Premier League football is back and the opening round of fixtures has thrown up a number of intriguing clashes. In the first of a new series for the 2023/24 campaign, a look at some of the talking points ahead of the matches this weekend.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
A big test for Burnley
Burnley coasted to the Championship title under Vincent Kompany and have done some good business during the summer transfer window. The Clarets could surprise a few people this season and a good place to start would be on matchday one at home to Manchester City.
The champions will view this as a must-win if they’re to retain their Premier League crown. After all, away fixtures against newly promoted sides are considered bankers if you aspire to claim top spot. Pep Guardiola’s men romped to a 6-0 win over Burnley in the FA Cup last term too in what was a humbling defeat for Kompany. Lessons will have been learnt from that though.
City weren’t at their best in the Community Shield and goal machine Erling Haaland hasn’t been at his destructive best in pre-season, so maybe this is a good time to play the treble winners. Turf Moor will be well up for this clash and promoted clubs have caused upsets in the past on opening day. The potential is there.
A quick start for the Gunners
Arsenal have an opportunity to make a statement this weekend. Fresh from defeating Manchester City on penalties to claim the Community Shield, Mikel Arteta’s side kick off their campaign on Saturday afternoon at home to Nottingham Forest.
They put Forest to the sword at the Emirates last season, winning 5-0 in October, but they then lost 1-0 away to Steve Cooper’s men in the penultimate game of the campaign.
This shouldn’t be viewed as a formality for Arsenal as nothing is in the Premier League but an impressive start here would send a clear message that last season was not a one-off. After heavy investment this summer, the pressure is on Arteta and his players to deliver a title challenge. What better way to kick things off than at home to a team tipped by many to be in a relegation battle?
Can Brighton handle the pressure?
The Seagulls have done some clever business this summer and are viewed by many as a team who will be in the European mix this season. Roberto De Zerbi has been backed in the market and the club have managed to keep hold of a number of players despite interest from a host of top clubs. The only real departure (so far) has been Alexis Mac Allister.
Hosting a newly promoted team, Luton Town, is a potential banana skin but if Brighton do have hopes of another top-six finish, this has to be three points. Luton haven’t done that much in the transfer market this summer and are favourites to head straight back down to the Championship.
However, there’s no pressure on them here. All of the pressure and expectation is on Brighton and this could play a part in the outcome.
Brighton are yet to win an opening match at home since returning to the Premier League. They have a 100% record away from the Amex but have lost all three matches in front of their home fans on matchday one. Something else to ponder.
Weakening a rival
Aston Villa and Newcastle United both had impressive 2022/23 campaigns.
The Magpies claimed a Champions League place while Villa claimed a Europa Conference League spot after a remarkable turnaround following the hiring of Unai Emery. Both clubs have done some clever business this season and they head into this campaign with aspirations of another assault on the European places.
This match-up gives both teams an opportunity to land an early blow on one of their rivals. Last season, Newcastle ran out 4-0 winners over Villa early on in the campaign before suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat to Emery’s men in April.
That loss was just one of the five suffered by the Magpies during their memorable season but it was a fairly one-sided game. Villa had twice as many shots as their opponents and limited Newcastle to just two shots on target. It will be interesting to see how Newcastle set-up on Saturday evening.
The battle of the rebuilds at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea and Liverpool are both in transition right now.
The Blues hired former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino this summer and they’ve been busy in the transfer market. Following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James was named as new club captain.
At Liverpool, the Reds shed a number of players including Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and James Milner, and signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. They appointed Virgil van Dijk as the successor to Henderson as the skipper and Trent Alexander-Arnold replaced Milner as the vice-captain.
It has been all change for both teams and neither side are finished. They are battling it out for Moises Caicedo and Roméo Lavia as they look to bolster their midfield options.
Away from transfers, one thing to note here, however, is that Mohamed Salah has scored in every opening-day fixture since joining Liverpool. He also has four goals against his former employers but only one of them arrived at Stamford Bridge.
(Images from IMAGO)
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