Well, the whole country enjoyed fireworks and the like last night, but this one's so far yet to ignite.

Bournemouth hoist is long from goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, but Jordon Ibe overhits a pass and that gifts possession back to the home side.

Brighton in blue and white stripes, Bournemouth donning a black strip with yellow trim.

It's the hosts with a touch of early pressure though, they've seen all the ball in the opening two minutes.

Image source, AFP

Premier League football in 2018 is officially under way!

Image source, AFP

And here come the teams... looks like a lovely day down on the south coast, we're moments away from kick-off.

Image source, Reuters

Johnny: 2018 Resolution - Play football. It’s been a couple of years since I last played - I miss it! Not as agile as I used to be but there was a reason my team mates got ‘Gato’ printed on the back of my goalie shirt... (Gato = cat in Portuguese in case you’re wondering).

Class is permanent Johnny! Keep your footballing New Year's resolutions coming in.

A reminder of the teams...

Image source, .

Image source, .

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Chris Hughton has been chatting to Sky Sports: "We're back at home, the onus is on the home side to create and win the game and hopefully we'll be able to do that.

"Almost every game tends to be a big game. The games get bigger towards the end of the season, it's a period we're away from the big six and that's where we have to get our points."

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "Unless you've been following us the past few weeks, you won't know we've been shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit with individual errors.

"We do make it difficult for ourselves but that's when the true character comes through."

Image source, Reuters

In case you were thinking of making a late dash to the Amex, the first Premier League game of 2018 is now sold out!

Image source, Getty Images

Warren Aspinall
Ex-Brighton striker on BBC Sussex

Come May, Brighton need to be in this league and it's been a great journey.

We need to do the same in the second half of the season as the first in terms of points.

Now then, back to the early kick-off...

Tom O'Shea: 2018 resolution - to not lose my rag when players in my Fantasy Football team don’t start a match.

I feel you, Tom. Try triple-captaining Eden Hazard as he sits on the bench while Chelsea put five past Stoke...

John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

Leicester go into 2018 on the back of one point from their last four Premier League fixtures, while Huddersfield's four-match unbeaten run means they come into this match just three points behind the Foxes.

It finished 1-1 when these sides met in Yorkshire back in September, and it wouldn't be a major surprise if it finished all square again.

Leicester will assess left-back Ben Chilwell, who missed the defeat at Liverpool because of illness.

Huddersfield will monitor defender Florent Hadergjonaj, who was taken off at half time against Burnley because of an unspecified injury.

If he is unfit, captain Tommy Smith could return to the starting line-up.

Centre-back Michael Hefele returned to the bench on Saturday after a long-term Achilles injury but still needs to build up match fitness with the under-23 side.

Image source, BBC Sport

Burnley have not had a good Christmas, with draws against Manchester United and Huddersfield and a heavy defeat by Tottenham leaving them with only two points from their past three games.

Liverpool's ability to create chances is just outstanding. The front four of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are almost unplayable at times given their movement, invention and accuracy.

There is a doubt over Salah's fitness after he limped off in the win over Leicester, but Liverpool are favourites through sheer weight of opportunities. Their defence is clearly not the best, but neither is it as bad as people are making out. They have five clean sheets in their past nine games, and Burnley have scored only seven goals in 10 homes games.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2.

Burnley defender James Tarkowski is available to face Liverpool after serving a three-match suspension.

Stephen Ward could miss out again with a knee problem, while Chris Wood remains doubtful with a leg injury.

Liverpool's leading scorer Mohamed Salah could be a fitness doubt after limping off during Saturday's home win over Leicester.

Simon Mignolet is expected to play at Turf Moor as manager Jurgen Klopp continues to rotate his goalkeepers.

Alan Shearer
Former Newcastle striker on Match of the Day

Stoke have to win today. Mark Hughes chose to rest players against Chelsea and it puts pressure on them to beat Newcastle today.

They have to win this game - there is no question about it.

Stoke are expected to recall Xherdan Shaqiri, Joe Allen and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting after they were all rested against Chelsea at the weekend.

Eric Pieters and Kurt Zouma, who was ineligible to face Chelsea, could also return but Ryan Shawcross, Glen Johnson and Bruno Martins Indi remain out.

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez will check on the fitness of several players and he is again likely to rotate his squad.

Rob Elliot, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Florian Lejeune all remain sidelined.

Half hour to go until the first Premier League game of 2018 gets under way, but let's have a quick flick through some early team news for the rest of today's games...