Crystal Palace host Southampton on Saturday afternoon as two sides who ended the previous campaign in differing form meet.
Palace endured an awful end to the 19-20 campaign, claiming just one point from their last eight league matches.
Roy Hodgson has added some much needed youth to the squad with the additions of Nathan Ferguson and Eberechi Eze from West Brom and Queens Park Rangers respectively.
Southampton were the third best side in the division after the restart last term, winning five and losing just one of their last nine games.
They have had a relatively quiet transfer window so far, however have made Kyle Walker-Peters deal a permanent one from Tottenham.
Match history
Southampton have a good recent record against Palace, losing just one of the last seven meetings.
Southampton took four points off Palace last term and recorded a 2-0 win in this fixture, with Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong the scorers.
Last five Premier League meetings
Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2 – 21/01/20
Southampton 1 Crystal Palace 1 – 28/12/19
Southampton 1 Crystal Palace 1 – 30/01/19
Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2 – 01/09/18
Southampton 1 Crystal Palace 2 – 02/01/18
Under 2.5 goals – 4/6 with 888 Sport
Team news
Roy Hodgson will likely be without seven first team players for their season opener, including defenders Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt and Mamadou Sakho.
New signing Eberechi Eze is also a doubt, however they have managed to keep Wilfried Zaha at the club.
Southampton have had a very quiet window, with the only new face at the club defender Mohammed Salisu.
They should have a fully fit squad to choose from here, with James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings back following international duty.
Expected starting XI’s
Crystal Palace (4-5-1): Guaita; Ward, Kelly, Dann, Mitchell; Zaha, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp; Ayew
Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond; Ings, Adams
Predictions
Result: Southampton (6/4 with 888 Sport)
Correct Score: 0-1 (7/1 with Bet 365)
Anytime Goalscorer: Che Adams (5/2 with Bet 365)
Odds correct at time of article, they are subject to change
