The Premier League is almost back.
After a summer dominated by the World Cup, transfers and plenty of managerial changes, the new campaign is finally upon us.
And this season feels different.
Arsenal enter the campaign as Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years, but defending their title could be an entirely different challenge. Meanwhile, Manchester City are beginning life after Pep Guardiola, Liverpool have a new manager in Andoni Iraola, and Chelsea are also under new leadership. (Talksport)
Then there are the promoted clubs.
Coventry City are back in the Premier League after 25 years away, while Ipswich Town and Hull City have also returned to the top flight. (Premier League)
There is plenty to look forward to.
Can Arsenal Defend Their Title?
Arsenal finally got their hands on the Premier League trophy last season, ending a 22-year wait for the title.
Now comes the difficult part.
Can they do it again?
Mikel Arteta has built a squad capable of competing at the highest level, and Arsenal have strengthened further this summer, including the arrival of Bruno Guimarรฃes.
But expectations are now completely different.
They are no longer chasing the champions.
They are the champions.
Every team will want to beat them, and every dropped point will attract more attention.
Arsenal’s opening fixture certainly won’t be a formality either, with Coventry City visiting the Emirates on Friday night. (Premier League)
Manchester City Enter a New Era
The biggest change in the Premier League this season is arguably happening at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola is gone.
After an incredible spell at the club, City have appointed Enzo Maresca as their new manager.
Replacing Guardiola was always going to be difficult, and City already suffered a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Of course, one game should never define an entire season.
But there are genuine questions around City.
Rodri’s departure is a huge loss, while several other experienced players have also left. Maresca now has the difficult task of rebuilding the side while trying to keep City competing at the very top. (The Guardian)
If anyone can handle the pressure, you’d still back Manchester City to be involved.
But this could be the beginning of a very different era at the Etihad.
Liverpool Have a Huge Job on Their Hands
Liverpool are another club entering a new chapter.
Andoni Iraola has replaced Arne Slot, who himself had taken over from Jรผrgen Klopp.
Iraola arrives with an excellent reputation after his time at Bournemouth, but Liverpool have plenty of work to do.
Mohamed Salah has left, while other experienced players have also departed.
There is still an enormous amount of quality in the squad, but the new manager will need to find the right balance quickly.
Liverpool finished fifth last season, so simply getting back into the Champions League places would represent an improvement. (The Guardian)
But at Liverpool, expectations are always higher than that. I would expect them to finish top 3.
The Promoted Clubs Have a Huge Challenge
Coventry, Ipswich and Hull are back in the Premier League.
And while survival will be the obvious objective, don’t automatically assume all three will struggle.
Coventry in particular arrive with plenty of momentum after winning the Championship and will have the added excitement of returning to the top flight after 25 years away.
Their opening fixture could hardly be more difficult, though.
Arsenal away.
What a way to return to the Premier League.
Ipswich and Hull will also be hoping to avoid becoming immediately dragged into a relegation battle.
And football has already shown us that newly promoted teams shouldn’t always be written off.
Nine Clubs Have New Managers
Another reason this season could be so unpredictable is the sheer amount of managerial change.
Nine Premier League clubs begin the campaign with new head coaches, meaning a huge number of teams will be adapting to different systems, tactics and philosophies. (Premier League)
That could make the opening months particularly interesting.
Some managers will settle immediately.
Others might need several months to get their ideas across.
And for some clubs, patience probably won’t last very long.
So Who Wins the Title?
That’s the million-pound question.
Arsenal have the advantage of stability and are the reigning champions.
Manchester City have the quality but are entering a new era.
Liverpool have a new manager and plenty of attacking talent to work with.
Chelsea and several other clubs will also have their eyes on the Champions League places.
Personally, I don’t expect this to be a straightforward season.
There are too many changes happening across the league.
There are too many clubs capable of beating each other.
One thing is certain.
We’re going to find out very quickly whether last season’s predictions were right or completely wrong.
The new Premier League season begins on Friday, August 21, when Arsenal host Coventry City. (Sky Sports)
And after months of waiting, we’re finally back to what football is all about.
90 minutes.
Three points.
And absolutely no idea what is going to happen next.