It’s off and running: Premier League season 33 has kicked into action and should the title race goes the distance, nine months and one week from now we will know if, on the banks of the Thames at Fulham, Manchester City have confirmed a fifth consecutive triumph or, at Southampton , if Arsenal have become champions for the first time in 21 years. Advertisement Or will Liverpool be celebrating Arne Slot’s first season on the last day at home to Crystal Palace ? Could an outsider flourish? There are familiar faces – James Milner and Ashley Young made their debuts in Premier League season 11. There is freshness, too, in Ipswich Town ’s return after 22 years.
Brighton , Chelsea , Leicester City and Kloppless Liverpool all have new head coaches. Some clubs have new sporting directors and recruitment heads as well. It’s an evolving league in a developing industry.
And in the stands, it remains packed out. In total 329 players appeared across the four-day weekend, 27 more than last year Young was one of two red cards shown, on top of 38 yellows. There were 20 goals, one from a penalty-kick.
Yet City’s long dominance means that, while there was much enthusiasm, there is an underlying tension that will not be eased (depending on the outcome) until those infamous 115 questions are addressed. GO DEEPER Manchester City, the Premier League and the season everything might change That figure hangs in the air, like Mikel Arteta’s joke about 114 points. Then there are questions .