Follow all the action on Premier League opening weekend as Manchester City travel to west London to start the defence of their title
Another Chelsea season is here, are you well rested? You are going to need all your energy to cope.
There are many things you can accuse Chelsea of, but being dull is not one of them and their followers’ nerves are going to be put through the wringer once again. If there was a trophy given out for providing the most talking points, this club would be strong favourites to lift it year after year.
- Advertisement -
Enzo Maresca is the fourth different permanent head coach to work under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium in two years. Will he work out better than his predecessors?
- Advertisement -
The Athletic has taken a closer look at what has happened over the close season and what to expect from 2024-25. Check it out below.
Chelsea season preview: James with a point to prove (along with defence), what is the best XI?
- Advertisement -
Last time out: Man City begin season with trophy
There has been one game involving English top-flight teams already: the Community Shield, which traditionally kicks things off ahead of the Premier League campaign.
Manchester City faced fierce rivals Manchester United, scoring a dramatic late equaliser via Bernardo Silva before Manuel Akanji netted the winning penalty.
Check out the below article as our own Laurie Whitwell, Carl Anka and Sam Lee broke some of the key talking points from the game.
- Advertisement -
Manchester City 1 Man Utd 1: Akanji wins Community Shield on penalties – The Briefing
Early Man City team news: Rodri out, Bobb back in ‘three to four months’
A blow for Manchester City, with talismanic defensive midfielder Rodri set to miss the match today due to injury.
Winger Oscar Bobb will also be out after surgery on a fractured leg. He is expected back within ‘three to four months’.
Early Chelsea team news: James out, debuts on the way?
Chelsea are without captain Reece James, who is suffering with a hamstring injury — although the primary reason for his absence will be serving his suspension for the opening three games of the season.
As for new faces, both Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are in contention for a competitive debut with Romeo Lavia eyeing a place in Enzo Maresco’s midfield mix.
