To mark the start of the new season, Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, has this week completed a series of media rounds.
Speaking yesterday, Masters pointed out that last season was one of the best in the Premier League’s rich history: there were “more goals than ever,” he said, and “statistically speaking, the tightest-ever title race”.
His point stands, but another, more cynical way of looking at last season is that it was actually wholly predictable.
Manchester City won a fourth straight title and, for the second campaign running, were pushed closest by Arsenal.
The three promoted clubs went back down; Manchester United and Newcastle fell; Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham rose; but, really, not a great deal changed from the previous year.
This term, City and Arsenal have comfortably the shortest odds for the title again, and two of the clubs relegated in 2022-23, Leicester and Southampton, have come straight back up, along with surprise package Ipswich.
While the entertainment is never in doubt, can anyone and anything fundamentally shake up the established hierarchy this season?
The answer is yes, although perhaps not in the way that Masters would prefer.
The outcome of the hearing into City’s alleged 115 breaches of League rules is expected early next year, which promises to be a bombshell whatever the result. The League also has outstanding cases against Leicester, Chelsea and Everton, ensuring this will be another season of acrimonious legal battles.
The big question is whether anyone can stop City on the pitch (if they are not brought down in the courtroom)?
There is certainly more uncertainty around the perennial champions than usual, with manager Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne both entering the final year of their contracts, and goalkeeper Ederson among the other players appearing unsettled.
Arsenal will hope to take full advantage, and Mikel Arteta’s attempts to make his side as robust as the champions have continued with the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, who is expected to fill their troublesome left-back spot. Arteta has not yet, though, added the top-class striker that Arsenal were widely thought to need, leaving Erling Haaland as the big difference between the top two.
Liverpool are entering a new era post-Jurgen Klopp and appear likely to go through a period of transition under Arne Slot, who is yet to make any significant signings but has kept hold of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk for now.
Slot’s biggest rivalry is with compatriot Erik ten Hag, who was offered a reprieve by Manchester United after winning the FA Cup last season.
United have again lavishly backed Ten Hag to bring in players he knows, including Dutch-born trio Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. Having spent so much, can Ten Hag finally get United consistently playing the progressive football he coached at Ajax?
Chelsea’s owners have continued to behave characteristically, replacing Mauricio Pochettino with Enzo Maresca in the summer and spending lavishly on young players. The new coach finds himself with a bloated squad of callow but exciting players, and will hope to ride the wave of their strong finish last term.
Tottenham are aiming to kick on from a fifth-place finish in Ange Postecoglou’s first season, buoyed by the signing of Dominic Solanke, although the head coach will have to be more adaptable to challenge the top two.
Aston Villa have been ambitious in the market, but their new-found squad depth will be tested by competing in the Champions League.
West Ham have also been busy under new head coach Julen Lopetegui and will hope that they now have the quality and depth to be this season’s Villa.
Elsewhere, keep an eye on Crystal Palace, who finished last season superbly under Oliver Glasner but have lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.
A quiet summer market — a result of financial concerns and pre-season tournaments — means relatively little has fundamentally changed across the division, leaving the biggest chance of a bombshell development coming in the courtroom rather than on the pitch.
