It’s early days in the Premier League and even as we speak, more signings are making their way to the clubs. The true squad strengths will perhaps come out after the transfer window has ended.

Matchday 2 has some interesting games in store. Arsenal are again involved in the box-office clash this weekend. The Gunners come up against the champions, Leicester City, who will be buoyed by the news that last season’s Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez has signed a contract extension till 2020.

Moreover, the entire footballing world has been waiting with bated breath for this moment: Paul Pogba, the world’s most expensive footballer, will start the game at Old Trafford after four years as Manchester United face Southampton in the wee hours of Saturday morning IST.

Once again, Wenger must find answers and quick, as Leicester will be looking to get back on track after an opening day upset by overwhelming relegation favourites Hull City. What can we expect from the Pep project? After their mid-week fireworks in Romania, will City be just as potent at the Britannia against Mark Hughes’ Stoke?

The Return of Paul Pogba

Manchester United are that boy in high school who gets to take the prettiest girl in his year to the prom. Once a lost date, Paul Pogba and Old Trafford are set to be reunited after four years of separation and are expected to do more than just tango in this re-kindled relationship.

One factor has changed though: Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager who had sold a 19-year old Pogba to Juventus, is gone and Jose Mourinho is the man who gets to manage the Pog in his second stint at the club. Will he do a better job than Fergie? We’ll just have to wait and see.

This fixture has been a pain point for United over the last couple of years as the Saints have managed to win in their last two attempts at the Theatre of Dreams.

Southampton started well this season and attacked Watford in the first half, eventually drawing 1-1. Jose Fonte, a European championship winner with Portugal, is also expected to return.

Our prediction: United are favourites for this match although the Saints are no pushovers. 2-1 to the Red Devils.

Manchester United vs Southampton: 12.30 am IST, August 20

Cold, rainy night in Stoke

At the peak of his Barcelona revolution in 2010, football pundit Andy Gray posed an irresponsible question to Guardiola and his favourite pupil: “Could Lionel Messi do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke?” The side Andy Gray was referring to a hard tackling, overtly physical, long ball loving Stoke City.

Thankfully for Guardiola, he will not have to answer that question as recent incarnations of Stoke are easier on the eye. In years gone by, they have brought some genuine ball players in Bojan Krkic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic. Their opening day draw against Middlesbrough would have satisfied manager Hughes, especially as they had to come back from a goal down to get a share of the points.

Guardiola could look to rotate as City had mid-week European duty. Aguero, who had a bizarre outing in Romania with two missed penalties and a hat-trick, is expected to lead the line again. City could revert to their line up against Southampton as David Silva may be expected to occupy a deeper, midfield role at the Britannia.

The talking point this week is expected to remain the same: Will he persist with Willy Caballero or will Joe Hart get a game at last?

Our Prediction: City will see a lot of the ball like they did last week. Stoke will try to make it difficult for them and may even snatch a draw but at the moment, City are expected to shade it, but only just. 1-2 to Pep’s men.

Stoke City vs Manchester City: 5 pm IST, August 20

The Moreno problem

If Arsene Wenger got criticised for fielding two inexperienced defenders, so should Jurgen Klopp after he continued to persist with left-back Alberto Moreno. The Spaniard is a defensive liability and Klopp might drop him with the impending return of utility man James Milner.

Another man looking to make his comeback is Daniel Sturridge. The Liverpool striker's injury record is abysmal with the Englishman starting only starting 18 of his club’s 76 Premier League matches in the last two seasons. Klopp’s style of football demands a certain level of fitness and the two could be headed for a collision course unless Sturridge can overcome his injury problems.

Burnley have problems of their own. They continue to showcase the myopia that most clubs trying to fight their way out of relegation tend to do: buy more goals than clean sheets. A defence of Matt Lowton, Michael Keane, Ben Mee and Joel Ward spells C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S-H-I-P to us and Sean Dyche better buy some capable defenders and fast.

Our Prediction: Expect Liverpool to keep entertaining. Burnley will ship a boatload of goals with this defence. 3-0 to Liverpool.

Burnley vs Liverpool: 7.30 pm IST, August 20

Will Kane finally get some rest?

Harry Kane looked absolutely exhausted after his last match. It is important to remember that the young forward, only 23, has led the line for club and country in 93 games over the last two seasons, scoring 53 goals in the process.

With new recruit Vincent Jannsen impressing in his cameo against Everton, he could replace Kane as Mauricio Pochettino gives the England striker a well-deserved rest before Spurs embark on their Champions League campaign.

Crystal Palace lack genuine goal-scoring options and they appear to be very close to the capture of striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool. Talisman Yohan Cabaye is expected to make a return to the squad alongside Joe Ledley.

Our Prediction: Palace looked toothless and lost rather tamely to West Brom at home. Spurs to pick up their opening win of the campaign by two goals to nil.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace: 7.30 pm IST, August 20

Don Conte and his Blues

Antonio Conte started life at Chelsea in expected fashion as they scrapped a 2-1 win with Diego Costa grabbing a late goal. The disciplinarian that Conte is, he will look for improvement from his players. The defence, Conte’s favourite part of the pitch, is the area that will trouble him most.

The combination of John Terry and Gary Cahill, hugely successful in their title-winning campaign of 2014-'15, have considerably regressed as that back-line looks like some injection of pace might help.

Their opponents, Watford, will look to build on the yo-yo campaign of last season, where they started out well before fading out in the second half. The partnership of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo might trouble that Chelsea back-line.

Our Prediction: Having won 2-1, Conte and his men might not be so lucky this time. Watford look like they have goals in them. Hazard’s form is encouraging for the Blues. 2-1 again to Chelsea.

Watford vs Chelsea: 7.30 pm IST, August 20

Crunch time for Arsene

Arsene Wenger finds himself under early pressure after his decision to start the centre-back pairing of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers spectacularly backfired, as Arsenal conceded four at home last time around.

With the club still chasing German centre-back Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia, Holding and Chambers could start again as Koscielny returns to full fitness. However, the manager’s urgency may see the Frenchman start as Holding may drop to the bench.

Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi were added to the injured list last week, but the return of Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud will give the first-team a fillip. Both may start from the bench as new boy Granit Xhaka may finally get a start.

Leicester have problems of their own, but the potential transfer of Riyad Mahrez is not one of them. The Algerian has reportedly signed a contract extension till 2020, which is a huge boost to Claudio Ranieri and his men.

German Robert Huth could be back in defence alongside title-winning partner at centre-back Wes Morgan. The choice of Andy King or Nampalys Mendy in the centre of the park will be crucial as Jamie Vardy looks to get back to his prolific best.

Our Prediction: Arsenal will continue to remain unpredictable for the time. That said, the corresponding fixture ended 5-2 to the Gunners last time and should be an open affair this time around. A 2-2 draw.

Leicester City vs Arsenal: 10 pm IST, August 20