Manchester United will start their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a home fixture against Fulham on Friday, while Manchester City will begin their title defense with a challenging trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot will be under scrutiny as he leads his team to Ipswich for his first competitive match since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. Ipswich, newly promoted after a 22-year absence, will be eager to make a strong impression.
Erik ten Hag Faces Crucial Start for Manchester United
Erik ten Hag, who secured his position at Manchester United with a surprising FA Cup final win over Manchester City in May, is under pressure to deliver early results. The Dutch manager, backed by new football operations head Jim Ratcliffe, has seen significant investment in his squad with new arrivals including Leny Yoro and Matthijs De Ligt. After finishing eighth last season, Ten Hag needs a strong start to silence critics and prove he is the right man for the job. Fulham’s recent victory at Old Trafford could add to the pressure if repeated.
Arne Slot’s Premier League Debut: Ipswich Ready to Challenge Liverpool
Liverpool’s new boss Arne Slot faces a tough opening fixture as his side travels to Ipswich, who are buoyed by recent promotions and a strong home record. Despite Liverpool’s impressive pre-season performances, including wins over Arsenal and United, they have yet to make any signings this transfer window. Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe is determined to maintain their unbeaten home streak, emphasising that “it’s just 11 vs 11 on the pitch.”
Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca Meets Manchester City in High-Stakes Opener
Enzo Maresca, the new Chelsea manager, faces a challenging start against his former club Manchester City. Maresca, who was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff before leading Leicester to promotion, inherits a Chelsea squad in disarray with over 50 players and ongoing transfer speculation. Meanwhile, City have had a relatively stable pre-season with minimal changes, though key players from Euro 2024 are expected to be sidelined.
Fixtures:
Friday (all times GMT)
Manchester United vs Fulham (19:00)
Saturday
Ipswich vs Liverpool (11:30)
Arsenal vs Wolves, Everton vs Brighton, Newcastle vs Southampton, Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth (all 14:00)
West Ham vs Aston Villa (16:30)
Sunday
Brentford vs Crystal Palace (13:00)
Chelsea vs Manchester City (15:30)
Monday
Leicester vs Tottenham (19:00)
