The 2018 FIFA World Cup is officially in the books, and if for some reason your love of football has diminished over the last few years, we’re confident in saying that the WC would’ve restored your love for the beautiful game. Now, with that over and done with following France’s triumph, it’s time to look ahead to domestic football once again. Divisions all around Europe will be starting up again in the next month or so, with one, in particular, catching our eye: the English Premier League.

It feels like more and more fans are watching the EPL on a year by year basis, and in the wake of England’s run to the semi-finals of Russia 2018 this year, it feels like that’s about to step up a notch. It’s widely considered to be the most entertaining league in the world even if that isn’t always replicated in quality, with many noting that it’s much more difficult to make a long-lasting impression in England than it is in Spain, Germany and Italy. So, with that being said, let’s have a look at some of the opening day Premier League encounters that have a ton of potential.

Newcastle vs Tottenham

These two teams have been around the block on more than one occasion, and despite having a similar stature behind the scenes, the atmospheres surrounding both clubs are very different. The Magpies are currently attempting to keep hold of Rafa Benitez, which seems to be clouding over the fact that they have a really impressive squad considering the circumstances. Tottenham haven’t really improved as much as their rivals in the transfer window, opening the door for a potentially scrappy yet entertaining showdown between two familiar old foes.

Bournemouth vs Cardiff

As a newly promoted side, it’s always going to be difficult to make a strong first impression – but Cardiff have been doing some impressive work in the transfer window, and they shouldn’t fear anyone in this league. Bournemouth are starting to really establish themselves as a consistent Premier League team now, and they’ll want to emphasise that against an unproven Bluebirds side in the top flight. Both are quite free-flowing from an attacking point of view but the Cherries have more experience at this level in the last few years, so it’ll be interesting to see how they cope with what will likely be an early onslaught from the Welsh side.

Wolves vs Everton

It’s hard not to be impressed by the squad that Wolverhampton Wanderers are putting together, as questionable as it may seem. They tore through the Championship last season en-route to promotion, and they’ll have no fears whatsoever about stepping up to to the big time. Everton, on the other hand, will be desperate to prove that they’re still players in the top half, despite the fact that they’ve made no real strides in the transfer window. It’s a classic ‘newcomer vs veteran’ kind of affair, and as odd as it may sound, this game could wind up dictating how the season goes for these two historic English clubs.

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