Martin Jol takes charge of his first Premier League games as Fulham boss after replacing Mark Hughes. The Welsh manager guided them to a very respectable eighth position in 2010/11 but left after just a solitary season in the dugout. Jol has been relatively quiet in the transfer market but has pulled off a very shrewd signing in the form of John Arne Riise who will provide plenty of energy and experience down the left not to mention his rocket of a shot. Apart from him it’s pretty much unchanged with Bobby Zamora and Clint Dempsey providing the sparks up front and Brede Hangeland keeping it tight at the back.

Aston Villa have a new manager as well in the form of Alex McLeish who left rivals Birmingham to take the reins at Villa Park. He’s already spent big this summer bringing in Shay Given to replace Brad Friedel and Charles N’Zogbia from Wigan. The latter will act as a direct replacement for Stewart Downing and Ashley Young who both left this summer in big money moves to Liverpool and Manchester United respectively. With the predatory instincts of Darren Bent up front Villa have a regular source of goals and the addition of N’Zogbia makes for an exciting front line.

Both teams have squads capable of easily achieving a top 10 finish. However, this game is likely to end in a stalemate with two new bosses still trying to fathom their tactics and starting line ups for the season ahead.

Prediction: 1-1

Fancy a flutter ahead of the Premier League kick-off – visit Goaldash to find out more information… Good Luck!