The second day of the new Premier League season features two matches which will occupy much of Sunday afternoon for die-hard football fans.
Premier League preview
West Brom make their return to the top-flight after seeing fellow promoted clubs Fulham and Leeds go down on Saturday albeit in contrasting circumstances.
Everton will test out their new-look squad against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham in what should be an intriguing clash.
West Brom vs Leicester City 15:00
West Brom’s last victory against Leicester City was in 2016, but the last time the Baggies triumphed at The Hawthorns against the Foxes was back in 2010.
On that day, James Morrison opened the scoring before Robert Koren hit a double to ensure the home side secured a comfortable victory.
The Baggies are unbeaten in three of their last four opening day outings in the Premier League.
The history of this fixture favours Albion who have defeated the Foxes 46 times compared with Leicester’s 34 wins.
Baggies boss Slaven Bilić edges the success rate from previous clashes with Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, winning two and losing once while managing Besiktas and West Ham.
Rodgers has only won once out of the five League matches he’s managed against Albion at The Hawthorns and that came while in charge of Swansea in 2012.
Tottenham vs Everton 17:30
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes will both be available for Sunday’s Premier League opener at Spurs.
Mason Holgate has been ruled out of the clash with a toe injury while the Club will assess the fitness of Fabian Delph after the midfielder resumed First-Team training.
New recruits Allan, James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Niels Nkounkou could make their Everton debuts.
Spurs’ Japhet Tanganga is out with a thigh injury, while Giovani Lo Celso will be assessed over a hamstring problem ahead of the fixture.
This game will be the 11th time Everton have faced Spurs on the opening day of the season, more than any other team.
Everton are unbeaten on a campaign curtain-raiser over the past eight seasons.
Mourinho welcomed the return of ‘real football’ ahead of this match.
“I feel really happy to start what I used to call real football,” said Mourinho.”
“We’ll miss the fans, but real football means playing for points, and to feel that adrenaline back, that emotion. I’m always happy before the first game of the season, but I don’t think even experience helps and can change the fact that you have that little anxiety before the first match of the season.”
Premier League: Where to watch
Both matches will be broadcast on SuperSport’s Premier League channel.
