Will anyone knock off Manchester City off their lofty perch this season?

That is the question posed to 19 other Premier League teams as the Citizens look to add an unprecedented fifth consecutive league title.

At the other end of the table, Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City will fight for their survival as the newest teams of the league.

It all kicks off on Friday when Manchester United play host to Fulham in the curtain-raiser at Old Trafford.

So, which teams get off to a flying start? Which teams will be chasing from behind from the beginning?

To answer that question, B/R's Nick Akerman and Leo Coliis are the men for the job as they provide predictions for every match from Week 1 of the Premier League.

Disagree with their takes? Submit your thoughts now in the comments section of the app.

Manchester United vs. Fulham

DraftKings odds: Manchester Utd: -185, Draw: +345, Fulham: +475

Manchester United in a Friday night curtain-raiser for the new Premier League season? What could go wrong?

It's been a decent summer for Erik ten Hag. For one, he didn't get sacked. Alongside that, he has brought in signings Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, as well as an impressive new coaching staff that includes Red Devils legend Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Fans should take heart from the Community Shield penalty-shootout defeat to Manchester City. United put together multiple passing moves that cut through their local rivals, despite still looking hapless with distribution from the back. Amad Diallo was a bright spark and will look to impress in a team that is in danger of lacking goals again.

One negative going into the first fixture is yet another injury to Luke Shaw, who will miss the match against Fulham due to a calf injury.

Fulham are difficult first opponents for United. They're more than capable of beating the top sides or falling against relegation fodder, such was their last season.

The added quality of Emile Smith Rowe is exactly the type of player who will give the Old Trafford side issues; tidy on the ball, creative and looking to prove a point.

This will be a tighter game than many expect. United to get it done after conceding something silly seems a sure bet. A match that can set the tone for their season no matter which way it goes.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Fulham

-Nick Akerman

Ipswich Town vs. Liverpool

DraftKings odds: Ipswich Town: +650, Draw: +450, Liverpool: -290

It's a tale of two relative unknowns at Portman Road in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff.

Liverpool will play the first competitive game of the Arne Slot era, while Ipswich Town will be featuring in their first Premier League game since 2002.

The odds, and conventional wisdom, would suggest Ipswich will get turned over in this one. But the Tractor Boys' desire to start what should be a difficult season strongly will see them battle hard against a Liverpool side that will be playing under an entirely new identity.

Playing in front of a home crowd that has been waiting for this moment for over two decades will certainly help Ipswich's cause, too.

Liverpool typically play down to perceived weaker teams, so this could be a bit of a slog. The Reds should win, but it won't be a rout.

Prediction: Ipswich Town 0-1 Liverpool

-Leo Collis

Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

DraftKings odds: Arsenal: -550, Draw: +650, Wolverhampton Wanderers: +1200

There's no room to falter for Arsenal this season if they're going to challenge Manchester City for a third successive year.

An opener against Wolves in front of their own crowd is favourable, but the visitors are not to be messed with and have played some fantastic football throughout preseason.

Still, the loss of star man Pedro Neto to Chelsea so close to the beginning of the campaign is huge. Manager Gary O'Neil will need a talented replacement in a Wolves side that will surprise people with their fast-flowing, aggressive style of play across the year.

This should be business as usual for Arsenal, though. An impenetrable defence has only become stronger with Jurrien Timber's return and the signing of Riccardo Calafiori. The Emirates Stadium crowd will be excitable and ready to push the team forward from the off.

Expect a fast start, an early blitz, before the game settles into a fairly routine win. Wolves' better days will come.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

-Nick Akerman

Everton vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

DraftKings odds: Everton: +150, Draw: +230, Brighton & Hove Albion: +180

A momentous season for Everton starts at Goodison Park, the stadium that will be no more once this campaign concludes.

It's vital Sean Dyche's team get off to a flyer. They cannot afford to be in a relegation scrap and need to be in the Premier League for the opening of their new stadium next year.

Everton's limited style of play has pushed them to the brink for too long, and one of the country's worst-run clubs may be in danger again if they don't hit the ground running.

New Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler has huge shoes to fill now that Roberto De Zerbi has gone. It's been a sharp preseason, with new signing Yankuba Minteh, breakout defender Valentín Barco and Mats Wieffer adding quality to a side that has sold Pascal Gross and lost Pervis Estupiñán through injury.

There should be no nerves for either side here. Everton have the physicality to crush Brighton's free-flowing football if they're truly on it, but the Seagulls can walk through the Toffees in second gear if they want to. Take your pick.

Prediction: Everton 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

-Nick Akerman

Newcastle United vs. Southampton

DraftKings odds: Newcastle United: -290, Draw: +450, Southampton: +650

Newcastle United took a step back last season, and they'll want to make it clear that was just a blip on an otherwise smooth trajectory forward.

Southampton, meanwhile, squeaked into the Premier League via the Championship playoff final, edging Leeds United 1-0.

Unfortunately, it's going to be a tricky season for the Saints, and Newcastle will give them a rude reminder about just what it takes to be a top-flight team.

The south-coast side have made some sensible signings, especially bringing Ben Brereton Díaz on board, but there's not enough quality there to suggest they will surprise many in their top-flight return.

The Magpies, meanwhile, have talent all over the park and deadly threats in Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon who will be desperate to get on the scoresheet early in the campaign.

Prediction: Newcastle United 3-0 Southampton

-Leo Collis

Nottingham Forest vs. Bournemouth

DraftKings odds: Nottingham Forest: +140, Draw: +235, Bournemouth: +190

Bournemouth have a major issue on their hands: How do they replace Dominic Solanke, the man who scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season?

Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert were the nearest to that on eight and seven, respectively. Striker Enes Ünal showed signs of settling as last year came to a close and will have to step up considerably.

Forest are a good team to do exactly that against. It's been another summer of considerable ins and outs at the City Ground, with seven players signed and 20 allowed to leave.

Head coach Nuno Espírito Santo had to cut the squad that keeps getting dinged by the Premier League spending rules, but the first-team turnover is perhaps more dramatic than expected.

What we have here is a game up for grabs.

Bournemouth's need to adapt in a Solanke-less world may see them struggle for some time. Forest's front three of Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi really started to purr as last season concluded and can be noted as the difference-maker, especially with the brilliant Morgan Gibbs-White creating havoc behind them.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Bournemouth

-Nick Akerman

West Ham United vs. Aston Villa

DraftKings odds: West Ham United: +145, Draw: +265, Aston Villa: +165

This will be an interesting encounter between two equally-matched teams on paper.

Aston Villa have strengthened well after securing UEFA Champions League qualification, but West Ham United have also made some quality additions for head coach Julen Lopetegui to work with in his first season at the club.

But while Niclas Füllkrug seems a smart signing for a Hammers team that has lacked a consistent, goal-getting frontman for a long time, the Villans already boast a proven, clinical striker in Ollie Watkins.

The England international scored 19 goals last season, and he'll be keen to get on the scoresheet early in the hunt for the league's Golden Boot.

Villa's midfield holds the biggest question mark, with the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus and the signing of Amadou Onana from Everton meaning the men in the middle of the park may not be quite as familiar as they would hope.

But with manager Unai Emery pulling the strings, expect Villa to be well-organised, disciplined and just a little ahead of their opponents in terms of tactical understanding.

Prediction: West Ham United 1-2 Aston Villa

-Leo Collis

Brentford vs. Crystal Palace

DraftKings odds: Brentford: +140, Draw: +240, Crystal Palace: +190

Crystal Palace were very impressive after Roy Hodgson's departure last season. Oliver Glasner is a terrific manager who builds energetic teams around attacking pace and stretching the pitch. He is as important as any player the team has or doesn't have at the moment.

That said, Ismaïla Sarr is a decent pick-up from Olympique de Marseille after the disappointment of losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.

Palace need to be careful, though. They're fielding interest for more of their top talent, including Marc Guehi, and can't afford to completely disrupt their flow this close to the season.

For the Palace team that remains at the time of writing, this is a very winnable game. Brentford are always dangerous at home, even though there's a sense they're teetering a bit.

Ivan Toney clearly isn't happy after zero interest from elite clubs, hence the reports linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia, and he might just exit with a whimper. His form was poor at the backend of last season, so he will be fired up if he's available.

You just have to think Palace have a little more about them at the moment. Brentford have the air of a side that hasn't evolved in quite a while, despite excellent foundations with head coach Thomas Frank. This match should be a wake-up call.

Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Crystal Palace

-Nick Akerman

Chelsea vs. Manchester City

DraftKings odds: Chelsea: +280, Draw: +300, Manchester City: -120

What on Earth is going on at Chelsea? The transfer strategy is similar to letting a child loose in a candy store.

An influx of seemingly unnecessary players will have surely hampered the squad's cohesion, and the impending exit of academy product Conor Gallagher will not be doing wonders for morale.

City, on the other hand, have kept things relatively stable during the summer, with the only arrival so far being winger Savinho and the only major exit being Julián Álvarez. The core players from last season's title-winning squad remain, and that could spell serious trouble for a Chelsea team in complete disarray.

After a disastrous preseason and with yet another new manager in charge, Chelsea could be embarrassed on Sunday. The prediction of a 3-0 City win seems conservative, honestly.

Prediction: Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City

-Leo Collis

Leicester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

DraftKings odds: Leicester City: +400, Draw: +330, Tottenham Hotspur: -165

After a thrilling start to last season, Spurs went off the boil a bit as the campaign wore on. But after a summer to reflect, and more time for manager Ange Postecoglou to implement his philosophy, we should see another fast start from the north London side.

Leicester City provide a perfect first opponent. They have seen plenty of outgoings and not a lot of incomings in the summer window, and they look woefully unprepared for a top-flight campaign.

Manager Steve Cooper has experience in a relegation battle, and although he wasn't allowed to see out his final season at Nottingham Forest, the Foxes are going to need whatever nous he picked up while trying to keep the Reds in the Premier League.

Spurs, though, have not lost any key players and have brought in some exciting talent.

While players like Dominic Solanke and Archie Gray might not be thrown in straight away, the players who will feature have plenty about them to make Leicester's much-anticipated return to the top flight an unhappy occasion.

Prediction: Leicester City 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur

-Leo Collis