The English Premier League (EPL) season kicks off this Friday evening as Manchester United faces Fulham. However, the question on everyone’s mind is: Can anyone stop Manchester City? Pep Guardiola’s team has had an impressive season and became the first club to win the English league four times in a row earlier this year. In total, City has celebrated five trophies in 2023, underscoring the club’s dominant position in British football.
A surprising development occurred this summer when Julian Alvarez chose to leave City for Atletico Madrid. The 24-year-old forward was expected to be a key player for City, but his departure highlights the depth and confidence Guardiola has in his squad, which continues to work towards greater ambitions. City’s transfers did not stop there; they also secured Brazilian forward Savinho from French club Troyes.
Manchester City’s title defense begins on Sunday with a challenge against heavily-investing Chelsea, which is also considered a contender to win the league. But we must start with the two teams that came closest to stopping City’s record run last season.
Arsenal was the team to beat for much of last season but had to settle for a second place behind City for the second consecutive year. Mikel Arteta’s squad demonstrated great quality and joy of play during the 2023/24 season but failed to maintain the level in the crucial months. They are therefore eager to reclaim the title after a wait of 20 years.
The only transfer Arteta has completed ahead of the season opener against Wolves on August 17 is the signing of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. His arrival is expected to strengthen a defense that was already the best in the league last season.
Liverpool seems to have had a tumultuous time during their transition to new manager Arne Slot. Jurgen Klopp’s departure sent the club into a decline, resulting in just four wins from their last ten matches in the previous season, despite a promising start where they won 12 of the first 15 games.
Manchester United always comes with a chance for resurgence, but it has not gone unnoticed that they have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of the football operations has created expectations for a new era, but questions about Erik ten Hag’s future as manager remain unresolved.
Chelsea faces yet another managerial change after Mauricio Pochettino’s resignation. New coach Enzo Maresca has struggled to find the right balance in a young squad, following the club’s signing of eleven new players in the transfer window. The question now is how Maresca can get a team with over 50 senior club players to function optimally, as only 25 can be submitted for the Premier League before the new season.
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