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Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United reboot kicks off on Friday evening against Fulham. The following lunchtime, Ipswich Town makes a summer return, facing Arne Slot’s Liverpool. Saturday night sees West Ham United hosting Aston Villa, and on Sunday, Brentford takes on Crystal Palace. The weekend’s headline event is Manchester City visiting Chelsea. Finally, promoted Leicester City welcomes Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night, wrapping up an exciting opening weekend. Here are seven things we learnt on the fixtures released date.
Arsenal’s traditional wobble might hit in January—or even earlier. With visits to Villa Park, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Etihad Stadium all before September ends, Arsenal’s luck is dismal. Facing both the north London derby and a title contender within seven September days is a massive test for Mikel Arteta. Compounding the challenge is a UEFA Champions League fixture sandwiched in between, followed by a repeat ordeal in January. Arsenal’s winter struggles have derailed their title hopes in the past two seasons. A rough February in 2022/23 and a single win in five December matches last season cost them dearly. Avoiding a similar slump, especially in a challenging January run against Villa, Spurs, and Man City, is crucial if Arsenal hopes to finally topple Man City and claim the title after 21 years.
Man City’s motivation faces scrutiny. Pep Guardiola’s cryptic comments after securing an unprecedented fourth consecutive title left many wondering about the team’s drive for 2024/25. Their opening six fixtures are daunting, including matches against Arsenal, Newcastle United, and a revitalized Chelsea. They’ll also face promoted Ipswich and West Ham under new management. The crucial game at Stamford Bridge on the opening Sunday, where Enzo Maresca’s tactics mirror Guardiola’s, could see Chelsea claiming points.
If Arsenal then snatches something from the Etihad, Man City would head to St James’ Park needing a win to avoid a poor start. Yet, Man City often finds its stride in the season’s second half, and with an 11-match run-in looking smooth, another winning streak is very possible. Only Manchester United at Old Trafford and Villa at home pose significant challenges from March onward.
Ten Hag’s challenging start may test his tenure. Despite a reprieve, Ten Hag knows he must excel from the outset in 2024/25. Man Utd’s opening fixtures are tough, starting with a manageable Fulham match before traveling to Brighton & Hove Albion for Fabian Hurzeler’s Amex Stadium debut, then hosting Liverpool. Following this, they face tricky trips to Selhurst Park and games against Spurs and Villa. Last season’s poor start, with four losses in the first seven games, hampered their campaign. This season, five of their first seven matches are similarly challenging.
Ipswich Town faces a tough start but a hopeful run-in. Fans will enjoy welcoming Liverpool to Portman Road for their first Premier League match in 24 years, though a subsequent trip to Man City is daunting. Pressure will be on to win against Fulham to avoid an early season slump. However, Kieran McKenna can find solace in a manageable run-in, featuring potential six-pointers. Ipswich’s fixtures come in challenging waves, with a particularly tough sequence from December to February.
Aston Villa needs a strong start to regain momentum. Fatigue and injuries saw Villa limp to fourth last season. Unai Emery must ensure a solid beginning with a relatively easy opening nine matches, only facing two top-eight teams, both at Villa Park. Early points will be crucial for another UEFA Champions League spot, as their final fixtures include Spurs, Man City, and Man Utd.
Chelsea’s Maresca faces a tough October. Eager to impress, Maresca’s initial fixtures are favorable until October brings a brutal stretch. Facing six top-eight teams between October and December will test Chelsea’s new tactics. Success here will solidify his position, but a slow start could spell trouble by the festive period.
The penultimate weekend promises drama. Seven things we learnt on the fixtures released date, while the opening weekend is exciting, the second-to-last weekend could be decisive. Arsenal versus Newcastle might influence both the title race and top-four contention. Liverpool at Brighton, Spurs at Villa, and several potential relegation battles add to the high stakes. The marquee match is Chelsea hosting Man Utd, likely with significant implications.