The upcoming Premier League season promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory. After an exhilarating three way title race in the 2023/24 season between Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, things feel more open than ever. This preview will delve into the key matches in the 2024/2025 Premier League season.
Friday 16 August 2024 - Manchester United vs Fulham
Manchester United’s F.A. Cup triumph against arch-rivals Manchester City at the end of the season really felt like a huge moment for the club.
New stake-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe was showing all signs of firing struggling Manager, Erik Ten Hag, and there had been reports that even if they won he was still gonna get the boot.
But as we’ve seen so many times before, 90 minutes of incredible football is sometimes all it takes to revitalise a club and its fanbase.
It feels like a significant moment in the club’s history. This victory not only broke City's dominance but also instilled a renewed sense of belief and ambition within the squad. With a new training ground development announcement, and plans to build a new stadium, things are suddenly looking up.
The F.A. Cup win got them back into Europe after a woeful season, which will help attract some much needed top-tier talent during the summer transfer window.
This opportunity to play in the opening game of the season might be exactly what the club needs to begin a long awaited resurgent campaign to get back to the winning days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Monday 19 August 2024 - Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City secured promotion to the Premier League for the 2024/25 season following a wonderful season of consistent performances and strategic management under the guidance of manager Enzo Maresca.
Unfortunately he’s been poached by Chelsea, who were in need of a new manager following the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino. He’s been replaced by Welshman, Steve Cooper, who joins the club after narrowly avoiding relegation with Nottingham Forest.
They’ve signed Cooper for a 3 year contract – we can safely assume that they’re hoping to stay up after just one season back in the Championship.
There will inevitably be optimism around Leicester for them to recreate some of the magic from their 2015/16 Premier League title-winning season. Even with Jamie Vardy still at the club, achieving similar heights will be challenging.
We’ll be watching keenly on the opening weekend of the season when they face Spurs, who had their ups and downs under Ange Postecoglou in the 2023/24 season. It all started so well, but by the end the club was in dire straits.
Sunday 22 September 2024 - Manchester City vs Arsenal
This early clash between 4 times in a row champions, Manchester City and increasingly tight contenders Arsenal is set to be a blockbuster.
Manchester City, under the tactical genius of Pep Guardiola, have repeatedly struggled in the first half of the season, before finding unstoppable form in the spring leaving their competitors in the dust.
But in May it was a very close call, with Arsenal taking it to the last day of the season, leaving fingernails very short in both Manchester and North London.
What’s more, Arsenal took points off City twice in their two fixtures, which really felt like a landmark moment in Arteta’s slow escape from his former mentor Guardiola’s shadow.
With strong rumours that Arsenal are going to bag the hottest striker around at the moment in the shape of Victor Osimhen, might this be the season they finally nick the trophy off their rivals?
This first battle of the season between the two front-runners will surely be a huge moment in setting the tone for the rest of the campaign, and with it happening at the Etihad, there’ll be extra pressure on Manchester City to show that they are not going to start slacking now.
Saturday 30 November - Liverpool vs Manchester City
In the last 6 months, Liverpool has undergone significant changes. Jürgen Klopp announced in January that he would be stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 season due to feeling “run out of energy.”
His final game was a 2-0 win against Wolves on May 19, 2024, marking the end of his transformative nine-year tenure, during which he won multiple trophies, including a Premier League title and a Champions League crown.
It marks a huge moment in the club’s history, as this period of success following many years of struggles comes to an end.
Was it just a short burst of positivity? Will they find the form of the 1970s and ‘80s again?
Following Klopp’s departure, Liverpool appointed Arne Slot, former Feyenoord manager, known for his attacking style and successful stint in the Eredivisie.
His arrival is seen as a new chapter for Liverpool, with expectations high for him to continue the club’s competitive legacy. New summer signings will be vital.
With Mohammed Salah on his way out, and last year’s signings of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo having really failed to make an impact, the front line is lacking that depth and quality needed to challenge for trophies.
Hopefully in this first fixture against champions, City, Liverpool will be challenging for the title. Don’t we all want as many horses in the race as possible? It makes for an exciting season.
Boxing Day (Thursday, December 26, 2024) - Chelsea vs. Fulham
Boxing Day matches in the Premier League are steeped in tradition and drama. The festive spirit amplifies the excitement, making these games a beloved holiday ritual.
They challenge teams’ squad depth and resilience during the congested festive period, often becoming turning points in the season’s narrative, affecting title chases and survival fights alike.
But when a Boxing Day match also happens to be a derby, it’s a double whammy. This December sees the infamous West London Derby between Chelsea and Fulham take place at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s first few seasons under new ownership have been tumultuous. Despite significant investment in new signings, the team has struggled to find consistency.
Chelsea appointed Mauricio Pochettino on a two-year deal as the successor to Frank Lampard. He successfully guided the team to a 6th-place finish, clinching a spot in the Conference League play-off round with a strong season-ending streak of five wins.
However, differences had clearly arisen with sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley over the club’s strategic direction and handling of the young players.
This led to Pochettino’s decision to leave at the season’s conclusion. In our opinion, they will live to regret that decision. He’s a great manager, and they should’ve given him the time he needed to build something with the young squad.
On June 3, 2024, Chelsea announced Enzo Maresca as the new manager. We expect he will face a similar fate - the owners are proving to be far too impatient for the Premier League.
Sunday 25 May 2025 - Final day of the season
The last day of the Premier League season is always a spectacle filled with drama, anticipation, and uncertainty. As the season reaches its climax, fans and pundits alike are left to ponder: who knows who will be challenging for the title? Who will be battling against relegation?
In recent years, the title race has often gone down to the wire, with multiple teams in contention until the last matchday. Clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal have frequently found themselves vying for the top spot, but surprises are always possible.
Teams that started the season strong might falter, while those who had a rocky beginning could gather momentum in the latter stages. New managers, like Liverpool’s Arne Slot, bring fresh tactics and a new sense of hope, potentially shaking up the traditional hierarchy. Who will have the resilience and consistency to lift the trophy?
It could be a familiar face or an unexpected challenger rising to the occasion. Could Aston Villa build on the success of last season? We think so!
