The English Premier League returns to our screens this weekend with Manchester United opening the new season with a fixture against Fulham on Friday night.It is long awaited,and below are some questions that will be answered over the course of the next eight months;
1.Can Arsenal go over the hump?
For two consecutive seasons,Arsenal has ran Pep Guardiola’s Man City machine closest,topping the table for extended stretches but ultimately falling away in squeaky bum time.The Gunners play some scintillating football but seem to lack the mentality to sustain their title challenges.This is probably not a make or break season for the Arteta project.But another trophyless campaign will certainly lead to louder noise around his job.Will this be the year the elephant stays atop the tree?
2.Will Slot get it right first time?
Arne Slot won the Dutch league in his second season at Feyenoord.Then he lifted a Dutch Cup in his third.The reward for that has been the opportunity to replace club legend Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield hotseat.He inherits a squad that only fell out of title contention in April,although Liverpool have had the quietest transfer window among the Big 6.Slot will have to overcome that to have a chance of replicating his Eredivisie exploits in his first season in charge.Will he?
3.Can Palmer remain unstoppable?
Cole Palmer deservedly took home the PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of The Year award last season after registering 22 goals and 11 assists for Chelsea after joining the Blues from Man City in the summer.He then followed it up with a good Euro 2024,memorably equalising for ill-fated England in the final against Spain,after also providing the assist for Ollie Watkins’ last minute winner against the Netherlands in the semi.Will he adjust to increased attention from opponents and keep impacting games at the same rate?
4.Should Ten Hag fear for his job?
Erik Ten Hag survived a summer of uncertainty over his job despite lifting the FA Cup last season.He eventually signed an extension to his contract in June.However,the extension is only for a year.The addition of the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake to his backroom staff has been interpreted as an attempt by the club to have the insurance of having capable interim managers in place in case Ten Hag fails to coax better football out of his expensively assembled side.Should the Dutchman be concerned?
