The 2024/2025 Premier League season is almost upon us. As such, it’s time to get ready for what is sure to be another memorable campaign. Will Manchester City make it five titles in a row? Will Liverpool cope with the loss of Jurgen Klopp? Can Arsenal finally claim their first title in 20 years at long last? And will any of the newly promoted teams be able to survive?
This article has the lowdown on all you need ahead of the big kick-off. We will be looking at the big-name players who have joined the league, assessing the three newly promoted teams, and looking ahead to some of the key early-season fixtures.
Who are the new players?
It’s been a relatively quiet summer in terms of Premier League transfers. Champions Manchester City have made just one signing, winger Savio joining for 25,000,000 Euros from Troyes. The Brazilian will add pace and quality to the right side of City’s attack, having enjoyed a superb 2023/24 season on loan at Girona.
Arsenal have added highly-rated Italian center Riccardo Calafiori to their ranks. The former Bologna man was one of the few bright spots for Italy in their Euro 2024 campaign. His arrival gives Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta the potential to switch to a back three this season. Goalkeeper David Raya has also made his move from Brentford permanent, following a successful loan spell last season.
Champions League new boys Aston Villa have been busy in the transfer market. Star midfielder Douglas Luiz has departed to Juventus, but they have bolstered their ranks with a number of top-class signings. Midfielder Amadou Onana has joined from Everton for £50m, full-back Ian Maatsen has been signed from Chelsea for over £30m, and highly rated winger Jaden Philogene joins the club from Hull City in a deal worth around £20m.
Manchester United made the most expensive signing of the window when they paid almost £60m for Lille center half Leny Yoro. However, the defender has picked up an injury in pre-season and may miss the first few games of the new campaign.
Away from the pitch, the big managerial news has been Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool. New boss Arne Slot has some huge shoes to fill but comes with a big reputation and fans will be confident that the Reds can mount a serious title challenge.
Some of the other big summer signings include Max Kilman’s £40m move from Wolves to West Ham, Eliott Anderson’s £35m switch from Newcastle to Notts Forest, and Brighton’s £25m move for Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh.
Will any of the three promoted sides stay up?
Last season’s three promoted sides all made a swift return to the Championship, so will Leicester City, Ipswich Town or Southampton fare any better?
From a purely soccer point of view, Leicester look best placed to survive. Despite losing Kieran Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea, they have bolstered their ranks with astute signings such as exciting Italian defender Caleb Okoli and the experienced Bobby Dercova-Reid from Fulham. However, the Foxes may be facing a points deduction for financial wrongdoing. This would severely put a dent in their chances of finishing outside the bottom three.
Ipswich were last season’s surprise package in the Championship, but the bookies have them as odds-on favorites for relegation this season. The Tractor Boys have made a few summer signings. It remains to be seen whether the likes of Liam Delap, Ben Johnson, and Omari Hutchinson have the quality needed to turn Ipswich into a competitive top-flight side.
Finally, play-off winners Southampton have made 14 signings ahead of the season. This includes ex-England and Liverpool star Adam Lallana, plus striker Ben Brereton Diaz in a £6.5m deal with Villarreal. The big problem is that the majority of their other signings are lacking in top-level experience, meaning manager Russell Martin faces a huge task in finding a starting eleven that can compete with the best sides in the country.
In our opinion, Ipswich and Southampton look like the two weakest sides in the division, and it would be a big surprise if either were to finish above 18th place. Leicester have the best chance of survival. The likes of Notts Forest and even Wolves looking like potential relegation candidates. However, if the Foxes were do get a points deduction, it would severely jeopardize their survival chances. In that eventuality, it would be highly likely that for the second season running, the three promoted sides would be making an immediate return to the Championship.
What are the big games in the early part of the season?
Without a doubt, the most mouthwatering clash of the opening weekend (August 16th to 19th) is Manchester City’s visit to Chelsea on August 18th. Although the Blues have endured a couple of terrible seasons, they still possess several top-class players and will give the champions a huge test at the start of their quest for five titles in a row.
Newly promoted Ipswich face a huge challenge in their first game back in the top flight, as Liverpool visit Portman Road in the Saturday lunchtime fixture. Fellow new boys Southampton and Leicester face Newcastle and Spurs respectively, as they hope to get their seasons off to a flying starts.
The second round of fixtures is highlighted by a clash between two of last season’s top four, as Aston Villa host Arsenal in a huge Saturday evening game. Meanwhile, game week three features a heavyweight clash at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Liverpool.
Other early season highlights include Spurs v Arsenal (September 15th), Manchester City v Arsenal (September 22nd) and Manchester United v Spurs (September 29th).
And finally…
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