Premier League Football is back! The Premier League kicks off this week, but last week, the EFL started with football fans up and down the country praying it is their year to secure promotion to the next tier of English football. With an enthralling week in the Championship that started under the floodlights on Friday night, what games are in store, who will continue their good start and who looks to be in for a season of misery?
Birmingham vs Huddersfield
Both teams are searching for their first wins of the season in tonight’s match under the lights at St Andrews. Huddersfield started their season last Friday against Burnley, who dominated and beat the Terriers 1-0. Birmingham began with a 0-0 draw away at Luton Town. In fact, both their opponents from the opening day face each other on Saturday.
The Blues won one out of their last seven home games, with their second to last win coming against Luton in a 3-0 win in February. Without any injury concerns, both managers may only be tinkering with their starting teams ahead of the second match of the season.
Norwich vs Wigan
Like the Friday match, the two teams are searching for their first wins of the season. Norwich started their season against Cardiff, who beat them 1-0. Wigan began with a 0-0 draw against their Lancashire rivals Preston North End. The League 1 winners are looking to secure their status whilst the objective of their opponents is to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.
With Grant Hanley set to serve a one-match suspension, there is uncertainty as to who could come into the starting lineup to deputise. As for Wigan, Jack Whatmough is a doubt after being substituted in the first half against Preston.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
Goals in the final 20 minutes denied both teams victory on the opening day. Bristol City led Hull 1-0 before two goals, including a 94th-minute winner, which meant the visitors left empty-handed. Sunderland was holding on after Jack Clarke’s early goal, but Coventry denied the Black Cats a win on their return to the second tier of English football.
Burnley vs Luton
Burnley began their quest for an immediate return to the Premier League with an impressive 1-0 win at last season’s playoff finalists Huddersfield Town. Luton, who lost to Burnley’s opening day opponents in the playoff semi-finals last season, began their season with a point against Birmingham City.
The Burnley manager will hope his side can implement their possession-based game once again on Saturday in Kompany’s first competitive game at Turf Moor against a side they have not faced since 2007.
Preston vs Hull
Preston held on to avoid defeat in their opening match against Wigan Athletic after dropping down to 10 men late on. Hull fought back to claim all three points against Bristol City in their opening match, meaning they currently sit second in the table, with both goals coming from summer signings: Ozan Tufan and Jean Michael Seri.
Preston is another forward option down due to the start of a three-match ban for Ched Evans, but the visitors have no fresh injury concerns.
QPR vs Middlesbrough
Loftus Road hosts two sides who failed to win on the opening day. Middlesborough drew 1-1 against West Brom whilst QPR fell to defeat at Blackburn Rovers. With no fresh injury concerns for either team, other than the return of Paddy McNair from suspension for Boro, you could see two similar sides to the ones that started on the opening day.
Full Gameweek 2 Fixtures