This evening’s curtain-raiser sees Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford in an 8pm kick-off (2am Phuket time).
Erik Ten Hag’s team will be looking to improve their league form from last season where they struggled, although they did beat neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final to secure some silverware at least.
City themselves will be looking for an unprecedented fifth consecutive league title in what could be manager Pep Guardiola’s last season at the club as he enters the final year of his contract and rumours abound that he may be tempted by the vacant England national team manager’s role.
The club are also soon to discover the outcome of the hearing into alledged financial fair play violations, which could result in a hefty points deduction. Bizarrely, they are 14-1 with bookmakers to be relegated, should the sizeable points deduction materialise, although experts predict this is highly unlikely and a minor charge to serve as a slap on the wrist will suffice.
Exciting Brazilian winger Savinho is the only new signing at the Etihad, with striker Julian Alvarez a surprise depature to Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal will be desperate to go one better than last season when they were pipped to the title by City on the final day. Mikel Arteta’s side certainly have the ability to challenge again, with Italian Riccardo Calafiori an astute signing to fill the problematic left side of defence. Many suggest the Gunners still need an out-and-out striker to really fire on all cylinders although nobody of note has been linked with the club thus far.
It is a new dawn at Liverpool under Arne Slot, following the depature of the hugely successful and even more popular Jurgen Klopp. Slot inherits a squad packed with quality that will suit the high-possession, high-pressing, clinical attacking football that the Dutchman honed so successfully at previous club Feyenoord. There have been no new signings at Anfield at time of press, suggesting Slot is content with the squad he has at his disposal.
VILLAINS OPTIMISTIC
Aston Villa had an outsanding last campaign, finishing fourth to qualify for the Champions League. While this will be welcome progress at the hugely ambitious club, their midweek exploits in Europe could stretch a squad that lost key midfielders Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby in the summer. That being said, they have been active in bringing fresh blood to the club, including Amadou Onana from Everton to fill the midfield void and former player Ross Barkley, who was outstanding for Luton Town last season in the Premier League. Coach Unai Emery is a very shrewd tactician who should be able to keep the Villains competitive on all fronts.
Tottenham will be looking to £65 million (B2.9 billion) new signing Dominic Solanke to provide the goals that were largely missing last season after Harry Kane’s departure. Solanke, unlucky not to make England’s Euro 2024 squad, will be ably supported by the likes of Son Heung-min and James Maddison, suggesting a promising season of continued progression ahead for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Solanke’s previous club Bournemouth achieved their highest-ever Premier League points total of 48 and a 12th place finish last season under manager Andoni Iraola and, while losing their star striker is a blow, there was enough witnessed during the last campaign to suggest the Cherries can kick on even further this time around.
UNPREDICTABLE
Despite finishing sixth last season Chelsea sacked manager Mauricio Pochettino and brought in Enzo Maresca, who led Leicester City back to the top-flight last campaign. Things behind the scenes are as wildly unpredictable as ever at Stamford Bridge, suggesting Maresca will need to call on all his prior experience, including several years as a coach under Guardiola at Man City, to get through unscathed. This will include managing a bloated squad of 43 players (including six goalkeepers!) after 10 new signings were made during the summer at a cost of £185.4mn. Pedro Neto from Wolves is arguably the stand out signing, although the squad already have an abundance of wide attacking talent, which raises more questions than it provides answers.
Newcastle United finished a credible seventh last season but the club will be demanding more given the aspirations and financial backing of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. Transfer activity has been quiet at St James’ Park this summer although ongoing rumours surrounding the futures of star attackers Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak do not bode favourably.
Crystal Palace finished last season fantastically well under Oliver Glasner and will be looking to push on again, although losing star attacker Michael Olise to Bayern Munich was a blow and their fans will be desperately hoping talisman Eberechi Eze and defender Mark Guehi, oustanding for England at Euro 2024, will still be at the club when the transfer window closes.
Everton will be hoping for a more favourable campaign after constantly flirting with relegation following a 10-point reduction for financial irregularities last season, while West Ham will be looking for similar improvements under new coach Julen Lopetegui.
Wolves, Brentford, Fulham and Nottingham Forest will all be looking to kick on this season while Brighton welcome the Premier League’s youngest ever manager in 31-year-old American-German Fabian Hurzeler.
Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich Town are the promoted clubs and it promises to be a hard slog to prevent an immediate return to the Championship for all three.
However, returning to the top flight after a 22-year absence, the Tractor Boys of Ipswich may just surprise a few people after they performed admirably last season under promising young manager Kieran McKenna, whose attacking style could sit comfortably among England’s top footballing brass.