The 2024/25 Premier League season opens with Manchester United welcoming Fulham on Friday while reigning champions Manchester City face a challenging visit to a big-spending Chelsea side on Sunday.
Liverpool’s new head coach, Arne Slot, will also draw attention during his competitive debut with a Saturday fixture at Ipswich, a team celebrating its promotion after a long absence, taking over from Jurgen Klopp.
As the season begins, AFP Sports shares insights on the opening weekend:
Erik ten Hag, having secured Manchester United an unexpected FA Cup victory over Manchester City last May, remains at the helm thanks, in part, to that triumph. With support from the club’s revamped management structure, including billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, Ten Hag has extended his contractextended his contract through 2026.
The summer’s acquisitions, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs De Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui – at a total cost of about £150 million ($192 million) – are expected to invigorate the squad. However, after a disappointing eighth-place finish last season, Ten Hag is pressured to make a strong start and dispel concerns over his suitability for the role. A repeat of Fulham’s historic win at Old Trafford in February could heighten fan anxieties.
Arne Slot faces a significant test in his Premier League introduction as Liverpool visits Ipswich, back in the top division after 22 years following consecutive promotions. Despite Liverpool not adding to their squad in the transfer window, their pre-season performance has been notable, with victories against Arsenal, United, and Sevilla.
A win at Portman Road would offer Liverpool supporters some comfort after Klopp’s departure. “We’re going to empty the tank and give everything we’ve got,” Tuanzebe said in a BBC interview, emphasizing Ipswich’s determination to maintain their strong home performance.
Enzo Maresca, taking charge at Chelsea, confronts a daunting task in his first game against Manchester City, his former team. Maresca, who was previously part of Guardiola’s staff at City and led Leicester to Championship promotion, steps into a tumultuous situation at Chelsea, which now includes an oversized and uncertain squad.
Chelsea’s pre-season challenges were highlighted in a 4-2 loss to City in the USA. In contrast, City has seen minimal change, welcoming only Brazilian winger Savinho, with Julian Alvarez leaving for Atletico Madrid. After participating in the Euro 2024 final, key players from City returned to training late, making them doubtful for the Chelsea match.
Fixtures:
Friday (all times GMT)
Manchester United v Fulham (1900)
Saturday
Ipswich v Liverpool (1130), Arsenal v Wolves, Everton v Brighton, Newcastle v Southampton, Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth (all 1400), West Ham v Aston Villa (1630)
Sunday
Brentford v Crystal Palace (1300), Chelsea v Manchester City (1530)
Monday
Leicester v Tottenham (1900)
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