The English Premiership is back on Saturday and so begins the nine-month marathon to the finish-line in May.
Can anyone break the dominance of Manchester City, will we see a surprise contender this year, and who may struggle?
All you need to know about the new 2024-25 Premier League season.
FIVE IN A ROW?
Manchester City are aiming for an unprecedented five Premier League title in a row, having already captured a record four successive titles. It is a sign of their utter dominance under Pep Guardiola but how long can they maintain it? Many of their players are probably getting past their prime.
LIFE AFTER KLOPP
Liverpool will enter a Premier League season without Jurgen Klopp at the helm for the first time since 2015 with new man Arne Slot tasked with taking the team forward. It will be fascinating to see how he goes as, despite the incredible consistency of Manchester City, there may be the feeling Klopp underachieved a little with the talent at his disposal in only claiming one title in nine seasons. It all rather unraveled at the end of Klopp’s stay at Anfield, but Slot has been carefully hand-picked by Liverpool after they missed out on top target Xabi Alonso and pre-season signs so far have been good. He may bring a calmness after the chaos of Klopp.
SAME AGAIN ARSENAL?
Arsenal have been runners-up for the last seasons, unable to grab top spot despite at times looking the best team in the division. They have had little movement so far in the transfer market with only Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori arriving from Bologna. That consistency in selection should help them, though does it make them too predictable? They won 40 points in the first half of last season and 49 in the second, so they are on the up.
VILLAINS TO HEROES?
Aston Villa had an extraordinary campaign in 2023/24 under manager Unai Emery, who has transformed the team, who had looked relegation candidates under former manager Steven Gerrard. But now they have the welcome distraction of the Champions League and how that effects their league form remains to be seen. They have bought well with the additions of fullback Ian Maatsen and midfielders Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana and look to be stronger than last year. But so often we see teams who enter the Champions League struggle in their domestic campaign.
THE QUESTION OF CHELSEA
The Blues have had so much change in their squad that it may take some time to settle down, and with a new manager in Enzo Maresca, we have to see how they will tackle this season. Certainly there is a lot of quality there, but too often in the last campaign they under-performed. In Cole Palmer they have a genuine superstar in the making and there is lots to work with, so let’s see how it plays out.
WHAT ABOUT UNITED?
You would have to believe that Manchester United will do better than their eighth-place finish last season, even if the supporting evidence is still not really there. They have a top squad and were undone by injuries, but whether Erik ten Hag is the right man to take them forward is the big question. The arrivals of striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Leny Yoro have been offset by the departures of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial. Are they stronger than last season?
THE PROMOTED SIDES
Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton are back in the big time and all will be hoping to avoid the fate of last year’s promoted teams, who spent a single season in the Premier League before returning to the Championship. Leicester likely have the best chance of staying up, but it will be tough for the other two in what is arguably the most unforgiving league in the world. Leicester do still face the possibility of a points deduction for breaching Profit & Sustainability Rules, and that could be costly.
WHO CAN SURPRISE?
Is there anyone who can surprise and make a push for Europe this season? Crystal Palace looked superb at the tail-end of last season under manager Oliver Glasner but it is a job to maintain that for 38 games. Everton look to have bought well and without their points deduction last season would have finished joint 11th. Their first XI can match any side in the division, but do they have the depth for a sustained run? It is hard to see anyone else really emerging from those also expected to challenge, such as Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester United.