Premier League Preview

The 2024-25 Premier League season kicks off tomorrow, with Man United hosting Fulham at Old Trafford at 3 PM ET to get proceedings underway. Here are complete previews for every team headed into the 33rd edition of the greatest sporting competition on the planet (don’t @ me).

The Saints have come marching back to the Premier League after spending just one season in the Championship, but this is not the same Southampton team from years’ past.

James Ward-Prowse spent last season with West Ham, and the team’s second-leading goalscorer in 2034-24, Ché Adams, signed with Torino on a free transfer earlier this summer. To make things worse, three of Southampton’s four regular defensive starters left too; center backs Duje Ćaleta-Car and Lyanco signed with Lyon and Atlético Mineiro, respectively, and left back Romain Perraud is now with Real Betis.

The return of Adam Lallana to his boyhood club will help, but the reality is that there’s not enough talent in the squad for the Premier League’s third-youngest manager to work with. Avoiding relegation will be a miracle in and of itself for Russell Martin’s side. Such is life in the world’s best league. 🪦

The Tractor Boys (yes, that’s really their nickname) are back in the Premier League for the first time since the 2001-02 season after back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship.

Manager Kieran McKenna led his side to a 96-point, second-place finish last season, and vibes are high as the club storms into the world’s top league as plucky underdogs. Much like Luton last season, Ipswich’s squad might not knock your socks off, but they boast a cohesiveness and fighting spirit that’ll make them a tough out, especially with their supporters behind them. Don’t be shocked if your team drops points at Portman Road.

That said, avoiding relegation will be an uphill battle for the Blues, who have by far the least valuable squad in the Premier League (for reference, Liga MX’s Club América have a higher market value). Goals shouldn’t be too big of an issue with newcomers Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap leading the lines, but defense is a concern. Even 16th-place Sunderland conceded fewer goals last season, leading Ipswich to break the bank for Hull City center back Jacob Greaves.

Ipswich undoubtedly have some talented players, but a lack of experience likely means a short stint in England’s top flight, even with McKenna’s tactical prowess. 🚜

There is perhaps no player as integral to his team’s success as Ivan Toney is to Brentford’s. The English striker missed the first half of last season due to a gambling suspension, and the Bees suffered as a result. Brentford won just five of their first 20 games to open the campaign and weren’t much better when Toney – who obviously lacked match fitness – returned to the lineup, winning only three more games in which he played.

The seemingly never-ending Toney saga has reached an inflection point this summer, with the 28-year-old making it no secret of his desire to leave the club, and transfer rumors intensifying as a result. Brentford have reportedly placed a £60 million price tag on the striker, although it remains unclear if any clubs are seriously willing to meet that demand.

It’s a tough situation to be in for Brentford. Lose their star striker, and Thomas Frank’s side will be fighting to stay up this season. Hold onto him, and they risk missing out on a pay-day as Toney would likely leave on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer.

My bet is that Brentford cash in on Toney in the closing days of the transfer window, prioritizing the long-term health of the club over short-term prospects. 🔮

The Foxes beat Ipswich by just one point to return to the Premier League after a season away, but if we learned anything from Burnley last season it’s that Championship success doesn’t always translate to the next level.

Their prospects look even bleaker when you consider that their star man, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, has left for Chelsea alongside former manager Enzo Maresca. Making matters even worse is that Leicester are staring down the barrel of a points deduction for an alleged breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), making an already difficult task to stay up look downright treacherous.

If anyone’s up for such a challenge, it’s new manager Steve Cooper. The ex-Forest gaffer is Premier League-proven, and Leicester’s revamped squad should favor his love of the counterattack to Maresca’s possession-based style. Factor in the Foxes having several players with experience at the highest level, and I think Leicester are the most likely of the newly-promoted teams to stay up.

Hell, we might know Leicester’s fate just weeks into the season when they face a “gauntlet” of relegation contenders:

If you’re not waking up at the crack of dawn to watch Leicester vs. Bournemouth on a random Saturday in October, then do you even know ball? 🤔

After recording their best-ever Premier League points total with 48 last season, Bournemouth are a popular pick as a ‘dark horse’ candidate to finish in the top half. However, I just don’t see it happening with their current crop of players.

The loss of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham is a huge blow to Andoni Iraola’s counterattacking side. Solanke led the Cherries with 19 league goals last season – 11 more than their next-most productive player, Antoine Semenyo. The Ghanian right-winger will act as Bournemouth’s primary creative outlet off the back of a much-improved second season at the club.

Outside of Semenyo, prospects are dire for Bournemouth’s attack. The 24-year-old will be joined by Justin Kluivert, Enes Unal, and Luis Sinisterra, who combined for just ten Premier League goals last season – never a good sign for a team with top-ten ambitions.

While I have no doubts about Iraola’s ability to get the most out of his players, Bournemouth simply lack the difference-makers capable of taking close games by the scruff of the neck, something that is critical in today’s fiercely-contested Premier League. 🍒

After more than a decade of being stuck in the Championship, Nottingham Forest have finally found somewhat of a home in the Premier League, managing to avoid relegation for two consecutive seasons.

Staying up for a third straight season, however, will be the hardest test yet for the Tricky Trees, who narrowly avoided relegation in what was the worst top-flight season in recent memory. Forest’s 32-point total in 2023-24 was the lowest ever accrued by a team that stayed up, with 12 of their points coming against the three relegated clubs – Luton, Burnley, and Sheffield.

After acquiring an astounding 47 players over the past two offseasons, Forest have had a modest summer by their standards. Elliot Anderson, whom Forest acquired from Newcastle for €41 million, is the marquee signing for a group of six players that will provide Nuno Espirito Santo’s side with some much-needed depth in key areas. Unlike in seasons’ past, this group has had the entire offseason to get up to speed, and should contribute immediately when Forest open the season against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Making smart moves in the transfer window and holding on to key players like Morgan Gibbs-White should be enough for Forest to get the job done for a third consecutive season. 🌳

After taking over as manager just four days before the start of the season, Gary O’Neil enjoyed a wildly successful start to the 2023-24 campaign only for it to all come crashing down.

A top-ten finish seemed within reach as Wolves were in 11th place through Christmas, but their hot start was derailed by a disastrous run down the stretch in which they won only one of their final ten games. While the way the season ended is worrying, O’Neil signed a four-year contract with the club this summer, indicating that ownership is pleased with the Englishman’s progress and eager to see what he can do with a full offseason.

It’s a lot of trust to place in a manager whose side had a bigger goals problem than your 32-year-old neighbor who still lives in his parents’ basement. All but four teams outscored Wolves in the Premiership last season, and the loss of Pedro Neto to Chelsea means someone else will have to step up as the team’s primary chance creator in wide areas.

While the newly-acquired Rodrigo Gomes (another Portuguese, shocker) has shown flashes in such a role, it’s still not enough to convince me that goals won’t be hard to come by for Wolves again this season. 🇵🇹

Despite receiving an eight-point deduction for breaches of PSR, Everton finished last season well clear of the relegation zone, ending a topsy-turvy campaign 14 points clear of 18th-placed Luton. The Toffees’ grit and togetherness is a testament to the motivational brilliance of Sean Dyche, who successfully cultivated an us-against-the-world mentality in his squad.

While financial uncertainty will continue to impact the club behind the scenes, things look promising on the pitch for Dyche’s side.

Everton had the best defensive record in the Premier League of any team outside the top three thanks to their underrated center back duo of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite. Holding onto the latter is a huge boost for the Toffees’ defensive prospects.

The club further bolstered their back-line with the acquisition of 6’6” Jake O’Brien from Lyon this summer. Good luck scoring against Everton from set pieces.

Questions remain at the other end of the pitch, with talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggling to find form and fitness during his tenure at Goodison Park. Fortunately for him, the club should make their debut at the new Everton Stadium this season, which is rumored to have plus-sized goals – anything so Calvert-Lewin and co. can actually find the back of the net. 🎯

Fulham were unbothered by the loss of Aleksandr Mitrovic last season, finishing in a respectable 13th place while also reaching the Carabao Cup semi-final for the first time. Their ability to thrive amidst significant change will again be put to the test this season, as Marco Silva’s side enter the campaign without star midfielder João Palhinha, who signed with Bayern Munich last month.

Fulham reinvested £34 million of Palhinha’s transfer fee to make a club-record signing in Emile Smith-Rowe, who will bear the brunt of chance creation from the middle of the park. The 24-year-old attacking-midfielder didn’t get much playing time with Arsenal the past two seasons, but did score ten league goals with the Gunners in the 2021-22 campaign.

He’ll join several players at Craven Cottage who enjoyed breakout seasons of their own in 2023-24. Striker Rodrigo Muniz was stellar from February onward, scoring nine goals in Fulham’s final 16 Premier League games. USMNT star Antonee Robinson also enjoyed a bit of a breakout campaign at left back, earning the club’s Player of the Season honors.

The battle for places 11 through 16 will be more hotly contested than ever, but I think Fulham have what it takes to come out near the top. 📈

Led by the Premier League’s youngest-ever manager in 31-year-old Fabian Hürzeler, the Seagulls are somewhat of an unknown commodity headed into this season. But, if you know anything about Brighton, that’s when they’re at their most dangerous.

Roberto de Zerbi has left for Marseille after a historic Europa League birth distracted from the club’s domestic objectives last season, but Brighton have re-tooled and are primed to push for another top-half finish.

Brazilian forward João Pedro was the big signing from Watford last summer, and he did not disappoint in his first season on the South Coast. Pedro became the first Brighton player in nearly a decade to score 20 goals across all competitions in a single season, despite missing two months with a hamstring injury. Also back to full fitness are winger Kaoru Mitoma and striker Evan Ferguson, giving Hürzeler plenty of firepower on the business end of the pitch.

Highlighted by Pervis Estupiñán, Brighton’s back-line should remain largely unchanged, but they will undoubtedly miss the veteran presence of Pascal Groß in the center of the park. If a young player steps up in the midfield (which they always do), then Brighton should find themselves in the thick of the race for top-half, even pushing for Europe if all goes well. 🔥

If you find yourself at happy hour tonight, please take a second to pour one out for David Moyes.

After six seasons in charge of the Hammers, the club parted ways with the Scot, who will be remembered as the greatest West Ham manager of modern times after guiding the club to European silverware in 2023. New manager Julen Lopetegui has big shoes to fill, but West Ham’s already strong squad have strengthened in the offseason and are poised for another European run.

Striker Niclas Füllkrug, who impressed in Dortmund’s Champions League run and at the Euros with Germany, is the marquee signing for the Hammers, who have already spend €144 million this summer.

Max Kilman, who arrived from Wolves for a near club-record fee of €47.5 million, will be the main man in a defense that was sorely in need of improvement after conceding 74 goals last season – seven more than 17th-place Nottingham Forest. The addition of Aaron Wan-Bissaka should further help on this front.

They may be an unproven entity under Lopetegui, but this team has no shortage of talent and experience at the highest level. Not having European competition to focus on shouldn’t hurt, either. ⚒️

Palace 🤝 Fulham: having a favorable outlook despite their best player getting poached by Bayern Munich.

Michael Olise is gone, but Crystal Palace were among the best teams in the league after Olivier Glasner took over for Roy Hodgson in February. The Eagles won five of their final six games, outscoring opponents by 19 goals to six during that stretch. They’ll look to build on that momentum headed into Glasner’s first full season in charge at Selhurst Park.

It’s not just the collective unit that’s riding high, either. Palace had four players – Eberechi Eze, Marc Guéhi, Dean Henderson, and Adam Wharton called up this summer to represent England at the Euros – more than any other Premier League side. Each of the quartet are really coming into their own, but pay special attention to midfielder Adam Wharton, who is poised for a breakout season after impressing in his first 16 games for the club.

The 20-year-old hit the ground running after joining from Blackburn halfway through last season, making the most out of his move from the no. ten into a deeper role. He might not look like your typical Premier League superstar, but if he continues to build on his solid foundations then there’s no reason the Eagles can’t soar into Europe. 🦅

An unfortunate reality in the world’s best league is that each season, an über-talented team – whether through underperformance or injury – is left on the outside looking in of the race for Europe. Last season it was Newcastle, who were decimated by injuries. Two years ago it was Chelsea, whose new signings lacked cohesion under then-manager Graham Potter.

This season, I think it’ll be Aston Villa, who are coming off the back of a fourth-place finish to secure a spot in the Champions League for the first time in 41 years.

Aside from the loss of Moussa Diaby, Unai Emery’s squad – which was largely revamped after the Spainard took over during the 2022-23 campaign – remains largely unchanged and has enough talent to once again challenge for top four. But, as Soulja Boy fans know all too well, last season was a blip on the radar, and I expect the one-hit-wonder Villans to fall back to Earth this campaign. 📉

After $1.3 billion in transfer spending, a dizzying rate of player turnover, and cycling through more managers than a malcontent rapper, Chelsea finally made tangible progress in the Clearlake Capital era under Mauricio Pochettino last season. Then, they sacked him… 🤦

Despite the circus-like state of the club, Chelsea weren’t too bad last season, especially down the stretch. The Blues won nine of their final 15 Premier League games, enough for a surprise sixth-place finish despite winning just one of their first five games to start the campaign.

You would think such a finish would be enough to warrant Pochettino keeping his job, but Todd Boehly and co. decided to test the waters with a fourth manager in their three-year reign at Stamford Bridge: Enzo Maresca. After winning the Championship with Leicester last season, the young Italian faces the biggest test of his short managerial career in London. He’ll need to use every tool at his disposal to succeed with a Chelsea side that’s gone through lots of change in recent years, both on and off the pitch.

One such tool is Cole Palmer, who enjoyed a stellar debut season at Stamford Bridge that earned him Young Player of the Year honors. The 22-year-old scored 22 goals and added 12 assists in the Premier League alone, and the Blues were substantially more effective with him on the pitch; Chelsea’s win percentage, points per game, and average goals per game were significantly higher with Palmer in the starting lineup last season.

The only problem with Palmer’s brilliance is that Pochettino became overly-reliant on him at times. Chelsea have plenty of talent, so if Maresca can find a way to utilize Palmer within his system as opposed to having the right-winger play hero ball, then another top-six finish is a realistic target for the league’s most enigmatic club. 🤷

The league’s next-most enigmatic club are Tottenham, who could finish anywhere from second to tenth and I wouldn’t bat an eye.

Tottenham were damn near unplayable at the start of last campaign, looking like title favorites after going undefeated in their first ten matches. After years of passive and ineffective play under the likes of José Mourinho and Antonio Conte, Ange Postecoglou’s attacking-minded style was a breath of fresh air for Spurs supporters, who were enjoying life in the post-Harry Kane era.

Angeball, however, ultimately became Spurs’ downfall. Tottenham’s high-stakes, all-in style made them especially susceptible to counterattacks, and Spurs would go on to win only 40 points from 28 matches after their hot start – ninth in the Premier League during that span.

While the long-term efficacy of Angeball remains to be seen, what’s certain is that Tottenham have improved significantly in the offseason. The arrival of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth gives the North London club one of the league’s best pure goalscorers, and other additions have shown promise in preseason. Leeds Academy product Archie Gray has massive potential at just 18 years old, and Swedish midfielder Lucas bossed the midfield in Spurs’ preseason match against Bayern Munich.

I still think Tottenham have too many holes in defense and lack top quality midfield to truly compete for the title, but they’ll certainly be in the thick of the Champions League race. 🐔

Newcastle did not live up to their lofty expectations last season. The Magpies finished in seventh – missing out on Europe altogether – despite spending a whopping €469 million since the Saudi takeover in October 2021.

Sandro Tonali’s season-long ban due to gambling on matches is partially to blame for Newcastle’s suboptimal transfer ROI, but so are injuries. A schedule packed with domestic and Champions League action caused nine players to miss 20 or more matches, including 11 missing a single match-week – tying a Premier League record. On a positive note, the injuries offered an opportunities for unproven players like Jacob Murphy to step up and make an impression, and most key players have returned to full fitness in the offseason.

With a healthy squad and no Europe, Newcastle can fully focus on returning to top form in the Premier League. As long as they can hold onto Anthony Gordon, they should be among the favorites to finish in the top four. 🫣

United fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic headed into the 2024-25 season. Last season bordered on disastrous at times, but the Red Devils ended on a high note by winning a 13th FA Cup with a 2-1 win over cross-town rivals Man City. The triumph was enough to save Erik ten Hag’s job, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already implemented several changes this summer to realign the club to fully back the Dutchman.

Former Man City exec Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth have taken up new posts as the club’s CEO and Sporting Director, respectively, and Ten Hag appointed club legend Rud van Nistelrooy to join him in the backroom as an assistant. For what feels like the first time in a long time at Old Trafford, the club is headed in a unified direction.

Whether or not that newfound cohesiveness rubs off on the squad remains to be seen, but talented youngsters like Kobbie Mainoo should give United fans cause for optimism. The 19-year-old midfielder was a revelation in his debut season, recording an average match rating of 6.80 in Premier League action per WhoScored?. His press-resistance, ball-winning ability, and industriousness – traits which have already earned him the distinction of the "future of United’s midfield” – will allow Bruno Fernandes more freedom in which to operate farther up the pitch, which bodes well for United’s lackluster attack; the Red Devils scored fewer goals (57) than any team who finished in the top half last season.

The question remains who will play next to Mainoo in the midfield? The club have already splashed some cash on Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee this summer, but defensive midfielder remains an area that has gone unaddressed in the preseason. Casemiro evidently isn’t the answer, so look for the club to make one more big-name signing before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. 💸

Jürgenn Klopp is a more difficult act to follow than Shane Gillis, but if anyone’s up for it it’s Arne Slot.

The Dutchman, who won the Eredivisie with Feyenoord two seasons ago, was brought in as Klopp’s successor just days after the season ended, and faces a massive task in updating Liverpool’s squad without dismantling the legacy left by the legendary German manager. Fortunately for Slot, he has at his disposal the same core squad that finished third last season despite having more injuries than a piñata at a toddler's birthday party.

Back to full fitness are the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, each of whom are on the last year of their respective deals and will look to go out with a bang before a potential lucrative move to Saudi Arabia if they don’t resign.

After enjoying a full pre-season under Slot, Salah will play an especially crucial role as the Reds’ primary goalscoring threat, and is poised to break the 20-goal barrier for an eighth consecutive season.

If the 32-year-old can find the fountain of youth, then Liverpool will be in the thick of the title race. Otherwise, Slot will need youngsters like Harvey Elliott, Jarrell Quansah, and Conor Bradley to take a massive leap to even content for a Champions League spot.

Liverpool might be in too much of a transitional phase to truly challenge for the title, but they’re certainly talented enough to make things interesting for Arsenal and Man City. 😤

It feels wrong to put the Premier League’s gold standard anywhere but first, but I’m marking them as runners-up until I hear an answer to this simple question: What else is left for this team to achieve?

Pep Guardiola’s side enjoyed yet another historic season in 2023-24, winning the Premier League for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season, along with the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

The Citizens will be hard-pressed to repeat such a feat this season, especially with key players aging and the loss of Julián Álvarez in the transfer market.

New signing Savinho soothes some of the sting of Álvarez’s departure, but after missing the first half of last season with a hamstring injury, Kevin De Bruyne’s long-term fitness is uncertain, not to mention his future with the club; the Belgian said he’s “open” to a transfer to Saudi Arabia earlier this summer, citing the “incredible” financial gain that can result from such a move.

Motivation may be the only barrier between Man City and a fifth consecutive title, but when you have the likes of Rodri, Erling Haaland, and Kyle Walker in your team, anything is possible. 👀

I picked the Gunners to win the Premier League last season, and I’m picking them again this season.

Arsenal have steadily improved since Mikel Arteta took over as manager mid-way through the 2019-20 season, and with many of their core players entering or in their prime, I think this is the season they finally get over the hump to win the league for the first time since 2003-04.

Martin Ødegaard (25) and Bukayo Saka (22) will continue as the team’s primary creative outlets, with either Leandro Trossard (29) or Gabriel Martinelli (23) adding goals and providing some much-needed dynamism from the left wing.

Arsenal’s difference-maker might be Kai Havertz (25), who scored 13 league goals last season after a slow start to his career in North London. The German’s impressive performances in the new year have quelled calls for a new striker at the club, and if Havertz – who regularly finds himself in dangerous areas – can find (and keep on) his finishing boots then Premier League defenses are in trouble.

Also headed into his second season with the club, Declan Rice (25) will again be the heart and soul of Arsenal’s midfield, providing cover for the Gunners’ strongest unit: defense. There’s an embarrassment of riches in Arsenal’s back-line, which should once again feature Gabriel (26) and William Saliba (23) as the league’s best center back pairing.

Where things really get interesting is out wide. Arsenal are stacked at full back – a reflection of Arteta’s near-obsession with playing big-bodied, versatile defenders in an inverted role. After a sensational 2023-24 season, Ben White (26) is set to start at right back, but left back is still up in the air with Oleksandr Zinchenko (27), Jurriën Timber (23), and new signing Riccardo Calafiori (22) all vying for playing time.

My bet is that Calafiori gets the nod, but don’t be shocked if Arteta tries some weird shit – anything to keep Man City on their toes. 🏆