Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at Villa Park

Unai Emery told me on Thursday: "If we are complaining about working hard, we are not in the right way."

Villa's spending this summer has been restricted by profit and sustainability rules, with just Marco Bizot - the 34-year-old goalkeeper who arrived from Brest this summer - making his debut this afternoon.

Striker Evann Guessand, who has joined for an initial £26m from Rennes is on the bench, but Villa's side has a familiar look about it.

Newcastle themselves only hand Anthony Elanga a debut but he cost £55m from Newcastle while Malick Thiaw, a £35m arrival from AC Milan, is on the bench.

Yet it still highlights the gulf Villa must try to bridge this season if they are to return to the Champions League, with Emery and the club needing to work harder to find the solutions.

"We cannot avoid the summer has been challenging because the financial rules were conditioning our investment and our squad," Emery wrote in his programme notes.

"This is a situation that we know, we accept with responsibility, and we will overcome by trying to work harder and be accurate with our decisions."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports about Alexander Isak's transfer saga: "No different to how it has been for a number of weeks. We are without him [Alexander Isak]. We are adapting to that and still trying to be competitive. Today will be a big test for us.

"We feel in good spirits. It is a strong team he [Unai Emery] picks, so hopefully we go well.

"We believe in the team we have picked today. There have been distractions through pre-season, but that's been for me, and not the players."

On feeling let down by Alexander Isak: "Now is not the time to discuss that. All my emotions are towards this game. This is a tough place to come. We have got to be there mentally, me included.

Image source, Getty Images

It was good to have Premier League football back last night, but not everything about its return was welcome.

The game between Liverpool and Bournemouth was stopped in the first half after Cherries forward Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by someone in the Anfield crowd.

The 25-year-old went on to score twice in 12 second-half minutes as the Cherries briefly levelled, before the reigning champions scored two late goals to win 4-2.

Merseyside Police said a 47-year-old man was ejected from Anfield following reports of racist abuse directed towards Semenyo, and that it is now investigating.

"We take incidents like this very seriously, and in cases like this we will be proactively seeking football banning orders, with the club, against those responsible," said chief inspector Kev Chatterton.

Ghana international Semenyo took to Instagram after the game to show more racist abuse he had received, with the caption: "When will it stop?"

Read more here.

BBC Radio 5 Live

If you're out and about today then BBC Radio 5 Live is on hand to bring you all of the action from the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

Alan Shearer, Stephen Warnock, Andy Reid and Statman Dave join Mark Chapman to take you through all the key talking points from 12:00 BST.

There will also be live updates from the early kick off at Villa Park.

We've also brought in a true legend of the game, Wayne Rooney, to host a brand-new show diving into the football debates that are dominating your algorithm every week.

Wayne will bring his authority, honesty and experience to cut through the noise and give you the game as it really is.

The first episode is out now on iPlayer, Sounds, the BBC Sport app and website, YouTube and other social channels.

You’ll also get fresh new formats like The Football Interview with Kelly Somers – a new show that goes past the post-match platitudes and into the personal stories that define the beautiful game. And by the game we don’t just mean the Premier League – we’ll be telling stories from men and women across the world.

So what does this all mean then?

We’ll also be showing you the key parts of Premier League games sooner. On Saturday and Sundays there will be highlights on iPlayer, our app and website available at 8pm.

For weekday matches - like tonight - or late weekend kick-offs there will highlights more like half an hour after full-time.

BBC Sport’s flagship football show, Match of the Day, returns with a brand-new presenting trio ready to bring insight, energy and entertainment every week. Full-time reaction on the BBC Sport app, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport’s YouTube channel along with TV’s excellent Final Score programme will ensure you’re up to date (including how your fantasy team has done).

Then tactical breakdowns and unpicking of the big talking points that go beyond the obvious will take you closer to the players, the managers and the moments that matter, on the main show later that night. And it’s the same again for Champions League Wednesdays.

Alex Kay-Jelski
BBC Director of Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome to the new football season.

You know the feeling. That buzz in your stomach. That hopeful voice in your head “this could be our year.” The highs, the heartbreak, the glorious unpredictability of it all. From the first whistle to the last-minute drama, we’re right there with you. On the edge of our seats, refreshing the live page, wincing at referees or VAR, shouting at the TV, arguing in the group chat. We are fans. Just like you.

And that’s what this new era of football on BBC Sport is all about… you.

This season, we’re not just covering the games. We’re following the fans. Every goal, every story, every stat, every moment. Brought to you where you want it, when you want it, and how you love it. Whether you’re shouting for Liverpool or loving Lionesses, whether you back Chelsea Women or Cheltenham Town, you’re at the heart of everything we do.

We’re taking you inside the game more than ever before. That means new shows. New formats. New voices. New perspectives. More radio commentaries than we’ve ever had across the leagues. More updates on the club pages on our app and website up and down the pyramid.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, speaking to TNT Sports: "It is always nice when you play at home for the first game - we knew how good we were last season at home, so we want to continue that.

"Earlier on in the season last year we dropped some key points, but things happened. It is a new season, and we want to continue what we're building here and continue growing.

"Same aim as last season: stay up there with the big buys. We want to get Champions League football again.

"We will focus on today's game and take it game by game."

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Opening day fixtures do not come much more difficult than a trip to Villa Park.

This has not been a happy hunting ground for Newcastle United, who have lost on five of their last six visits here, and the visitors’ task has been made that much harder without a recognised senior striker.

It will fall to Anthony Gordon to lead the line in Alexander Isak’s continued absence.

Newcastle’s front three are rapid, and will look to try and exploit Aston Villa’s high line, but you just wonder where the goals are going to come from.

For context, Isak was the only Newcastle player to hit double figures last season.

There is also the small matter of keeping Ollie Watkins quiet. That was something Newcastle struggled with when these sides last met here a few months ago.

Image source, PA Media

Newcastle United

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, speaking to TNT Sports: "We are happy because the pre-season is sometimes boring, a long pre-season, but we are happy because this is a big game to start, and we need to push for our best."

On Alexander Isak's transfer saga affecting the Newcastle players: "Not a lot because we are a great team.

"We need to work on the pitch with our teammates. We love Alex, every player, every person in Newcastle loves Alex. This is football and it is normal. We need to work and work to win this game."

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at Villa Park

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez is suspended after his red card in the final day defeat at Manchester United, which cost Villa a Champions League spot.

It means Marco Bizot, a summer signing from Brest, makes his debut in goal but he is the only new signing to start.

New striker Evann Guessand, a £26m signing from Rennes, starts on the bench.

Aston Villa XI: Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Buendia, Malen, Jimoh-Alboba, Iling-Junior, Guessand, Wright

Newcastle start the season without star man Alexander Isak as his transfer saga continues with the striker still trying to force a move to Liverpool.

Anthony Elanga makes his debut after a £55m move from Nottingham Forest while new arrivals Malik Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale are on the bench.

Anthony Gordon will lead the line in Isak's absence.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Barnes, Gordon, Elanga.

Subs: Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Seung-soo, Miley, Ramsdale

Marco Bizot starts in goal for Aston Villa but fellow new signing Evann Guessand is on the bench.

Anthony Elanga starts for Newcastle but as expected there is no Alexander Isak in the squad.

Full team news to follow.

Wayne Rooney
Former Man Utd striker speaking to BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

On the Alexander Isak transfer saga:

I think it is a huge blow. Over the last few years Newcastle have done everything right, they have not gone over PSR rules, they have done everything within the rules, but for Isak to leave, if that happens it would be a massive setback.

They are trying to build a squad that is ready to compete for the Premier League and in the Champions League as well and if Isak leaves players will look at that and think. “If the best players are leaving, is that somewhere I want to go?”

Newcastle fans might just be glad to focus on football after a summer where the future of Alexander Isak has dominated.

The striker has been linked with a move to Liverpool and has been training away from the team. He will miss today's game against Aston Villa.

Team news for that game will drop imminently.

Newcastle's big problem is Alexander Isak, who surely won't be involved while his future is being resolved.

That means they are without one of the Premier League's best strikers, and Anthony Gordon will probably play as a false nine, which is not ideal.

Villa have their own issues and they must be struggling to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR) because there has been a lot of talk of Ollie Watkins leaving this summer - they have signed another striker, Evann Guessand, but they definitely need to keep hold of Watkins too.

This is a hard one to call because, despite all the doom and gloom surrounding Newcastle, they are still a strong and exciting side.

But Villa are at home and we know how dangerous they are under Unai Emery, so I am going to back them to edge this and pile on the misery for Newcastle.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Hello!

Missed last night's action? Then you can watch the highlights above.

This is what we've got coming up today, and you can watch highlights of all these games on BBC iPlayer and via this page at 20:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League returned last night with a six-goal thriller as defending champions Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2.

The first Saturday of the season sees five games taking place, all kicking off with Aston Villa against Newcastle at lunchtime.