Harry Kewell’s coaching career has not yet matched the heights he reached as a player but he can take a big step forward in this week’s AFC Champions League final.
Kewell’s Yokohama F-Marinos take on Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in Saturday’s first leg, only four months after the former Leeds and Liverpool forward took over at the Japanese club.
Kewell struggled in lower-league English football with Crawley Town, Notts County and Oldham, and he was sacked by fifth-tier Barnet in 2021 after failing to win in his first seven matches.
The Australian now has a shot at coaching redemption as he prepares for a battle of wits against another English Premier League favourite — the coach of Al Ain is former Chelsea and Argentina striker Hernan Crespo.
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Head coach Harry Kewell of Yokohama F.Marinos gives the instruction to Ken Matsubara of Yokohama F.Marinos during the AFC Champions League semi final second leg match between Yokohama F.Marinos and Ulsan Hyundai at Yokohama International Stadium on April 24, 2024 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It’s a learning process,” the 45-year-old Kewell said after Yokohama’s semi-final win over South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai that took them to the final of the Asian club championship for the first time.
“Every club that I’ve been at, every single player that I’ve worked with has been excellent, wanting to learn more about the game, wanting to work harder.
“It’s something for myself to be able to go out there and learn as well.”
Kewell is hoping to build on the legacy left at Yokohama by fellow Australians Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat.
Postecoglou won the J-League in 2019 before joining Celtic and then moving on to Tottenham in the Premier League.
Muscat set up Kewell for success by guiding Yokohama through to this season’s Champions League knockout round before leaving to join China’s Shanghai Port in December.
Kewell’s previous job was as a first-team coach under Postecoglou at Celtic, and he said he was “not taking full credit” for Yokohama’s run to the final.
“They’ve had two wonderful managers previously that have done wonderful things,” Kewell said.
“I’ve walked into the club and even on my first day I said I’ve got a very solid base.
“It just needed something different.”
Hummels the hero as Dortmund do PSG | 01:07
Kewell was one of the brightest lights in Leeds’ effervescent young team in the late 1990s, before making a controversial switch to Liverpool in 2003.
He won the UEFA Champions League in 2005 with the Anfield club and also shone on the international stage, winning 58 caps for Australia and appearing at two World Cups.
He got his first start in senior management in 2017 at Crawley, becoming the first Australian to coach an English professional club.
He lasted a little over a year at the League Two side and that remains his longest spell in charge of a club.
He was sacked after 11 league games at Notts County and seven months at Oldham, and was shown the door even sooner during a disastrous stint at Barnet.
Kewell has a great chance to set the record straight with Yokohama. The club lie 11th in the J-League after 11 matches, but have a game in hand that could lift them to within six points of the top.
He said his team have been “pushed to the limit” in the Champions League knockout rounds, where they have had players red-carded in three games and needed penalties to get past Ulsan in the semis.
Kewell played under esteemed managers such as Rafael Benitez at Liverpool and Guus Hiddink with Australia, and he said he has tried to emulate their thoughtful approach as a coach.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to sit back, don’t let emotions get in the way, think about the situation,” he said.
“Then you can think clearly and make the right decision for the team.”
After spending 15 years trying to escape the quagmire of the National League, Wrexham have earned back-to-back promotions and can now plan for League One, the third tier of the English football pyramid.
A 6-0 thrashing of Forest Green on April 14 sealed promotion for Wrexham as they returned to League One for the first time since 2005.
Granted, there has been nowhere near as much fanfare surrounding the Welsh club’s achievement compared to when they won the National League last season.
Perhaps it is because of the many near-misses that came with trying to get out of the fifth tier, giving a town down on its luck for so long something to cheer for once again.
Regardless of how many bottles of beers and champagne have been sprayed and consumed, Wrexham must now prepare for next season as they inch closer towards the bright lights of the Premier League.
It is a dream Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have never shied away from, even when the club were in the National League.
But they are now just two leagues away from English football’s top tier and the billions of eyeballs that come with it.
League One will present its own unique set of challenges, with every club going to be a harder test than what Wrexham has ever faced and on a weekly basis.
Unfortunately for the club, it could also mean the end of the road for several of the cult heroes football fans have come to know and love from watching the hit series Welcome to Wrexham.
Wrexham are going up to League One. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CULT HERO, SKIPPER TO FACE BRUTAL PROMOTION REALITY
At the end of this season, 11 Wrexham players will be out of contract: Steven Fletcher, Eoghan O’Connell, Mark Howard, Rob Lainton, Ben Tozer, James McClean, Callum McFadzean, Jordan Tunnicliffe, Aaron Hayden, Liam Hall and skipper Luke Young.
Of that group, only Hall, McClean and Fletcher arrived after Wrexham had been promoted to League Two.
Hall, a 19-year-old goalkeeper, has the option for an extra year on his contract and could be kept on.
As for McClean and Fletcher, who have made a combined 867 appearances across the Premier League all the way down to League Two, they have made vital contributions to Wrexham’s season despite their respective ages of 35 and 37.
McClean has three league goals and ten assists to his name while Fletcher has proven to be somewhat of a super sub, scoring eight league goals for Wrexham.
With all of their veteran nous, Wrexham could and likely will keep both on for another season as they navigate the perils of League One.
But what about the rest of that out-of-contract group?
Rob Lainton, the injury-riddled goalkeeper who has featured heavily on the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, has been with the club since November 2018.
But he’s likely to be a casualty of a ruthless player cull given Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo was first choice goalkeeper and Howard the preferred backup.
As for Howard, who is 37, he would likely be offered a new deal with the expectation he would be the back-up for whoever Wrexham decide to pursue as their first-choice goalkeeper next season.
Lainton’s time at Wrexham is likely up. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Either way, at least one of Lainton or Howard is likely to move on, if not both.
That brings us to the defenders amongst the expiring contract crew in Tozer, O’Connell, McFadzean, Tunnicliffe and Hayden.
Of this group, O’Connell is the biggest contributor having started 28 league games for Wrexham and makes the most sense to remain at the club.
As for the other four, it’s grim reading.
Tozer, 34, has made the matchday squad on 42 occasions but has started in just 25 as his age and lack of pace has somewhat caught up to him, although his infamous long throws remain a lethal asset in Wrexham’s arsenal.
It would be no surprise to see McFadzean depart having made just two appearances off the bench in League Two all season long.
Same goes for Tunnicliffe who has made seven league appearances in total.
Hayden, who has endured his own injury issues at Wrexham but also contributes with vital goals, has started in 15 of the 16 games he was in the squad.
At 27, he could be kept on but having failed to nail down a starting spot in League Two, there’s little reason to believe that will change in a higher division.
And what of club captain Young, who joined Wrexham way back in 2018?
A brutal call will likely have to be made on Young who has battled with injuries and has started just 12 league games this season along with 13 appearances off the bench.
Even though he dons the skipper’s armband, Wrexham cannot rely on players like Young who, despite their lengthy tenures at the club, simply haven’t earned consistent starts in League Two.
But this is the ruthless, brutal nature of English football’s lower tiers and for Wrexham, they are going to have to make some uncomfortable decisions for some familiar faces.
Wrexham skipper Luke Young may be cut loose. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
THE FALLEN GIANTS HOLDING WREXHAM BACK AS KEY STARS FINALLY ON LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
When Wrexham made several marquee signings while in the National League, those players had dropped down from League One and League Two.
Superstar striker Paul Mullin was lured to the club from League Two’s Cambridge United, Ollie Palmer joined from Wimbledon in League One and Elliott Lee moved from Luton Town, who were in the Championship.
Those players were, quite simply, far too good for the fifth tier.
Understandably, a key reason why Wrexham were able to sign these players was largely because of McElhenney and Reynolds’ deep pockets, pockets none of their National League rivals could ever compete with.
Wrexham once again loaded up on players from above when they made it to League Two, signing McClean from Wigan Athletic (League One), George Evans from Millwall (Championship), Will Boyle from Huddersfield (Championship) and Jack Marriott from Fleetwood Town (League One).
When Wrexham were in the National League and League Two, these players were largely head and shoulders above the competition.
But what will happen in League One, when these players won’t have the advantage over some of their lesser rivals?
Mullin, 29, has only played a single season in League One and scored just three league goals for Tranmere Rovers from 20 appearances in the 2019/20 season.
Yet his 24 league goals this season proves Mullin is aging like a fine wine and could enjoy better fortunes in the third tier.
Although Palmer joined from Wimbledon who were in League One, he hadn’t exactly lit up the third tier with just 10 goals in 41 total appearances for the Dons.
However, he brings much more to Wrexham’s style than just goals and as evidenced from the documentary, is a lively presence amongst the squad.
Mullin scored 24 goals over the course of the League Two season. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Lee, a diminutive attacking midfielder who knows how to score, has already proved himself in League One having amassed 113 total appearances with 24 goals and 13 assists to his name across five seasons in the third tier.
Assuming McClean puts pen to paper and stays in Wrexham for another season, he brings plenty of pedigree having played 221 games in the Championship.
The Irishman, 35, has also proved his durability having featured in 37 league games this season.
With the squad now starting to level out in terms of where the level they’ve played in their career, Wrexham may be forced to heavily invest in their squad once more.
But when they have previously been able to offer generous financial packages teams couldn’t compete with, that might not be the case in League One.
Stockport County, who have already secured the championship in League Two, have strong financial backing and will rival Wrexham in the transfer market.
McClean has proved to be a shrewd signing for Wrexham since arriving from Wigan last summer. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Throw in Charlton, Wigan Athletic, Reading, Blackpool and Huddersfield, who have all been in the Premier League at some stage since 2007, and one realises how big the calibre of clubs in the third tier are compared to League Two.
Simply, Wrexham are going to have a serious fight on their hands if they are going to go for back-to-back-to-back promotions.
But one key factor in their favour is the manager, Phil Parkinson.
The Wrexham boss has overseen more games in League One (385) than any other division in his managerial career, meaning he knows exactly what’s required to not only avoid the drop, but succeed.
Parkinson has also twice led teams in League One to promotion, guiding Colchester United to a second-place finish in 2005/06 and Bolton Wanderers in 2016/17.
There’s also no understating the momentum generated by consecutive promotions, either.
Just look at Ipswich Town, who are on the brink of going from League One all the way to the Premier League in the space of two seasons.
With Parkinson’s know-how of navigating League One coupled with a squad that really only knows success, it’s a lethal combination.
But how might they strengthen the squad ahead of its biggest challenge yet?
Parkinson has led teams to promotion from League One on two occasions. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WHO MIGHT JOIN THE WREXHAM REVOLUTION NEXT?
Given Wrexham’s ability to attract a strong calibre of players to lower leagues, there’s plenty of anticipation regarding who could be tempted to join the team in League One.
One obvious candidate Wrexham would love to snap up is goalkeeper Okonkwo.
The 22-year-old’s contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the season and Wrexham executive director Humphrey Ker has gone on the record stating he is “desperate” to keep the goalkeeper at the club.
However, Okonkwo’s wages could prove to be a stumbling block given Wrexham reportedly paid less than half of his wages during his loan spell, per The Athletic.
There were also reports Wrexham, along with Bolton and Charlton, were tracking 21-year-old Northern Irish talent Benji Magee.
TEAMTalk claimed Wrexham were tracking the Loughgall forward during a season in which he scored 16 goals in 31 games in the Northern Ireland top flight.
More transfer speculation for Wrexham awaits, especially now that they know which league they will be competing in next season.
But if the whispers regarding Okonkwo and Magee suggest anything, it’s that Wrexham may look to bring in younger talents with resale potential as opposed to proven stars that will only depreciate in value.
An incredibly difficult season awaits for Wrexham, especially with a handful of League One teams claiming Premier League status at least once from the turn of the century.
But with McElhenney and Reynolds at the helm, it doesn’t feel like Wrexham’s Hollywood story is going to end any time soon.
The Premier League title race took another twist as the run home intensifies, while Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham were handed a boost as Manchester United were struck down by the ‘football gods’.
And a Manchester City superstar copped a giant whack from a former great.
Here are all the big talking points out of the Premier League weekend.
Erling Haaland copped a bake from a former great, while Manchester United scraped a draw despite a horror performance.Source: Getty Images
HAALAND WHACKED AS CITY RECORD BROKEN
It was billed as a title six-pointer as Arsenal travelled to Manchester City. It fell flat, with Liverpool the biggest winner out of the 0-0 draw.
The Reds went two points clear of the Gunners and three ahead of City with their 2-1 comeback win over Brighton, with nine matches to play.
But at the Etihad, there were a mere three shots on target as Arsenal’s defence strangled the Cityzens, who failed to score in a home game for the first time in 58 games in all competitions.
This time last year, Arsenal struggled with the pressure of a title race, collapsing to hand City a fifth crown in six years. That included a 4-1 loss to City at the Etihad – their eighth loss in a row at that venue.
This time around, they showed plenty of added steel thanks to a more mature and battle-hardened side, with their league-best defence holding out a City team that had 72 per cent of possession.
“Defensively we were outstanding,” said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. “The next step is with the ball to have more composure to attack better.
“They are the best team in the world by far, best manager by far, and we have to catch up. That’s the challenge for us.”
It’s clear in the last 12 months they have been catching up.
Arsenal’s defenders had the better of Erling Haaland all night.Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Manchester City star Erling Haaland’s poor showing saw him come in for a brutal whack from the great Roy Keane.
Haaland has 18 goals from 24 league games this season, but didn’t trouble the keeper with any of his (game-high) four shots. But his build-up play remains a key weakness in his game, and Keane didn’t hold back.
“The level of his general play is so poor and not just today,” Keane said. “I think laying his stuff off, headers, whatever it might be …. In terms of in front of goal, he’s the best in the world.
“But his general play for such a player it is so poor. Not just today, he has to improve.
“He’s almost like a League Two player, that’s how I look at him. His general play has to improve and it will do over the next few years.
“Being a brilliant striker is fantastic, but he has to improve his all-round game.”
Klopp’s message to Reds after going top | 00:47
REDS NOW ‘FAVOURITES’ AS SALAH MAKES HISTORY
How fun is a genuine three-way title race?
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, leaving at the end of the season, is determined to enjoy this final tilt.
Klopp said: “We have to get through this (and) we decide if we enjoy it or not, pretty much,” he said.
“It will be tough and yes, it is sometimes nerve-racking and the heart rate will be at 180 or 200 or whatever from time to time if you watch it or if you play in it.
“But if we all together enjoy this, then we have a chance. If we don’t, we still have a chance, it’s just really much more difficult and that’s why we try to stay positive in all these moments.”
He added: “But I decided I will really try hard to enjoy it.”
Liverpool fell behind to Brighton in the opening stages of the match but showed their mettle to claim a seventh comeback win this season – their most ever in a campaign.
They’ve picked up a whopping 26 points from losing positions in the league this year, three more than any club.
Luis Diaz hit the equaliser before Mohamed Salah struck the winner, the Egyptian having fluffed his lines plenty of times in the match before finally finding the net.
He took 12 shots in the game, the most of any player in the league in over seven years and an all-time Liverpool record in the Premier League era.
“Imagine Mo would have finished off all the situations in his career? That would be crazy, so it is absolutely fine,” said Klopp.
“We need him to try. Mo, like the others, was a bit in a rush to finish off situations and didn’t do like they can do it.
“But then being that calm in the decisive moment with the biggest chance we had from the best football we played, then that makes a real goalscorer so we are happy with everything.”
He was far from clinical, but Salah ensured another crucial win for the Reds.Source: Getty Images
According to Manchester City boss, the Reds are now favourites.
“Always who is first is favourite, second favourite is Arsenal,” said Guardiola. “It is not in our hands. All we can do is win against Aston Villa (next match).”
Liverpool also face fourth-place Villa in their run home, as well as fifth-place Tottenham and sixth-place Manchester United. Those matches might not just decide the title race, but could have a huge impact on who plays European football next year.
“That is the first of the last 10, let’s keep going,” Klopp said.
EPL Wrap: Spurs pull off comeback! | 02:24
ANGE’S HUGE BOOST AS ‘FOOTBALL GODS’ STRIKE
Do you believe in the football gods? Brentford boss Thomas Frank almost lost faith when his side fell a goal behind to Manchester United in the 96th minute through Mason Mount.
Brentford had dominated all game, taking a club-record 31 shots and hitting the woodwork four times.
But Kristoffer Ajer smashed the ball in the back of the net in the 99th minute to seal a point that was more than deserved for the Bees.
“There should have been only one winner in the game, that could only be us,” said Frank.
“Then you go 1-0 down in the 96th minute and you think football is brutal. I almost lost faith in the football God, but he gave a bit back.”
United were simply atrocious against a team that has won just twice in their last 16 Premier League matches.
“Brentford were better than us today. They showed more passion, desire and determination as we did,” said Man Utd boss Erik Ten Hag. “We have to show more.”
A win could have turned their season around and ignited a push for a top-four finish, but those hopes are dwindling. The Red Devils are now 11 points behind Villa in fourth (but have a game in hand) and eight behind Spurs in fifth.
Erik Ten Hag saw a potential season-defining win slip away.Source: Getty Images
The top four teams qualify for the Champions League, but that competitions’ expansion next season could see a fifth Premier League team given automatic qualification.
But United keeper Onana still believes they have a chance, saying: “I feel sad because we are Manchester United. Everywhere we go, we have to win. We gave away this game in the end.
“I know we will stick together because we did it in the last month. I hope we end in the top four.”
For Spurs, that last-gasp goal gave them more breathing room in fifth place – and now they’ll look ahead to Aston Villa’s clash with Manchester City on Thursday morning AEDT and hope that their top-four rivals drop points.
Having fought back to beat Luton Town 2-1 on the weekend, Spurs face West Ham on Wednesday morning AEDT but could be handed a crucial injury boost.
Fraser Forster (foot), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) and Manor Solomon (knee) are all still sidelined, but star defender Micky van de Ven could be set to start after being an unused substitute against Luton on his return from injury.
Postecoglou defends playing in Melbourne | 01:07
CHAOS IN THE RELEGATION RACE
This year’s relegation fight feels like a race to the bottom.
Of the bottom six teams – 15th placed Brentford and below – only Burnley have won a single match out of their last five! Crystal Palace in 14th also have one win from their last five, but the rest of the teams have gone totally winless of late.
Burnley are still second-bottom, three points ahead of last-placed Sheffield United who have just 15 so far (but have a game in hand).
Luton are on 22 points, level with 17th-place Nottingham Forest.
Everton have 25 points and a game in hand – but they haven’t won a game since before Christmas.
A Seamus Coleman own-goal in stoppage time saw Everton lose to Bournemouth.Source: Getty Images
With a second charge of breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR) hanging over their heads, a further points deduction could shake up the relegation race.
The deadline for a ruling on that charge is April 8, so we’ll find out in the next week whether they’ll cop a second points deduction after already being penalised six points for breaches regarding the 2021-22 season.
Even a three point deduction would send them back into the relegation zone – and breathe hope into the survival dreams of those mired at the bottom.
Of course, the priority for any of those teams down at the wrong end of the table is to win.
Given there’s been just one win from any bottom-six team in their last 30 games combined, statistics are showing a real gap between the strugglers and the rest of the division.
Wrexham now owe over $17 million AUD (nearly £9 million) to Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds after losing £5 million in the year of their promotion to the English Football League, the Welsh club announced on Friday morning (AEDT).
The latest financial statement comes after executive director Humphrey Ker claimed in December that Reynolds and McElhenney were “losing a tonne of money”.
Turnover, however, doubled to almost £10.5m and Wrexham said financial losses suffered since McElhenney and Reynolds’ takeover in February 2021 were unlikely to be repeated due to the income now generated by the League Two club.
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“The amount owed to The RR McReynolds Company, LLC (owned by McElhenney and Reynolds) at the year-end was £8.977m (2022: £3.714m),” read a Wrexham statement.
“The financial losses suffered by the club since the takeover shouldn’t be repeated, with income generated by the club now sufficient to meet the operational costs of the club going forward.
Wrexham owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds hold the Vanarama National League Trophy. Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
“These losses were deemed necessary to allow the club to maximise its full potential in the shortest time practically possible.”
Wrexham, now competing in the fourth tier of the English Football League, added: “The club is under no immediate pressure to repay these loans at the expense of the progress we seek to achieve and further financial support will be provided/secured to support the capital expenditure projects the club is currently planning, which includes increasing the capacity of The Racecourse Ground and the development of a training facility for all the club’s teams.
“The year-on-year income comparisons since the takeover, show the potential of the club.
“These will significantly increase again for the year ending June 30, 2024, following promotion and the continued popularity of Welcome to Wrexham.”
Ryan Reynolds the co-owner of Wrexham. Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Wrexham ended a 15-year absence from the EFL last April by winning the National League.
Since surprisingly buying unheralded Wrexham in 2021, McElhenney and Reynolds’ investment has helped lift the team back into the fourth tier, while bringing global recognition to the club via a Disney television documentary series.
Unlike the rest of their League Two rivals, Wrexham’s growing fame in the United States allowed Phil Parkinson’s side to go on a pre-season tour of North America which included games against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Wrexham are now chasing a second successive promotion. They are currently third in League Two with seven games to play.
Well, we’ve reached the end of 2023 and what a year it’s been in football.
The Matildas made it all the way to the semi finals of a home World Cup, Ange Postecoglou took the Premier League by storm and Lionel Messi swerved Saudi Arabia to take up a lucrative deal with Inter Miami.
That’s just a snippet of what’s transpired, but what can we look forward to in 2024?
So glad you asked, because there’s a fair bit that we think is going to happen.
In our 23 predictions for 2023, we (rather miraculously) correctly predicted eight events to happen, which isn’t a terrible strike rate.
So, Foxsports.com.au has once again pulled out the crystal ball and gazed into the future for what is about to transpire in 2024.
When Thanos snapped his fingers in Avengers: Endgame and said, “I am inevitable”, he wasn’t talking about himself.
No, he was in fact talking about Manchester City.
Although Pep Guardiola’s side are in fourth and five points off league leaders Liverpool albeit with a game in hand, they have an uncanny ability to step up the pace just as their rivals take their foot off the pedal.
So don’t act shocked when it’s City who raise the Premier League trophy at the end of the season for a fourth consecutive season.
2. Luton Town survive
If only for Kenilworth Road to remain in the rotation of Premier League stadiums.
But also because Luton are a beacon of hope in an increasingly commercialised sport.
Come on you Hatters!
3. England win EURO 2024
This will be Gareth Southgate’s fourth major tournament as England boss and we believe it will be his most successful.
If not for a masterful performance from Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the penalty shootout at EURO 2020, England would have won it.
But Southgate finally ends the trophy drought and England has a true summer to remember.
Gareth Southgate’s going to end England’s wait for an international trophy. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
4. San Marino wins its first international match since 2004
Every year that passes without a San Marino win means we are predicting La Serenissima to end the wait.
In fact, 2024 could be San Marino’s best chance to win a game for the first time in 20 years as they face the irresistible force that is St Kitts and Nevis across two friendlies early next year.
Book in that sick leave for the 20th and 24th of March to watch San Marino win a game, it’ll be worth it.
5. The Matildas make it to the final of the Olympics
The Matildas made the semi final stage of the Tokyo Olympics and then the semi finals at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
But the Paris Olympics are going to be the tournament where it all finally comes together as the current group enjoy one last dance to take home some silverware before the youngsters take over.
6. Harry Kane wins the Champions League with Bayern Munich
Although Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga hopes aren’t exactly signed, sealed and delivered just yet, Harry Kane should look towards the Champions League.
No team has really put their hand up as serious contenders in Europe’s premier club competition and Bayern could be primed to take full advantage.
Surely the football gods will finally smile down on Kane and help him finally secure a respectable club trophy.
7. Ange Postecoglou guides Tottenham back to Europe
We didn’t say if it was the Champions League, the Europa League or the Europa Conference League.
All we know is that Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham will be back competing on the continent next season.
Ange Postecoglou is going to bring European nights back to Tottenham, but in which competition? (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
8. The Socceroos make it to the final of the Asian Cup
After impressive performances against Mexico, England and New Zealand, the Socceroos are primed for a deep run at the Asian Cup.
Whether they win it all for the second time remains a mystery, but we’re anticipating Graham Arnold’s side will at the very least be one of the final two teams left standing.
9. Italy get knocked out in the group stage of EURO 2024
What would a major international tournament be without one of the big guns being bundled out at the first hurdle?
Unfortunately for Italy, it’s going to happen again.
The defending European champs are in Group B alongside Spain and Croatia, who we think will take up the top two spots.
Albania rounds out the group and although third spot has a chance to make the knockouts based on their overall ranking, Italy simply won’t have enough in the bank as they crash out with two defeats and a draw.
10. Alex Robertson makes his Premier League debut
What a year 2023 was for Alex Robertson.
He made his Socceroos debut against Ecuador in front of his friends and family in Sydney and is now proving himself a vital player for Portsmouth in their bid for promotion to the Championship.
After helping Pompey return to the second tier of English football for the first time since the 2011/12 season, Robertson will return to his parent club Manchester City.
And at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, expect to see the talented midfielder stroll on to the field in the famous sky blue of City.
11. The record for most expensive transfer is broken … by Chelsea
As it stands, Neymar’s £198 million switch from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain is the most expensive transfer in history.
But wait … here comes Chelsea owner Todd Boehly with a briefcase full of cash and he’s about to hand it over to Napoli!
And who’s that about to hold up a Chelsea shirt at Stamford Bridge … is that … Victor Osimhen?!
The prospect of a £200 million deal for the Nigerian superstar feels almost too real.
Todd Boehly’s going to break the bank for Chelsea once again. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
12. Jude Bellingham wins the Ballon d’Or
We knew Jude Bellingham was something special before his move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid.
But the 20-year-old has not been fazed by the bright lights of the Santiago Bernabeu one bit and, if anything, has thrived under them.
It’s why the English midfielder will prove himself to be the best player in the world when awards season rolls around next year after he single-handedly drags the Three Lions to EURO 2024 glory.
13. Massimo Luongo becomes a Premier League player as Ipswich Town get promoted
Massimo Luongo was once on the books of a Premier League club at Tottenham Hotspur but now, he’s going to become a Premier League player.
Luongo is enjoying a starring role at Ipswich Town and the Tractor Boys are looking extremely likely to achieve the rare feat of two consecutive promotions.
It would be a remarkable feat for Kieran McKenna’s side but it’s nothing less than they deserve having taken the Championship by storm this season.
14. Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League
Unai Emery is cooking something special at Aston Villa this season.
Unbeaten at home and in third place, Villa look poised to take advantage of a number of rivals (cough – Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle – cough) stumbling over their own two feet.
All they need is to finish fourth and at this stage, it’s a very realistic prospect.
15. Kylian Mbappe stays in France
Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid are like the two friends who refuse to date despite being the perfect match for each other and everyone in their group knows it.
Unfortunately for those romantics, they won’t get the relationship they want to see as Mbappe gains Stockholm syndrome and decides life at PSG isn’t so bad after all.
A time will come when the French superstar will form a happy union with Real Madrid, but that won’t happen just yet.
Kylian Mbappe won’t be moving to Spain just yet. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
16. Nestory Irankunda makes his debut for Bayern Munich … in a friendly
Every pre-season, Bayern Munich decide to absolutely decimate a local German team in a friendly.
You know, the ones when you see a score of something like 18-0 on social media and think ‘holy cow, how good do Bayern look’, only to search the team they played are entirely comprised of part-timers?
Well, this is where Irankunda makes his mark and gets in on the act when he runs his opposition number — Klaus, a 27-year-old local milkman — ragged before unleashing an unstoppable strike past the helpless goalkeeper to put the result beyond doubt.
Cue the iconic Irankunda backflip.
17. Girona qualify for the Champions League
Much like Aston Villa in the Premier League, Girona have surprisingly found themselves in the top spots of La Liga.
In fact, Girona are behind league leaders Real Madrid only on goal difference and are seven points ahead of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who are third and fourth respectively.
However, dreams of playing in the Champions League aren’t exactly a forgone conclusion given Girona are part of the City Football Group, the owners of Manchester City.
UEFA rules prevent two clubs owned by the same entity playing in European competitions so this could become a sticky situation but for now, let the good times roll for Girona.
18. Cristian Volpato pledges his international allegiance to the Socceroos
It’s the big fish Arnie wants and his relentless persistence finally pays off.
With the Socceroos essentially guaranteed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup thanks to an expanded 48-team competition, Volpato won’t need to worry about the Aussies missing out altogether.
19. Xabi Alonso gets poached by a European heavyweight
Xabi Alonso is already making waves as Bayer Leverkusen manager and has the team sitting top of the Bundesliga.
No doubt all of Europe’s big boys are keeping a keen eye on what the Spaniard is doing in Germany and if the time comes, don’t be surprised to see Alonso move on to pastures new.
It’s just a question of who’s willing to take the plunge.
Xabi Alonso is quickly emerging as one of the top managers in football. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
20. Kusini Yengi emerges as the Socceroos’ starting striker
Ever since Tim Cahill’s retirement, the Socceroos haven’t quite had a figure to turn to when they desperately need a goal.
Mitch Duke is the man largely entrusted with leading the line for the Socceroos, but it’s his remarkable fitness levels and pressing ability that makes him stand out more than his goal threat.
Throw in the fact that Duke is 32 and the need for a fresh presence up top grows even larger.
That’s where Yengi, a 24-year-old at Portsmouth comes in.
Yengi has had to improve his physicality playing in the rough-and-tumble League One but has shown a solid turn of pace and can also hold the ball up well.
It’s why Yengi will be the answer to the Socceroos’ goalscoring woes for years to come.
21. Pep Guardiola announces he will leave Manchester City at the end of the 2024/25 season
Nothing in life can last forever and unfortunately for Manchester City fans, the same goes for Pep Guardiola’s time at the club.
The Spaniard has overseen a remarkable amount of success and has won every trophy there is to win at club level for City.
Who knows what the future will hold for Guardiola, or City for that matter.
22. Wrexham make it to the League Two play-off final … but lose a penalty shootout
There’s nothing quite like a play-off match at Wembley and for Wrexham, they’ll have the chance to achieve back-to-back promotions.
A play-off win would be yet another perfect Hollywood script for Wrexham but football is a cruel, cruel game.
It’ll at least make for must-watch viewing in the next season of Welcome to Wrexham though.
23. A Saudi Arabian club launch an ambitious offer for Erling Haaland
If you don’t buy a ticket to the show, you’ll never know.
Yes, the bid will be knocked back by Manchester City as quickly as it arrived in their inbox.
But you can’t fault a Saudi club for trying.
24. A team wears a full body paint kit in a wild publicity stunt
Any publicity is good publicity, right?
We’re not sure which team will be bold enough/sell out to pull off such a stunt, but it’s going to happen sooner rather than later.
In one of the most bizarre finishes to a football match in recent history, Barnsley snatched a win over League One rivals Wycombe – and gave their time-wasting opponents the ultimate comeuppance.
Winless in their last six matches, Wycombe Wanderers fans had made a six-hour round trip to Oakwell to watch their team close in on a draw before a miserable goalkeeping howler from Polish gloveman Max Stryjek.
Deep in stoppage time, Stryjek was burning up the clock with the ball at his feet when Barnsley striker Sam Cosgrove closed him down.
Stryjek went to pick up the ball but was lightly nudged by Cosgrove in the process, sending Stryjek dramatically tumbling to the ground in the hopes of winning a free kick.
Barnsley scored after an all-time error from Max Stryjek.Source: Twitter
But referee Darren Drysdale didn’t call a foul for the minimal contact and the ball came loose, gifting Cosgrove the simplest of finishes to win the game for Barnsley.
Wanderers players were incensed, with Harry Boyes sent off when he was handed a second caution for dissent towards Drysdale. Goalkeeper Stryjek also received a yellow card for dissent.
“It’s the best goal I’ve scored,” Cosgrove joked to BBC Sheffield after his maiden goal for the club.
He added that Wycombe had time-wasted since midway through the first half.
“I’ve probably nudged into him. There’s a little bit of contact but nowhere near enough for him to drop the ball and fall on the floor,” he added.
“There’s absolutely no need for him to drop the ball and go down in that fashion. Fair play to the ref and kudos to him for seeing that … it wasn’t a foul.”
Barnsley manager Neil Collins said: “I’ve just watched it (the incident) back there. Make of it what you want; for me the contact is nowhere near enough to go down. The keeper drops the ball, if he holds onto the ball we’re not even talking about it.
“He certainly doesn’t drop the ball because of Sam (Cosgrove)’s contact. He drops the ball because he falls to the floor and Sam finishes it off like a good striker should.
“I don’t want the bizarre circumstances of the goal to take away from the fact that we deservedly won three points. We did everything but put the ball in the net in the second half and eventually got the reward.”
While initially incensed, Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield managed to compose himself by his press conference after the match.
He said: “We’ve conceded a goal tonight that I’ve never seen in my time in football; the circumstances surrounding it.
“Our players put so much into that performance coming off the back of a disappointing result at the weekend. It actually looked like it was going to be us that was going to go and nick it at the end.”
He revealed that he deliberately decided not to confront the referee at the final whistle.
Bloomfield said: “I couldn’t go and speak (to the referee) at the full-time whistle. I thought the most important thing at that point was to go applaud our supporters who make their way all the up here on a Tuesday night.
“We’ve seen it a multitude of times where strikers run into goalkeepers, that’s usually what happens and it’s usually given as a foul.
“To finish the game like that is really disappointing.”
98th min pen drama rocks brave Newcastle | 00:59
ESPN analyst Luis Miguel Echegaray tweeted: “Barnsley scored a 91st min winner vs. Wycombe Wanderers in the most ridiculous way. I have zero words to explain this.
“Also. Wycombe midfielder Harry Boyes got sent off after complaining.
“I love this game.”
Sky Sports presenter Neil Mellor tweeted: “A terrible game became memorable. Wycombe goalie got what he deserved. Tried to waste time, got nudged, fell down and dropped the ball to striker’s feet.
“Well done striker. Well done officials. Goal! Winning goal! #soccerspecial”
Biggest summer transfer: Declan Rice (£105m from West Ham United)
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Key player: Gabriel Jesus
Unfortunately, the final round of the season was not one of them as Mikel Arteta’s side simply ran out of juice and opened the door for Manchester City to win their third Premier League title in a row.
Although the manner in which Arsenal’s season fizzled out, it did not take away from the fact it was their equal-highest league finish in almost 20 years and secured a return to the Champions League.
It was a season seldom few, if any, saw coming.
But with what Arsenal have done in the transfer market this summer, they are making all the right noises to prove it was not just a flash in the pan.
The Gunners shattered the British transfer record to snap up West Ham captain Declan Rice, adding extra steel and guile into their midfield engine room.
Declan Rice moved to the Emirates for a British record fee. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
In addition to Rice, German International Kai Havertz was snapped up from Chelsea while the Gunners also added versatile defender Jurrien Timber to their ranks to take their summer spending to £208 million ($AUD406 million).
With a highly impressive – and expensive – trio of summer signings, there can be no excuse for Arteta should Arsenal finish further away from the title this season.
One player pivotal to Arsenal’s fortunes this season will be Gabriel Jesus, who helped change the way Arsenal played in and around the 18-yard box while also scoring 11 goals.
However, the Brazilian international likely would have had even more to his name if it were not for a knee injury which ruled him out for 12 games across the festive season and into March.
Jesus’ goal tally will no doubt be aided by the presence of star winger Bukayo Saka, who provided 11 assists and bagged 14 goals of his own last season.
If those two enjoy similar seasons at the very least, expect Arsenal to once again be jostling for the title.
Mikel Arteta received big backing in the transfer market. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
ASTON VILLA
Last season’s finish: 7th
Biggest summer transfer: Moussa Diaby (£51.9m from Bayer Leverkusen)
Manager: Unai Emery
Key player: Ollie Watkins
Unai Emery’s stunning revival of the Midlands outfit in the wake of Steven Gerrard’s sacking helped secure a Europa Conference League spot on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.
Now, the challenge for Emery and Villa becomes about maintaining the high bar they have set for themselves.
The club wasted little time in strengthening, signing Youri Tielemans on a free deal from Leicester City, Pau Torres from Villarreal as well as breaking their transfer record for French forward Moussa Diaby.
Crucially, all three players bring vital experience of European nights along with a manager who has four Europa League titles to his name.
Although the summer trio add an extra layer of quality to the team, Emery revitalised the fortunes of several players already on the club’s books which raised the collective quality of the team.
Tyrone Mings worked his way back into the England squad after impressing at centre-back, skipper John McGinn found a new lease of life in the midfield while Ollie Watkins scored 13 goals in 24 games after Emery came through the door at Villa Park.
As the club’s main striker and a relentless pressing machine up front, Watkins will once again be pivotal to Villa’s success and will look to break the 20-goal mark in the Premier League, a feat no Villa player has been able to achieve to date.
Emery guided Villa back to European football for the first time since the 2010/11 season. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BOURNEMOUTH
Last season’s finish: 15th
Biggest summer transfer: Milos Kerkez (£18m from AZ Alkmaar)
Manager: Andoni Iraola
Key player: Dominic Solanke
Bournemouth exceeded all expectations last season after a disastrous start including a 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool. But after remarkably managing to avoid relegation, there are some key issues they need to address if they are to move up the table.
The biggest is their miserable record at set pieces – they conceded way more goals from those situations than any other team last year – while they also must stop falling apart and giving away two-goal leads. That was a sign of a poor mentality, which also showed through as they also failed to be up for the fight on too many occasions, particularly with four-straight defeats to end the season.
But there’s room for optimism. They’ve got a bold new coach in Andoni Iraola, who loves a high press and managed to beat both Barcelona and Real Madrid last year while in charge of Rayo Vallecano.
David Brooks returned in March after fighting off cancer (Hodgkin Lymphoma) and is a key figure, while their January attacking signings Hamed Traore and Dango Outtara could – and perhaps must – step up to the next level.
It’s hard to tell how well the Cherries will go this year. They’ll target the top half as their dream finish, while relegation remains a possibility. Prepare for another rollercoaster.
Dominic Solanke will once again be the focal point of Bournemouth’s attack. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRENTFORD
Last season’s finish: 9th
Biggest summer transfer: Nathan Collins (£23m from Wolves)
Manager: Thomas Frank
Key player: Bryan Mbuemo
Having finished 14th in their debut Premier League season, there were fears from several pundits Brentford could suffer the dreaded second season syndrome and return to the Championship.
How wrong those pundits were, as Thomas Frank’s side would finish just two points outside of European qualification.
A large part of Brentford’s success was down to superstar striker Ivan Toney’s 20 league goals, but the Bees will be without him until January 14 after he was slapped with an eight-month ban due to breaching the FA’s gambling laws.
The Bees won the three games Toney was absent for – a run which included victories over Tottenham and Manchester City.
But how will they cope without their premier marksman for half of the season?
The onus will almost certainly fall on star winger Bryan Mbuemo, who scored nine times and contributed eight assists last season.
Summer signing Kevin Schade will also be vital to Brentford’s attacking play and should hit the ground running given he spent the second half of last season on loan at the club.
The Bees also moved to fill the void left by the departing Pontus Jansson by snapping up Nathan Collins from Wolves.
Without Toney for half of the season, it could be difficult for Brentford to emulate a similar feat to the 22/23 campaign but as Frank’s side have proven on several occasions, underestimate them at your own peril.
Mbuemo must step up in the absence of Ivan Toney. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON
Last season’s finish: 6th
Biggest summer transfer: Joao Pedro (£30m from Watford)
Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Key player: Moises Caicedo
Seagulls fans are bullish ahead of their first European campaign in history, especially with the club going against their usual transfer strategy and splashing out a club-record £30m on Joao Pedro from Watford. They’ll need their new arrivals – as well as 21-year-old winger Simon Andingra, back from a brilliant loan stint in Belgium where he scored or assisted 30 times last year – to fire, given the departure of World Cup winner Mac Allister to the Reds.
The biggest question for the coming weeks will be whether they can hold onto 21-year-old midfield star Moises Caicedo, after rejecting two bids from Chelsea for the brilliant Ecuadorean. The Blues will return with a third bid after seeing an £80m offer knocked back, but Brighton is confident of keeping their star man unless Chelsea meets their £100m valuation.
Coach Roberto de Zerbi was a standout tactician in the league last year, but opposition coaches will have wised up to Brighton’s innovative possession and counterattacking tactics – like Everton did last season in a 5-1 upset win. Brighton also have to target an improved effectiveness on set pieces, with Manchester United the only team to bag less goals from set pieces (excluding penalties).
Many teams have struggled to balance European football and the league, so remaining in the top six would be a massive result in their debut season of continental football.
Brighton are desperate for Moises Caicedo to stay at the club. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for Premier League)Source: Getty Images
BURNLEY
Last season’s finish: 1st in Championship (promoted)
Biggest summer transfer: James Trafford (£19m from Manchester City)
Manager: Vincent Kompany
Key player: Josh Brownhill
The Clarets demolished their Championship rivals last season to finish first on 101 points, led by Manchester City’s former beloved defender Vincent Kompany. He turned the side into a thrilling attacking team – but how much will he have to compromise on those ideals now he’s in the top flight? It’s been a tough transfer window so far, with Southampton refusing to sell Nathan Tella to the team he starred for on loan last year. Expect Kompany to push his bosses to continue bidding until transfer deadline day – it could be a make-or-break transfer for the team. They also had a deal for Soumaila Coulibaly collapse at the final stages, but there’s been other wins – turning loan deals permanent for Michael Obafemi and Jordan Beyer, and signing a Premier League veteran in Nathan Redmond on a free transfer. They’ve bagged a talented young keeper in James Trafford from Man City, while 22-year-old Zeki Amdouni is a gifted striker from Basel.
Snapping up Sander Berge from Sheffield United for just £12m is a brilliant bit of business from the Clarets too.
Like any promoted team, survival is the goal – but if they do impress, the offers that are already flying in for Kompany to take on bigger teams will become even harder to resist.
Vincent Kompany will lead Burnley in their return to the Premier League. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA
Last season’s finish: 12th
Biggest summer transfer: Christopher Nkunku (£52m from RB Leipzig)
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Key player: Enzo Fernandez
The Blues are coming off the back of their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing with their worst points haul since the 1980s and their lowest goals scored since way back in 1924. Improvements are needed – but so far, it looks like they won’t repeat the outrageous and record-breaking spending spree of last season. That left the squad unbalanced and bloated, and the raft of January signings only destabilised the team further. Add in the managerial changes and it was a disaster from start to finish.
This time around, their transfer activity has seen a host of players depart – Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Edouard Mendy headline a list of departures, and there could be plenty more to follow them out the door. Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson add much-needed firepower to a dismal attack although the former will miss several months due to a knee injury.
In defence, Axel Disasi arrives at centre-back to replace Kalidou Koulibaly after his poor season at Stamford Bridge.
The only way is up for the Blues, but how far can they rise? Mauricio Pochettino has plenty of work to do, but he thrives when working with a young squad – which is exactly what he’s got here.
With half a season of English football under his belt, expectations will be extremely high for January signing Enzo Fernandez to justify his nine-figure price tag.
The team could still be boosted by a big-name signing in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, but the major worry is that the overhaul might have gone too far. They’ve lost a lot of experience and are betting on untested youngsters making an immediate impact in the Premier League.
There’s no guarantee that Chelsea will charge up the table this season, but the lack of European football will be a blessing to a team that struggled for intensity last time around.
Christopher Nkunku has arrived at the club from RB Leipzig. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRYSTAL PALACE
Last season’s finish: 11th
Biggest summer transfer: Jefferson Lerma (free from Bournemouth)
Manager: Roy Hodgson
Key player: Eberechi Eze
The talismanic Wilfried Zaha has gone to Turkey, and he leaves a massive void in the Crystal Palace squad. Five other top players are also being hunted by rival clubs – and Palace will walk a tightrope this month to keep as many as possible. Centre-backs Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi, midfielder Cheick Doucouré, attackers Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze are all crucial members of the side and manager Roy Hodgson will be crossing his fingers and toes that the team doesn’t sell for anything less than an exorbitant price. If one or more do depart, Palace will have to work quickly to replace them. So far, they haven’t found a replacement for Zaha’s goals, which is a major worry moving forward, but Jefferson Lerma’s arrival on a free transfer from Bournemouth is a great move.
Hodgson has publicly stated he’s chasing a top-ten finish with his boyhood club, after guiding them to an impressive 11th after taking over only in March. How achievable that is will become clear when the transfer window slams shut – hopefully without Palace losing any more stars.
Eberechi Eze will have to shoulder more of the attacking burden now that Wilfried Zaha has moved on. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EVERTON
Last season’s finish: 17th
Biggest summer transfer: Arnaut Danjuma (loan from Villarreal)
Manager: Sean Dyche
Key player: Demarai Gray
It’s hard to find much positivity around the Toffees at the moment. After two difficult seasons saw them narrowly avoid relegation, the prospect of another year on the brink is hard to get excited about. Manager Sean Dyche has begged for reinforcements to his playing squad, but with precious little to show for it. A significant new investment from MSP Sports Capital hasn’t yet been completed, leaving the side with almost no cash to invest. And with the possibility of a points deduction hanging over their head for breaching financial fair play rules (a hearing is in October), things could be about to get even worse. Despite the financial woes, Everton bagged Ashley Young on a free transfer and Arnaut Danjuma on loan – their No. 1 target back in January before Spurs pipped them to a deal. They’ve seen a couple of other deals collapse already, and need to make moves. After a year without any proven goalscorers, Dyche – and the fans – are desperate for an experienced forward who could steer them clear from the relegation battle. Avoiding relegation is the aim. Another 17th-placed finish would be a good result.
Sean Dyche will hope Everton finish well clear of the relegation zone this season. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
FULHAM
Last season’s finish: 10th
Biggest summer transfer: Calvin Bassey (£19m from Ajax)
Manager: Marco Silva
Key player: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Fulham defied their ‘yoyo club’ tag to finally avoid an immediate return to the Championship with an extremely impressive 10th place finish last season.
Fiery forward Aleksandar Mitrovic was once again vital to the Cottagers’ fortunes, with 14 goals to his name.
But the Serbian could have had more if he wasn’t suspended for eight games as a result of touching an official during Fulham’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
Although it was largely a strong season from Fulham, their form from March onwards was certainly cause for concern.
Marco Silva’s side won four games from their final 13, but three wins came against teams who would be relegated and the other was against Everton who survived by the skin of their teeth.
Granted, a new season brings a fresh start but the worrying run of form certainly presents cause for concern.
So too does Mitrovic’s summer transfer saga in which he reportedly told relatives he’d never play for the club again after Fulham rejected two bids from Saudi club Al-Hilal.
As of now, Mitrovic reluctantly returned to the club’s pre-season preparations but there’s still time in the window for him to move on.
Outside of Mitrovic’s attacking prowess, Fulham are rather weak in the goalscoring department with veteran winger Willian and midfielder Andreas Pereira scoring five league goals last season, the second-most in the team.
The acquisition of Raul Jimenez from Wolves could help alleviate the goalscoring concerns but he has yet to return to the form he showed prior to his serious skull injury.
Surviving for a second-consecutive Premier League season for Fulham is going to be the key objective whether the club likes it or not.
Mitrovic has wanted to leave Fulham this summer but could end up staying at Craven Cottage. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL
Last season’s finish: 5th
Biggest summer transfer: Dominik Szoboszlai (£60m from RB Leipzig)
Manager: Jurgen Klopp
Key player: Mohamed Salah
Things will look a little different at Anfield this year – and not just because the redevelopment of the Anfield Road stand should finally be finished a month or two into the season. The list of departures includes a host of players who have won the lot with the Reds: Captain Jordan Henderson after a dozen years at the club, Brazilian duo Firmino and Fabinho – with all three of those players heading to Saudi Arabia. Ageless warrior James Milner has gone to Brighton, while Naby Keita is off to Werder Bremen. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also out the door, while Arthur Melo has been punted after his flop of a season. That’s SIX central midfielders departing, with only two coming the other way so far: Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for €70m and Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for €42m.
The club is pushing hard to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton, while Jurgen Klopp started the transfer window also wanting to reinforce on defence. There’s been no movement in that department so far. Liverpool’s ageing squad needed a rebuild last season and didn’t get it. A year later, they are stuck needing to get more work done in the last weeks of the transfer window to bolster a thin-looking squad.
One key question will be whether Trent Alexander-Arnold starts at right back put pushes into the midfield in possession – the hybrid position that revitalised Liverpool later in the season – or whether he will actually be converted into a full-time midfielder.
Meanwhile, they’re stuck in the Europa League, a far cry behind the Champions League glory Klopp delivered just a few years ago.
A return to the top four is the only acceptable outcome this season – but a return to top spot might just be a step too far.
Dominik Szoboszlai added some needed quality to Liverpool’s midfield. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LUTON TOWN
Last season’s finish: 3rd in Championship (promoted via play-offs)
Biggest summer transfer: Marvelous Nakamba (£3.4m from Aston Villa)
Manager: Rob Edwards
Key player: Carlton Morris
The Hatters have enjoyed a remarkable rise over the last decade, going from the fifth tier – non-League football – to the Premier League in just nine years. That included back-to-back promotions From League Two and League One in 2017-18 and ’18-19, before winning the Championship playoff final via a penalty shootout to earn their spot in the top flight.
Their status as minnows is summed up by the unique Kenilworth Road stadium, knows as the ‘Kenny’ or the ‘old girl’ to the Luton faithful. The tiny stadium has a capacity of just over 10,000 and has hosted the club since 1905, and fans enter the turnstiles for one stand between a row of terrace housing. So small and dated is the ground that the club was forced to spend around £10m upgrading one stand to bring it up to scratch for media needs – though they’re set to move to a new stadium in the next couple of years.
The club’s success has come from squad stability (five current players were around back in their League Two days!) as well as signing talented young players for bargain prices, ensuring financial sustainability.
Since promotion, they have broken their transfer record three times, but their new record is only €5.85m for 23-year-old wingback Ryan Giles, who starred in the Championship last season with 11 assists for Middlesbrough. They’ve also picked up former Manchester United winger Tahith Chong from Birmingham (23), Ross Barkley on a free transfer and 22-year-old Issa Kabore on loan from Manchester City, but will probably be hoping for another experienced signing or two in the coming weeks.
Their composed transfer strategy is married with a hardworking style of play – aggressive, rapid on the counter-attack, and with plenty of intelligent runs off the ball.
They’ll be underdogs all the way, but there’s plenty to like about them. As coach Rob Edwards told The Guardian: “In the Premier League there is a lot of order, and I want to bring a little bit of chaos to that and do things our way.”
Luton manager Rob Edwards will need to perform a minor miracle to keep the Hatters in the top flight. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER CITY
Last season’s finish: 1st
Biggest summer transfer: Josko Gvardiol (£77m from RB Leipzig)
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Key player: Kevin De Bruyne
For just about the entirety of last season, Manchester City sat in second place in the Premier League.
But Pep Guardiola’s side finished at the top of the pile when it mattered most, making it three consecutive league titles.
A large part of the success was down to the freakish form of Norwegian goal scoring machine Erling Haaland, who found the back of the net a staggering 36 times.
Haaland will once again be expected to shoulder a significant amount of the goalscoring burden and he’d love nothing more than to eclipse his own record.
But the 23-year-old will need the likes of Jack Grealish and superstar midfielder Kevin De Bruyne to once again be at their best, as the duo provide plenty of on and off-ball assistance for Haaland to shine.
The club have also recruited wisely, snapping up Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in a £77m deal to strengthen an already-stacked defensive unit while adding Mateo Kovacic to their midfield ranks.
However, they have lost two members with vital experience in the form of Ilkay Gundogan (free to Barcelona) and Riyad Mahrez (£30m to Al-Ahli).
It’s not just their leadership they’ll miss either, as Mahrez scored five goals and chalked up 10 assists while Gundogan bagged eight league goals.
Although Kovacic isn’t exactly a like-for-like Gundogan replacement, he brings bags of Premier League experience and will hit the ground running.
Expect City to once again be in the title conversation towards the season’s end, but they’ll face stronger competition this season as Arsenal have made significant improvements on their squad and so too has Liverpool, while Chelsea will provide a tougher challenge under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
However, don’t look terribly shocked if Guardiola’s men make it a staggering four Premier League titles on the trot, a feat no team in history has been able to achieve.
Can Haaland match his absurd goalscoring feats from his debut Premier League season? (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER UNITED
Last season’s finish: 3rd
Biggest summer transfer: Rasmus Hojlund (£73m from Atalanta)
Manager: Erik ten Hag
Key player: Bruno Fernandes
After two losses from their first two games last season, the mood at Old Trafford was incredibly downcast.
But eight wins and just two losses from their next 12 games proved new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag could turn the ship around as Manchester United slowly found their groove.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo’s ugly exit threatened to derail the team, United stayed on track as Marcus Rashford went on a staggering run of 10 goals in as many games once the Premier League resumed from its mid-season break for the World Cup.
Ten Hag’s side jostled with Newcastle United for third place in the league and eventually won the battle in the final two games, proving there is plenty to like about this Red Devils outfit.
However, the stakes will no doubt be higher for Manchester United this season given the significant investment the club has taken to improve the squad.
Rashford will once again be expected to deliver goals by the bucketload this season but he will have some help in the form of 20-year-old Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, who arrived in a £73m deal from Atalanta.
United have invested heavily in Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Source: AFP
It is an almighty outlay for a young forward that hasn’t even scored 30 senior goals in his career and isn’t fit at the time of writing, but clearly the Red Devils believe he is the answer to strengthen their attack.
The signing of Mason Mount, a player ten Hag craved, is also another statement of intent that United mean business this season as they return to the Champions League and look to push their noisy neighbours the whole way.
There’s also added expectation on the shoulders, or arm, of Bruno Fernandes after he was given the club captaincy.
Fernandes will be crucial to providing Hojlund with chances to score, so it is vital the two can find a rhythm early on in the season.
However, the club will be without David de Gea in goals for the first time since 2011 as United opted to bring in Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Onana is competent with the ball at his feet but has already had a few blooper reel moments throughout pre-season.
If Onana and Hojlund can justify their lofty price tags, this United team could be a fun one to watch this season.
If not, ten Hag will face plenty of scrutiny and no doubt be questioned why he placed so much faith in a new goalkeeper and a striker who isn’t exactly blessed with senior experience.
Sounds like just another normal season at Old Trafford!
Erik ten Hag has brought in some big names in this summer window. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Last season’s finish: 4th
Biggest summer transfer: Sandro Tonali (£60m from AC Milan)
Manager: Eddie Howe
Key player: Alexander Isak
After a decade away, Champions League nights have returned to Newcastle as Eddie Howe’s side finished fourth in the league last season.
Yes, Howe received significant backing in the market to bring in the likes of Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak, but his ability to improve the players he already had at his disposal was something to behold.
Joelinton was a player transformed, Callum Wilson earned an England recall amid scoring 18 league goals while Kieran Trippier proved to be one of the best defenders in the league.
Most impressively, Newcastle held the equal-best defensive record in the league alongside champions Manchester City, conceding 33 goals all season.
Safe to say, no-one expected the Magpies to be that good last season.
But now the bar has been set much higher for Howe’s troops as they look to once again gatecrash the so-called ‘Big Six’.
Newcastle wasted little time in bringing players in during the summer, signing Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan in a major coup while also adding Leicester winger Harvey Barnes.
There’s also hope January signing Anthony Gordon can maintain the form that made him such a dangerous weapon for the England U21 team that won the European Championship after initially struggling in his first months.
Of course, the big question surrounding Newcastle will be how they adapt to the congested schedule that comes with playing European football.
Another element of intrigue is whether the players like Joelinton, Miguel Almiron and Joe Willock can continue improving and heavily contribute both domestically and across the continent.
Very few pundits are tipping the Toon to qualify for the Champions League yet again given how much their rivals have strengthened, but securing another top six finish would be extremely impressive.
Tonali linked up with the Magpies as they return to the Champions League. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Last season’s finish: 16th
Biggest summer transfer: Anthony Elanga (£15m from Manchester United)
Manager: Steve Cooper
Key player: Brennan Johnson
Nottingham Forest signed a whopping 32 players over the course of last season as they braced for life in the Premier League.
Granted, the monster influx of players was a necessity given how few were at the club after they had won the Championship playoff final in 2022, but it is a lot of players for Steve Cooper to integrate into his squad.
Although Forest had a very shaky start and had won just once in their opening 11 games, Cooper survived the axe and slowly but surely turned things around, adopting a defensive approach.
The Tricky Trees had another wobble in the second half of the season when they lost eight games from 11, yet Cooper again pulled a rabbit out of the hat and kept the team up.
Forest winger Brennan Johnson was inspirational in keeping the club up, as was Morgan Gibbs-White.
This summer has been significantly quieter, with Anthony Elanga the main transfer of note as well as turning Chris Wood’s loan into a permanent deal.
But keeping Johnson has been an even bigger win for Forest as they have turned several bids from Brentford for his services.
Even though Cooper has had a full season to work with this set of players and find a system that extracts results, the objective once again is to simply not get relegated.
However, should Cooper oversee another barren run of results to start the season, the axe will certainly be sharpening over his head.
Brennan Johnson was in solid form towards the end of last season (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Last season’s finish: 2nd in Championship (promoted)
Biggest summer transfer: Auston Trusty (£5m from Arsenal)
Manager: Paul Heckingbottom
Key player: Oli McBurnie
The Blades are back in the top flight after two years in the Championship. Last time they were in the Prem’, Chris Wilder’s team stunned the world with the incredibly innovative tactic of overlapping wide centre-backs and finished all the way up in ninth. This time, 46-year-old Paul Heckingbottom is the man in charge – but he knows the team could be in for some pain unless they make some dramatic moves in the transfer window in the coming days. The team sold star attacker Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and arguably their best player Sander Berge to Burnley for just £12m. They’ve only signed four players, all of them youngsters and two of those only arriving in August. And with injuries always a problem, the side is decidedly thin.
Asked if he was happy with the shape of his squad, Heckingbottom said: “Fitness-wise, yeah [happy]. Where we are numbers-wise, no. You can see we are way short, which is plain to see in that first game and the second game (of preseason).
“I’m concerned we haven’t got the players in and we’ve got a lot to do … That’s my message and what I keep banging on about.”
If the Blades can’t make some moves, and quickly, they could be in for a rough start to the season – and they might never recover.
Many pundits are not giving Paul Heckingbottom and his Sheffield United side a chance for survival. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TOTTENHAM
Last season’s finish: 8th
Biggest summer transfer: James Maddison (£40m from Leicester City)
Manager: Ange Postecoglou
Key player: Harry Kane
Death, taxes and chaos at Tottenham.
It was once again the story of their 22/23 campaign as fiery Italian boss Antonio Conte left the club after a scathing attack on the players and hierarchy in a press conference before his replacement Cristian Stellini was sacked four games in charge, leaving Ryan Mason to steer the ship.
Fabio Paratici also left his post as the club’s director of football after he was convicted of financial malpractice during his time at Juventus.
Spurs ultimately finished 8th in the league and missed out on European football altogether, although superstar striker Harry Kane’s 30-goal haul single-handedly kept the club competitive in the league.
Kane’s future has dominated the summer given he is out of contract at the end of the season and has been the subject of heavy interest from Bayern Munich.
But as of now, he is in the new manager’s plans for the season ahead after Tottenham rejected Bayern’s third bid for the talismanic striker.
That new manager is Australia’s own Ange Postecoglou, who finally gets a shot in the Premier League after leading Celtic to the domestic treble last season.
He’s brought in a number of intriguing talents to the club, none more so than England international James Maddison from Leicester City.
Postecoglou’s rhetoric, which Australian football fans know all too well about, has struck a chord with the Spurs fan base as he looks to transform the club’s fortunes on the field.
If Postecoglou is given the most valuable commodity in modern football — time — then he could slowly but surely have Spurs firing on all cylinders.
However, he is a notoriously slow starter when he moves to a new club as shown in his first seasons at Celtic and Yokohama F. Marinos.
Another intriguing appointment at Spurs is fellow Aussie Scott Munn filling the vacancy left by Paratici.
With two Aussies leading the charge at one of the world’s most recognised teams and a superstar striker leading the line, at least for now, Spurs fans have a reason to be cautiously optimistic.
But then again, it’s Spurs.
Ange Postecoglou is at the helm for Tottenham this season. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)Source: AFP
WEST HAM
Last season’s finish: 14th
Biggest summer transfer: N/A
Manager: David Moyes
Key player: Jarrod Bowen
The biggest question hanging over the Hammers this year is whether – or how – they can cope with the loss of captain Declan Rice. After the joy of winning the Europa Conference League, it felt like the end of an era, with Rice finally earning his big-money exit to a top team. But David Moyes opted not to go out on a high, and the manager who was almost sacked at multiple points last season will be under pressure from the start if things go south.
Is this just another season of transition and short term focus? Or can they actually make a decent fist of the Premier League while trying to bag another European trophy, this time in the Europa League?
They’ll need to make some solid signings to make up for Rice’s exit. But their recruitment has been shambolic for years, characterised by signing players that don’t fit the system or playing them out of position. The bizarre parade of ill-fitting players features names like Gianluca Scamacca, Sebastien Haller, or even Felipe Anderson – great players who never had a hope of shining when they are stuck like square pegs in round holes. You can add January signing Danny Ings to that list.
Hopefully the arrival of new technical director Tim Steidten (previously Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen) changes things – a director offering direction!
That direction could arrive in the form of Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse, as West Ham have reportedly agreed fees for both with Manchester United and Southampton respectively.
You get the feeling that the Hammers can’t quite hit the same heights as last year … but Moyes does love to prove the doubters wrong.
David Moyes ended West Ham’s wait for a trophy but he’s already under the pump going into the season. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WOLVES
Last season’s finish: 13th
Biggest summer transfer: Boubacar Traore (£9.5m from Metz)
Manager: Gary O’Neil
Key player: Matheus Cunha
For the last three seasons, Wolves have averaged less than a goal a game. Three years running!
However, they’re in a truly dire financial situation, and that’s led to a lack of signings. Meanwhile, they’ve lost Raul Jimenez, Ruben Neves, and Joao Moutinho, as old coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad has been broken up.
It’s not just on the playing front that Wolves have undergone a serious change, with Julen Lopetegui leaving his post just days before the season was set to start having not seen eye-to-eye with the board on several issues.
Former Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil was swiftly announced as Lopetegui’s replacement, but a big change like this on the eve of the 23/24 campaign certainly sounds alarm bells for how Wolves could go this season.
They still have plenty of quality in the squad, but they’ll need a bit more creativity to spark their attack. Pablo Sarabia has been moved to a more central role in pre-season and could be the source of that creative spark, but refreshing their forward line is a priority. A couple of midfield signings and perhaps a centre-back would do wonders too – but given their financial constraints, don’t expect that. The fans are demanding excitement – especially with ticket prices copping a hefty raise this year – but they’ve got a brutal run of fixtures early on. Even if they don’t improve too much from last year’s finish, there’s hope that they’ll play a better style of football. As long as that doesn’t come at the cost of relegation, that would be a positive result for a team that is hamstrung by off-field issues.
Manchester City won the title (again), two of the traditional ‘Big Six’ crashed and burned in emphatic fashion as three teams secured European football for the first time in at least 13 years.
We also had to wave goodbye to a former Premier League champion as a sleeping giant also slept-walked their way to the Championship.
There was a lot to love about the season at all ends of the table, but who stood out for all the right and wrong reasons?
Foxsports.com.au analysed EVERY team’s season in the annual Premier League Report Card!
Five league crowns in six seasons: Pep Guardiola’s City side are well and truly a Premier League dynasty. And they’re not done yet, with an FA Cup final and Champions League final still to play and a historic treble up for grabs.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Pep’s men, giving the Gunners a huge lead in the Premier League race before hunting them down at the death. But when the pressure was on, City delivered the kind of faultless winning streak that has characterised their dominance of the English game in recent years.
Erling Haaland scored goals for fun in the greatest debut season in Premier League history – scoring a record 36 league goals at the tender age of just 22.
His price tag of £51.2m seems farcically good value, especially given the expenditure of some of City’s rivals this season. But he’s not the only bargain City snared – with centre-back Manuel Akanji’s £15m fee a bargain-basement price.
Indeed, City even made an estimated £50m transfer profit this year, thanks to big sales like Raheem Sterling to Chelsea, and Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal.
City remain a class above their opposition.
Manchester City defended their Premier League crown. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
2. Arsenal
Grade: A
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has overseen gradual improvements from his team ever since he returned to the club, but no-one could have seen the Gunners mount a serious title challenge this season.
The Gunners were top of the table for all but eight rounds this season but couldn’t quite hold on to their position as the inevitable Manchester City leapfrogged them in the closing weeks.
Although the end of the campaign is tinged with sadness given what could have been, it’s been a tremendous season.
Arteta’s side blew every pre-season expectation of the water with their final ladder position as the plaudits never stopped rolling in for one of the youngest teams in the Premier League.
Most pleasing was the emergence of 21-year-old winger Bukayo Saka.
The Englishman, operating on the right flank, tore opposition back lines apart time and time again and finished with 14 goals as well as 11 assists.
Another star who matured rapidly was Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian was handed the skipper’s armband at the start of the season and finished joint-top scorer for the Gunners with 15 and provided seven assists.
Although the Gunners wobbled with three wins in their last nine, it should not be how their season is remembered.
With a return to the Champions League secured, there’s no ceiling in sight for this fresh-faced Gunners squad in the near future.
Arteta has got Arsenal back in the Champions League. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
3. Manchester Utd
Grade: A-
Talk about a change in mood.
Manchester United’s season began in a dark, gloomy corner of a room as they lost 2-1 at home to Brighton on the opening day, only to follow that up with an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Brentford six days later.
After two games, the Red Devils were rock bottom of the ladder as the excitement surrounding Erik ten Hag’s appointment rapidly dissipated.
But the hard-nosed Dutchman quickly turned their fortunes around, as some big wins over the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal got their season back on track.
Despite the surge up the ladder, a Cristiano Ronaldo-sized storm was brewing in the background and exploded during the mid-season World Cup break.
The Portuguese superstar left no stone unturned in a revealing interview with Piers Morgan which forced the club to part ways with their former prodigal son.
Perhaps United have Morgan to thank for that interview because once Ronaldo waved goodbye to Old Trafford and said hello to Saudi Arabia, the Red Devils’ fortunes changed dramatically.
Marcus Rashford went on a run of 10 league goals in as many games, with one of those proving to be the winner in a heated Manchester derby victory.
Ten Hag also helped United end their wait for a trophy as he oversaw a victory over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
Eight wins in their last 11 games ensured a third-place finish for the Red Devils and a return to the Champions League
Summer signings Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez proved to be absolute masterstrokes as they were vital to United’s season, but it was the resurgence of Rashford that was most impressive.
The forward looked like a man reborn under Ten Hag and, if he can continue such form next season, United could be a serious title contender.
Marcus Rashford was a player transformed under Erik ten Hag. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
4. Newcastle
Grade: A
In the space of two seasons, Newcastle United fans have gone from fearing Championship away days to dreaming of Champions League trips to Madrid and Paris.
Toon boss Eddie Howe has overseen a stunning turnaround at the club in which they finished in the top four and made it to a cup final.
The club recruited wisely in the summer with the arrivals of Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Alexander Isak to name three.
But Howe’s remarkable ability to take some of Newcastle’s existing players to new levels that made them almost feel like new signings.
Joelinton, a £40m laughing stock of a striker, has transformed into a barnstorming midfielder while Callum Wilson smashed in 18 league goals and earned an England recall.
The Magpies’ backline proved to be the equal-best in the competition alongside Manchester City, conceding a measly 33 goals all season.
Yet Howe’s side were all-action in attack with 68 goals scored to give them the third-best goal differential.
Perhaps the best example of Newcastle’s ruthlessness going forward arrived during their 6-1 victory over Tottenham in which Howe’s side scored five in the first 21 minutes.
With Champions League football secured, there’s expectation Newcastle will once again make bigger waves in the transfer market.
But this season has proven Howe’s side will be a force to be reckoned with going forward in a major warning sign to the Premier League’s elite.
Newcastle have returned to the Champions League after two decades away. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
5. Liverpool
Grade: D
In a parallel universe, Liverpool sign Darwin Nunez and address their pressing need for a midfield refresh as they mount yet another title challenge.
Instead, the Reds did snap up Nunez from Benfica, but failed to sign a new midfielder in what has since proven to be one of the biggest mistakes during Jurgen Klopp’s time in Liverpool.
Even then, Nunez was sent off in just his second Premier League game after Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen goaded him to the point where the Reds star felt compelled to headbutt his rival.
It was rather symbolic for Liverpool’s season, as they failed to find much of a rhythm, if at all, until it was far too late.
Granted, crippling injury issues hampered the Reds’ campaign as talismanic winger Mohamed Salah came to grips with life without Sadio Mane on the left flank.
But the critics who pointed to Klopp’s infamous seventh season syndrome were vindicated as Liverpool slumped to their lowest points total in seven years amid embarrassing defeats to the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Bournemouth.
Although the Reds were unbeaten in their last 11 games and won seven of those, it papered over a significant amount of cracks that surfaced in a season to forget but was somehow good enough to seal a Europa League spot.
A highlight of Liverpool’s season has certainly been the positional change of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the latter stages of the campaign, as his hybrid midfield and defensive role worked wonders.
Whether we see more of that next season remains to be seen, but if Liverpool fail to enact the midfield refresh it so desperately needs in the off-season, treacherous waters lie ahead in Merseyside.
It was a season to forget for Liverpool. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
6. Brighton
Grade: A+
The Seagulls soared this campaign, with sixth place guaranteeing them European football for the first time in the club’s history! But it’s how they achieved such a lofty finish that makes this season so impressive – racking up a huge net profit on transfers around £80m.
In the off-season, they sold Marc Cucurella to Chelsea for £56m and Yves Bissouma to Spurs for £25m among a raft of big-name departures, while Leandro Trossard left for Arsenal in January for £21m.
And yet, Brighton’s incredible scouting team did it again, landing affordable signings who soon established themselves in the Premier League. The biggest outlay was £15m for left-back Pervis Estupinan, for example!
Brighton faced all sorts of problems this season, from midfielder Enock Mwepu being forced to retire with a heart condition, to losing manager Graham Potter to Chelsea in September.
But in true Brighton fashion, they overcame the obstacles and somehow looked even stronger – new manager Roberto de Zerbi implemented a thrilling attacking style of play that delivered in spades: their 72 goals was more than Manchester United (58) and Newcastle (68), for example.
They’ll lose more big players this off-season, of course. But it’s been a season for the ages – bring on Europe next time around.
Kaoru Mitoma has emerged as one of the breakout stars this season. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
7. Aston Villa
Grade: A-
Aston Villa were hurtling towards a relegation fight at the speed of light, but in the corridors of Craven Cottage after an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Fulham, a call was made which put the club on the path to Europe.
Steven Gerrard was sacked immediately after the Fulham defeat on October 20 with Villa out of the relegation zone only on goal difference having lost six of their opening 12 games.
Villa’s top brass went out and replaced the Liverpool legend with Villarreal boss and serial Europa League winner Unai Emery.
What a masterstroke of a decision that turned out to be.
Emery won his first game in charge as Villa boss with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United and they never looked back.
Although the club had a brief wobble in February with losses to Leicester, Arsenal and Manchester City in which they leaked 11 goals, Emery got the team back on track.
Villa would go on to win 10 of their final 15 games of the season as they slowly climbed up the ladder to eventually finish in seventh and secure a spot in the Europa Conference League play-off round.
Emery’s remarkable attention to detail brought the best out of his troops as Ollie Watkins recorded a 15-goal haul while Tyrone Mings was a colossus at the back.
With more investment promised for the summer, it’s only upwards from here for the Midlands side.
“Hello, is that the Europa Conference League?” (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
8. Tottenham
Grade: C-
If you end the season on your third manager, it’s evident something has not gone right.
That’s exactly how Tottenham Hotspur’s season transpired as Antonio Conte departed in acrimonious circumstances and his assistant Cristian Stellini wasn’t far behind after an ill-fated four-game spell as interim boss.
It was a disaster of a season for Spurs, especially considering the pre-season expectations coming off a strong finish to the end of last-season boosted by the £50 million signing of Richarlison.
Instead, Heung-Min Son failed to recreate his magical form of last season, the defence was carved open time and time again while Spurs struggled to find any sort of attacking fluidity.
The burden fell squarely on the broad shoulders of talismanic striker Harry Kane who, to his credit, managed to end the season with a stunning tally of 30 goals.
Under Conte, Spurs battled to get into games and often found themselves behind on the scoresheet first.
The fiery Italian eventually blew his gasket when his side threw away a 3-1 lead against Southampton to draw 3-3 and delivered an explosive press conference where he gave some home truths.
His right-hand man Stellini tried and failed to galvanise the squad as the damage quickly became irreparable following a loss to Bournemouth and a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Newcastle.
Ryan Mason held down the fort as caretaker but there was precious little he could do as Spurs won just two of their final eight games to ultimately finish eighth and miss out on European football for the first time in 13 years.
It was certainly a season that Spurs fans will be desperate to forget.
Harry Kane was the only bright spot in an otherwise dull season for Tottenham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
9. Brentford
Grade: A
What a season for the Bees. They avoided the typical ‘sophomore slump’ that afflicts teams in their second season after promotion, and indeed moved up from 13th to ninth. Behind that rise was an improved ability to scrape points from tough positions, turning losses into draws – after seven draws and 18 losses last year, this season they picked up 14 draws and just nine defeats. Their impressive year was capped off by doing the double over champions Man City.
The Bees were very well-drilled in defence and surprisingly prolific in attack thanks in large part to the rise of Ivan Toney (20 goals in 33) – before his eight month ban due to betting breaches.
Centre-back Ben Mee, signed on a free transfer from Burnley, played like a man transformed, while David Raya was one of the Premier League’s standout keepers.
Moving forward, the big hope for Aussie fans is that young winger Lachlan Brook, who spent this year on loan to League Two side Crewe Alexandra, can earn a shot at a Premier League debut next year.
Brentford avoided the famous second-season slump. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
10. Fulham
Grade: B
After several years of bouncing between the Premier League and the Championship to earn the unfortunate tag of being a ‘yoyo club’, Fulham finally enjoyed a season of consolidation.
Given their history of successive promotions and relegations, pundits could be forgiven for tipping Fulham to go straight back down.
However, the Cottagers looked anything but relegation fodder under the tutelage of Marco Silva.
Star forward Aleksandar Mitrovic picked up right where he left off from the Championship, scoring six goals in Fulham’s opening eight games to have the London side as high as sixth.
Fulham also returned from the World Cup break in scintillating fashion, winning four on the bounce including a 2-1 triumph over local rivals Chelsea.
In fact, Silva’s side went into March sitting pretty in sixth spot on the table.
But from that moment onwards, the Cottagers slid further and further down.
Seven losses from their next nine games dropped Fulham down to 10th as their rivals passed them by, a position they would ultimately finish the season in.
Mitrovic, a notoriously feisty figure, was also handed an eight-game suspension for pushing the referee during Fulham’s FA Cup loss against Manchester United on March 19.
He ended the season with 14 goals while Fulham’s next top scorer was shared between 34-year-old winger Willian and back-up striker Carlos Vinicius with five.
Although Fulham’s season ended in disappointing fashion, they stayed up with plenty of breathing room.
That in itself should be considered a cracking season.
Mitrovic scored 14 goals for Fulham. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
11. Crystal Palace
Grade: C+
Crystal Palace proved that sometimes going back to your ex can actually be a good thing.
Expectations for the Eagles were high given how impressive they looked under Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira last season.
With a young core of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Cheick Doucoure coupled with the presence of talismanic winger Wilfried Zaha, Palace looked set to light up the league.
However, it never quite clicked for Palace.
After beating Aston Villa 3-1 in August, Vieira’s side failed to score more than two goals up until the Frenchman’s sacking in March.
The decision was made after Palace had gone on a 12-game winless run in which they scored a measly five goals and were at serious risk of being dragged into the relegation dogfight.
So, who better than to steer you to safety than your old flame, Roy Hodgson?
The former England boss (remember that?) came in on March 21 and immediately lifted the mood at the club both on and off the pitch.
Palace’s first game under Hodgson in his brief spell was a 2-1 win over Leicester City, before they smashed five past Leeds in the next game.
From Hodgson’s 10 games in charge, Palace went on to win five of those and lose only two as they secured an 11th place finish.
Eze took his game to a new level under Hodgson and finished as the club’s top scorer with 10 which ultimately earned him an England call-up.
At 75 years of age, it remains to be seen if Hodgson is Palace’s long term option in the Selhurst Park dugout.
But if this is his final act at his boyhood club, what a way to bow out.
Eberechi Eze was Palace’s top scorer. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
12. Chelsea
Grade: F
It’s hard to express just how woeful the Blues have been this year.
Expectations were high after a multibillion-dollar takeover in pre-season from a consortium led by American Todd Boehly. And when he splashed the cash in both transfer windows, a record-breaking 600 million pounds in total, those expectations only rose.
But money can’t buy happiness, and their scattergun approach to transfers resulted in a hodgepodge, bloated squad where some players were unable to even be registered for the Champions League or Premier League.
Many of the big-money signings have failed to live up to expectations – and it’s been a similarly ugly season for managers.
Thomas Tuchel was bundled out in short order after clashing with the new ownership. Graham Potter didn’t fare any better, being dumped out in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup before being axed in early April. Frank Lampard, brought back as an interim boss, couldn’t prevent them from their worst-ever points haul. New manager Mauricio Pochettino has an extremely tough task on his hands.
Despite spending the big bucks, Chelsea finished in the lower half of the table. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
13. Wolves
Grade: C-
Death, taxes and Wolves struggling to score goals.
It’s been an issue that plagued the club last season and it reared its ugly head again, with the Black Country club scoring the fewest goals of anyone this season with 31.
The honour for the club’s top scorer was shared between star midfielder Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence, who both scored six league goals.
Bruno Lage began the season as Wolves coach but lasted just eight league games as the atmosphere turned poisonous, with the club scoring three goals in that space.
The club attempted to bring in Michael Beale, who was managing Queens Park Rangers at the time, but he elected to stay in London as Wolves were left flailing under the caretaker management of Steve Davis.
At the World Cup break, Wolves were in last place with only eight goals scored all season long.
Enter Julen Lopetegui.
The former Spain boss immediately turned the ship around at Molineux, winning four of his first seven league games as the club slowly pulled away from the relegation zone and into the comfort of the mid-table peloton.
Although there was some inconsistency towards the end, Premier League safety was secured which means a job well done by Lopetegui.
Wolves fans will hope he teaches his players how to find the back of the net with more regularity in the summer.
Julen Lopetegui guided Wolves to safety. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
14. West Ham
Grade: D+
If you look at the Premier League in isolation, it’s been a thoroughly disappointing season for the Hammers. Having finished sixth and seventh in the two seasons prior (respectively), this year’s 14th represented a significant drop-off. They won five fewer games, with the biggest issue a misfiring attack that managed just 42 goals. That came despite splashing £35.5m on striker Gianluca Scamacca from Serie A, who managed just three goals in 16 league appearances in a disappointing and injury-hit debut campaign. The towering 24-year-old now seems likely to depart. In fact, West Ham had the fourth-highest net transfer spend in the Premier League (per Transfermarkt) with €172.45m.
There were promising signs from a number of the signings, and most are still coming into the best years of their career. Meanwhile, the Hammers again enjoyed a strong season in Europe, reaching the final of the third-level Europa Conference League. They’ll face Fiorentina on June 8 AEST in the club’s first European final since 1976.
Win, and their difficult league campaign will largely be forgotten – and they’ll earn qualification to the Europa League next year, to boot.
Lose, and there’s no more excuses for a very underwhelming campaign. And that’s without even mentioning the seemingly inevitable sale of superstar midfielder Declan Rice.
Declan Rice could have played his last season for the Hammers. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
15. Bournemouth
Grade: B+
Before the season started, expectations were low for the promoted club. Manager Scott Parker publicly raged at the ownership and board in the opening weeks, labelling his squad “ill-equipped at this level” – and to be fair, he was right.
And when the Cherries copped bruising defeats to Man City (4-0), Arsenal (3-0) and Liverpool (9-0), Parker was the first manager out the door.
That was just the start of a rollercoaster season. They immediately went on a six-game unbeaten run – then by January, they were back in the relegation zone.
From being dead last after 25 games (early March) – they then went on a stunning run, winning six of their next nine games. It secured their survival comfortably, despite losing their final four games of the campaign. Gary O’Neil’s turnaround of a struggling side – and crucially, the ownership change in December that ensured cash was available for January signings – delivered one of the stories of the season.
Dominic Solanke was pivotal to keeping the Cherries up. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
16. Nottingham Forest
Grade: B
Nottingham Forest were back in the English top flight and boy, did they have some new faces in the squad.
The Reds signed over 30 players over the course of the season, but it was made out of necessity given the bare bones nature of the team before the season.
It was an approach fraught with risk but with Steve Cooper at the helm, Forest fans had every reason to dream.
Yet those dreams soon became nightmares as Cooper quickly shot to the front of the sack race with Forest losing seven of their first 10 games to sit rock bottom of the ladder.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis, a figure who usually pulls the trigger, made the brave decision to stick with Cooper rather than twist.
It was a call that paid dividends.
Forest went on to record a famous win over Liverpool and enjoyed strong form at the start of the year, winning three and drawing two to move as high as 13th on the ladder.
But the dark clouds from the start of the season would quickly return as the Reds went 11 games without a win, losing eight in that same stretch.
Surely Marinakis would run out of patience with Cooper, especially given the carefree nature of managerial sackings this season?
Wrong.
The Greek boss came out in support of the embattled Cooper and it proved to be a masterstroke.
Forest won three of their last six, including wins over high-flying Brighton and Arsenal, to secure safety with a handful of games to spare.
Although some teams have been vindicated in their decisions to sack managers, Forest are a prime example of what can happen when you back the man in charge.
Considering how many new players he had to bed into the squad and his style of play, Cooper deserves to be in the conversation for manager of the year.
However, the Reds must address their worrying away form throughout the season as they won just once and scored 11 goals on their Premier League travels.
Forest signed over 30 players but somehow managed to survive. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
17. Everton
Grade: D
After escaping relegation last season with one game to spare, Everton simply had to improve this year. They didn’t. If anything, they managed to get worse. They won three fewer games and ended up on a measly 36 points, three fewer than last year! The only reason they survived the drop – besides a stunning Abdoulaye Doucoure goal on the final day – was because as bad as the Toffees were, their rivals were somehow even worse.
For all their on-field struggles – and there were many – Everton’s problems largely stem from what’s happening off the field.
The club has been running at a significant loss under owner Farhad Moshiri: a £44.7m deficit in their most recent financial accounts (2021-22 season). The focus of the board, meanwhile, has been the building of a £500m new stadium on the banks of the River Mersey.
And this season, the Toffees were hit with charges from the Premier League over financial sustainability. The club denies the allegations.
Moshiri has been seeking investment in the club in the form of a minor shareholder – but his search has now stretched on for months. In the meantime, the Toffees have turned into a ‘selling club’. They sold last season’s top-scorer Richarlison to Tottenham for £60m, and doubled down in January by offloading talented youngster Anthony Gordon to Newcastle for £45m. They were one of just four Premier League teams to end the season with a positive net transfer spend – i.e. making more money from transfers than they spent.
Given their financial situation, survival might seem like enough. Given their history, the fans deserve much better.
Everton’s final-day win sparked a pitch invasion from joyous supporters. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
18. Leicester
Grade: F
Seven years after their Cinderella-like fairytale title, the Foxes are going down.
Given the squad at their disposal, they are too good to be in this sad position. Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho – the attacking riches at their disposal were enviable. And goals flowed freely – their 51 scored was more than any team in the bottom half, and indeed level with seventh-placed Aston Villa’s tally! But without a capable defence, things fell apart.
The squad was gutted by departures before the season, and the funds just weren’t there to replace the outgoing stars – especially with the club’s bloated wage bill combined with the money already spent on plans for stadium development.
Harry Souttar’s Premier League dream has taken a momentary pause. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
19. Leeds
Grade: E
Three games into the season and things were looking rosy for Leeds.
Two wins from three games, including a 3-0 victory over Chelsea, had Elland Road bouncing once more after a summer in which they lost superstar duo Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.
But that giddiness quickly gave way to anger and frustration.
Leeds went on to lose six of their next eight games to slide all the way down from third to 17th on the ladder.
Wins over Liverpool and Bournemouth bought the under-fire Jesse Marsch a brief respite going into the World Cup break, but it was business as usual upon the resumption of the season.
The wins dried up and Marsch (and Leeds fans, if we’re honest) was put out of his misery the day after a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on February 5.
Former Watford boss Javi Gracia was parachuted in to stop the rot and, to his credit, led the team to three wins.
Or, for the percentage enthusiasts, 43 per cent of Leeds’ total wins.
After a 2-1 win over Forest, Leeds shipped 11 goals in two games against Crystal Palace and Liverpool while only scoring twice.
Gracia’s caretaker position became untenable after an embarrassing 4-1 loss away to Bournemouth.
So, who better to call in to save your season with four games to go?
None other than big Sam Allardyce.
With a £2.5 million carrot awaiting him should he guide Leeds to safety, why wouldn’t the perennial Premier League firefighter take on a task most would have ran a mile from?
Well, that seven-figure payday will remain wishful thinking as Allardyce led the team to just a point from his four-game stint as Leeds were relegated after three seasons in the top flight.
Allardyce can’t be completely absolved of any blame, but many fingers must be pointed at Victor Orta, the club’s former sporting director who oversaw a summer spend on several unproven and young stars among other things.
It was nice having you back while it lasted, Leeds.
Leeds were relegated after three seasons back in the Premier League. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
20. Southampton
Grade: F
The less we write about the Saints, the better.
Three different managers tried to turn around the Titanic, but like that famous cautionary tale, the Saints are going down.
They were trounced 4-0 by Spurs on the opening day, which left them dead last. It’s a position they would became all too familiar with this season. From December 26 onwards, the Saints spent 22 of the final 23 rounds rooted to the bottom of the ladder. In the end, they finished with as many losses – 25 – as points.
That truly dismal record came despite managing to ward off strong interest in superstar midfielder James Ward-Prowse in pre-season. In fact, they went on a signing spree that saw them tally a net transfer spend of €138.2m – the eighth-highest spend in the division. Compare that to their relegated rivals: Leeds had a €31.1m net spend, while Leicester had a €33.4m net profit.
But the majority of Southampton’s signings were unproven youngsters – a high-risk gamble that flopped in cataclysmic fashion.
The Saints’ 11th-straight season in the league will be their last, and the looming exit of Ward-Prowse will be just the start of the painful days ahead.
Across the space of three days, over 200,000 football fans are set to pack out Wembley filled with hope.
A bit of belief, too.
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But there will also be a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs of what could happen if, at the end of 90 minutes or longer, the cards doesn’t fall their way.
It is of course the English Football League’s weekend of playoff finals as six teams compete for the ultimate goal of promotion from their respective league.
Carlisle United and Stockport County will look to rise from the EFL’s bottom rung to the third tier.
Barnsley hope to bring Sheffield Wednesday’s thundering momentum to a shuddering halt after the Owls recorded one of, if not the most remarkable comeback in playoff history against Peterborough United.
But all eyes will be trained on Sunday morning’s (AEST) action between Luton Town and Coventry City in the Championship playoff final, dubbed the richest game in football.
The prize, of course, is a spot in the Premier League and the estimated $322 million windfall that comes with it simply by being promoted, per The Athletic.
Given this fixture has been decided by one goal in nine of the last 11 playoff finals, nervy times await.
For Luton and Coventry, it has been over two decades since either was last in the English top flight.
Both clubs have had their share of financial and emotional turmoil over the years with Luton dropping out of the EFL entirely while Coventry was essentially homeless for three of the last 10 seasons.
And that’s just the very, very narrow tip of the iceberg for the pair.
But both have risen from the doldrums of the EFL to sit agonisingly close to a seat at the richest table in football.
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at the journey of both clubs this season and where the contest could be won and lost in a match Coventry manager Mark Robins described as “one for the romantics.”
HOW $7 PURCHASE LED LUTON TO VERGE OF $322 MILLION DREAM
Luton got its first taste of the Championship playoffs last season but fell short against Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals.
However, the arrival of star striker Clayton Morris from Barnsley and the fact the Hatters have improved its league position every season since Nathan Jones’ arrival in 2016 raised expectations for the 2022/23 campaign.
Although Luton took five games to secure their first win of the season and were in the relegation zone, Jones quickly turned the form around and led the Hatters all the way up to 4th in mid-October.
But there would soon be a major hitch in Luton’s operation.
Jones was plucked from his post at Kenilworth Road to fill the vacancy at Premier League outfit Southampton, who had just parted ways with Ralph Hassenhuttl.
The last time Jones left Luton for a different job, it left the club in free fall and took the Welshman returning to the club to save them from being relegated to League One in the 2019/20 season.
Time would tell if lightning would strike again as Rob Edwards, who was sacked by Watford after 10 league games this season, was announced as Jones’ replacement.
Edwards was announced during the mid-season break for the World Cup, gifting him weeks to learn and understand the squad he had at his disposal.
It turned out to be the mini pre-season which kickstarted Luton’s promotion push.
From December 10 onwards, Luton won 14 of their final 25 fixtures under Edwards and tallied just three losses.
What made Edwards’ style of play so successful with this Luton team was his ability to see out narrow victories.
Rob Edwards has made Luton Town even better since arriving in November. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Of the 14 wins, nine of them were by a one-goal margin.
But, more importantly, Luton under Edwards found a steely resilience and conceded just 17 goals in the 25-game span, with 12 clean sheets.
A key element to the success at keeping the opposition at bay was the January loan signing of defensive midfielder Marvelous Nakamba.
The Zimbabwean international plays the perfect role as a screen for the backline, forcing the opposition to funnel their attacks to the wings.
But the main figure behind Luton’s on-field success has undoubtedly been Morris, who scored a staggering 20 league goals.
However, neither man comes close to the heartwarming story behind Hatters midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.
The 29-year-old first joined Luton in 2013 on loan from West Ham United when the Hatters were knocking about in the Conference Premiership, the highest level of non-league football.
But as Luton climbed up the English football pyramid, so too did Mpanzu.
He now stands 90 minutes away from being the first footballer to rise all the way from non-league football to the Premier League.
Talk about a Hollywood story for player and club.
To get to this point has by no means been a straightforward journey for Luton.
This is the same club that was slapped with a 30-point deduction to start the 2008/09 League Two season — a figure which remains the English record to this day — for illegal agent payments and an inability to complete an insolvency agreement to the required standard of HMRC.
It is also the same club who boasted an owner by the name of John Gurney who bought it for $7 in 2003 and revealed plans of building a 70,000-seat stadium over a motorway in an eventful 55-day stint in charge.
Gurney also sacked popular manager Joe Kinnear at the time and allowed fans to have their say for who the next manager should be via a phone vote, which Kinnear won with 82 per cent of the vote.
Thankfully for the Luton faithful, the phone votes, financial disasters and all-round gross mismanagement are a thing of the past as a return to the top flight after 31 years away beckons.
Luton Town have been a resilient outfit at the back. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
THE HOMELESS CLUB WHO REGAINED ITS HEARTBEAT
With one half of Wembley set to be coloured in orange, the other will be decked out in the elegant sky blue of Coventry City.
A team who was in the Premier League 22 years ago and winners of the 1986/87 FA Cup, Coventry has lurched from one disaster to the next since the turn of the century.
The club’s plight was exarcebated by the decision to sell Highfield Road and move into the Ricoh Arena in 2005.
As debts continued to mount, a London-based hedge fund Sisu Capital saved Coventry from being wound up in 2007 with just 20 minutes to spare.
However, the group would quickly turn from saints to sinners as Coventry dropped all the way down to League Two in 2017 for the first time since 1959.
Sisu was also locked in a bitter battle over the rent figures at the Ricoh Arena, which forced the Sky Blues to play their home games at Northampton’s turf in the 2013/14 season as well as Birmingham City’s ground, St Andrews from 2019 to 2021.
Eventually Sisu’s hellish rule of the Midlands club came to an end in January this year when local businessman Doug King purchased 85 per cent of the club, which subsequently turned into full ownership later that month.
Coventry’s on-field fortunes this season have lurched from one extreme to the next, but sometimes the destination matters more than the journey.
Mark Robins’ side were bottom of the league on October 15 and only escaped the relegation zone on November 1.
It seemed as if Robins, who was in his second stint as Coventry manager, had run out of his managerial magic having guided the Sky Blues up from League Two in 2018 all the way to the Championship.
Mark Robins is one of the longest-serving managers in England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, Coventry’s fortunes changed and went into the World Cup break with four wins on the trot and breathing significantly easier all the way up in 11th place.
The form did not carry over once the action resumed, as Robins’ side lost four of the first eight games and recorded just one win in that time.
But from January 28 onwards, Coventry picked up steam and surged up the ladder.
The Sky Blues won nine and lost just two games from their last 19 to snatch a spot in the playoffs right at the death as their rivals continued to trip over their own feet in the race for a top six spot.
Such was the last-gasp nature of Coventry’s run of form, they were only in the top six for the final three matchweeks.
Robins’ remarkable ability to extract every ounce of talent and energy from his troops is an undeniable factor behind Coventry’s success.
But most important is how he has helped Swedish marksman Viktor Gyokeres find his best form.
Gyokeres finished the season with 21 league goals and 10 assists, an improvement on his 17-goal haul in the 2021/22 campaign.
The Swede can score but, more importantly, he has a tremendous ability to either bring the ball up the field or hold it up and get his teammates into the game.
His all-round game is central to Coventry’s lightning-quick counter attacks, none more evident than when they scored the only goal of their playoff semi-final clash against Middlesbrough.
The Sky Blues won the ball on the halfway line before Gyokeres was placed into space.
He brought down the ball and eventually laid it off for midfield dynamo Gustavo Hamer who made no mistake with the finish and secured Coventry’s spot in the playoff final.
Viktor Gyokeres (left) will play a key role in the playoff final for Coventry City. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
It is rather remarkable to consider Luton and Coventry both got promoted from League Two in 2018.
But equally heartening is they have reached this stage after years of financial mismanagement that plunged them to depths never seen before.
They’ve also not had any parachute payments from the Premier League to aid their coffers, either.
In fact, Coventry and Luton have the second-lowest and fifth-lowest wage bills respectively in the Championship, proving further why this fixture is such a special occasion not just for fans of either team, but the neutral.
When it comes to the head-to-head record of Luton and Coventry this season, they have drawn both games: 2-2 on Luton’s home turf and 1-1 on Coventry’s.
It makes this game ridiculously difficult to predict.
However, in positive news for Luton fans, renowned stats website FiveThirtyEighthas the Hatters with a 56 per cent chance of being promoted to Coventry’s 44 per cent.
Time will tell as to whether that prediction rings true.
But one thing’s for sure: it will be a stomach-churning 90 minutes, possibly more, and one team’s lengthy Premier League exile will finally be over.
There were trophies galore for a number of Aussies abroad over the weekend, with one youngster also making his debut in a top five European league.
Read on to see how they got on in the latest edition of the Roo Radar!
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TRIO’S SCOTTISH DELIGHT
It’s been one of the biggest stories in Australian football these past few days.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou led the Hoops to consecutive Scottish Premierships thanks to a 2-0 win away to Hearts.
The league triumph means Postecoglou is on track to deliver the treble to Celtic Park, with only second-tier Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish FA Cup final standing in the Hoops’ way.
Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy played his part in the win over Hearts as he came off the bench to assist Celtic’s second goal.
It meant Mooy, who is undoubtedly one of Celtic’s signings of the season given he arrived on a free deal, took his assist tally to 10 for the season.
Rounding off Celtic’s Australian trio is Harry Kewell, one of the first team coaches at the club.
The league triumph is Kewell’s first piece of silverware as a coach and here’s hoping it is the first of many.
Aaron Mooy helped Celtic to a second-consecutive Scottish Premiership title. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Fans of Northampton Town were singing Jon Brady’s praises long into the night as the Australian boss led the team to League One.
A 1-0 win over Tranmere Rovers on the final day of the League Two season helped Northampton Town achieve automatic promotion, but Brady earned widespread praise on social media for his post-match interview.
Speaking with Sky Sports’ Michelle Owen, Brady was on the verge of tears when he opened up about the sacrifices he and his family have made in his managerial career.
Brady also touched on the tragic death of his goalkeeping coach’s wife.
Fellow Aussie Tete Yengi was an unused substitute in the Cobblers’ win.
Jon Brady celebrates guiding Northampton Town to promotion. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CLEAN SHEETS KEEP COMING FOR SOCCEROOS STOPPER
Mat Ryan’s impressive form at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar continued as the Socceroos skipper kept a clean sheet for his team against Ajax.
The scoreless draw made it four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions for Ryan who continues to impress.
Ryan made a crucial save from close range to deny Ajax striker Brian Brobbey to preserve the clean sheet as AZ sit just two points away from a Europa Conference League berth.
MAGIC MO MAKES DEBUT
Mohamed Toure became the latest Australian star to log minutes in a top five European league after making his debut for Ligue 1 outfit Reims.
The 19-year-old came off the bench in the 84th minute and helped Reims to a 1-0 win over Lille.
Reims’ win kept them in 10th spot in Ligue 1 and are now nine points off Lille who occupy a Europa Conference League qualifiers spot.
Leicester fall back into relegation zone | 01:01
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GROUNDS …
Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine helped FC St Pauli to a much-needed 3-0 win over 2. Bundesliga leaders SV Darmstadt.
The result keeps St Pauli in fourth, only four points behind Hamburger SV in third.
Over in Japan, goalkeeper Mitch Langerak kept a clean sheet for Nagoya Grampus in a 1-0 win over Gamba Osaka as Nagoya went into second spot on the J1 League ladder.
In England, Massimo Luongo and Cam Burgess got the promotion party started as Ipswich Town drew 2-2 with Fleetwood Town on the last day of the League One season.
Both played the full 90 minutes as the Tractor Boys came back from 2-1 down to secure a result and finish their season strongly.
