It’s hard for me to explain exactly why I get so excited about the opening weekend of the Premier League. It’s been decades since I’ve set foot in England, and I’m hardly likely to return anytime soon. The grandfather who turned me on to the sport and how to develop extreme patience by foolishing adopting fandom of Tottenham Hotspur, the team he once toted water to on the sidelines in his youth, is now gone more than four decades. And whenever I’m tasked with trying to even attempt answers in Immaculate Grid, I am forced to pass. Outside of perhaps Harry Kane, I’d be hard pressed to name anyone associated with this league in a police lineup.
But yet, I do get an adrenaline rush when this weekend rolls around each August. The Premier League is arguably the ultimate marathon; nine months of (mostly) uninterrupted regular season. One “table”, no divisions. Hard-fought, defensive-laden battles, many contested in century-plus-old venues with overly inexbriated and chanting, ardent fan bases hoping against hope for something to cheer about. It’s a bit easier this time of year when the weather is relatively balmy. And, at least for now, no one is in fear of relegation.
That’s why I rely upon far more auspiced folks to provide my insight, and hopefully yours as well. Few in the States are better than the team at THE ATHLETIC, which in a lengthy piece by Carl Anka dominated its NEW YORK TIMES business partner’s sports pages yesterday in a manner of dominance and detail that would actually make American sports envious. And all this despite the reality check that even though there’s a LOT of season ahead, there’s a prevailing sense that most of it is a fait accompli:
Manchester City have won the last four Premier League titles and look the sensible choice to be crowned champions once more next May. This season’s three promoted clubs all play a possession-focused style of football that might not translate very well to the top flight. Since the return of football after the first pandemic lockdown during Project Restart in June 2020, we have faced back-to-back-to-back condensed Premier League seasons, with players being asked to play more minutes than ever before.
That can take its toll. It can also result in the chaotic playground football we saw for much of last season… which also resulted in a league table where the richest clubs held firm towards the top while the less-monied sides drifted towards the bottom. The relegations of Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United made it the first campaign since 1997-98 where all three promoted clubs went straight back down; could that be a freak occurrence or the beginning of a trend as increased wealth disparity makes it harder for everyone to compete?
But there are apparently some storylines worth the investment of time and emotion to watch unfold, as USA TODAY’s Jason Anderson wrote yesterday. Among them was one involving the other Manchester team:
Manchester United had its worst-ever Premier League season in 2023-24, with the Red Devils lurching between highs and lows seemingly every week en route to an eighth-place finish.
Head coach Erik ten Hag kept his job after salvaging the campaign with an FA Cup triumph, and as seemingly always, Man United has put money into improving its fortunes. Over $180 million has gone towards incoming transfers, including a move for Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt.
Which naturally made them a smart choice to kick off the whole thing yesterday, and as the Premier League website reported they were able to at least make their opener one of those highs:
Joshua Zirkzee scored a dramatic late winner on his Manchester United debut as the Red Devils claimed a 1-0 victory over Fulham in the first Premier League match of 2024/25.
After recording their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season, United looked set to be frustrated at Old Trafford on Friday until their new striker diverted a deft finish past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the 87th minute.
Introduced midway through the second half by Erik ten Hag, Zirkzee applied the crucial touch to fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho’s teasing centre to settle the contest.
Bruno Fernandes had earlier squandered United’s best chances, with Leno in excellent form for the visitors.
But Zirkzee’s effort ensured United got the ball rolling as they begin their season with a perfect result.
And per Anka, there’s a bit more to look forward to, including this:
West Ham 2024-25 are the latest team to answer the call. More than £120million ($154m) has been spent this summer with a view of sprucing up the squad from the solid-if-sometimes-stale era under David Moyes.
Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme should add strength and depth to a front four that was already one of the more exciting units in the league. The arrival of Niclas Fullkrug means the magic of the Big Man Summer carries on into the autumn. West Ham finally have an heir to Andy Carroll and someone to take some of the attacking burden off Michail Antonio.
But the unique and capitvating aspect of Premier League competition that there’s more at stake than just being at the top of the table come next Memorial Day. The top four finishers qualify for the Champions League, and that seems to Anderson to be much more competitive than the in-league competition:
With Liverpool adjusting to a new boss and Aston Villa unlikely to repeat last season’s incredible run to fourth place, there is room to claim a place in the top four and gain entry into the Champions League for 2025-26.
Free-spending clubs like Man United, Chelsea, and Newcastle United may not be able to keep pace with Man City and Arsenal, but would nevertheless see finishing third or fourth as a major success. Tottenham Hotspur came up short by just two points last season, while Villa will be eager to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.
Which I suppose gives me another reason besides my deep yet increasingly distant loyalty to my deceased grandfather to be in the vicinity of a screen when my Spurs finish up the Premier League premiere week on Monday, against one of those re-promoted teams, Leicester City. Fair warning to moi: It’s a road match, and the Foxes absolutely schvantazed the Spurs, 4-1, the last time they met in February 2023.
So I suppose that if there’s any noticeable movement in the ground this Monday, unlike last, that won’t be an earthquake. It’ll likely be my Poppy rolling over in his grave.
Here’s to football.
Courage…