The new Premier League season commences today, with defending champions Manchester City, who achieved a historic treble-winning season, facing Burnley as they embark on the pursuit of an unprecedented fourth consecutive English top-flight title.
Absorbing the thrill of achieving their inaugural Champions League victory alongside their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs, Pep Guardiola’s squad advances to face Burnley. Burnley is now under the management of former City captain Vincent Kompany.
Notable absences for the champions include former captain Ilkay Gundogan, who departed for Barcelona, and Riyad Mahrez, who joined Saudi side Al Ahli. The only two new signings so far are Croatian duo Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol.
Guardiola expressed his sentiments ahead of the new season, stating, “It feels like it finished yesterday but we start again.”
He added, “I don’t think it will be possible to do what we did last season, it’s once in a lifetime. I said to the players forget about it. We climbed the highest mountain last season but we have come down that mountain now. We start from the same as everyone else, with the same intention and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain again.”
Vincent Kompany, inspired by Guardiola, has transformed Burnley into a side focused on ball possession and control.
Kompany remarked, “I would play every week of every month of every year against a team the level of Man City. That is the best way to improve.”
He acknowledged the challenge of facing such a formidable team, even if it’s impossible to get every aspect right against their quality.
Burnley, however, experienced the downside of confronting City when they suffered a 6-0 loss in the FA Cup quarter-finals last season.
The runners-up from last year, Arsenal, will host Nottingham Forest in the Saturday lunchtime kickoff. Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, secured the Community Shield by defeating Manchester City on penalties, bolstering their confidence.
Liverpool, who finished fifth last season, will visit Chelsea on Sunday, marking the league debut of Chelsea’s manager Mauricio Pochettino. Manchester United, who finished third last season, will begin their campaign at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.
The season is also bringing intrigue for Tottenham Hotspur, where former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou takes the reins and faces Brentford on Sunday. There is growing speculation about the future of England captain Harry Kane after repeated interest from Bayern Munich.
The Premier League’s opening matches include Sheffield United hosting Crystal Palace, Luton Town visiting Brighton & Hove Albion, and Everton facing Fulham on Saturday. West Ham United will travel to Bournemouth in another Saturday fixture.
