A-Z of the Premier League campaign

The new 2024/25 Premier League season kicks off in England this weekend with what is sure to be another thrilling title race on the cards.

Ahead of the first round of games, we round up the A-Z of the Premier League campaign.

A – ARSENAL: Runners-up for the last two tears and without many changes to their squad this time round, can Mikel Arteta’s side win a first Premier League title in 21 years?

B – BUKAYO SAKA: The main man at Arsenal in the last campaign, he can be the difference between a title challenge and nothing. He is a potential Player of the Season contender and a key man for The Gunners.

C – CHARGES: Newspaper talk is that the 115 charges brought by the Premier League against Manchester City for alleged breaches of several rules will be heard from next month. This is likely to be a lengthy process, but what effect it will have on the season remains to be seen.

D – DRAWS: Too many draws can be killers, just ask Liverpool, who were involved in 10 in the last campaign. Only Brighton & Hive Albion played to more (12). If Liverpool had turned five of those 10 into victories they would have won the league.

E – EVERTON: Can they avoid a fourth relegation scrap in a row. They have a first XI to match anyone but not the depth in their squad when injuries start to bite. Manager Sean Dyche has been in this position many times before though.

F – FIVE: Manchester City have already won an unprecedented four Premier League titles in a row and are now looking to make it five. They have several aging stars, but don’t count them out …

G – GOODISON PARK: Everton play their final season at the ‘Old Lady’, their home for 132 years since 1892 and the first ever purpose-built football stadium in the world. They will move to the new Everton Stadium for the 2025/26 season. There will be lots of tearful farewells this campaign.

H – ERLING HAALAND: The Golden Boot winner in the last two years, the Manchester City striker has 63 goals in 66 appearances in two seasons in the Premier League. Can he make it a hattrick of top-scorer prizes? Don’t bet against it.

I – IPSWICH TOWN: Ipswich are back in the Premier League for the first time since the 2001/02 campaign. They are a remarkable story having dropped into the third tier League One for the 2022/23 campaign, but back-to-back promotions have them a Premier League club once more.

J – NICOLAS JACKSON: It was a torrid first season in the Premier League for the Senegalese striker but he will hope to grow from that experience at Chelsea.

K – KEVIN DE BRUYNE: Will he still be at Manchester City by the close of the transfer window? The Belgian midfielder has hinted he is open to a move away, including Saudi Arabia, but the plan, for now, appears to be that the 33-year-old will stay.

L – LIVERPOOL: The Jurgen Klopp era is a thing of the past and Dutch manager Arne Slot is the new man in charge. But does he have the players for a serious title challenge? Time will tell.

M – MANCHESTER UNITED: The Red Devils could only manager an eight-place finish last season and these are difficult times for manager Erik ten Hag. Winning the FA Cup saw him keep his job, but surely not for long if they have a poot start to the new campaign.

N – DARWIN NUNEZ: Such a good player until it comes to the finish … if Nunez could find a scoring touch for Liverpool his numbers could be scary, but he is frustratingly wasteful in front of goal. It looks like he may be their lead forward again though.

O – OLLIE WATKINS: The striker was superb last season for Aston Villa and for England at the Euros in the rare chances he got. Golden Boot incoming? Don’t rule it out.

P – PEP GUARDIOLA: The Spaniard has stalled on signing a new Manchester City contract as rumours swirl that he will take on the England manager job. Could this be his last season at the Etihad?

Q – QUALIFICATION: The title is the ultimate prize, but teams will also be jostling for qualification for European football. It is a fluid situation, but generally the top four qualify for the Uefa Champions League, next two for the Europa League and seventh place takes the Conference League spot. But there are other factors at play.

R – RELEGATION: Who are favourites for the drop? According to the bookmakers in England, it is the three promoted sides, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton. Followed by Nottingham Forest, Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

S – MOHAMED SALAH: The Egyptian star was not quite at his best last season in what was a chaotic end to the campaign for Liverpool, but he remains one of the most lethal in the Premier League and will look to bounce back to form.

T – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: They were certainly exciting to watch last season under manager Ange Postecoglou, but far too leaky in defence. If they can tighten up at the back, can they be title contenders? Or certainly top four chasers?

U – UNDEFEATED: The only team to go undefeated through a Premier League campaign were Arsenal in 2003/04 under Arsene Wenger. Can anyone repeat that this year?

V – ASTON VILLA: The surprise package of last season, with the substantial distraction of the Uefa Champions League this campaign, it could be tougher going on the domestic front for Unai Emery’s side.

W – WINS: Both champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal managed 28 wins last season, the difference in the end came down to two more defeats for The Gunners. It is likely 28 will be the minimum number of victories needed again this term.

X – XABI ALONSO: Liverpool’s first choice for their new manager was Alonso, who was a star midfielder for the Anfield club. But having led Bayer Leverkusen to a first ever Bundesliga title with an ‘Invincible’ season, he turned them down. Arne Slot is now in charge.

Y – YOUNGSTERS: The emergence of youngsters such as Cole Palmer and Jarrad Branthwaite last season were a real boost to the league. There are more to come this campaign.

Z – JOSHUA ZIRKZEE: The young Dutch forward has arrived at Old Trafford in the hope of adding firepower to what was at times a wayward Manchester United attack last season. How quickly he adapts will be key.