Key events
Will Unwin
Hello from Hull:
Our man on the ground at the MKM Stadium, Will Unwin, has been in touch…
“After a positive end to the season under Michael Carrick, Manchester United need to build on that momentum at the start of the new season. The latest era has begun in earnest after Carrick was given the job full time in May but this will be a tricky second album for the head coach and his squad. Things were relatively easy early on thanks to a lack of distractions from pesky things such as cup competitions having already been knocked out of them all.
“It is not a case that United need a statement win at this time but with starting today at Hull before facing Ipswich at home is a promising set of fixtures to build a platform before the Champions League rears its head next month. Plenty has money has gone into the problem area of midfield, so there will be hope no further issues need addressing after today’s match.
“Hull have had a very busy summer, so it will be interesting to see how quickly their team gels but one thing is for certain, the MKM Stadium will be very lively come 12.30pm.”
Chelsea’s João Pedro signs new contract until 2034
Bit of breaking news for you coming from Chelsea, as João Pedro, who joined the Blues in 2025 has now signed on for a further eight years.
“I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea,’ João Pedro said. ‘I always dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to give my long-term commitment to this club.”
Any guesses on Tim’s trivia q for the ages? I…personally…would not have got the answer. But I have been told it and I am ready for a grand reveal.
Trivia from Tim Woods:
“If it’s trivia you’re looking for, which is the only league team not to share any letters with the word ‘mackerel’?”
See this is the good stuff. Answers on a postcard please. Or alternatively, emailed to me here.
To get a little ahead of ourselves as Newcastle v Liverpool isn’t until tomorrow, it’s still worth checking out Louis Taylor’s piece Alexander Isak who prepares himself for a daunting reunion with his old club this weekend.
If you want a little wrap of some news, by the way, check out this piece here by our sport and staff writers that ticks off five bits of news you might have missed.
Email from Paul Nicholas:
Man Utd’s opener gives new currency to an all-time favourite trivia-quiz question: what is unique about Hull City in the premiership (and possibly in all divisions of the game)? It’s the only club name where you can’t colour in any of the letters on the match day programme.
It’s a corker from Paul. We’re all in favour of silly trivia facts/questions here at Matchday Live so post them in the comments or drop me an email here if you’ve got any you wish to share. The more bizarre and pointless the merrier.
Just three hours until Hull City kick-off their first Premier League season in almost a decade.
Their season starts at home against Manchester United.
On a more serious Infantino note though, worth checking out this exclusive by Ed Aarons and Romain Molina that senior figures in African football have held talks with Fifa’s general secretary, Mattias Grafström, to sound out his interest in standing against Gianni Infantino,
“I’ll see you at the hairdressers.”
Good old Gianni. You can always trust him to keep the media wheels turning.
On the topic of signings. Mikel Arteta said he was ‘really happy’ with the squad he’s got at The Emirates, but there’s still talk around whether Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez could be on the way.
Tell you what’s a fun rabbit hole to get lost in. This interactive tool from the team here that has every single transfer listed from all of Europe’s top five leagues.
Get involved. You won’t regret it.
Comment from tapsalteerie:
All eyes, at least all of the two eyes that I have, will be on New Douglas Park as the Bully Wee host the mighty Loons. Fellow pace setters Elgin also face an epic odyssey down to Edinburgh to confront
30011 formidable Spartans at what future historians may well/perhaps refer to as the Battle of Ainslie Park. There will be blood.
This is the passion we’re after on a Saturday morning. For anyone in need of a translation, Clyde are hosting Forfar Athletic in Scottish League Two today. Where tapsalteerie will most definitely be in attendance. Meanwhile, Elgin City make the long trip down from the Highlands to face Spartans F.C in the big city of Edinburgh.
Manchester United’s midfield rebuild
United have agreed a deal with Brighton worth an initial £65m for midfielder Carlos Baleba.
He’ll be the third midfielder to join this summer, as the manager Michael Carrick has bolstered United’s midfield to fix a problem area. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos have also joined.
Our own man, Jamie Jackson, has written about this midfield rebuild here.
How you feeling Spurs fans?
I enjoyed this comment from Roberto De Zerbi yesterday saying “people don’t love if Tottenham becomes better” after they’ve been on a bit of a spending spree this summer.
With James Maddison back as well, surely a better year lies ahead?
Comment from burgerman:
THANK GOD IT’S BACK. I was almost starting to enjoy my weekends. #coys
Couldn’t agree more. What else is sport for other than to mentally and emotionally torture yourself of a weekend?
One for everyone, what are your hopes for the season ahead? Let me know who you support and your most optimistic, realistic and pessimistic prediction for the season…
What to look out for on opening day
There are new names to look out for and new players to admire. Check out all the predicted line-ups for this weekend here and familiarise yourself with some of your new favourite players.
The reigning champions got the season started yesterday evening with a comfortable three-nil win at home to newly-promoted Coventry.
Barney Ronay was on deck to cover a match where Martin Ødegaard was a bit good…
Today’s Premier League fixtures:
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Hull City v Manchester United (12:30)
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Everton v Crystal Palace
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Ipswich v Sunderland
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Nottingham Forest v Leeds
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Brentford v Tottenham (17:30)
And then elsewhere, only one match of note really, and that’s QPR hosting Bolton at Loftus Road. 3-1 away to Portsmouth last week. Just incredible.
That can be our first topic of conversation, actually. Favourite opening day memories? Let me know in the comments or email in here.
Preamble
Good morning, hello and welcome. The Premier League is back. Stress, the Premier League is back. Not football. As that returned with QPR’s 3-1 win away to Portsmouth last week. An away-day victory to start the season, what a life.
Five top-flight fixtures for you today, plus a full allotment of Football League matches too. Hull take on Manchester United at 12:30 for the early kick-off but it’s Brentford v Spurs at 17:30 I’m really looking forward to. Which Tottenham will turn up this year?
Anyway, we’ve got all that and all the latest transfer news to keep you busy with. Join us and get in touch here!