The 2014/15 Premier League campaign kicks off Saturday lunchtime as Manchester United begin the Louis van Gaal era against Garry Monk’s Swansea City at Old Trafford.

The hosts finished in seventh place last season – their lowest position in twenty-four years, meaning for the first time in that stretch the will not be involved in European competition.

New signing Luke Shaw is unavailable with a hamstring injury that could keep him out for up to a month while Jonny Evans, who was absent from the friendly win over Valencia midweek, could join midfielders Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick and forward Danny Welbeck on the side-lines.

Robin van Persie is favourite to get the first goal of the game at 4.4 (17/5) with Bet Victor, while new club captain Wayne Rooney is a 4.5 (7/2) chance with a variety of firms.

The home win can be backed 1.4 (2/5) for the win with Bet Victor with Swansea as highly priced as the 11.0 (10/1) on offer from Bet 365. The draw is a 5.2 (21/5) shot with Sporting Bet.

Swansea narrowly avoided being dragged into a relegation scrap following the appointment of Garry Monk in February, eventually finishing in twelfth place – seven points off tenth place Newcastle United and nine above eighteenth place Norwich City.

Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge are available for selection after missing last weekend’s match with Villareal though Leon Britton, Marvin Emnes and Jay Fulton are all out injured.

Last season’s top scorer Wilfried Bony is priced at 15.0 (14/1) with Bet Victor to open the scoring ahead of new signing Bafetimbi Gomis, who is a 17.0 (16/1) chance with the same firm.

These two sides met on the opening day of last season, with United running out 4-0 winners at the Liberty Stadium, while they also emerged victorious at Old Trafford in January when goals from Valencia and Welbeck secured a 2-0 victory under then manager David Moyes.

The home win to nil is can be backed at 2.25 (5/4) with Bet Victor while they are priced at 2.0 (1/1) with the same firm to be winning at both half time and full time.