The Premier League returns this weekend after a packed summer of international football, with clubs ready to compete again in England’s top tier.
Champions Manchester City travel to Tottenham
Reigning champions Manchester City are in action against Tottenham Hotspur, with all eyes on Spurs forward Harry Kane.
The Englishman has been linked to City all summer and could still follow Jack Grealish in becoming the most expensive Premier League signing of all-time.
Adding two of the best players in the country would make Pep Guardiola’s side even clearer favourites to win the division, and they could start with a win this weekend.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool bid to challenge
Last season’s second-placed finishers and City’s arch-rivals Manchester United start their campaign against Leeds.
It remains to be seen whether or not new recruit Raphael Varane will be available, but the long awaited debut of Jadon Sancho will steal the headlines ahead of the Red Devils’ opening game.
Another marquee transfer set to happen is the return of Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, although he will arrive too late to feature against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Palace have had a huge overhaul this summer, with new manager Patrick Viera set to take charge of his first game for the club.
Newly-promoted Norwich host Liverpool, in a reverse of the two sides’ opening day fixture from two years ago.
That match would end 4-1 and the Reds would go on to become champions, and Liverpool supporters will be hoping for similar results this time around.
Brentford hope to stun Arsenal in the curtain-raiser
Premier League newcomers Brentford will get the season underway on Friday evening when they welcome Arsenal.
The Bees will be full of confidence after winning the play-offs in May and will be hoping to shock fans with a strong opening day performance against the Gunners.
Elsewhere, Leicester will be hoping to finally break back into the top four by the end of the campaign after again missing out at the end of last season.
The Foxes’ first league game back is against Wolves, having already secured silverware in the Community Shield against City last weekend.
Wolves themselves have a new manager in Bruno Lage and will be welcoming back talisman Raul Jimenez, looking to improve on their lacklustre finish last season.
The final newly promoted side, Watford, face off against a new-look Aston Villa who have already lost Grealish, but have replaced him well with the likes of Leon Bailey, Emi Buendia and Danny Ings.
The Hornets will need to be at their best to overcome Dean Smith’s team and ensure they get off to a good start on their top-flight return.
Elsewhere on the opening of the season…
Ings’ former club Southampton have had an interesting transfer window, brining in a lot of young talent such as Adam Armstrong, Valentino Livramento and Armando Broja.
The Saints will need these stars to make an instant impact in their opener against Everton, especially to avoid continuing their poor form from earlier in the year.
It’s a similar story for the Toffees, who controversially appointed former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez earlier in the summer and fans will rightly be apprehensive as they approach the start of their campaign.
On Sunday, Newcastle and West Ham go head-to-head looking to start their respective seasons strongly.
The Magpies look like they will sign former loan star Joe Willock on a permanent basis, which might just help them to victory over the Hammers.
Finally, Brighton visit Burnley having still not signed a prolific striker, while the Clarets have failed to address their attacking problems by not bringing in any wingers.
Both clubs have had poor transfer windows so far and will need to strengthen further if they want to avoid a relegation battle.
