GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the action
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By Chris Bevan
From anon at Old Trafford on 81111: "Big changes at Old Trafford for the new season. Popcorn is on offer, and also giant chocolate buttons. "
1257: I don’t need to tell Arsenal or Everton fans who the big winners and losers were on Saturday but one statistic that stood out was the number of away wins - out of eight games, Chelsea and Stoke were the only home teams to collect three points. Can you see Birmingham and Liverpool winning on their travels today too It’s a big ask for both of them…**1255: TEAMS Manchester United v Birmingham City **
Man Utd: Foster, Fabio Da Silva, O’Shea, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, Gibson, De Laet.
Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Queudrue, Vignal, Larsson, Ferguson, Carsley, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome. Subs: Maik Taylor, O’Connor, Phillips, Benitez, McSheffrey, Parnaby, O’Shea.From Sukh at Old Trafford on 81111: “Good atmosphere here in the stands - everyone looking forward to the first game of the season in the Premier League. My prediction - 3-0 to Utd!”
From Webby on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A55815960s_fromedit=1&s_type=15&s_sport=football)“Newcastle and Reading both drew with Man Utd at Old Trafford on the opening day in previous seasons… needless to say we all know what happened then to those clubs…Birmingham beware the draw.”
1249: Some early team news from Old Trafford - Rio Ferdinand, who was already doubtful because of a back injury, has been ruled out by a calf injury sustained in training. John O’Shea will captain Manchester United in his absence and partner Jonny Evans in the centre of defence. Full line-ups to follow.1246 I’m expecting plenty of chat from you lot too of course. Get involved on606,](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A55815960s_fromedit=1&s_type=15&s_sport=football)via text on 81111 or, if you’re feeling adventurous, give me a tweet onTwitter.](http://twitter.com/chrismbevan)Basically, you’ve got no excuse for not getting in touch.
**1243: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on his side’s bid to become the first side to win the Premier League four years on the trot: **“We have more experience because of winning the titles but it doesn’t make that much difference in terms of the competition we are going to get into. To win four in a row would be fantastic. But this is a difficult league to win and, rather than look to May, I am looking at Sunday.”
1240: By the way, if you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend you check out’the goal that wasn’t’](http://www.paklinks.com/sport2/low/football/eng_div_1/8194875.stm)in Crystal Palace’s defeat by Bristol City on Saturday. If you’re in the UK and have got access to iPlayer then you can watch it now. If you have seen it, you can kind of see why Eagles boss Neil Warnock is a teeny bit aggrieved, can’t youBBC Sport’s Phil McNulty:](http://twitter.com/philmcnulty)“Off to White Hart Lane soon. Will Liverpool justify my prediction that they will be Premier League champions Tough start.”
1236: If you’re a Birmingham fan then your confidence ahead of the new campaign is hardly likely to have been boosted by thecomments of your manager Alex McLeish this week.Bemoaning the lack of funds to strengthen his squad, the Scot said: "We are not equipped for the Premier League as things stand now. If this team is to stay up, we need more quality. We still need at least three more players."From We all agree, Manchester United are Magic! on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A55815960s_fromedit=1&s_type=15&s_sport=football)“The Champions are finally here. Now witness the magic that is Manchester United.”
1234: Reigning champions Manchester United join the party today, kicking off the defence of their title against newly-promoted Birmingham at 1330 BST. That match is followed by a humdinger at White Hart Lane between Tottenham and Liverpool at 1600 BST - not a bad way to test theReds’ title credentials that…1232 BST: Blimey, yesterday was a bit of a cracker wasn’t it And I’ve got good news - the opening weekend of the 2009/10 Premier League is not over yet…