Each week, Thomas Woods (with occasional assists from The National staffers) predicts the outcomes of the English Premier League. For Week 2, he sees Manchester United overcoming a tough Southampton test and Chelsea in top form.. Curious how we did last season? See here.
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Manchester United 2 Southampton 0
Why? After an impressive opening victory at Bournemouth, Jose Mourinho will look to make an impression on his Old Trafford debut. Paul Pogba is available, his squad is full of confidence and they take on Southampton at the right time – shorn of their best players over the summer and before new manager Claude Puel has had the chance to make an impact.
Stoke City 1 Manchester City 1
Why? Despite a 5-0 win in Romania on Tuesday night, it will be a few games before City hit their stride in the league and their opening win over Sunderland proved that point. They didn't produce a lot of chances and relied on a penalty and an own goal for the points. Stoke are better than Sunderland and playing at home.
Burnley 1 Liverpool 2
Why? The 4-3 win at Arsenal might turn out to be a microcosm for Liverpool's 2016/17 season. Second best for half an hour, suddenly sensational going forward, still can't defend. Burnley will fancy their chances of scoring against Jurgen Klopp's team but there's little chance they can keep Liverpool from netting at least twice, if they play anywhere near as well as at the Emirates.
Swansea City 3 Hull City 0
Why? Hull's 2-1 win over Leicester is probably a false dawn for a side who were favourites to be relegated. With so few first-team players that they are starting a midfielder at centre-back, Hull's pre-season issues will come back to haunt them. Gylfi Sigurdsson, likely to start having sat out Swansea's opener, will lead the home side to victory.
Tottenham 2 Crystal Palace 0
Why? Despite only drawing 1-1, Tottenham were very impressive in the final 30 minutes at Goodison Park. They looked like the side who were so good the last half of 15/16 and, based on Palace's toothless opening performance against West Brom, should ease to victory here.
Watford 0 Chelsea 2
Why? Watford's 1-1 draw at Southampton was not enough to convince that they won't struggle this season. Southampton could have won by two goals had luck gone their way and they will struggle against a Chelsea side who are going to be right up their in the title race.
West Brom 0 Everton 1
Why? Everton should have Romelu Lukaku in the starting line-up for the first time and will hope that he can lead the way to a counter-attacking victory. Ronald Koeman's first game showed promise, his second should show a result.
Leicester 1 Arsenal 1
Why? The best tie of the round. Leicester probably didn't deserve to lose at Hull while Arsenal were flattered by a 4-3 scoreline in the home loss to Liverpool. Each side has issues to address but Arsenal still have enough menace to come away with a point
Sunderland 0 Middlesbrough 1
Why? A derby match which could go to the away team. Middlesbrough will be delighted that new striker Alvaro Negredo got on the score sheet in his first game and he should give Sunderland's centre defenders a major test. The Spaniard could prove to be the match winner once more.
West Ham 2 Bournemouth 1
Why? This game finished 4-3 Bournemouth last season and each side should be able to find the scoresheet. The difference will be the return of Dimitri Payet, West Ham's star man last season, who sat out the defeat at Chelsea on the opening weekend.
