry) was working with someone in the summer who tried to change his mindset a little bit,’ said Moyes.

‘He found it difficult last year, which a lot of boys coming in from overseas do, which is even worse if you are a centre-forward.

‘Generally, he has been much better since he came back. But I still think I would like more.

‘One or two opportunities he had that he didn’t score, I am annoyed with those ones, I want him to score those as well.’

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^ ^ John McGinn reveals unseen brilliance Youri Tielemans will bring to Manchester United

Youri Tielemans made his Manchester United debut against Hull on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)

Aston Villa captain John McGinn admits Youri Tielemans leaving for Manchester United will be a ‘big loss’ as he reveals the unseen brilliance the Belgian brings.

The 29-year-old swapped Villa Park for Old Trafford this summer, with the Red Devils signing the midfielder for a reported £35 million.

Tielemans makes the move after three seasons at Villa which saw him play 134 times across all competitions, scoring 10 goals.

McGinn is full of praise for the Belgium international, who he says brings a huge amount to a club off the field as well as on it.

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‘He’s going to be a big loss for us,’ the Scotland star said on Stick to Football. ‘Unbelievable professional. Work rate, quality.

‘Just a good teammate and all-round good guy, but he’s got quality as well. He can find a pass, he can score a brilliant goal. I’m talking about the complete player here.

‘I saw Jonny Evans talk about him a couple of weeks ago in the media and he said he’s probably what United have been missing. We’re going to lose him on and off the pitch, he’s a top player and so determined to win.

Tielemans signed off at Aston Villa by winning the Europa League (Picture: Getty Images)

‘That’s the one thing that I’ll maybe miss from a lot of the players [who have left Aston Villa this summer], the mentality when the going’s getting tough. I’ve got no doubts that Youri at United, he’ll deliver that, definitely.’

McGinn says he had a totally wrong impression of the Belgian when he signed for Villa from Leicester in 2023, thinking he was out of shape at the time.

The reality was quite the opposite and Tielemans is an example for the rest of the squad in terms of professionalism.

John McGinn is not sugar-coating the loss of Tielemans for Aston Villa (Picture: Getty Images)

Asked if Tielemans is a leader, McGinn said: ‘100 per cent. Talking, standards, he’s not got a flaw off the pitch.

‘I tried to find it. I tried to get him to have a can of Coke after the game or eat a cookie on the plane or something, but he’s so driven he just does everything right, to the letter.

‘You always find him in the gym. When he signed, I thought good player, [but] slow and unfit, looked a bit fat. That’s what I thought. Then he took his top off and I’m like, woah, maybe not.

Tielemans faces stiff competition for a place in Manchester United’s midfield (Picture: PA Wire)

‘That myth, I think he’ll always have that with his body shape, but it’s wrong. He’s not going to burst away from you with speed, but that’s not his game. He’s fit as a fiddle and was really reliable for us.

‘He’s not afraid to get people’s standards up, if you’re not playing at his standards in training or his level, he’ll let you know.’

Tielemans started with Andrey Santos and Bruno Fernandes in United’s midfield in the shock 2-0 loss at Hull City on Saturday.

Kobbie Mainoo came off the bench and the Red Devils have since added Carlos Baleba to their squad in a significant midfield revamp over the summer.

Michael Carrick’s side is back in action on Sunday when they take on another newly-promoted team in Ipswich Town.

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