Manchester United and Fulham kick off the 2024/25 Premier League season on Friday with another exciting season of English top flight soccer ahead of us.
This promises to be a compelling campaign from top to bottom of the division. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on throughout the season.
Can Arsenal take the final step in their development?
Just like in 2022/23, last season saw Arsenal fall agonisingly short in the Premier League title race with Mikel Arteta’s team missing out on top by just two points. The Gunners have improved season-on-season over the last three years, meaning there is only one final step left for them to take in their development. Will this be the season they become champions?
Riccardo Calafiori has arrived from Bologna to strengthen Arsenal’s defence with Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino also on their radar. Many supporters believe the Gunners still need an elite level centre forward, but there’s a good chance they will be even stronger than they were last season.
How will Liverpool handle life after Jurgen Klopp?
Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season, leaving a giant void of leadership and personality at Anfield. Arne Slot has been hired as the legendary German’s successor and there are already signs of how the former Feyenoord boss wants to change the Reds’ style of play. According to Harvey Elliott, Liverpool will be a more “elegant” team this season.
This likely translates to Liverpool being a more considered side in possession. This transition had already started under Klopp, but the ‘heavy metal football’ days are now a thing of the past on Merseyside. What sort of patience will Slot be afforded to implement his own methods and ideas on the squad he inherited?
Will Enzo Maresca’s style of play work for Chelsea?
Chelsea made the bold decision to fire Mauricio Pochettino at the end of last season and replace him with Enzo Maresca. While the Italian guided Leicester City to the Championship title last term, he is unproven at the top level and there are concerns over the Chelsea squad’s capacity for playing his favoured possession-based style.
It might be foolish to read too much into pre-season performances and results, but Chelsea made countless mistakes playing out from the back in friendlies against Wrexham, Celtic and Manchester City. Maresca is already under pressure to prove that he’s the right man for a job many believe he shouldn’t have been appointed to in the first place.
What direction will Newcastle head in as they face crossroads?
Last season Newcastle United regressed as they fell out of the top four and ultimately finished seventh in the Premier League table. Not only this, they lost sporting director Dan Ashworth to Manchester United with Amanda Stavely and Mehrdad Ghodoussi also leaving as figureheads of the St James’ Park club.
This summer sees Newcastle at a crossroads in the Saudi Arabia-owned era with new sporting director Paul Mitchell yet to make his mark on the Magpies’ transfer strategy. Eddie Howe has also spoken about uncertainty at the club and so there are questions over his stewardship of the team too, especially given the England vacancy.
Can Kieran McKenna continue his ascent at Ipswich Town?
Ipswich Town provided one of the storylines of last season in English soccer as they completed a remarkable return to the Premier League 12 years after they were last in the top division. Kieran McKenna was the mastermind behind this ascent and had job offers from Chelsea and Brighton, as well as interest from Manchester United, over the summer.
Under McKenna’s control, Ipswich have become an attractive, modern team that likes to play with the ball at its feet. However, Burnley struggled in the Premier League last season playing a similar way, so will The Tractor Boys be able to continue their rise with a squad of players that are largely untested at a higher level? The pressure will be on McKenna to keep maximising the talent at Portman Road.
