Man City open EPL title defence, Spurs off to Brentford
Defending champions Manchester City will probably be three points clear before their main rivals have kicked a ball when the new Premier League campaign kicks off this weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning side travel to promoted Burnley, where former City captain Vincent Kompany is now in charge at Turf Moor, on Friday night as they start the chase of a fourth title in a row and sixth in seven years.
Arsenal, runners-up last year after leading for much of the campaign, host Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s lunch-time kickoff while Newcastle United are at home to Aston Villa in the evening.
It promises to be another exciting season especially with a fresh wind blowing across Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and at Stamford Bridge, where Mauricio Pochettino is now in charge.
Spurs have ushered in a new era under former Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou, the Australian manager who is renowned for his exciting brand of football and his success with Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos and Scotland’s Celtic.
Postecoglou’s reign hasn’t been easy with the constant uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of Harry Kane, but whether it has been a huge distraction will be revealed when they travel to Brentford on Sunday.
Liverpool, fifth last season, are at Pochettino’s Chelsea on Sunday while Manchester United, third at the final whistle last May, must wait until Monday for their opening game at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
City lost the Community Shield on penalties to Arsenal at Wembley last weekend, hardly a bad omen given they also lost the previous two and still ended the season as winners.
For Arsenal, however, it was an important statement.
“It’s a marker to know we can go and beat Manchester City in a big game when it matters,” said goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. “I’m not sure what it’ll be like this season. But that mental block is gone.”
City still start as clear favourites and when they played Burnley in an FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad last March they ran out 6-0 winners with goal machine Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick.
There will be plenty of interest elsewhere in the performance of big-money signings and what kind of results new managers bring.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal splashed around STG100 million pounds ($A194 m) on signing England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham, as well as STG65m ($A126m) on bringing Kai Havertz from Chelsea and STG40m ($A78m) on defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax Amsterdam.
Juergen Klopp has lost captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia but the Liverpool boss still has plenty of ammunition as he too seeks to put behind him the failures of the previous year.
Chelsea, who finished 12th last season, have Reece James as their new captain after Cesar Azpilicueta left in a general clear-out.
Wolves also have a new manager, with former Bournemouth coach Gary O’Neil appointed only on Wednesday after Julen Lopetegui abruptly left.
Promoted Sheffield United are at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday while Luton Town are at Brighton & Hove Albion for the Hatters’ first game in the top flight since 1992, pre-Premier League.
Everton host Fulham also on Saturday, with West Ham United travelling to Bournemouth.
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