Some 89 days after the 2024/25 Premier League season ended, the English top-flight returns with a full programme of fixtures. Below we pick out the winners and losers.
Friday: Liverpool v Bournemouth (11pm kick-off UAE)
The reigning champions have been splashing the cash this summer with more than €300 million spent on the likes of Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Liverpool go into the game having lost to Crystal Palace on penalties in the Community Shield.
It has been a tough transfer window for Cherries manager Andoni Iraola who has seen the defence that helped secure Bournemouth's highest ever Premier League points tally last season decimated, with Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Ilia Zabarnyi all heading for the exit.
Prediction: Liverpool 3 Bournemouth 0
Saturday: Aston Villa v Newcastle (3.30pm)
It has been a quiet window for Villa, who finished in sixth place, with the €30m Nice striker Evann Guessand their only major outlay so far. They will also be without the services of attacking duo Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio whose loan deals were not made permanent, although reports suggest a move could yet be made to bring back the latter.
Newcastle have endured a summer of turmoil – despite winning the League Cup and finishing fifth – with top-scorer Alexander Isak trying to force through a move to Liverpool, while the Magpies were also beaten to the punch on a host of transfer targets. Winger Anthony Elanga has joined and will provide an injection of pace down the right.
Prediction: Villa 1 Newcastle 1
Brighton v Fulham (6pm)
German manager Fabian Hurzeler guided Brighton to eighth place in his first season in charge but has since lost the services of striker Joao Pedro to Chelsea while Manchester United are thought to be keen on midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Marco Silva’s fifth season at Craven Cottage saw Fulham finish 11th but, beyond a reserve goalkeeper, the Portuguese has not been able to strengthen his starting XI. Silva is entering the final year of his contract and will need some reassuring about the club's ambition if he is to stay longer.
Prediction: Brighton 2 Fulham 0
Sunderland v West Ham United (6pm)
Newly-promoted Sunderland have not been shy with bolstering their squad with the Black Cats having made an eye-watering 11 new signings, with the addition of former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen arguably the standout.
West Ham's transfer activity has seen them bring in experienced Premier League operators in full-back Kyle Walker-Peters and striker Callum Wilson on free transfers, while also forking out €40m on Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo. The Hammers ended last season 14th.
Prediction: Sunderland 2 West Ham 3
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley (6pm)
Thomas Frank has replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou as manager with the club's dismal 17th-place finish outweighing their Uefa Europa League final triumph. Forward Mathys Tel and winger Mohammed Kudos have joined from Bayern Munich and West Ham, respectively. Club legend Son Heung-min has left for the MLS.
Burnley have also been busy in the transfer market to try to maintain their top-flight place, including the arrivals of defender Lesley Ogochukwu and forward Armando Broja from Chelsea for more than €50m. Former Man City full-back Kyle Walker and ex-Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka are also among the new arrivals.
Prediction: Spurs 2 Burnley 1
Wolves v Manchester City (8.30pm)
Alarm bells are ringing at Wolves (who were 16th last season) after the exits of Matheus Cunha, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Nelson Semedo, and Pablo Sarabia, while Vitor Pereira's team failed to register a single win in their preseason friendlies – losing their last three against Lens, Girona and Celta Vigo.
Man City made their transfer moves before the Fifa Club World Cup, bringing in the likes of midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and attacker Rayan Cherki, while they have also re-signed goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley. Pep Guardiola's side have a point to prove after finishing third last season, 13 points behind champions Liverpool.
Prediction: Wolves 1 Man City 3
Sunday: Chelsea v Crystal Palace (5pm)
Chelsea enter the new campaign on a high having hammered European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Fifa Club World Cup final. The usual manic window for the Blues, who were fourth last season, with Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens among the arrivals, while the likes of Noni Madueke and Joao Felix headed for the exit
The joy of Palace's Community Shield victory was quickly overshadowed as the club lost their appeal at Uefa's decision to demote them from the Europa League. The potential loss of captain Marc Guehi and key attacker Eberechi Eze before the window closes could darken the mood further.
Prediction: Chelsea 2 Palace 0
Nottingham Forest v Brentford (6pm)
Last season's surprise package Forest lost the services of winger Elanga to Newcastle but managed to fight off Spurs' advances for midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. Their attacking options have been strengthened by the singings of winger Dan Ndoye and striker Igor Jesus from Bologna and Botafogo, respectively.
Could be a tough season ahead for the Bees who have lost manager Frank – replaced by set-piece coach Keith Andrews – goalkeeper Mark Flekken, midfielder Christian Norgaard and attacker Bryan Mbeumo over the summer. Brentford finished 10th last season.
Prediction: Forest 3 Brentford 1
Manchester United v Arsenal (6pm)
United have spent big on their attacking options with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all arriving at Old Trafford for a combined €225m. The pressure is on manager Ruben Amorim after last season's 15th-place finish and Europa League final defeat to Spurs.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is looking to end of a run of three consecutive runners-up finishes by claiming the club's first title since 2004. The Gunners appear to have strengthened two key areas by bringing in defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi and striker Viktor Gyokeres as they hunt that elusive top spot.
Prediction: Man United 1 Arsenal 2
Monday: Leeds United v Everton (6pm)
Second-tier title winners Leeds are aiming to buck the trend and remain in the top-flight after promotion. Manager Daniel Farke has clearly been looking to add physicality and height to his team with four of his six new signings 1.85 metres or taller – with midfielder Anton Stach standing at a mighty 1.93m.
The return of manager David Moyes helped steer Everton away from relegation and up to a 13th place finish. Marquee signing Jack Grealish from Manchester City should be a perfect move for all concerned as is central midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's arrival from Chelsea.
Prediction: Leeds 1 Everton 1
