Premier League State of Play on the First Matchday

And so, here we are. Again.

The first matchday of the English Premier League for the 2024/25 season.

It has been an incredible, rather hectic, summer of football around the world. Spain won at Euro 2024 in Germany, Lionel Messi’s Argentina won a record 16th Copa América, and Spain won again—taking the gold at the Olympic Games in Paris—with France and Morocco winning the silver and bronze.

Meanwhile, at club football level—which is, honestly, all that really matters—clubs across Europe scrambled to rebuild and reshape their squads the best they could in preparation for the coming season. Some will aim to win titles and trophies, others will attempt to qualify for European competitions, and the rest will hope to avoid relegation battles.

However, the 2024 summer transfer window has been admittedly strange. Last season’s points penalties dished out to Everton and Nottingham Forest against breaches of Profitability and Sustainability Rules [PSR] appear to have scared most Premier League clubs into being extremely careful about their finances.

Read Our Premier League 2023-24 Season Review - Part One

Of Transfers In and Out

Chelsea, of course, have done this window what they have done since Boehly and co. took reins at the club. Surprise big spenders have included Aston Villa, who prepare for an intense season with Champions League football, Brighton, and West Ham. More usual suspects though have been rather quiet.

Liverpool have signed absolutely no one at all for new manager Arne Slot, and except for their failed attempt to wrench Martin Zubimendi away from Real Sociedad, have made no waves at all.

Arsenal exercised their option-to-buy to make David Raya’s loan move from Brentford permanent but have since only signed one senior player in Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. They continue to be linked with Mikel Merino, and will hope to complete the deal over the next few days.

Manchester City have signed only Savinho from Troyes, having been linked to Bruno Guimarães, Dani Olmo, and other big profile names across the summer but to date, the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid remains their most significant piece of transfer business.

Elsewhere, Manchester United have strengthened in both attack and defense with the signings of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui. Tottenham have signed Dominic Solanke and Archie Gray, having extended Timo Werner’s loan spell at the club through next season. Newcastle again have surprised with their lack of spending, Lloyd Kelly their only major signing thus far beyond new goalkeepers in Ruddy and Vlachodimos but perhaps their greatest feat has been keeping hold of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimarães.

Read Our Premier League 2023-24 Season Review - Part Two

Of Prospects and Predictions

Once more, the Prince will attempt to dethrone the King as Arsenal hope they are third time lucky in their quest to win the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s team have appeared to be at their brilliant best in recent pre-season friendlies. Barring disastrous injuries, and with such additions as Calafiori, Merino, and perhaps another striker or winger, they should push Pep Guardiola’s four time champions, Manchester City, to their limits again.

It gets increasingly complicated here: there are at least six clubs who will hope, if not expect, to finish in the top four, and there are question marks about each of them.

Aston Villa, given their performances last season, should be favorites but they have lost Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby which might unsettle their rhythm given the raft of new additions, including Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, Jaden Philogene, and Ross Barkley. The Champions League campaign will require delicate balance in squad rotation too, and the danger is their domestic efforts fall short of the mark.

Manchester United have done good business, and if they can avoid the injury horrors of last season, should prove strong contenders to be the best of the rest behind the top two. Conversely, the squad still feels like so many disparate parts instead of one coherent whole, and questions remain over Erik ten Hag’s long-term prospects at the club. He might lead them back to the top … or he might be sacked in December.

Liverpool and Newcastle remain not much changed from last season. Whether it offers them consistency and stability or stagnancy and redundancy remains to be seen but their lack of major transfer activity will concern their fans.

Read Our Premier League 2023-24 Season Review - Part Three

Chelsea, on the other hand, have changed so entirely—as is their wont these days—and have gathered together such an inexplicable, unsustainably large, squad under another new manager, one really cannot begin to predict their fate and fortune.

Tottenham’s kamikaze approach to football should continue, which makes them dangerously unpredictable but also prone to complete disaster. Will they put together an unbeaten run to be considered early title contenders or might Ange Postecoglou be sacked before the approach of winter?

Brighton, under new manager Fabian Hürzeler and with the players they have brought in, will be exhilarating to watch and should challenge for European places once more. Likewise, West Ham have strengthened impressively, and will aim to finish at least in the top seven under Julen Lopetegui.

Crystal Palace look exciting under Glasner and Fulham have done well in the transfer market—the addition of Emile Smith Rowe particularly thrilling—as have Bournemouth. Brentford, Everton, and Ipswich should all survive and finish mid-table, even if they flirt with relegation at times during the season.

For the rest, however, it is bleak reading. Leicester and Southampton look like they will drop straight back down to the Championship, and will take one of Nottingham Forest or Wolverhampton Wanderers with them.

Umair Mirxa's Premier League Team of the Season 2023-24

Umair Mirxa’s Predictions

Arsenal - 1st

Manchester City - 2nd

Newcastle - 3rd

Liverpool - 4th

Manchester United - 5th

Aston Villa - 6th

Tottenham Hotspurs - 7th

West Ham - 8th

Brighton - 9th

Chelsea - 10th

Crystal Palace - 11th

Bournemouth - 12th

Fulham - 13th

Ipswich - 14th

Everton - 15th

Brentford - 16th

Wolves - 17th

Nottingham - 18th

Leicester City - 19th

Southampton - 20th