So, f**k it, I’ll cave. Let’s run it back.

Let’s name a team filled with players in the English Premier League who have been absolutely balling — under the radar. These are some of the most underrated footballers in England’s top flight.

And just as a reminder, we will not be naming players who are already highly esteemed amongst regular Prem consumers. If you’re hoping to see the likes of Antoine Semenyo or Rayan Cherki, I’m sorry to disappoint you but they will not be here.

With that said, let’s crack on.

GK: Robin Roefs (Sunderland)

Perhaps the unsung hero of Sunderland’s early season success and reasonable likelihood of staying up.

We all know Granit Xhaka is class for Sunderland, but Roefs has been absolutely unbelievable between the sticks for the Black Cats.

(Photo source: Sunderland Echo)

Next time you can watch Roefs play: Sunderland vs. Burnley (Feb. 2)

LB: El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham)

Diouf is a 21-year-old Senegalese left back with pace and power for days. But what stands out is the quality of his deliveries from the left flank. The weight, precision, and touch on his in-swinging crosses basically beg forwards to smash them into the back of the net.

The problem is, West Ham’s forwards have been mostly shit.

Had the Hammers season not started so poorly, his name would likely be discussed amongst the best left backs in the league. He’s that good.

(Photo source: BBC)

Next time you can watch Diouf play: Chelsea v. West Ham (Jan. 31)

CB: Cristhian Mosquera (Arsenal)

What a player Mosquera is.

Deputizing for William Saliba, the Spanish center back has put in several immense performances in key moments for the Gunners.

In years past, an injury to a player as important as Saliba could tank an entire season for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal — but not when you have this guy.

And he’s just 21 years of age.

(Photo source: BBC)

Next time you can watch Mosquera play: Arsenal v. Kairat (Jan. 27)

CB: Malick Thiaw (Newcastle)

We talk about the likes of William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk as “Rolls Royce” center backs who can do all the difficult things on both ends of the pitch and still look cool, calm, and collected while doing it — and this guy may be next up.

Thiaw is a classy center back who is equally adept defending Newcastle’s goal as he is providing a thunderous header or line-breaking pass when the Magpies are in possession.

Sky’s the limit for the young German defender.

(Photo source: MSN)

Next time you can watch Thiaw play: Liverpool v. Newcastle (Jan. 31)

RB: Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland)

You’ll notice I have multiple Sunderland players in this XI, and I suppose that makes sense given their place in the table in comparison to expectations. But you’d be hard-pressed to find many players more important to the way Sunderland want to play than Nordi Mukiele has been.

The former PSG defender has taken to life on the Tyneside extremely well, and has looked like a revelation for the Black Cats. A smooth center back also able to play as a natural right back, Mukiele is perfectly suited for the modern Premier League, which prioritizes defensive versatility.

(Photo source: Chronicle Live)

Next time you can watch Mukiele play: Sunderland vs. Burnley (Feb. 2)

Midfielder: Harry Wilson (Fulham)

I mean, the season Harry Wilson is having is just absolutely mental. I’m genuinely running out of words to describe it.

But some shit article that would be.

Wilson currently sits on 8 goals and 4 assists in 22 Premier League appearances this season, and the quality of goals in his catalogue is simply unreal. Free kicks, curlers, trivelas — he’s done it all.

Had he hit an extended purple patch like this a few years ago, top clubs around the world would be lining up to get his signature. And they still might.

(Photo source: BBC)

Next time you can watch Wilson play: Manchester United v. Fulham (Feb. 1)

Midfielder: Yasin Ayari (Brighton)

With a penchant for the extraordinary, Ayari is an absolute game breaker for the Seagulls of Brighton Hove & Albion.

Agile, skillful, and audacious, the 22-year-old Swede has made a name for himself on the South coast.

(Photo source: BBC)

Next time you can watch Ayari play: Brighton v. Everton (Jan. 31)

Midfielder: Lewis Miley (Newcastle)

Made for the big time.

Just 19 years of age, Miley is a box-to-box midfielder who has often been asked to deputize at right back for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle. He has the quality and the potential to be one of England’s best one day, and Howe will just hope to get the most out of him while he’s still with the Magpies.

(Photo source: Sky Sports)

Next time you can watch Miley play: Liverpool v. Newcastle (Jan. 31)

Forward: Jaidon Anthony (Burnley)

Silky winger with a finishing touch. Anthony has been one of the rare bright spots for a Burnley side that are likely going back to the Championship next season.

Quality in abundance and one to watch for the future.

(Photo source: BBC)

Next time you can watch Anthony play: Sunderland v. Burnley (Feb. 2)

Forward: Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)

Look, this may not be the most surprising player in the list, but I’m just enamored with Kroupi’s output.

In fact, the young Frenchman is the only player with more non-penalty goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League than Erling Haaland (min. 500 minutes played).

Goals aplenty, and there may be many, many more to come with Antoine Semenyo now in Manchester.

(Photo source: BBC Sport)

Next time you can watch Kroupi play: Wolves v. Bournemouth (Jan. 31)

Forward: Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace)

Tidy, diminutive Spanish playmaker with an eye for goal and an insatiable taste for flair.

Think young Emi Buendia at Norwich.

And despite Palace’s recent turmoil and generally shit vibes after losing star midfielder Eberechi Eze, captain Marc Guehi, and eventually manager Oliver Glasner, Pino is always a joy to watch.

(Photo source: The New York Times)

Next time you can watch Pino play: Nottingham Forrest v. Crystal Palace (Feb. 1)

But who are the best players that don’t get nearly as much PR? Who are the Prem’s unsung heroes who always seem to turn up and ball out when you watch them?

Let’s create an entire starting lineup with the best 11 of these lads. And who knows — maybe they’ll even let me coach the squad.

[Disclaimer: I didn’t include players at the caliber of, say, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo or Wolves’s Matheus Cunha. To me, they have entered the upper echelon of Prem footballers, to which they would no longer be considered “underrated.”]

LW: Simon Adingra (Brighton Hove & Albion)

Adingra is a dynamic Ivorian left winger who uses his pace, 1v1 technical ability, and clinical finishing to create chances for fun. Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro get all the headlines for the Gulls, but Adingra’s name should be right up there at the top of the teamsheet.

Your next chance to watch Adingra: Brighton vs. Everton (Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 AM EST)

ST: Yoane Wissa (Brentford)

Just scores goals, plain and simple. No nonsense Congolese forward who can play with his back to goal, and can also get in behind with his rapid speed. He’s a clinical finisher as well. He and Bryan Mbeumo have formed one of the more formidable forward pairings in recent years from a non-top-six side. Some real “streets won’t forget” football.

Your next chance to watch Wissa: Brentford vs. Crystal Palace (Sunday, Jan. 26 at 9 AM)

RW: Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)

It’s only a matter of time before a top six club comes calling for the 25-year-old Ghanian winger. Rapid, strong, good technical ability in tight areas, and a rocket for a left peg. He’s a goal waiting to happen. I know a certain North London club that could really use his services right now, while their star right winger is hurt for an extended period of time…

Your next chance to watch Semenyo: Bournemouth vs. Nottingham Forest (Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 AM EST)

CM: Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)

Just a smooth operator. The young Swede is a real champagne footballer. Watching Bergvall play is like going back in time to when aesthetics were nearly as important as output in football. The era of Pirlo, Zidane, and those lads. Elegant on the ball with suave looks to match. At just 18 years old, Bergvall may be on the ascent to stardom.

Your next chance to watch Bergvall: Tottenham vs. Leicester City (Sunday, Jan. 26 at 9 AM EST)

CM: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

The physical profile Rogers has is really rare. A powerful runner with the football at his feet, he’s nearly impossible to get the ball off when he gets a head full of steam. He just sort of tosses defenders off of him like an NFL running back. The kind of player that spurs counter attacks out of thin air. A press-resistant goal creator.

Your next chance to watch Rogers: Aston Villa vs. West Ham (Sunday, Jan. 26 at 11:30 AM EST)

CM: Carlos Baleba (Brighton Hove & Albion)

Unreal motor on this lad. The Brighton midfielder is a box to box engine that erases opposition attacks, drives through the lines with the ball at his feet, and sprays accurate passes into dangerous areas. Reminiscent of Moises Caicedo’s rise on the south coast. I wouldn’t be shocked if he goes to a bigger club in the not-too-distant future.

Your next chance to watch Baleba: Brighton vs. Everton (Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 AM EST)

LB: Leif Davis (Ipswich Town)

Wicked chance creator from left back. In a bigger team, he’d be a household name. And while rising star forward Liam Delap gets all of the plaudits and headlines for the Tractor Boys of Ipswich Town, Davis may well be their best player. If Ipswich do go down this year, he will likely stay up with another Premier League side. This is his level.

Your next chance to watch Davis: Liverpool vs. Ipswich Town (Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 AM EST)

CB: Murillo (Nottingham Forrest)

An absolute brick shit house. This Brazilian center half is built like a Ford F150 — and he tackles like one too. The better half of the Prem’s most underrated center back pairing alongside Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo is one of the main characters in Forrest’s success story this season. Just 22 years of age as well.

Your next chance to watch Murillo: Bournemouth vs. Nottingham Forest (Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 AM EST)

CB: Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth)

The 19-year-old Spaniard has burst onto the scene for the Cherries this season with an elite mix of aerial presence and composure on the ball at the heart of defense. It looks like Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has pulled off another worldy bringing the young lad into the team. The challenge will be trying to hold onto him.

Your next chance to watch Huijsen: Bournemouth vs. Nottingham Forest (Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 AM EST)

RB: Ola Aina (Nottingham Forrest)

Where has this lad been? The Chelsea academy alum has found the form of his life at Nottingham Forrest this season and has put the league on notice. And with Reece James perpetually missing time for the Blues, Chelsea probably wish they had him back. Quick — throw another £100M at him!

Your next chance to watch Aina: Bournemouth vs. Nottingham Forest (Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 AM EST)

GK: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool)

Always seems to play well when Alisson goes out with an injury. I’d be shocked if another club doesn’t try to snatch him up to be their number one. He’s way too good to be wasting away on the Reds bench.

Your next chance to watch Kelleher: Who the hell knows, sadly.

Best player: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

This was pretty easy, to be honest. Cole Palmer has embodied his iconic celebration perfectly this season — coldest lad on the pitch every time he steps on it.

I’m running out of words to describe just how good the young Englishmen has been for the Blues. With 6 goals and 5 assists already, Palmer has continued his incredible run of good form that began last season, when he put his stamp on the Premier League after scoring 22 goals and adding 11 assists on an otherwise dreadful 2023 Chelsea squad. And with his performances early on this season, he has announced that he’s here to stay.

It’s hard to pick just one performance that has stood out this season for Palmer, but the obvious selection has to be his four-goal first half against Brighton. The flurry of goals was the first time in Premier League history that a player scored that many goals in the opening half of a match. And it’s not just the sheer quantity of goals and assists that he has produced, but also the quality and variety that makes Palmer such a singular talent. In the Brighton match alone, he scored a penalty, a delectable free kick into the top bins, an open netter, and a tight near post finish that looked more like a pure striker’s finish than an attacking midfielder.

The lad just has it all in his locker, and that’s why he’s my player of the season so far.

Surprise team: Fulham

I could have gone with Brighton here, but I just think what manager Andre Silva and his Cottagers are doing this season is a bit more surprising than what the Gulls have done on the south coast. We have seen Brighton challenge for European football in recent years and even finish in the Europa League places in 2022 under Roberto De Zerbi. But what we’re seeing from Fulham early on is something that not many people would have expected. Fulham are currently in 8th place in the Prem, with a trademark win over Newcastle and a quality performance against Manchester City that probably should have resulted in a point.

But beyond just the results, what has been most surprising and impressive from Fulham has been their ability to replace one of the best midfielders in the league, in Joao Palhinha, who left for Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window. Director of football operations, Tony Khan, truly deserves his flowers for the way he replaced the hole Palhinha’s departure left, with the addition of Sander Berge from Burnley this summer and the signing of Sasa Lukic from Torino last year. Both of which have been instrumental in solidifying the center of the park. But that’s not where Khan’s work stopped. He also added attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal and center defender Joachim Anderson from Crystal Palace to add both goals and stout defending to the side.

The result? One of the most fun sides to watch in the EPL, and the biggest overachiever thus far.

Stinker: Manchester United

This should come as a surprise to almost no one. Arguably the biggest club in the world, Manchester United have just eight points in seven matches and currently sit in 14th place in the Premier League. It’s just not good enough. Manager Erik ten Hag has seen his fair share of vitriol in the media and from United supporters, and to be fair, it’s more than warranted. And perhaps the biggest indictment on the Red Devils is the fact that they have looked utterly lifeless in their two biggest matches of the season thus far: a pair of 3-0 defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham. The worst part? The matches were at home. On two separate occasions, their rivals came into Old Trafford and took over their trap without as much as a pillow fight in resistance from United. And while they have had some solid performances from individual players, like young Argentinian winger Alejandro Garnacho, the team as a whole has been nothing short of shocking.

If ten Hag wants to keep his job, the results are going to have to start turning — and fast. A loss to Brentford at home today could very well be the breaking point. And if I were a betting man, there’s no way I would take United in that fixture.

You remember the tunnel argument between Manchester United’s Roy Keane and Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira in 2005? Two gladiators and emperors of the modern game standing face-to-face hurling insults at one another. You could just sense the hatred the two lads had for each other and their respective clubs. They wanted to go out on the pitch and not just beat the other one, but absolutely embarrass the other in the process. Leave no sense of doubt. A true “I’m better than you, and you can go f**k yourself” attitude.

Well, it’s back. The bitter hatred and animosity of English Premier League football rivalries are back — and it’s glorious. And you have Arsenal and Manchester City’s gladiator-like clash last weekend to thank for it.

On the weekend, Arsenal and Man City played to a wild 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium that would best be described as cinematic in its theatrical plot developments and utterly insane and dramatic finish.

City came out firing, scoring an early goal from Premier League legend Erling Haaland inside of 10 minutes, and it looked like the the Sky Blues were off and running en route to a throttling.

However, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side were far from finished. And in the 22nd minute, new Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori took a pass from Gabriel Martinelli on the corner of the penalty area and struck the ball as crisply as the first bite out of a Granny Smith in October. His belter of a strike went where only the spider webs hide in the top bin, and sent shockwaves around the ground. As he wheeled away in celebration, fans around the world had just realized something — we were in for an absolute cracker of a match.

After Calafiori’s goal, Arsenal continued to grow into the match. And in first half stoppage time, Gabriel Magalhaes added another goal for the Gunners. From a Bukayo Saka corner, Gabriel climbed the stairs to smash home his second headed goal of the young Premier League season and his third in all competitions. Not too shabby for a center back. From there, it felt like Arsenal were in the ascendancy and in prime position to overtake City as the 2024-25 Premier League title favorites.

But that’s when all Hell broke loose.

Just before halftime, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, who was already given a yellow card earlier in the half, fouled City midfielder Bernardo Silva and then kicked the ball away, which resulted in his second yellow card of the match and a red card. Arsenal would now be forced to play the entire second half with just 10 men on the road against the four-time reigning Premier League champions. Quite the uphill battle.

But in the Gunners’ defense, they held down the fort and remained stout defensively in the second half. And in the waning moments of the match, it really did feel like they would go on to win the match. City struggled to create any real goal scoring chances, and it looked as though they had run out of ideas in the final third.

But — like an M. Night Shyamalan film — there was one final twist.

In the final minute of added time, just mere seconds before Arsenal could hear the final whistle and celebrate a massive road victory against their biggest threat to the title, they broke their concentration. From a short corner, Jack Grealish sent a ball into the penalty area that bounced around the box before finding a waiting John Stones at the back post, who buried the ball into the back of the net and sent the Etihad crowd into utter pandemonium. The match would end in a 2-2 draw. The points would be shared. Heartbreak for Arsenal. Ecstasy and relief for City.

But the ball hitting the back of the net is not where the fun of the evening ends. Oh, quite the contrary actually — it’s where the fun began.

Just after the ball crossed the line to level the match, City’s Erling Haaland grabbed the ball out of the net and threw it with two hands at the head of Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes in an act of child-like, arrogant celebration (and perhaps a bit of pent-up frustration).

And that’s just where the fireworks started. There was more.

After the match was over, Haaland wasn’t done. In the post-match handshakes, he not only told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to “stay humble,” but he also walked over to his ex-Manchester City teammate Gabriel Jesus (now with Arsenal) and called him a “f***ing clown.” In other words, his head was completely gone.

To me, these moments are exactly what Premier League football is all about. A sheer hatred between two teams because they want the same thing more than anything else in the world — the Premier League trophy. It’s something the league hasn’t had in quite some time, and it’s something the league desperately needed. And now is the perfect time.

In the past few title run-ins between Arsenal and City, it almost felt like Arsenal were just happy to be there. They were almost like the little brother to City. Always coming close, but always falling just short. But last weekend felt a bit like a shift in the narrative. It felt like City, by their actions, showed that they saw Arsenal as a real threat for the first time.

And listen, I’m not advocating for post-match fisticuffs and dangerous altercations (although every now and then… nah I’m just kidding). I just don’t want to see players have a grueling match and then proceed to hug one another and go out for drinks at the nearest pub as soon as it’s over. I want them to despise each other, to pray on each other’s downfall, and to really drink the hater-ade. That’s sport. That’s a proper rivalry.

And we have one.

Last week, there were 21 goals in the opening weekend of the 2024-25 English Premier League season. That’s a fairly ordinary number. Perhaps fans were beginning to wonder if they would see a dip in goals this season after the historic 2023-2024 EPL campaign which had a record 1,246 goals and an average of 3.28 goals per match. I mean, it would be completely rational to think that level of goalscoring is unsustainable. However, the EPL is hardly ever rational.

That was evident on the second matchweek, as 32 goals flew into the back of the net, including eight goals coming from a single match in Chelsea’s 6-2 drubbing of Wolves at the Molineux. And while 32 goals in a matchweek is a far cry from the EPL record of 45 set last season, you just get the feeling that the goals are coming. And when the goals flow in like the River Jordan, that’s when the Prem is often at its best — and its wildest. We should be in for a cracker of a season.

Erling Haaland is still a machine

Staying on the topic of goals, Manchester City forward Erling Haaland is no stranger to the subject. The Premier League’s all-time leader in goals scored in a single season with 35 in 2022-23, the Norwegian talisman is absolutely lethal in front of goal. He has often been compared to movie characters and mythical creatures like the Terminator for his machine-like goalscoring attributes — and his general Nordic Viking-ness.

But in the back half of last season and even leading into this season, some fans and pundits began to question the Scandinavian giant. The most famous example came from ex-Manchester United legend and current football pundit Roy Keane, who compared Haaland’s technical ability and general play to that of a lower level League Two player.

Well, Haaland either heard the disrespect or likely ignored it, because he has started the 2024 campaign absolutely flying. After bagging his first goal of the season against Chelsea in Manchester City’s season opener, Haaland upped the ante in Matchweek Two against Ipswich Town and bagged his 10th hat-trick for City in all competitions and his seventh in the Premier League. The variety of finish from the big lad was simply world-class. He slotted home a penalty for his first, then deftly headed the ball around the keeper and knocked a bouncing ball into the back of the net from a tight angle for his second, and finally scored a thunderous, driven strike from about 25 yards out to get his hat-trick. And were it not for a rare misplaced ball from Kevin de Bruyne in the 75th minute when Haaland was breaking free just six yards from goal, he probably should have had four.

Any way you slice it, that’s four goals in two matches for one of the Premier League’s greatest ever goalscorers — and he’s nowhere near done.

Rejuvenated Brighton look quality under Hurzeler

Brighton came into the 2024-25 EPL campaign with a lot of question marks surrounding the club. What would the Seagulls look like in their first season without ex-manager Roberto de Zerbi, who guided Brighton to their first-ever Europa League qualification in their club’s history? Was new 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler ready for this level? And would his players even respect him?

Well, after two weeks, it looks like Hurzeler is more than capable of doing the job. His Seagulls are off to a flying start, winning both of their first two matches against Everton and Manchester United by an aggregate scoreline of 5-1. First, they battered the Toffees 3-0 in an elegant Matchweek One performance, with goals from Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck, and Simon Adingra. Then, they came up with a massive and dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester United in Matchweek Two, with Welbeck opening the scoring against his former club and young Brazilian forward Joao Pedro delivering a storybook 95th minute winner that sent the 30,000+ supporters at the AmEx into utter pandemonium. The Seagulls were dangerous all afternoon, and created several clear-cut chances to extend their lead throughout the match — most notably Diego Dalot’s goal line clearance on James Milner’s chance in the 52nd minute and Welbeck’s header that thumped the crossbar in the 58th minute. However, Brighton were also very fortunate not to concede to Man United in the 70th minute when United winger Alejandro Garnacho’s goal was waved off due to Joshua Zirkzee strangely sliding into the net and inadvertently touching the ball in while in an offsides position.

Regardless, a win is a win, and Brighton look like a team that could very well make another run at European football.

David Raya masterclass saves Arsenal

Gooners around the world were nervous for their fixture with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday morning. That’s because a season ago, Arsenal lost both of their matches against Villa and former manager Unai Emery. And to make matters worse, the 2-0 home loss in April essentially ended their title challenge against Manchester City. The Villains had their number, and it cost them.

And for a good deal of the match on Saturday, it looked like Villa were going to be Arsenal’s boogie man once again. Midfielder Morgan Rogers was gliding through the Arsenal midfield and creating chances, Villa’s backline were stout, and Ollie Watkins had a howler of a miss that should have put them up 1-0 in the 25th minute. All signs pointed towards another Arsenal loss to Villa.

Then, a bit of magic happened. In the 54th minute, Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana hit a first-time shot that took a wicked deflection and crept past the outstretched arms of Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya before slamming the crossbar, leaving Raya on the ground a few yards into the net. Ollie Watkins acted first and pounced on the rebound, sending a header towards the frame of goal, but Raya miraculously leapt to his feet and simultaneously stuck out his left mitt to deny Watkins’s effort. A cat-like reflex save from the Spaniard. And from that point on, Arsenal seemed to grow in confidence. Just over 10 minutes later, Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for the Gunners, and then Thomas Partey doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 77th minute to put the match to bed.

Raya’s save was more than just a great YouTube highlight. It was the catalyst for an all-important win in an all-important season for manager Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. If they want to get over the hump and overtake Manchester City as Premier League champions, they will need to slay all of their boogie men and grind out victories over Champions League-caliber sides like Villa. And thanks to Raya, they did just that.

We knew it would be tough sledding for this year’s promoted sides Southampton, Ipswich Town, and Leicester. I mean, I had the former two in the relegation zone in my preseason predictions. And on the opening weekend of the Premier League, none of the three new squads were able to get a win. But don’t get it twisted, none of the them were bad in their opening match.

Ipswich Town were dealt a fairly daunting hand, playing host to English football giant Liverpool in their first match back in the Premier League since 2002. But they held their own for long spells of the match, and the Tractor Boys of Ipswich Town even went close to opening the scoring on two separate occasions in the match’s first half hour. Chances from Jacob Greaves and Omari Hutchinson sent shock waves around the ground. Unfortunately for Ipswich though, those were two of their best shots on target for the entire match. And Liverpool’s goals in the 60th and 65th minute from Diogo Jota and Mo Salah, respectively, put the match to bed. But all in all, Ipswich had a good showing, and they will certainly play easier matches. Just not next week… when they play four-time reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.

Southampton also had a solid display on Matchday 1. The Saints played Newcastle at St. James’ Park, and honestly should have won the match. After a first half red card from Newcastle center back Fabian Schar, Southampton dominated the match. Were it not for a mistake from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy that led to Joelinton’s goal for Newcastle in the 45th minute, Southampton surely would have left the match with points. They outshot the Magpies 19-3, had 78% of possession, and had 1.62 expected goals compared to just 0.25 for Newcastle. They dominated everything except the scoreline. Manager Russell Martin should have a sense of confidence in his side heading into their Matchday 2 fixture against Nottingham Forrest.

But the crown jewel of performances from the newly promoted sides on Matchday 1 had to be Leicester. What a mature, inspired showing from Steve Cooper’s Foxes. They played Tottenham in their return to the Premier League, and despite conceding first in a dominant first half from Spurs, the Foxes were able to claw back and get an equalizer in the 57th minute from none other than Premier League legend Jamie Vardy. And were it not for a couple of key saves from Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on efforts from Vardy and Wilfried Ndidi in the latter stages of the match, Leicester could realistically have won the match. But what really impressed me about Leicester’s performance was that they defended well and held on to their draw. Points are hard to come by in the EPL, and any time you can steal something against a Champions League-caliber side, that’s a huge step towards safety. And with the uncertainty of a potential point deduction for their rule breaches in the Championship, Leicester will need every point they can get.

Smooth weekend for the big boys

All of last season’s EPL top four finishers won their opening matches on Matchday 1. Manchester City beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 at the Emirates, Liverpool beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road, and Aston Villa held on for a 2-1 win over West Ham at London Stadium. And while each side had varying degrees of scary moments and hiccups in their respective matches, they all took care of business. The aggregate scoreline of 8-1 suggests as much.

To take it a step further, out of last season’s top eight EPL finishers, only Chelsea and Tottenham dropped points in their first match. United left it late but won against Fulham at Old Trafford, while Newcastle stole three points against Southampton despite playing the majority of the match with just 10 men.

But with Arsenal heading to Villa Park to play Aston Villa, Newcastle traveling to the Vitality to play Bournemouth, United heading to the Amex to play Brighton, and Liverpool hosting an impressive Brentford side next weekend, some much-needed top half parity could be on the way.

Instant impact signings

A number of signings from the summer transfer window made good first impressions on the first weekend of Premier League football, with some of them even getting their names on the scoresheet.

The headliner, of course, was Manchester United’s super sub Joshua Zirkzee. Signed from Bologna in Italy’s Serie A, the Dutch forward fulfilled a dream debut when he got his left boot on the end of an Alejandro Garnacho cross and redirected the ball into the back of the net in the 87th minute, giving his side three points and sending United supporters into utter pandemonium. It looks like United have their gunman.

But there were other equally superb performances from new signings, like that from Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana. Signed from Everton in the summer, Onana was faced with filling the boots of Douglas Luiz, who left Villa for Juventus. But in his opening match against West Ham, Onana did the job. And in the 4th minute, he scored his first goal on a towering header from a corner. The goal ended up being the difference as Villa was able to secure a 2-1 win over the Hammers.

The other debut of note was Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh, signed from Newcastle in the summer. The 20-year-old Gambian winger was bright in his first 45 minutes for his new club, and his assist in the 25th minute to Kaoru Mitoma showed the threat he can provide for the Seagulls. After getting the better of Everton’s Vitalii Mykolenko on the right wing, Minteh whipped a ball across the face of goal that found the waiting feet of Mitoma on the backpost, who tapped in the finish from close range. Unfortunately for Minteh, he suffered a head injury near the end of the first half and was forced to make way for Simon Adingra. However, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler noted that he expects to have Minteh back for their enormous match next week against Manchester United.

That’s because a new English Premier League season is upon us. We have newly promoted clubs, new transfers ready to make their mark, new managers hoping to implement their styles and turn their clubs around, and we have loads and loads of footy to watch.

As squads prepare to take the pitch again and embark on a new chapter in English football history, I’m here to get you ready for it by having a go at predicting how the 2024-25 EPL season will shake out, and provide you with some reasons why. Could be good, could be shocking. Right then, let’s have it.

1. Arsenal

   This could be the year Mikel Arteta’s Gunners get over the hump. For the past two seasons, Arsenal have fallen just short of the Premier League title to Pep Guardiola’s dynastic Manchester City. Last season was especially difficult to swallow for Arsenal fans, as the Gunners dropped points on just two occasions from January 20th to the end of the season but it still wasn’t enough, as Man City steamrolled through the Prem en route to their fourth straight EPL trophy and sixth in the last seven years. However, with the addition of defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna in Italy’s Serie A, the return of versatile defender/midfielder Jurrien Timber from his ACL injury, as well as the rumored addition of midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad in Spain’s La Liga, Arsenal will be gunning for the Premier League’s top spot again — and they just might take it this time around.

2. Manchester City

   Look, there’s not a ton we need to say about City. Winners of six of the last seven Premier League titles, they just will be in the title race. And for all intents and purposes, they could certainly win the whole thing again. I’m just a bit concerned that an aging Kevin de Bruyne may have a big money move to Saudi Arabia or even retirement in the back of his mind this year, and I can’t shake the feeling that City won’t have the same hunger for the trophy this season after all they have done.

   Also, we know how small the margins are in these title races, and City didn’t really make any key additions in the transfer market outside of signing winger Savinho from sister club Troyes. In addition, they lost forward depth when Julian Alvarez decided to make a shock big money move to Atletico Madrid. If Erling Haaland misses time again this season, Pep won’t have as many buttons to push as he did a year ago. And he may pay for it.

3. Liverpool

   Liverpool have been dangerously underrated this offseason. And last year, we saw how that went. The Reds were not getting any press last year after losing star winger and club legend Sadio Mane to Saudi Arabia and assembling a brand new midfield with the additions of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo. However, Liverpool smashed it in legendary manager Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour, and were a part of the Premier League title race for the better part of the season before a dip in form towards the backend of the year.

   Going into this season, it’s a lot of the same. The media and the talking heads are not giving Liverpool the time of day, despite playing brilliant football last season and hardly losing any players in the transfer market. New manager Arne Slot will have his work cut out for him, but I think Liverpool comfortably finish in the Champions League places and give Arsenal and City another run for their money.

4. Tottenham

   Spurs were another club that made waves last season with unexpected performances and a finish in the table that may have been higher than people anticipated.

   Any time you lose your club’s all-time leading goalscorer and a club legend like Harry Kane, people are going to expect you take a step back. Not to mention, it was the first season for new manager Ange Postecouglou with a host of new players like Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Micky Van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie. But Spurs began the season superbly, and even held the top spot in the league for a short time. And while they did come back down to Earth as the season went on and slid down to fifth by year’s end, their overall season was better than many expected.

   This season, I don’t expect them to start as hot as they did a year ago, but Big Ange will have the lads playing his attractive style of attacking football, and not many teams will want to play Spurs when the going gets tough. When you look at this squad, they are about as complete as any other side from front to back. Plus, the addition of Bournemouth’s talisman Dominic Solanke should add some goals to the team. I think they finish back in the Champions League places.

5. Newcastle

   It’s hard not to like what Eddie Howe has done in his time as the manager of Newcastle. He has won consistently by playing attractive football, and has now even delivered a magical European night or two to the Geordie fans. In addition, thanks to the monetary assistance of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the level of player at Howe’s disposal is much higher than Newcastle teams of recent memory. Players like Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, and Anthony Gordon have taken the club to a new level. Also, the rumored addition of Euro 2024 standout and center back Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace would make life at the back much easier for the Magpies. They will also have midfielder Sandro Tonali back from his gambling ban. Not to mention, a season without Champions League football could be a blessing in disguise for Howe and company, as they will be much fresher for league matches.

6. Chelsea

   You could make the argument that at the backend of last season, there were only two or three other clubs playing as well as Chelsea were down the stretch. They won each of their last five fixtures to end the year and did so outscoring opponents 14-4. Manager Mauricio Pochettino seemed to have figured something out, and the Blues were cooking. Cole Palmer was scoring goals for fun, the backline was defending much better than they had in the beginning of the year, and some of their young players like Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto were finding form.

   But then, Chelsea did a really Chelsea thing that has plagued them ever since American financier Todd Boehly bought the club in 2022 — they sacked their manager. Despite the budding project that Pochettino seemed to be building following years of lifeless football and a lack of clear identity, Boehly relieved him of his duties. Now, Chelsea will enter the season with their sixth manager in the last three calendar years in Enzo Maresca. The good news for Maresca is that he will have a ton of talent in his squad, if he can somehow figure out how to choose it in the muddled mess that is their recent transfer history. Honestly, maybe I should have Chelsea further down the list, but I just think their talent is enough to challenge for European football.

7. Aston Villa

   Unai Emery’s Aston Villa were one of the shocks in the 2023-24 Premier League season. They finished ahead of traditional “Top 6” clubs Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea, en route to a fourth place finish and a spot in the 2024-25 edition of the Champions League. Ollie Watkins was the star of show and the EPL’s Playmaker of the Season, notching 13 assists to go along with his 19 goals. Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby pitched in a combined 33 goals and assists. Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, and Youri Tielemans formed one of the more underrated midfield partnerships in the league. And Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos, and Lucas Digne made for a formidable back line.

   However, Emery will have to deal with some major losses this year, as Douglas Luiz went to Juventus and Moussa Diaby went to Saudi Arabia. The club did bring in Amadou Onana from Everton, Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, and Ross Barkley from Luton Town — but I just worry that they won’t be able to repeat their stellar 2023 campaign with the added fixtures that come with Champions League. For that reason, I have them dropping down a bit in the table.

8. Manchester United

   This is a club in a bit of limbo. Sure, they are coming off of an FA Cup win over Man City. Sure, Jadon Sancho looked brilliant for Dortmund last year. Sure, another year of continuity should be good for Erik ten Hag’s men. But — they weren’t very good last year? Like, at all. For a club like Manchester United, who have won the Premier League a record 13 times since its inception in 1992, to finish eighth in the league, that’s just not good enough.

   With that being said, I do like the signing of forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna (especially now that Rasmus Hojlund is injured), and having a healthy Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw at the back will be a positive for the stability of the Red Devils defense.

   However, this is still a team that has some major holes that some of the other big clubs around them in the table just don’t have. After Raphael Varane left to Como 1907 and new signing Leny Yoro from Lille went down with a long-term injury in a preseason friendly against Arsenal, it looks like Harry Maguire will start alongside Martinez at center back on Matchday 1. And while Maguire is probably an underrated center back at this point, he’s not the same caliber of player that the other top teams currently send out in the position. But perhaps more importantly, their midfield is still largely a question mark. Young talent Kobbie Mainoo should help in that department, but the Red Devils are still one player short in the middle of the park. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s an area that ten Hag tries to reinforce either this summer or in the winter transfer window. Until then, United will likely struggle to hang with the top of the league.

9. West Ham

   If you look at West Ham’s squad list, this is a team that’s extremely talented. The trio of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, and Mohammed Kudus would get into nearly every team in England. And on several occasions last season, like their back-to-back 2-0 wins over Man United and Arsenal in December, the Hammers showed their quality in abundance.

   The problem with West Ham, as was often the case throughout David Moyes’ tenure with the club, was that they just weren’t consistent enough. Down the stretch last season, they went three-week stretches in both April and May without winning a league match. They conceded 10 goals in two games against Palace and Chelsea just two weeks apart. And on the whole, they conceded the most goals out of any club that wasn’t relegated, with a shocking 74 goals against.

   But the good news for Hammers fans and new manager Julen Lopetegui is they made some very smart signings in the transfer market. The additions of Niclas Fullkrug from Dortmund, Crysencio Summerville from Leeds, and Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice should make a big difference for the Irons. It wouldn’t shock me if they finished higher than this in the table. I think ninth is about where they will end up, though.

10. Brighton

    2023-24 was a weird season for Brighton. Coming off of a historic 2022-23 campaign that saw Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls finish sixth in the league and qualify for European football for the first time in club history, expectations were high. However, with a laundry list of injuries to key players like wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra, midfielder Julio Enciso, and defenders Pervis Estupinan and Joel Veltman, Brighton struggled to find their footing. They finished the year in a respectable 11th place, but at the end of the season, Brighton and De Zerbi agreed to part ways.

    New manager Fabian Hurzeler will have to grab the reigns and steer Brighton’s ship back on track, but he will have a squad brimming with quality to do it with — so long as they stay healthy.

11. Crystal Palace

    Remember how I said there were only two or three clubs playing better football than Chelsea at the tail end of last season? Well, Crystal Palace under manager Oliver Glasner were certainly one of them. Since Glasner took over in February, combined with some key players returning from injury, Palace were a completely new side. The front three of Michael Olise, Jean-Phillippe Mateta, and Eberechi Eze was untouchable, the center back pairing of Joachim Anderson and Marc Guehi was about as good as any other in the league, and Adam Wharton was a breath of fresh air in the midfield. Palace didn’t lose a match from April 14th until the end of the season, and they scored three or more goals on four separate occasions during that span. They were brilliant.

    But, as we have seen so many times before, when a team has individual players perform the way that Palace did last year, they are liable to have their gems poached by bigger clubs. And that’s what happened. As much as everyone wanted to see another year of that frontline banging in goals for fun, Bayern Munich came calling for Olise — and Palace answered. And now it’s looking like Guehi could be next to go, as he has been heavily linked with a move to Newcastle this summer. That being said, it wasn’t all outgoing transfers for Palace in this transfer window. They also signed defender Chadi Riad from Real Betis, winger Ismaila Sarr from Marseille, and midfielder Daichi Kamada from Lazio. Palace should still be able to send out a side with a good deal of quality, and they may just be knocking at the door for the top half of the table.

12. Fulham

    I’m just going to start with it. I absolutely loved the Emile Smith-Rowe signing from Arsenal. Smith-Rowe is still a young, talented (albeit injury-prone) footballer who may be able to give Fulham manager Marco Silva an attacking option that’s a bit different stylistically than what he’s had in recent years.

    Their outgoing transfers were a bit of a nightmare, though. Fulham lost box-to-box midfielder Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich, center back Tim Ream to Charlotte FC, and winger Bobby De Cordova-Reid to Leicester. All three players were immensely important to Fulham’s 2023-24 campaign. That’s a lot to replace. But I wouldn’t be shocked if Fulham are active in the transfer market for another player or two.

13. Bournemouth

    Last season, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola showed English football that he is here to stay. He took a Cherries side that was just five points clear of the relegation zone in 2022-23 and had them just one point shy of the top half of the table a year later. A big reason for that turnaround was the excellence of forward Dominic Solanke, who scored 19 league goals. Unfortunately for Iraola, Solanke made a big money move to Tottenham this summer. The Cherries and Iraola have a lot of goals to replace, and they will hope that newly permanent signing Eres Unal re-discovers the form he had at Getafe in La Liga when he bagged 30 goals over two years. But all in all, players like Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo, and Ryan Christie are still quality, and I think Bournemouth will have a solid 2024-25 campaign. Also, don’t be surprised if they use a bit of the Solanke money to try and find a new frontman.

14. Wolves

    Wolves are a bit of a confusing team to diagnose. On the one hand, their attacking options last year were really strong in Hwang hee-Chan, Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha, and Pablo Sarabia. Midfielders Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes were also bright for the Wanderers, and left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri was a bit of a revelation.

    However, on the other hand, they won just two of their last 12 matches of the 2023-24 season, and constantly had defensive lapses. And with the departure of Max Kilman to West Ham, their backline will only need more help. In addition, Pedro Neto made a big move to Chelsea, which will leave Wolves searching for some attacking players to fill the Neto void. Perhaps the return of Daniel Podence and Goncalo Guedes from their respective loan deals will help. Either way, Wolves are a team that have some quality, but don’t seem to be able to put it all together cohesively. And if they don’t make any signings this summer or in the winter window, they could slip even further down the table.

15. Everton

    Everton are nothing if not consistent. They finished 15th last year, 17th two seasons ago, and 16th the year before. To be fair, had they not been given a six-point deduction for their breach of profit and sustainability rules, they would have been — checks notes — 14th. The Toffies under Sean Dyche have regularly been a tough watch, but they have a bit of experience and quality in their side. Players like Jordan Pickford, Jarrod Branthwaite, Jack Harrison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Vitalii Mykolenko are experienced in England’s top flight and give Everton a stability that some of the other relegation scrap sides just won’t have. For that reason, I think they will stay up again.

16. Brentford

    Brentford are another side I don’t quite know what to make of for next season. Manager Thomas Frank has done a good job with the Bees since their promotion in 2021, but they slipped in form last season after a top half finish in 2022-23. Last year, Brentford were only able to narrowly escape relegation, finishing in 16th place. And with the seemingly never-ending revolving door of drama that is the Ivan Toney transfer saga, I’m not even sure who lines up for the Bees next year. However, I do really like Bryan Mbeumo, Yoanne Wissa, and Mathias Jensen, and I think Brentford have enough quality to stay up. Especially if Toney stays, and some of their signings like Brazilian forward Igor Thiago from Club Brugge pop.

17. Leicester

    I like the Foxes to stay up. Despite losing both their star midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and their manager Enzo Maresca to Chelsea in the offseason, Leicester still have a great deal of players with experience in the Premier League. Players like Jamie Vardy, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Wilfried Ndidi, Harry Winks, and Conor Coady have played in the league and know its difficulty and intensity. At the end of the season, when the relegation squads are scrapping to stay afloat, I trust the side with experience in the business.

18. Nottingham Forrest

    Forrest may have been a bit lucky to stay up last season, if we’re honest. It came down to the last day of the 2023-24 season, when their 2-1 victory over Burnley paired with a 4-2 Luton Town loss to Fulham solidified their place in the Prem for this season. And while the addition of Elliot Anderson may give their midfield a bit of solidity, I have trouble seeing Forrest continuing in the EPL after this season.

19. Ipswich Town

    The Tractor Boys of Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2002, and for just the sixth time in their club history. They are back thanks to a double promotion from League One to the EFL Championship and then from the Championship to the EPL in consecutive years. The likes of which haven’t been done since Southampton completed the feat in 2012. The Tractor Boys notably added Chelsea’s Omari Hutchinson and West Ham’s Ben Johnson in the transfer market, and should look to compete in the Prem. However, I don’t think they have enough talent to continue in England’s top flight beyond this season.

20. Southampton

    Southampton are back in the Premier League after a year in the Championship. And to be honest, their promotion was an unexpected one. I think if you asked Saints fans if they thought they would be going up after their 5-0 defeat to Leicester in April, they would probably laugh at you. But, here they are. Back in the show after a magical Promotion Play-Off run that saw them take down West Brom and Leeds to secure their place in the EPL for the 2024-25 season. Unfortunately for Southampton supporters, I do not think the Saints will be marching in to the Premier League after this season. Back to the Champo you go.

AWARD PREDICTIONS:

Golden Boot winner (most goals): Erling Haaland (Forward, Manchester City)

Premier League Playmaker of the Season (most assists): Cole Palmer (Midfielder, Chelsea)

Golden Glove (most clean sheets): David Raya (Goalkeeper, Arsenal)

Manager of the season: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

Led by a pair of Serie A regulars in budding superstar Inter Milan midfielder Kristjan Asllani and Atalanta center-back Berat Djimsiti, the Red and Blacks have some of the ingredients to become a cinderella squad in this knockout tournament.

For starters, they have already shown they have quality. In a Euro Qualifying group that boasted solid European sides with histories of success on the world’s biggest stage in Poland and Czech Republic, Albania lost just one match in eight en route to qualifying for just their second-ever Euro tournament and their first since 2016.

They did so with stout defending. Led by a manager in Sylvinho who played in the backlines of several European giants including Arsenal, Barcelona, and Manchester City, Albania conceded just four goals and kept four clean sheets in their eight qualifying matches.

If there is anything that could stand in the way of the Red and Blacks advancing deep into the Euro 2024 knockout stages, it will be their lack of scoring output. They scored just 12 goals in their qualifying campaign, and will be playing nations known for their stalwart defending in the group stage. Italy, Croatia, and Spain are historically brilliant defensively (in spite of Italy’s recent flaws) and will be difficult to break down.

Prediction: Advance to the Round of 16 as one of the top third-place teams from the group stages.

2. Romania

Another team that leads from the back, the Tricolorii are led by 22-year-old Tottenham Hotspur center-back Radu Dragusin. Romania enter Euro 2024 having conceded just five goals and grabbing six clean sheets in their qualifying campaign as they topped Group I in unbeaten fashion (6W 4D 0L), despite playing European giant Switzerland twice.

However, similar to Albania, the Romanians struggle to find the back of the net. They were held to just 16 goals in 10 matches in their qualifying campaign, and the level of defending in their group was not exactly top class. They will have to hope 24-year-old Parma winger Valentin Mihaila continues his ascendance and steps up on the biggest stage to give their frontline a much-needed source of attacking flare and (most importantly) output.

My best case for Romania to advance to the knockout stages in Germany this summer: their weak group. Romania will play in Group E against Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Outside of the Belgians, second place in that group is absolutely up for grabs. Neither Slovakia nor Ukraine are exceptional sides, and the Romanians had the best qualifying campaign of the three. If recent form means anything, the Tricolorii certainly have a fighting chance to extend their stay in the land of schnitzel and bratwurst.

Prediction: Advance to the Round of 16 as the second-place team in Group E.

3. Hungary

Hungary is a squad I think has a chance to go deep into the tournament. They also are a bit of a stylistic divergence from the other two teams profiled in this article.

Like Romania and Albania, Hungary are a team that defend quite well. That was evident from their unbeaten (5W 3D 0L) qualifying campaign which saw them concede just seven goals in eight matches, to go along with three clean sheets. However, they can also open up their opposition thanks to the world-class talent in the center of the park in Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

He’s the creative chance creator that might be able to set the Hungarians apart from the other Euro darkhorses. When matches come to a lull and there are few chances to break the game open, dynamic playmakers can make all the difference. Hungary have that in Szoboszlai. His performances will have to be top for Hungary to make the run they know they are capable of in this tournament.

Prediction: Advance to the QF.