The pre-season is almost over, and we are near a brand-new English Premier League campaign. The action begins on Friday, 11th August, when newly promoted Burnley goes into the fire with a home game against defending champions Manchester City. You can follow that fixture on TV and live streaming apps from 20:00 GMT. Bring the curtain up in style as two ambitious teams go head-to-head.
Round one of the 125th Premier League anniversary season continues with six games on Saturday, including Arsenal v Nottingham Forest. There are two games on Sunday, and the remaining match is on Monday when Manchester United host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford. Strap yourself in for an action-packed week with supporters and armchair fans hoping for plenty of goals, even more talking points, and the odd shock result.
With seven of the ten Premier League games shown live on television between Friday and Monday, top-tier soccer in England is back with a bang. Study the schedule, choose the games you wish to watch, and make predictions at the top apps offering everything from EPL betting to Las Vegas casino online gambling. Predict the winners or scorers to help add an extra layer of excitement to the occasion.
An exciting summer is over
It’s been all change in the English Premier League following one of the busiest and most exciting summer transfer windows. Following their Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble last term, Man City have reinvested as they aim to build on that success. Winning the Club World Cup and defending the Champions League will be high on their list of priorities.
Liverpool endured a disappointing season and lost their captain Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia. It was a shock transfer and attracted a lot of negativity in the press. We’re unsure what attracted 33-year-old Henderson to a team willing to pay over £35 million a year. The Reds have a void to fill, but seeing their captain and on-field leader off will help usher in a new dawn. The 2023/24 season is crucial for Liverpool.
Other EPL big names under pressure to perform this season include Chelsea, who have spent big but have yet to receive the rewards. Newcastle will continue to build on the back of last season’s top-four glory, and we want to see how much Arsenal has learned from their near-miss. The Gunners famously lead the league for many months before surrendering their advantage down the home straight.
Who are the favorites to win the Premier League next spring, and which dark horses deserve our respect? Keep reading as we detail five top-level English soccer teams worth following this season.
Man City
What’s left to say about Man City? They almost enjoyed a clean sweep last season, missing the EFL Cup but winning the Premier League and FA Cup before completing a late treble by snagging that elusive Champions League medal. It sounds like Man City dominated from start to finish, but that wasn’t the case.
Pep Guardiola’s men spent most of the season playing catch-up on an Arsenal side that hit the front early and raced clear. It seemed the Gunners would end their agonizingly long wait for a trophy, and with City failing to win the first trophy of the season, it didn’t look promising. Sometimes a supreme machine like City needs a target to chase, and that’s what they did, reeling in the Gunners.
At the turn of the year, Man City found their feet and went on an extended winning run to push them past Mikel Arteta’s men and into pole position. We’re reminding readers of last season and that late surge because the champions shouldn’t be written off.
There’s little value in backing them to win the league in pre-season when the slate is clean. But if City endure another sluggish start and aren’t in control approaching Christmas, that doesn’t mean they won’t triumph.
Newcastle
Newcastle United finished fourth last season, ensuring they will be involved in the Champions League this term. The Magpies already had a sizeable transfer kitty, and since boosted with the UCL cash, they could contest the league.
They finished in fourth despite winning only 19 of 38 games which was just one win more than Aston Villa down in seventh. Newcastle are a great team with a considerable fanbase and cash to spend. It won’t be a shock if they improve to hold their top-four spot or aim higher, climbing towards the title. Will Newcastle win the league? It’s possible, but we won’t hold our breath.
Liverpool
It’s make or break for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, and the manager knows another disappointing campaign could cost him dear. If Klopp doesn’t finish in the top four and put a dent in the Europa League, fans and the board may start to look elsewhere for their next manager.
That’s wild when remembering he led them to Premier League and Champions League glory in recent years. But it’s football, and there’s no room for friendship or favors in the Premier League. Klopp and his band of Reds know what lies ahead.
The rebuild was going well for the team but losing captain Henderson to Saudi Arabia has caused more division and upset in the ranks than first expected. Losing their leader on the pitch isn’t ideal ahead of such an important year.
Tottenham
It’s exciting times over at Spurs, with the Londoners turning to former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou following the Aussie’s treble in Glasgow.
Fans don’t seem too convinced with the arrival of a boss from the Scottish Premiership, but the board has backed him, and if he can keep hold of Harry Kane for at least another season, Ange and his Spurs team have the talent to squeeze back into the top-four.
Chelsea
There’s much going on at Stamford Bridge, but it’s happening under the dark cloud of last season’s failure when finishing 12th, ending the campaign with Frank Lampard back in charge.
The cash-rich board will back Mauricio Pochettino, who led Spurs to a final appearance in the Champions League. A good manager with money to spend. The only way is up for Chelsea this season.
