The new Premier League season is upon us, and while predicting Manchester City’s dominance feels almost inevitable, the puzzle that is Chelsea’s opening opponent remains a mystery. Fans and pundits alike are left scratching their heads as manager Enzo Maresca prepares for his first competitive match after a summer of relentless spending.
Chelsea has splashed a staggering £160 million ($205.10 million) on new players, including winger Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, and goalkeeper Filip Jorgenson from Villarreal. This latest spending spree adds to the already enormous sum of around €1.3 billion ($1.43 billion) spent on new players since Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly took charge in mid-2022, bringing the total number of new arrivals to a whopping 40.
The sheer size of the squad proved to be a challenge for former manager Mauricio Pochettino last season, despite a strong finish. However, with Pochettino now replaced by Maresca, Chelsea fans will be hoping for a smoother transition into the new season. “It is a complete guess, but I am going to be wild and say Chelsea will sneak in, in fourth place,” former Chelsea player and current BBC pundit Pat Nevin told the BBC. “If you take last season as a whole, it could be anything again this time.”
City’s arrival at Stamford Bridge will undoubtedly focus the minds of the Chelsea players. The reigning champions are aiming for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title and boast a relatively small, but highly experienced, first-team squad of 27 players. Their first game is delayed until Sunday, giving them a chance to observe Manchester United’s opening clash against Fulham on Friday.
United, fresh off their surprising FA Cup final victory over City, will be eager for a strong start under Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman knows that a fast start is crucial to silence the speculation about his future that plagued him last season.
While United will be vying for a top-four finish, Arsenal is widely expected to be City’s primary challenger once again. The Gunners pushed City close in 2022-23 and even closer last season. Their season starts at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, where new signing Ricardo Calafiori is likely to make his first start in defence.
Maresca will be in good company on the opening weekend, as several other new managers take charge of their clubs in competitive matches. Liverpool’s Arne Slot faces a daunting task as he takes over from Jürgen Klopp, starting their journey in the post-Klopp era with a trip to newly promoted Ipswich Town. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Fabian Huerzeler begins his tenure with a clash against Everton, while all eyes will be on West Ham United’s new manager, Julen Lopetegui, as they host Aston Villa, who finished fourth last season. Tottenham Hotspur, finishing fifth last season, begins their second season under Ange Postecoglou with a trip to fellow promoted side Leicester City on Monday.
With so many new managers and new faces across the league, the 2024-25 Premier League season promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory. The opening weekend alone will be full of intrigue and drama, setting the stage for what is sure to be a captivating season of football.
