The 2021/22 English Premier League season is set to get underway with the opening fixture, a London derby, taking place on Friday, August 13th.
Last season ended with Manchester City running away with the title after yet another impressive season in the league, and the battle for top four went down the wire up till the final day of the season.
Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham were relegated from the division.
The English season proper started last weekend with Leicester City defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the Community Shield.
The new season is expected to be, as always, competitive and tough considering the amounts of quality players signed by the clubs from leagues all over the world.
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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City is the default favourite to pick up the title, having done so in dominant style in three of his five seasons in charge of the club.
The club lost record goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, after his contract expired, but has strength in depth as they showed last season, playing without a recognised striker and still dominating sides.
They have added the guile and creativity of Jack Grealish to their ranks after poaching the former Aston Villa captain for £100 million.
Chelsea find themselves in this conversation due to the brilliant job done by Thomas Tuchel since he took over the club.
The Champions of Europe have the resources to go toe-to-toe with the best sides in the league and would fancy their chances of picking up the trophy.
Manchester United has completed the signing of two marquee players in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane to lift them to the next level, having finished last season in second place.
Both players are of top quality and can be trusted to improve the squad immensely.
Liverpool can welcome experienced center half Virgil Van Dijk and his partner Joe Gomez in the heart of their defense after their recovery from their long-term injury layoffs.
Liverpool’s attempts to defend the title they won in 2019/20 failed woefully once both men were absent. The club has spent big to lure promising French defender Ibrahima Konate to Anfield.
EUROPE HOPEFULS
Arsenal will look to qualify for European competition after missing out altogether at the end of the 2020/21 season. The club has invested heavily, spending around £75 million to bring three new players to the Emirates Stadium.
Aston Villa showed that by all means, they intend to compete in the 2021/22 season with the signing of Emiliano Buendia, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings to replace the influence of Jack Grealish in the team. The team spent most of the first half of last season rubbing shoulders with the big boys before running out of gas midway through the season.
Leicester City looks like a side that can push for a place in the top four after narrowly missing out in each of the last two seasons. The club also purchased quality players over the summer while keeping hold of their best players.
They already started the season brilliantly with the Community Shield win over Manchester City.
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Manchester City and Manchester United are two likely teams to emerge as champions of the league by May, but Chelsea’s depth and quality puts them right in the conversation for who gets the title. It is worth betting on any of these teams to pick up the title at the end of the season.
RELEGATION BATTLE
Norwich City is known for its brilliance in the Championship, but is a different side entirely once in the top flight. The 2021/22 season is expected to be a continuation of this tradition with the club possibly lacking the quality to remain in the Premier League for another season.
Brentford is another side that would not likely beat the drop, no thanks to their lack of experience at this level. The club has never before played in the Premier League, and their lack of experience may count against them by the end of the season.
Crystal Palace is another candidate for relegation from the top flight following the mass changes rung at Selhurst Park at the end of the 2020/21 season, with ageing coach and players replaced by younger ones with limited experience. The league is unforgiving, and the Eagles may learn that the hard way this season.
PUNTER’S MATCHDAY ONE TIPS
Our in-house experts reckon that London and Manchester are where the action on Matchday One would be, with exciting fixtures involving the league’s biggest sides set to take centre stage.
- Brentford vs Arsenal: Arsenal will lock horns with new boys Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium. It is a chance for the Gunners to show some intent from the beginning of the season as no newly-promoted side has won on opening day since 2017. Arsenal are favourites for the win and have been given 1.86 odds, with Brentford getting 3.95 odds and a draw pegged at 3.60 odds.
- Manchester United vs Leeds United: Manchester United defeated Leeds United once and drew the other match last season. With the Red Devils added firepower, they should prove too much for Leeds United. Leeds are the underdogs here and have been given 5.50 odds of picking up a win, with Manchester United getting 1.54 odds and a draw pegged at 4.25 odds.
- Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Chelsea defeated Crystal Palace twice last season, home and away in the league. The Blues are expected to win the game clearly and have been given 1.27 odds. Crystal Palace has been given a massive 10.75 odds of winning the game, and a draw has been pegged at 5.50 odds.
- Tottenham vs Manchester City: Will Harry Kane turn out for Tottenham against he side he so desperately wants to join? Tottenham-Man City has always been a classic in recent years, and this one should not be an exception. Tottenham are the underdog here and have been given 5.25 odds of winning the game, with Manchester City having 1.60 odds and a draw being pegged at 3.95 odds.
