Mikel Arteta has slammed Arsenal for being ‘nowhere near the levels’ required to win the Premier League following his side’s 1-0 loss to West Ham.
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Meanwhile troubled Manchester United rallied from two goals down in a 2-2 draw at Everton.
Jarrod Bowen’s strike just before half-time at the Emirates proved to be the difference as the Gunners dropped to their third defeat of the season with their 15-game unbeaten streak coming to an end.
A red card to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 73rd minute did little to help Arsenal’s cause as they missed out on the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top to five points.
And Arteta was left bitterly frustrated as Arsenal created next to nothing as they lost at home to the Hammers for the second successive season.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: “Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well.
“We didn’t hit the levels of today and I am very much responsible of that so I am very, very angry.” Arteta also refused to use the lack of attackers at his disposal as an excuse for his side’s toothless display up front.
Mikel Merino, a central midfielder, was named up top for the Gunners with Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri on the flanks.
In total, Arsenal took 20 shots, but just two of those landed on target. Yet Arteta bemoaned a lack of quality from his entire squad as the primary reason for the defeat.
“I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included,” he remarked.
“That was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice is substituted by manager Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday February 22, 2025. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
Match Stats “We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today and today, nowhere near.” The loss to West Ham now leaves the Gunners’ title hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
With Liverpool drawing to Everton and Aston Villa recently, Arsenal had the chance to keep the pressure on Arne Slot‘s men.
But the loss to West Ham leaves the margin at eight points with 12 games remaining ahead of Liverpool’s clash away at Manchester City on Sunday.
“I think you have to congratulate West Ham for the victory and the game that they played,” Arteta added.
“But as well I think a lot from our side that we never got right and they didn’t allow us to get enough momentum, enough sequence of play with positive action that could deliver into situations of threat for them.” Arteta and his troops must now quickly switch focus to Wednesday’s trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest.
He will also be without Lewis-Skelly as one of his defensive options. The teenager brought down Mohamed Kudus as the Ghanaian looked to break towards goal with no defensive cover nearby.
It was initially given a yellow card, but following a VAR review, it was upgraded to a straight red.
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Lewis-Skelly’s sending off was his second in his last four league fixtures, with the other coming in a 1-0 win over Wolves.However, it was later overturned upon appeal.
At Goodison Park, United were headed for a ninth defeat in their last 13 league games as goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure put Everton two up inside 33 minutes.
Ruben Amorim’s team had not mustered a shot on target until Fernandes’ free-kick pulled a goal back 18 minutes from time before Manuel Ugarte’s equaliser salvaged a point.
More late drama was to come as Everton were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage-time, only for referee Andy Madley to overturn his decision after a VAR review.
“We just played one half and we managed to draw the game. We didn’t exist in the first half,” Amorim said after his 15th-placed side’s dismal run extended to just four wins in 15 league games.
Brennan Johnson put Tottenham ahead in the 18th minute with a tap-in from Son Heung-min’s cutback.
Johnson was on target again eight minutes later, netting with a clinical strike from another Son assist.
Omari Hutchinson pulled one back for Ipswich in the 36th minute. But Djed Spence’s deflected 77th minute shot and Dejan Kulusevski’s 84th minute finish wrapped up Tottenham’s second successive victory.
Wolves boosted their survival bid with a priceless 1-0 win at 10-man Bournemouth.
Bournemouth had Illia Zabarnyi sent off late in the first half when his foul by Rayan Ait-Nouri was upgraded from a yellow to red card after VAR intervened.
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Wolves took advantage in the 36th minute as Nelson Semedo’s cross was missed by Dean Huijsen and Matheus Cunha steered his shot past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Vitor Pereira’s team are now five points clear of the relegation zone as fifth-placed Bournemouth’s top four hopes suffered a setback.
Joachim Andersen’s own goal put his former club Crystal Palace on course for a 2-0 win at Fulham.
Daniel Munoz’s 66th minute blast wrapped up Palace’s latest success on the road. Southampton slipped closer to relegation after a 4-0 defeat against south-coast rivals Brighton at St Mary’s.
Joao Pedro, Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood’s 82nd minute effort condemned bottom of the table Southampton to a 21st defeat in 26 league games this season.
Southampton are 13 points from safety with 12 games left to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
Chelsea travel to Aston Villa looking to bolster their top four push in Saturday’s late game.
Lisandro Martinez’s deflected winner offered some respite to under pressure Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim as the Red Devils won 1-0 at Fulham on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
A dreary encounter looked set to end goalless until Martinez’s shot 12 minutes from time hit Sasa Lukic and looped over Bernd Leno.
Just a fourth Premier League win in 12 games for Amorim lifts United up to 12th in the table.
Amorim suggested that United’s best performances during his opening two months had come away from home due to nerves of performing in front of an expectant home crowd at Old Trafford.
But this display was in keeping with many others from the English giants this season, under two different managers, against sides with a fraction of their budget.
There was little to get United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe excited as he watched on in west London, but victory does dispel any remaining notion that United could be dragged into a relegation battle.
Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team’s lone goal.Source: Getty Images
Fulham made the brighter start but were also guilty of a lack of penetration in a pedestrian 90 minutes.
Andre Onana returned in goal for the visitors despite his error for Brighton’s third goal in the Seagulls 3-1 win at Old Trafford last weekend.
The Cameroonian was forced into two early saves from the lively Alex Iwobi. It took just before the hour mark for United to seriously threaten when Bruno Fernandes’ clever free-kick slid under the Fulham wall but just the wrong side of the post.
Rasmus Hojlund’s return had been one of five changes made by Amorim from a dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Rangers on Thursday.
But the Dane’s goal drought extended to 11 games as he barely posed a threat before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.
Adama Traore flashed a shot just over for Fulham in a rare dangerous moment for either side.
And it was little surprise that it was a moment of fortune rather than inspiration that broke the deadlock.
Martinez took aim from long range but in his desperation to block, Lukic’s deflection saw the ball fly over Leno and dip into the top corner.
Fulham should still have snatched a point as United’s frailty from set pieces was exposed.
Joachim Andersen was afforded a free header from a corner but Toby Collyer got back to head off the line.
The visitors could also have extended their advantage deep into stoppage time when Amad Diallo’s strike was ruled out for off-side by a VAR review.
But, just as in the meeting between the sides on the opening night of the season, one goal was enough for all three points for United.
Defeat dampens Fulham’s European ambitions as they remain in 10th, seven points off the top six.
On the day Spurs’ fiercest rivals’ title challenge took a significant hit, Ange Postecoglou showed his pragmatic hand to guide Tottenham to a big comeback win.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were victims of their own ill-discipline once again, although William Saliba wasn’t the only player to see red in a wild night of Premier League football.
Read about all that and more in our wrap of the overnight Premier League action!
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ANGE’S ‘EYE-RAISING’ SPURS GAMBLE PAYS OFF
Throughout this Tottenham career, Ange Postecoglou has come under fire often. At times the Australian has been perceived as lacking pragmatism, and the ‘Plan B’ so loved by English football.
Translation: Instead of taking the safe option, Ange goes for the jugular. He’d rather win 5-4 than 1-0.
And yet with his side level with West Ham at half-time Ange did something many thought unthinkable. He made a pragmatic substitution.
Off went attacking midfielder James Maddison, at times the creative jewel in Postecoglou’s Spurs crown. On came Pape Matar Sarr, a more conservative and traditional central midfielder.
Speaking on Optus Sports’ Matchday Live, Premier League legend Emannuel Petit described the move as “strange because he’s (Maddison) a really good player.”
“So I was quite surprised. It’s quite strange from the manager.”
Maddison hadn’t been poor by any stretch of the imagination. He’d created Dejan Kulusevski’s equaliser and had five key passes in the opening 45 minutes, but as Ange noted post-game he needed different profiles in midfield.
“I just felt West Ham ask you certain questions in midfield areas and I just felt Pape’s running power would help us in the second half,” he explained.
“They obviously worked hard in the first half and I thought he could give us some real energy.
“I thought he did really well and he gave us a platform to be really threatening every time we went forward and clinical in our football.”
Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray described it as an “eye-raiser” but conceded the decision ultimately worked.
“Hindsight proves it was the right decision,” Murray said.
As Murray noted, Ange’s gamble paid off. Spurs scored three times in eight minutes to win and climb to seventh on the ladder. Sarr too was strong, dispossessing Jarrod Bowen as he moved towards Tottenham’s goal and finding Heung-Min Son with a beautiful assist for his 60th minute goal.
Spurs could’ve scored more too. Son hit the post in the 61st minute while the free-flowing attack continued throughout the second half, forcing West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola into three saves.
“When they are good they are nearly irresistible, Tottenham,” Connor McNamara said on commentary.
Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood heralded the character Spurs showed during the win.
“To go behind and then come out with that character in the second half, after what happened at Brighton before the international break, I think not only the ability of his side, but the character of his side, really shone through,” he said.
Writing in The Guardian, Jacob Steinberg described Tottenham as ‘exhilarating,’ while noting ‘Ange Postecoglou was there to see another defensive implosion, but this time he would not be the coach who will have to deal with the fallout.’
Indeed the post-mortem will centralise on West Ham and new manager Julen Lopetegui, who has failed to inspire the tactical shifts expected of him in pre-season. Their second half capitulation means they sit 15th.
That game that overshadowed a five game winning streak and inspired further doubts about Postecoglou’s Premier League suitability.
For now at least those pressures are alleviated.
James Maddison’s half-time substitution was a turning point in Spurs’ 4-1 comeback win over West Ham.Source: AFP
ARSENAL’S CHARGE TAKES SIGNIFICANT HIT
At the end of the season if Arsenal fail to break their Premier League title drought, Mikel Arteta will reflect on this loss as the moment the title slipped through his side’s fingers.
Arsenal were unbeaten heading into the weekend, with their defence the envy of the Premier League and their attacking improving weekly.
Bournemouth are a good side, coached well by Andoni Iraola, but their start to the season had been indifferent.
Few would have predicted the game to unfold as it did.
Arteta, and Arsenal fans, will argue William Saliba’s controversial 30th minute red card, awarded after the Frenchman brought down Bournemouth striker Evanilson just beyond the halfway line.
There was no Arsenal defender between the Brazilian and goal, a factor that ultimately led VAR Jarred Gillett to instruct referee Rob Jones, who initially awarded a yellow card, to send the Arsenal defender off.
For the third time this season Arsenal would need to see out a game with a man down.
Raheem Sterling initially shifted to right back, with Ben White moving into the heart of defence in Saliba’s place. However, Antoine Semenyo breezed by the pair twice, prompting Arteta to introduce Jakub Kiwior and return White to right back.
Arsenal, who were without Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, their two most important creators, held Bournemouth scoreless until the 70th minute, when a lovely corner move resulted in Ryan Christie’s strike breaking the deadlock.
The Premier League’s set-piece masters were breached by a set-piece.
Seven minutes later Evanilson was again involved. Fouled by David Raya in the box the Brazilian won a penalty, converted by Justin Kluivert to secure a big win for Bournemouth, a monumental loss for Arsenal.
William Saliba was initially shown a yellow card against Bournemouth. VAR intervened and changed it to a red card, leaving Arsenal to play with 10 men for much of the match.Source: Getty Images
The Gunners were not without their chances. Gabriel Martinelli had a great chance to score moments before Bournemouth’s opener, but missed the target, while Mikel Merino pushed a shot wide earlier in the game.
Speaking post-game, Arteta described the task set for Arsenal following Saliba’s send off as “impossible.”
“We are very disappointed with the result and gutted because we had to play in that context again,” he said.
Discussing Saliba’s red card, the Spaniard conceded he’s not expecting it to be overturned during the week.
“It was a decision made on the pitch. The decision was changed. I don’t think it will change twice. The decision has been made,” he said.
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ETH SAFE FOR ANOTHER DAY
Boos rang around Old Trafford at halftime, though perhaps not the kind of boos some may have expected after the last fortnight at Manchester United.
Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock had just scored an injury time header from a corner to lift his side into the lead at the interval.
The strike didn’t come without controversy after United’s Dutch central defender Matthijs De Ligt was forced to leave the pitch and have some blood cleaned from his face.
Instead of waiting for De Ligt to return, referee Sam Barrott allowed play to continue, ultimately resulting in Brentford’s opener.
United’s bench erupted after the ball rifled into the back of the net. Erik Ten Hag, arguably the manager under the most pressure in world football, was booked for his protests of the decision to allow play to continue while De Ligt was sidelined.
Given the storm surrounding the future of the Dutchman’s managerial tenure, Ten Hag’s frustration was justified. In a must-win game his side entered the interval behind against a difficult to break down Brentford side.
Writing in The Athletic, Mark Critchley said Pinnock’s goal ‘felt like the end. The chances of a second half fightback appeared remote.’
At the break United, who were without six first team players, were yet to create a big chance. By full-time they’d created three, scoring two, to record a big win both in the context of their season and their manager’s future.
Alejandro Garnacho got the ball rolling in the 47th minute, meeting a sublime Marcus Rashford cross to score his first goal of the season, before a delightful Bruno Fernandes flick set Rasmus Hojlund up in the 62nd minute.
Even more impressive was the way United managed their lead in the dying stages of the contest, something Critchley noted.
‘Not only did (United) turn this game on its head, but once in front, they managed the final stages relatively well – something which has not often been said of this side in the past,’ he wrote.
Post-game Ten Hag insisted the victory “showed we are together.”
“We showed determination and scored two beautiful goals.”
Erik Ten Hag wasn’t happy with the decision to allow play to continue while Matthijs De Ligt was off the field receiving treatment.Source: AFP
Goals have been a major problem to United in what has been their worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Prior to their Brentford win they’d scored just five. That figure is now seven, two less than 19th placed Wolves.
Ten Hag will be hoping goals to Garnacho and Hojlund, as well as Rashford’s creative output, will kick his side into attacking gear as they look to kick their season into life.
“This team has the capacity to score very good goals,” he stated post-game.
“Today the two goals we scored were high quality and when you score and win you add confidence.
“At the start of the season we had some good performances but didn’t score enough, then everyone is negative.
“This result can help us, but it is only one win and we must build on it.”
LATE DRAMA SEALS FOXES COMEBACK
After half an hour Southampton were 2-0 up against Leicester, courtesy of goals to Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo, and seemingly on their way to a first win of the season.
Their lead remained after an hour, before Facundo Buoanotte’s fortunate strike found the back of the net, giving Leicester a way back into the game.
10 minutes later they were level, courtesy of a Jamie Vardy penalty that came after the striker’s shirt was pulled by Saints winger Ryan Fraser as he attempted to sweep the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Jordan Ayew’s late strike sealed Leicester’s comeback win over Southampton.Source: Getty Images
Fraser was sent off, the fifth player to see the red in the Premier League overnight, and Vardy converted the penalty, drawing the Foxes level with plenty of time to play.
Despite their man advantage, Leicester’s winner came with essentially the final kick of the game after Jordan Ayew swept the ball home from a corner in the 98th minute.
The win lifts Leicester to 14th, six points clear of the relegation zone – although both Palace and Wolves have a game in hand.
For Southampton, losing from such a winnable position has turned the pressure up on manager Russell Martin, who has constantly been accused of playing beautiful, possession-based football without getting results.
VILLA’S MARCH CONTINUES AS NEWCASTLE FALTER
Aston Villa’s towards the top of the Premier League table continued against Fulham overnight.
Unai Emery’s side fell behind to an early Raul Jimenez strike but scored three times before full-time to seal a crucial three points.
Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins both scored, continuing their fine seasons, before an Issa Diop own goal sealed the win after 70 minutes. Emi Martinez saved an Andreas Pereira penalty with the scores locked at 1-1.
Fulham lost central defender Joachim Andersen to a red card six minutes before Diop found the back of his own net.
The win leaves Villa fourth on 17 points, two clear of fifth-placed Brighton, who narrowly beat Newcastle overnight.
Danny Welbeck’s fifth goal of the season proved the difference between the two sides
The 2023-24 summer transfer window has drawn to a close, with some clubs nailing their business while others have fallen well short of the mark as financial regulations heavily influence the Premier League’s spending habits.
Unlike windows of the past, where the Premier League attracted some of the biggest names in Europe, this year has felt a little different, with clubs focused more on ensuring safer financial practice as opposed to nailing their big money signings.
We saw less deals akin to the ones that brought Erling Haaland to Manchester City and Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea in recent seasons, and more like Elliot Anderson’s to Nottingham Forest and Conor Gallagher’s to Atletico Madrid: transfers done to appease accountants more than managers.
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The strict Premier League crackdown on its Profit and Sustainability rules in recent seasons, exemplified by Everton and Forest’s respective points deductions, appear to have frightened clubs.
This was highlighted in the 10 days preceding the June 30 accounting deadline when six clubs – Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester – sold 15 players for a grand total of £323 million ($631.8 million AUD) in a late attempt to meet PSR requirements.
According to a report from The Athletic, those 15 deals accounted for 16% of the Premier League’s spending this window, with some of those clubs enacting creative accounting to ensure their books comply and a costly points deduction is avoided.
Though this did not slow Premier League spending, with 14 clubs parting with over $150 million on players during the window, but did create a strange spending environment that will surely become a mainstay in the coming seasons.
Changed spending conditions have coincided with changing spending habits, which have been on show throughout the window and go in part to explaining the business of some sides.
The average age of the league’s 10 most expensive signings this season is 23.3 years old, highlighting how clubs are targeting younger players with high potential and resale value, as opposed to proven products in the prime of their careers.
Foxsports.com.au rates every Premier League team’s summer dealings in our Transfer Report Card!
Arsenal
Biggest signing: Riccardo Calafiori ($81.3m from Bologna)
Total spend: $186.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Emile Smith Rowe ($65.8m to Fulham)
Total income: $161.4 million (AUD)
Having finished second last season, Mikel Arteta’s side needed a strong transfer window to strengthen their side and solidify their title push. They did just that.
Riccardo Calafiori arrives after a strong season with Bologna and a good Euros campaign with Italy to strengthen one of Arsenal’s problem areas last season – left back, with the Italian’s ability to seamlessly invert into midfield key to Arteta’s tactical shape. Mikel Merino provides midfield strength, and allows Arsenal to push Declan Rice into a deeper role whenever required, while the move to permanently sign David Raya, and sell Aaron Ramsdale, cleared up one of the biggest clouds over the club’s 2023-24 season.
Raheem Sterling’s deadline day arrival from Chelsea is a great move, providing cover on both wings as well as title-winning experience. If Arteta can get the Englishman to perform at his best, like he did when the pair were at Manchester City, it’ll provide Arsenal with an additional goal scoring threat this season and afford Bukayo Saka a chance to rest his legs after an intense year.
Fighting off interest in Leandro Trossard from the Saudi Pro League is shrewd too given the Belgian’s impact off the bench and versatility, which will come in handy given Gabriel Jesus’ recent injury record.
Crucially in modern football the sales of Emlie Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, which will appear as pure profit on the club’s books, ensure they remain compliant with the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.
Where some feel Arsenal’s window missed the mark is their failure to bring a world class No.9 in, with Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney but avoided for various reasons. Arteta has faith in Kai Havertz, who scored eight goals in 13 games as striker last season, with Trossard, Jesus and Sterling as cover.
Grade: B+
Arsenal’s Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori challenges for the ball with Brighton’s Paraguayan attacker Julio Enciso during a English Premier League match between the Emirates Stadium.Source: AFP
Aston Villa
Biggest signing: Amadou Onana ($96.8m from Everton)
Total spend: $295.8 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Moussa Diaby ($97.7m to Al-Itthad)
Total income: $271.2 million (AUD)
Villa were dealt a massive blow this window in losing Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz, two of their strongest performers last season.
The club signed Belgian holding midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton, with the 23-year-old already hitting the ground running by scoring twice in his first three games. Onana adds size, power and strong ball-winning skills to Villa’s midfield, though lacks the passing range and set-piece threat of Luiz.
Not to worry Villa fans, given the club already possesses Youri Tielemans, one of the Premier League’s strongest passers and a set piece specialist to rival the best of them.
Ian Maatsen, who was key in Dortmund’s run to last season’s Champions League final, gives good depth at left back, though there are concerns about the drop off between right back Matty Cash and his understudy, particularly with injuries in central defence not allowing Ezri Konsa to shuffle across.
Diaby’s loss is massive, even if the Frenchman’s performances tailed off at the end of last season, but Unai Emery already has the pieces to compensate for his departure.
Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barenechea, both signed from Juventus as part of the deal to send Luiz the other way, are young and unproven but could become integral cogs in the Villa machine once they return from their respective loans.
Villa haven’t just signed Ross Barkley is an underrated piece of business. The former Chelsea man provides Emery with experience and brilliant midfield cover following an impressive Premier League season with Luton Town.
Omari Kellyman, Tim Iroegbunam and Cameron Archer’s sales will go towards balancing the club’s books, even if the latter was re-signed from Sheffield United before being sold to Southampton, while Philippe Coutinho’s loan move to Vasco da Gama lightens the club’s wage bill.
Grade: B
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: New signing Ian Maatsen acknowledges Aston Villa fans after the team’s victory against West Ham United FC (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Bournemouth
Biggest signing: Evanilson ($61.3m from Porto)
Total spend: $172.3 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Dominic Solanke ($106m to Tottenham Hotspur)
Total income: $110.3 million (AUD)
There was no more important player to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side last season than striker Dominic Solanke, who finished the campaign with 19 goals and three assists.
Brazilian striker Evanilson joins for a club-record fee having scored 13 Portuguese league goals last season for 3rd placed Porto.
An unknown quantity in England, Evanilson has all the makings of a well-rounded striker and joins a side that had more shot creating actions last season than Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, though it will be hard for the striker to have link up play as exceptional as Solanke.
First-choice goalkeeper Neto joins Arsenal on loan, with Kepa arriving from Chelsea to replace the Brazilian, marking a significant downgrade in the club’s goalkeeping ranks. The Spaniard is a gamble for Iraola’s side given his failure to set the Premier League alight, weak shot stopping and shortcomings when competing for crosses.
19-year-old Spanish-Dutch defender Dean Huijsen has all the makings of a serious transfer coup, with multi-Premier League winning manager Jose Mourinho once describing the centre back as “one of the highest-quality prospects in European football at this age level.”
Grade: C-
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: AFC Bournemouth’s Evanilson during the club’s Premier League match against Newcastle United. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Brentford
Biggest signing: Igor Thiago ($58m from Club Brugge)
Total spend: $169.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Ivan Toney ($77.4m to Al-Ahli)
Total income: $129.7 million (AUD)
Sometimes a transfer window is less about what you gain and more about what you lose.
In letting Ivan Toney walk, Brentford offloaded a player who evidently did not want to be at the club for some time, at a significant fee that allowed them to invest in the future of their club by bringing several talented youngsters in, such as Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Gustavo Nunes.
Not only does Toney’s transfer have significant financial benefits for the Bees, but it should also create a harmonised Brentford squad this season.
Igor Thiago was signed as Toney’s replacement after 29 goals in the Belgian league last season but is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa have led Frank’s line brilliantly to begin the season, with the club’s ability to hold on the latter arguably their most important piece of business.
Keep an eye on teenage left back Jayden Meghoma, viewed by many good judges as one of England’s brightest young prospects. Injuries could pave the way for the flyer to break into Thomas Frank’s side at left back at some point this season.
Grade: B
Brighton
Biggest signing: Georginio Rutter ($77.4m from Leeds United)
Total spend: $381.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Deniz Undav ($49.7m to VFB Stuttgart)
Total income: $90.4 million (AUD)
Only Chelsea spent more money than Brighton, which comes as a surprise given the South Coast club’s highly successful ‘moneyball’ style tactics in recent years.
Those tactics are still at play, with the club not splashing huge cash on a big name signing this summer. Instead, they’ve picked up several highly promising footballers who add to 31-year-old coach Fabian Hurzeler’s squad.
Georginio Rutter, Matt O’Riley, Mats Wieffer, Ferdi Kadioglu and Brajan Gruda all have the makings of quintessential Brighton signings and will no doubt be sold for triple their purchase price in 18 months.
Over the opening three games of the season, fresh faced winger Yankuba Minteh has been incredibly impressive, playing with little fear and plenty of creativity and drive, frightening opposition left backs with his relentless attack.
Billy Gilmour’s deadline day move to Napoli weakens the club’s holding midfield stocks, which took a hit earlier in the window with Pascal Gross’ departure to Dortmund. Hurzeler has said as much in recent days, noting the club “don’t have enough players at (No.) six.”
Grade: B
Right winger Yankuba Minteh during Brighton’s Premier League win against Everton. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Chelsea
Biggest signing: Pedro Neto ($104.6m from Wolves)
Total spend: $400.6 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Conor Gallagher ($65.9m to Atletico Madrid)
Total income: $303 million (AUD)
Deep breath in. And another. 11 players arrived at Stamford Bridge over the summer, bloating Enzo Maresca’s first team squad out to a whopping 30, with a further 12 out on loan.
“You want to ask about where Joao Felix is going to play, I’ve got another question – where’s he going to get changed at the training ground?” Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher questioned.
“How are all these players in one dressing room? How are you putting on a training session?”
The Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling sagas were sour, and typified the current Chelsea regimes cold, and seemingly senseless, approach to business, but the deals to offload Ian Maatsen, Romelu Lukaku, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson were savvy moves that will go towards balancing the club’s books.
In amongst the madness of moving on Sterling and Gallagher, uncertainty around Trevoh Chalobah’s future, the lack of resolution around Ben Chilwell’s situation, and signing three left wingers, there is some small semblance of method.
Chelsea have made their intentions clear with their business; they are backing Maresca in the market and signing players whose profile fits his needs.
There is little risk to the Jadon Sancho deal, while Joao Felix’s signing could be viewed differently if the Portuguese star hits the heights expected of him when he burst onto the scene six years ago.
And yet, despite these faint glimmers of hope there is still the overwhelming sense of restlessness at the Bridge, not only given the way the club has conducted business this summer, and the enormous squad size, but also given the club spent more money than any other Premier League side while failing to address their widely perceived problem area: striker.
Toney and Osimhen were both on the table, though moves for either failed to materialise, with finances key to this. A lack of depth in holding midfield remains a concern for Maresca with Romeo Lavia’s injury history meaning the club are a Moises Caicedo injury away from a near unpluggable hole in their midfield.
Grade: B-
New signing Jadon Sancho is presented to the Chelsea fans before his side’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Crystal Palace
Biggest signing: Eddie Nketiah ($48.3m from Arsenal)
Total spend: $130.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Michael Olise ($87m to Bayern Munich)
Total income: $174 million (AUD)
Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace shocked the Premier League at the back end of last season, winning six of their last seven from 14th to 10th.
The pre-season expectation was for them to build on this, even with Michael Olise’s big money move to Bayern Munich removing one of the stars of last season from the fold.
Joachim Andersen left for Fulham not long after, and things could’ve gone from bad to worse if Newcastle’s aggressive pursuit of captain Marc Guehi paid off.
It didn’t, and Palace’s defence was stronger for it. Trevoh Chalobah arrived on loan from Chelsea, while the promising French Maxence Lacroix joined from Wolfsburg, further strengthening Glasner’s backline.
Japanese international Daicha Kamada and Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr strengthen his frontline, so too does the signing of Eddie Nketiah – who just feels like a Crystal Palace player.
While they’re yet to reap the rewards on the field, Palace have had one of the better windows in the Premier League, defined not so much by who they brought in as much as who they didn’t lose – Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton.
Grade: B+
Everton
Biggest signing: Jake O’Brien ($33m from Lyon)
Total spend: $83 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Amadou Onana ($96.8m to Aston Villa)
Total income: $133.6 million (AUD)
Much like Palace, Everton’s best bit of business in the summer window was not allowing their most important defensive cog to leave the club.
That Jarrad Branthwaite remained at Everton is a massive win for Sean Dyche, even if the defender has missed the opening games of the season through injury.
The 22-year-old was ranked sixth for clearances and seventh for interceptions last season and was a key reason behind Everton keeping 13 clean sheets, second only to Arsenal.
However, the Toffees lost Amadou Onana to Everton, denting their midfield stocks for perhaps the most important Premier League campaign in the club’s recent memory.
Iliman Ndiaye, Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom headline a suite of creative signings that have their work cut out for them in trying to inspire a side that scored just 40 goals last season.
There’s no doubting Everton have made some smart additions. Whether they’ll be what’s needed to keep them away from the relegation fight is a question only time has the answer for.
Grade: D+
Amadou Onana traded Everton for Aston Villa this transfer window. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Fulham
Biggest signing: Emile Smith Rowe ($65.8m from Arsenal)
Total spend: $173.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Joao Palhinha ($81.9m to Bayern Munich)
Total income: $112.9 million (AUD)
One of the smaller Premier League clubs who executed a smart summer window that leaves their squad stronger this year than when it ended last season.
Of course Joao Palhinha’s departure to Bayern Munich leaves a massive hole in Marco Silva’s midfield – no player made more than his 152 tackles last season. Not signing a replacement may come back to bite them, though Harrison Reed, Sasa Lukic and new signing Sander Berge are more than capable in that role.
At the back Joachim Andersen rejoins from Palace, softening Tosin Adarabioyo’s departure, while Jorge Cuenca offers Silva an additional left footed centre back following Tim Ream’s departure.
In attack, Fulham’s have invested plenty in Emile Smith Rowe, a brilliant attacking talent who’s been stifled by injuries and falling out of Mikel Arteta’s favour in recent years. The winger/attacking midfielder has hit the ground running, scoring in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Leicester City, and could be viewed as a bargain in coming seasons if he can match, or exceed, the 10 goals he scored for the Gunners in 2021-22.
Reiss Nelson provides depth out wide following Willian’s departure for Olympiakos and could potentially push Alex Iwobi into a central midfield role he excelled at for Everton a few seasons ago.
While their business hasn’t set the world alight, it’s quietly done what it’s needed to do: make up for their outgoings and strengthen where possible.
Grade: B-
Fulham attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe joined the club this summer for $65.8 million from Arsenal. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ipswich Town
Biggest signing: Omari Hutchinson ($42.6m from Chelsea)
Total spend: $205 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: George Edmundon (loan to Middlesbrough)
Total income: N/A
Only two players contributed more than Omari Hutchinson’s 16 goals in Ipswich’s promotion campaign last season. A deal to bring the England youth international back to the club is massive towards their bid to stay up, with the attacking midfielder showing lots of promise in the season’s opening games.
Jack Clarke, Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap all have the potential to be great signings, especially for the price tag they were collected at, and could all benefit from Kieran McKenna’s brilliant management, while signing last season’s Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics for just over $17 million is smart business.
This quartet are good enough to cut it in the Premier League, but also have the added benefit that, in the event of relegation, Ipswich can extract a high resale value or utilise their talents to earn promotion back to the top flight.
The deal to bring Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City has rocks or diamonds potential. At his best Phillips is a brilliant defensive midfielder with an exceptional passing range and wonderful ability to bait and beat opposition presses. At his worst he is injury riddled, just ask Manchester City, and error-laden, just ask West Ham.
Ipswich will be praying he’s more of the former, especially considering the 28-year-old’s experience keeping freshly promoted sides in the Premier League.
Grade: C
Omari Hutchinson during Ipswich’s Premier League match against Liverpool FC. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Leicester City
Biggest signing: Bilal El Khannouss ($38.7m from Genk)
Total spend: $153.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ($58.1m to Chelsea)
Total income: $58.1 million (AUD)
A few seasons ago the Foxes had a reputation as one of the savviest market operators in Europe. Deals for N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi, Wesley Fofana and Ricardo Pereira were struck with little interjection from other clubs and to great benefit for Leicester.
Relegation zapped that reputation. And while it will be hard to replicate their previous market success there are at least several positives to take from Leicester’s transfer window.
Bilal El Khannouss arrives from Genk as the Belgian league’s Young Player of the Season and an Olympic Bronze medallist who was involved in nine goals last season. The Moroccan’s stats may fail to flatter, but he’s a highly technical and intelligent footballer who glides across the park and could provide some necessary creative spark.
That creative spark takes on greater importance without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the attacking lynchpin around which the club won promotion last season. Dewsbury-Hall’s move to join Enzo Maresca is the club’s only major outgoing – a big plus in their bid to keep their top-flight status intact.
Dewsbury-Hall’s is also major for Leicester given the fee he collected will register as pure profit on the clubs’ books, an important factor given they had significant financial restraints throughout the window.
Elsewhere, Oliver Skipp is a reliable Premier League footballer signed at a good price, while making Abdul Fatawu’s loan permanent is savvy too. Both will be crucial for Steve Cooper this season.
Where their window fell short is really strengthening at striker, especially considering Jamie Vardy’s age and recent injury history and the departure of Kelechi Iheanacho to Sevilla.
Odsonne Edouard has Premier League experience, and was once a prolific goalscorer at Celtic, yet found the net just 21 times in his 103 Palace games. Given the importance of reliable goalscoring in staving off relegation.
Grade: C
Liverpool
Biggest signing: Federico Chiesa ($19.4m from Juventus)
Total spend: $19.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Fabio Carvalho ($43.7m to Brentford)
Total income: $102.6 million (AUD)
This summer always loomed as the end of an era at Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club had drawn to a close, with Dutchman Arne Slot taking the reins of Anfield.
Immense change was expected, with new personnel viewed as a guarantee in order to assist Slot’s transition in the Liverpool managerial role.
Yet, for much of the window Liverpool were the only club in Europe’s top five leagues to have not signed a single player. That was until Giori Mamardashvili was signed from Valencia before being immediately loaned back to Spain, while a bargain move for Federico Chiesa is as risky as it is promising given the Italian’s recent injury history.
Their lack of market activity has not significantly impacted Liverpool, who have begun the season brilliantly.
Even more impressive is the club’s failure to panic once Martin Zubimendi informed them he would remain at Real Sociedad. The Spaniard, who impressed in the Euro final, was billed as the No.6 the Reds desperately needed, with many doubting who would be shoehorned into the role in his place.
Enter Ryan Gravenberch, who has done so seamlessly, bringing a unique profile into the defensive midfield role and justifying Liverpool’s lack of panic in the market.
Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark all left for good deals given their experience, while Stefan Bajcetic’s loan to RB Salzburg will be beneficial to the club in the coming seasons.
Thiago retired and Joel Matip was released, with the club opting not to dip into the market to replace the experienced Cameroonian centre half. A move for Frenchman Castello Lukeba never materialised, meaning the club only have four recognised central defenders, which could prove their Achilles heel down the line.
Liverpool great Jamie Carragher believes the club “are still short – not in terms of numbers but maybe in terms of quality – at centre-back and in holding midfield,” though credited them for not panic buying, which rarely ever works.
Grade: C+
(FILES) Liverpool new signing Federico Chiesa celebrates scoring a goal for Juventus. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)Source: AFP
Manchester City
Biggest signing: Ilkay Gundogan (Free from FC Barcelona)
Total spend: $40.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Julian Alvarez ($125m to Atletico Madrid)
Total income: $264.6 million (AUD)
When Julian Alvarez traded Manchester for the warmth of Madrid and the intensity of Diego Simeone, there was a sense that this may be the season City finally trips up.
At times filling in for both Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, the Argentine World Cup winner played the fifth most minutes for Pep in the Premier League last season, scoring 11 and creating eight.
Where exactly would City find a player capable of filling in for both their striker and chief creator? The answer, it seems, had been hiding in plain sight.
Released from the final two years of his Barcelona contract, former City captain Ilkay Gundogan has been deployed as a false nine many times for Guardiola but is naturally a brilliant creative midfielder. There is arguably no better Alvarez replacement in world football.
The German headlines a quiet summer of incomings for City, which includes tricky Brazilian winger Savinho – who joined from Girona and has already shown what a delight he is with the ball at his feet. Both are smart additions that boost an already exceptional squad.
Even still, City enter the campaign without a recognised back up striker on their books.
For any other side this would be deeply concerning. For City, it’s a problem, given Haaland’s relatively good injury record, without yet being a major issue, yet.
Pep noted as much, stating the club’s choice not to replace Alvarez could be a “problem” that may turn into a “mistake” but believes the club have enough players in house who can fill in for Haaland, including Gundogan, Phil Foden and youngsters James McAtee and Oscar Bobb.
Where City were smart this window is their ability to offload unwanted, but talented, academy products for strong fees that allow them to clean their books.
Liam Delap, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tommy Doyle all permanently moved away from the Etihad. Offloading Joao Cancelo’s contract from the club’s books can also not be understated.
Grade: B-
lkay Gundogan re-joined Manchester City from FC Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Manchester United
Biggest signing: Lenny Yoro ($101.4m from LOSC Lille)
Total spend: $354.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Scott McTominay ($49.9m to Napoli)
Total income: $164.5 million (AUD)
As has been the case for the last decade, it’s incredibly hard to get a read on whether or not United’s transfer window has been good.
On paper they’ve brought in good players. Lenny Yoro has massive wraps on him and may just be the best centre back at his age group, Joshua Zirkzee is a unicorn of a striker as capable of dropping deep and creative as many attacking midfielders, and Manuel Ugarte appears the kind of no-nonsense midfield anchor they’ve been crying out for.
Matthijs De Ligt was once Europe’s finest young centre half but has failed to impress at two of the continent’s biggest clubs. He arrives with a major question mark. While at just over $25 million, Noussair Mazraoui has all the makings of a bargain.
And yet there is an element of groundhog day about this window. United have had good windows in the past. Remember 2021, When the club signed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo? Or 2022, when Casemiro, Antony and Lisandro Martinez arrived at Old Trafford? Or last year, when Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund joined?
All of these windows were rightly perceived as great windows on face value of the signings. And the same can be said for this window. All of United’s deals look good on paper, but that matters for very little if the club’s form doesn’t turn around.
Where United, and their restructured footballing ownership, deserve credit is offloading Mason Greenwood to Marseille, clearing the club of the winger’s baggage. Allowing Aaron Wan-Bissaka to move to West Ham is also smart given he doesn’t fit the profile of an Erik Ten Hag fullback.
At nearly $50 million, the club would have been foolish to reject Napoli’s offer for Scott McTominay, though his passion and versatility could well be missed dearly.
Grade: B-
Manchester United’s new signings (L to R) Matthijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro (using crutches due to a metatarsal injury), Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui acknowledge the fans prior to United’s clash with Fulham. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Newcastle United
Biggest signing: Lewis Hall ($54.6 million from Chelsea – loan move made permanent)
Total spend: $74.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Elliot Anderson ($68.3 million to Nottingham Forest)
Total income: $132.8 million (AUD)
Arguably no Premier League club had their hands tied behind their back by financial constraints more than Newcastle United.
Manager Eddie Howe described it as “challenging,” before sharing his hopes the club’s minimal business helps them strengthen in future windows.
Out went Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, both of whom would have pushed for a place in Howe’s squad, and potentially starting XI, with Anderson’s move to Forest facilitated purely for financial reasons.
The club’s financial constraints meant they were limited in their ability to dip into the transfer market, with Lewis Hall’s loan move being made permanent and William Osula’s signing the only two the club splashed cash on.
Lloyd Kelly adds much-needed defensive depth, and will be a valuable squad player once everyone is fit, but is hardly a signing to set the world alight.
It would be harsh to judge Newcastle’s incomings too severely due to the club’s financial constraints, though questions need to be asked about their failed pursuit of Palace centre back Marc Guehi, as well as their inability to offload Kieran Trippier – who begins the season as Howe’s right back deputy.
Clearly the money was there, just not used in ways that strengthen the players at Howe’s disposal. What did strengthen Howe’s side was keeping Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, which is about the only commendable business Newcastle conducted.
At best, Newcastle will reflect on this window as one that boosted their squad and brought in two fine young talents. At worst, it will be seen as a failure that failed to achieve anything other than balance the club’s books.
Grade: D+
Nottingham Forest
Biggest signing: Elliot Anderson ($68.3 million from Newcastle United)
Total spend: $175 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Moussa Niakhate ($52.8 million to Lyon)
Total income: $88.9 million (AUD)
Dare we say it… did Forest have a strong transfer window?
Considering the club have had an even more scattergun approach to transfers in recent years than even Chelsea, their activity was measured, geared towards strengthening Nuno’s squad as opposed to signing as many players as possible.
Elliot Anderson is a wonderful footballer, Nikola Milenkovic has been impressive in recent seasons for Fiorentina, Jota Silva has massive wraps as an elusive winger with goal scoring nous, while James Ward-Prowse’s loan adds depth, experience and set piece threat to Nuno’s midfield.
Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga remain at the City ground, highlighting how their astute incomings came without expensive outgoings.
Given the club targeted seven goalkeepers throughout last season, and current No.1 Matz Sels had the lowest save percentage (57.4%) of all 25 goalkeepers in the Premier League last season, not bringing in a new goalkeeper is the one glaring negative against Forest’s window.
The club lagged in their attempt to sign Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Southampton instead, saw their advances for Neto knocked back, missed out on Sam Johnstone to Wolves, failed in their attempt to bring French international Brice Samba back to the club and were unwilling to meet Liverpool’s valuation for Ireland international Caoimhim Kelleher.
Another clear area the club were attempting to strengthen but failed to do is up front, with their pursuits of Eddie Nketiah, Yoane Wissa, Omar Marmoush, Evanilson and Santiago Gimenez all ending in nothing.
While this is disappointing for Forest fans, their manager reportedly has no qualms with Sels as first choice keeper, while New Zealand international Chris Wood has begun the season in red-hot scoring form.
What isn’t disappointing for Forest fans is the fact their club didn’t panic buy when missing out on their targets and instead stuck the course with what they had and trusted Nuno to get the best out of them.
Grade: B-
Elliot Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle just before the June 30 PSR deadline. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Southampton
Biggest signing: Aaron Ramsdale ($35.2 million from Arsenal)
Total spend: $205.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Carlos Alcaraz ($29.7 million to Flamengo)
Total income: $82.5 million (AUD)
For much of the window, Southampton seemed to sign players with one eye on remaining in the Premier League and another on gaining promotion in the event they’re relegated this season.
Given last season’s promoted contingent – Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United – all went straight back down at the end of 2023-24, this business approach is as smart as it is sad.
Aaron Ramsdale’s signing late in the window shows the hunger is there for Russell Martin’s side. He headlines a savvy window for the Saints, who also made Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes’ loan moves permanent, while Ben Brereton-Diaz should add goals.
Goals will be a problem for Southampton this season given Adam Armstrong’s never scored more than two Premier League goals in a single season, and Brereton-Diaz has the potential to provide a threat upfront after scoring six times in 14 Premier League games on loan at Sheffield United last season.
There is hope Cameron Archer can blossom into a reliable Premier League striker, which is why the Saints paid Villa $29 million for his services, even if he’s scored more than 10 goals in a season once in his career.
At the very least, should Southampton fail to find the goals they’ll need to survive, their signings this window have a high enough ceiling to serve them well in the coming years.
Grade: C-
Ange bullish wins will come soon | 00:25
Tottenham Hotspur
Biggest signing: Dominic Solanke ($107m from Bournemouth)
Total spend: $234.8 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Oliver Skipp ($39 million to Leicester City)
Total income: $114.6 million (AUD)
12 months after Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich, Spurs have finally landed on their replacement for the England captain.
In Dominic Solanke, Ange Postecoglou has a striker moulded similarly to Kane as you can get on the market. A career-high 19 goal haul last season is the headline figure for the former Bournemouth man, but his link up play and ability to drag opponents out of position and bring teammates into play is among the best in Europe.
An early injury setback following a disappointing debut has soured the early weeks of Solanke’s time at Spurs but Postecoglou has made it no secret that he feels the 26-year-old will succeed at the club.
“He is a presence and scores different types of goals. I think the way we play suits him,” the Spurs coach said.
Elsewhere, the club brought in Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall in, all three of whom are fine young footballers with the potential to grow into exceptional players around which Spurs’ side can be constructed.
18-year-old Gray in particular marks a significant transfer coup, with the 2023-24 Championship Young Player of the Season already a fine holding midfielder, and capable right back, who was highly-rated by former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Last season, Gray led Leeds in tackles, was ranked third in tackles and won possession back more often than just about anyone at the club.
Away from new signings, Spurs were able to offload several high-wage, low performance players, namely Tanguy Nbombele, and find new homes for footballers who don’t suit Postecoglou’s style, such as Eric Dier, Emerson Royal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
For his part, the Australian described the club’s activity as a “real positive” but noted there were shortcomings with their activity.
“We know there’s still some areas where I look at squad management and we can improve. Again, it’s got to be the right person, the right player and right person,” Postecoglou said, before hinting at potential reinforcements joining the club in January.
One area the club are undoubtedly assessing depth options for is defence. Last season, Spurs’ campaign was derailed by injuries and suspensions to Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.
At present, Spurs have just four centre backs on their books, with one of those being Ben Davies – who began his career at left back. Depth in this area is a must if Spurs are to blossom in the coming seasons, with a potential January defensive signing on the cards, one in a similar mould to Radu Dragusin.
Grade: B
Spurs record signing Dominic Solanke joined Spurs from Bournemouth during the summer window for $107 million. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
West Ham
Biggest signing: Max Kilman ($78.2 million from Wolves)
Total spend: $247.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Flynn Downes ($35.2 million to Southampton)
Total income: $81 million (AUD)
It’s almost impossible to ignore West Ham’s business and suggest the club aren’t the winners of this year’s summer transfer window.
And the fact they’re the winners is not because they’ve signed a lot of players (nine). If that were the case Chelsea would’ve won by many country miles.
No, it’s the type of players the Hammers have brought in. Good players, with a clear place in the squad, that add value to Julen Lopetegui’s side while coming at largely affordable prices.
Picking up Max Kilman from Wolves is such astute business; only three players made more clearances last season and only four won a higher percentage of their tackles.
He is one of several defence reinforcements joining the Hammers, alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who’s defensive excellence compensates for his offensive limitations, and Jean-Clair Todibo, who joins on a loan with an obligation to buy.
Given the two-time French international was on the radar of many clubs, including Manchester United, West Ham’s ability to sign him represents a significant transfer coup.
Last season’s Championship Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville bolsters an already stacked attack line. The Dutchman’s importance could grow depending on the outcome of an FA investigation into Lucas Paqueta’s potential betting breaches.
Spanish international Carlos Soler and Argentinian midfielder Guido Rodriguez provide depth to Lopetegui’s midfield too, especially with James Ward-Prowse’s loan to Forest.
West Ham’s smart signings have been counteracted with necessary outgoings, including Said Benrahma, Thilo Kehrer, Maxwel Cornet and Nayef Aguerd, all of whom had rather forgettable spells with the Hammers.
Grade: A+
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Biggest signing: Andre ($41 million from Fluminese)
Total spend: $120.3 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Pedro Neto ($104.6m to Chelsea)
Total income: $192 million (AUD)
Club captain, gone.
Best player, gone.
Fair to say, it hasn’t been the best window for Gary O’Neil’s Wolves. Max Kilman left for West Ham and Pedro Neto for Chelsea, significantly weakening the manager’s defensive and creative options.
“Those guys, we need to replace them,” O’Neil told Sky Sports. That they didn’t could prove damning for the club, even if they have faith in the in-house options they have to make up for their two big losses.
Andre, signed from Fluminese, shapes as smart business, with the ball-winning midfielder a wild success in his homeland. He adds to a strong midfield contingent at the club.
Tommy Doyle’s return is positive after he impressed on loan last season, with Jorgen Strand Larsen has already shown his immense presence up top.
Sam Johnstone is a fine goalkeeper, but is he better than Jose Sa? While question marks remain about the rest of the clubs’ signings, many of whom have high ceilings while lacking Premier League experience.
Speaking to Sky Sports, O’Neil indicated earlier in the window that the club needed to look at bringing in players capable of helping them win now.
“Recruitment has been asset-driven and we are hopeful that we can balance that slightly, to get some that are Premier League ready,” he said.
For the large part the club didn’t, and if their start to the season is anything to go by that strategy will do more short term harm than long-term good.
Premier League strugglers Everton salvaged a 2-2 draw with Tottenham thanks to Jarrad Branthwaite’s last-gasp equaliser, while Aston Villa moved into fourth place with a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United.
Former Everton striker Richarlison had scored just one league goal for Tottenham between August 2022 and December 2023.
But he has now struck nine times in Tottenham’s last eight league games after putting the visitors ahead in the fourth minute and restoring their lead with a superb strike from the edge of the area in the 41st minute.
However, Everton rallied after a poor start and their tactic to target Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario from corners paid off with a 30th-minute equaliser.
Jack Harrison was backing into Vicario before turning in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header towards goal.
And in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Tottenham’s Cristian Romero could only head James Garner’s free-kick towards his own goal and Branthwaite bundled the ball home.
“It’s obviously never going to be an easy game here. You have to deal with a fair bit but most of the time we handled it ok. Unfortunately we couldn’t hold out,” Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said.
Third bottom Everton have failed to win in six league games, but Toffees manager Sean Dyche said:
“We deserved at least an equaliser, if not all three (points).”
TOTTENHAM SUFFER DOUBLE BLOW AS VILLA FIRE FIVE IN WIN
Villa climbed above Tottenham thanks to their emphatic victory over the bottom of the table Blades at Bramall Lane.
Unai Emery’s side went ahead after 12 minutes when John McGinn tapped into the empty net after Ollie Watkins’ shot hit the post.
Watkins bagged the second four minutes later, slotting home from Douglas Luiz’s pass, and Leon Bailey made it three with a curler into the top corner in the 20th minute.
When Youri Tielemans drilled his shot in via the bar in the 30th minute, Villa were the first away team to score four goals in the opening 30 minutes of a Premier League game since Chelsea at Bolton in 2011.
Emery’s men showed no mercy as Alex Moreno volleyed number five two minutes after half-time.
Villa are five points behind leaders Liverpool, who visit third placed Arsenal on Sunday.
At St James’ Park, Newcastle staged a stirring fightback to rescue a 4-4 draw against Luton.
Sean Longstaff put Newcastle ahead in the seventh minute with a clinical close-range finish from Kieran Trippier’s cross.
Gabriel Osho headed Luton level in the 21st minute when he rose to finish off Ross Barkley’s cross.
Longstaff restored Newcastle’s advantage two minutes later, but Barkley equalised five minutes before half-time.
Luton won a 59th-minute penalty after Chiedozie Ogbene was tugged by Dan Burn, the decision given after a lengthy VAR check to determine the foul was inside the area.
Carlton Morris scored but had to retake the kick due to encroachment, holding his nerve to net with his second attempt.
Elijah Adebayo’s composed strike three minutes later increased Luton’s lead, but Trippier’s 67th-minute close-range finish gave Newcastle hope.
Harvey Barnes, playing for the first time since September after injury, completed Newcastle’s escape act six minutes later with a fierce finish into the bottom corner.
“A real credit to the players for coming back because it is not easy to do. We scored some great goals and could have won it,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said.
Luton moved one point clear of the relegation zone, while Newcastle are in ninth place.
“Ended up at Ferrari!” Ange trolls media | 00:46
ANGRY PALACE PLAYERS DEFEND COACH AGAINST ‘HURTFUL’ CHANTS
Brighton crushed Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Amex Stadium to bolster their bid for a European place.
The seventh placed Seagulls scored through Lewis Dunk, Jack Hinshelwood, Facundo Buonanotte and Joao Pedro as Palace fans called for Roy Hodgson to be sacked.
“Wonderful, wasn’t it?” Hodgson said.
“Is it nice? No it isn’t. Yes, my years of management have given the me resilience me to cope with that, absolutely, and taunts from away supporters are part and parcel of our lives.
“At the moment our fans aren’t very happy with everything that is happening at the club and they are making their feelings known as well.
“But I signed up to be the manager and coach of this football club and I’ve got the strength, resilience and determination to see things through. I’m certainly not going to be cowed by that type of thing.”
Joachim Andersen and Dean Henderson had to be pulled away by assistant boss Paddy McCarthy for arguing with Palace fans.
David Datro Fofana’s double inspired second bottom Burnley’s fightback from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Fulham at Turf Moor.
Manchester United slumped to another damaging defeat as Crystal Palace won 1-0 at Old Trafford, while Arsenal moved to within one point of the top after cruising to a 4-0 win at Bournemouth.
City had won the opening six games of their title defence as they aim to become the first side to ever claim four consecutive English top-flight titles.
By contrast, Wolves had taken just four points from their first six games, but stunned the champions at Molineux.
Reds, City & United fall in upset losses | 03:11
Ruben Dias’ own goal put the home side in front only for City to respond through Julian Alvarez’s free-kick.
Wolves, though, were a constant threat on the counter-attack and got their reward when Hwang Hee-chan swept home at the second attempt 25 minutes from time.
“We have to do more but even when we win we have to do more,” said City boss Pep Guardiola, who watched the game from the stands due to suspension.
“When we win and lose we do it together. Today we were not at our best.”
City’s defeat meant victory would have taken Liverpool top, but Jurgen Klopp’s men had a mountain to climb when Curtis Jones was shown a straight red card for going over the top of the ball and making contact with Yves Bissouma after just 26 minutes.
Son Heung-min put Tottenham in front, but the 10 men hit back when Cody Gakpo levelled in first-half stoppage time.
Liverpool were then reduced to nine men as Diogo Jota was shown two quickfire yellow cards.
Yet the visitors held out until the 96th minute when Joel Matip turned Pedro Porro’s cross into his own net.
The three points take Tottenham above Liverpool into second, one point behind City, as they remain unbeaten in the Premier League under Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou full of praise for Spurs | 00:41
MAN UTD HIT HISTORIC LOW
United are now off to their worst ever Premier League start to pile more pressure on Erik ten Hag.
Joachim Andersen’s stunning first-half volley separated the sides at Old Trafford.
United had won a League Cup meeting between the sides 3-0 in midweek but with Palace restored to full strength, the Red Devils suffered from a familiar lack of cutting edge up front as they laboured to get back into the game.
Not since the 1989/90 season have United lost four of the first seven league games of the season. Ten Hag’s men were booed off by the Old Trafford crowd at full-time.
“I can give you reasons but you will explain it as an excuse and there are no excuses, we have to win,” said Ten Hag.
“We have to be more consistent, this is not the demand for Man Utd. The demand is we get a row of wins and get into a series. We have to do better than now.”
United had been unbeaten in 31 home games prior to Brighton’s victory at Old Trafford two weeks ago.
However, the Red Devils were fortunate to escape with victory at home to Wolves and Nottingham Forest earlier in the season.
“We have to do better here,” added Ten Hag.
“We have to show it in our body language that Old Trafford is a fortress and you can’t get anything here.”
Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United looks dejected at full-time. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ARSENAL STARS’ CLASSY MOVE FOR UNDER-PRESSURE TEAMMATE
Arsenal moved up to third as Mikel Arteta’s men eased to victory at Bournemouth. Bukayo Saka had been an injury doubt, but was able to make his 87th consecutive Premier League appearance and headed into an empty net to open the scoring.
Saka could have had more had he not then handed over penalty duties to Martin Odegaard and then Kai Havertz before Ben White rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised the “human qualities” of his side after Kai Havertz was handed the chance to open his account for the club from the penalty spot in a 4-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Victory took the Gunners to within one point of Manchester City at the top of the table with the sides set to meet at the Emirates next weekend.
Havertz has endured plenty of criticism after struggling to settle following a £65 million ($79 million) move from Chelsea during the transfer window.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have shared penalty duties so far this season, but after both netted in the first half, Havertz was handed the ball when Arteta’s men got a second penalty early in the second half.
Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The German international was mobbed by his teammates in celebration after he coolly slotted into the bottom corner.
“I’m really happy for the win, but I’m even happier to be part of a team that shows the human qualities that they did today,” said Arteta.
“Without me telling them nothing, to show that empathy to a player that has some question marks to resolve externally, they warmed me even more today. They’ve done it in a really natural way.
“To show that level of empathy and understanding, worrying and caring for somebody is just great.”
VILLA FIRE HOME SIX IN BIG WIN
Ollie Watkins bagged a hat-trick as Aston Villa thrashed Brighton 6-1. Two goals from the England striker and a Pervis Estupinan own goal put Villa 3-0 up inside 26 minutes before Ansu Fati reduced the deficit with his first Brighton goal.
But the day belonged to Watkins and he became the first Villa player in 47 years to score two hat-tricks in one season.
Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz piled on the pain for Brighton in the closing stages and did enough to edge Villa ahead of the Seagulls into fifth on goal difference.
Luton secured their first ever Premier League win with a 2-1 victory at Everton.
Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris were on target for the Hatters, who climb out of the relegation zone.
Sheffield United remain bottom after the Blades were beaten 2-0 at West Ham with Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio getting the goals for David Moyes’ men.
Manchester United hit back from conceding twice in the first four minutes to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 on Saturday as Arsenal dropped Premier League points for the first time this season in a 2-2 draw with 10-man Fulham.
West Ham ended Brighton’s perfect start with a 3-1 win that puts David Moyes’ men on top of the table, while Tottenham are also on seven points after they won 2-0 at Bournemouth.
United were looking to kickstart their season after losing 2-0 to Tottenham last weekend, but could not have got off to a worse start at Old Trafford.
Taiwo Awoniyi burst clear from a United corner to score for the seventh consecutive Premier League game after 90 seconds.
There were just three minutes and 45 seconds on the clock when Willy Boly then found the net from Morgan Gibbs-White’s free-kick.
United escaped with a 1-0 win over Wolves in their opening game of the season, despite being outplayed by the visitors, to dampen expectations they could challenge for a first league title in a decade.
But they battled back to secure a vital three points in thrilling fashion. Cristian Eriksen started the comeback when he turned home Marcus Rashford’s cross.
Casemiro missed a great chance to level before the break but made amends when he fired home Bruno Fernandes’ knockdown.
Forest captain Joe Worrall was then sent off 23 minutes from time for bringing down Fernandes as he bore down on goal.
And Fernandes won the match from the penalty spot after Rashford was brought down in the area.
“It wasn’t the perfect start for us but we kept control, kept the ball and started doing the right things,” said Fernandes.
“The team showed great spirit, passion and desire. We just need to be aware that we can’t concede so early.”
Andre Onana celebrates.Source: AFP
– Arsenal blow lead –
Arsenal made a similarly disastrous start when Andreas Pereira pounced on Bukayo Saka’s poor pass to catch Aaron Ramsdale off his line in the first minute at the Emirates.
Fulham’s rearguard held out for more than 70 minutes, but their resistance was finally broken when Saka levelled from the penalty spot.
Two goals in two minutes looked to have turned the game around as substitute Eddie Nketiah slotted home Fabio Vieira’s inviting cross.
Fulham’s Calvin Bassey was then sent-off for a second bookable offence. But the 10 men salvaged a point when Joao Palhinha swept home a corner three minutes from time.
“We have to show another level of commitment and desire. With 10 men, you cannot concede a goal,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal looks dejected after the final whistle.Source: Getty Images
– Maddison inspires Spurs –
Tottenham maintained their bright start under Ange Postecoglou as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski struck to see off Bournemouth.
Postecoglou’s men have so far shrugged off the departure of the club’s all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich with new signing Maddison at the heart of most of their good work.
The England international’s first Tottenham goal on 17 minutes was just reward for the visitors’ dominance of the first half.
“There wasn’t anyone happier than me when we got him,” said Postecoglou. “I was delighted. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but I’m overjoyed at the footballer I’ve got.”
Bournemouth looked the more likely to score in the second period before Kulusevski steered Destiny Udogie’s cross into the far corner just after the hour mark.
Maddison and Richarlison celebrate Spurs’ opener.Source: Getty Images
Brighton’s blistering start was undone by West Ham’s clinical counterattacking at the Amex.
The Hammers enjoyed just 22 per cent possession but picked off the hosts thanks to goals from James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.
At the bottom, Everton’s miserable start to the season continued as Sasa Kalajdzic struck a late winner to secure Wolves’ first points of the campaign with a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park.
Brentford remain unbeaten but were denied by Joachim Andersen’s equaliser for Crystal Palace in a 1-1 draw.
Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United celebrates his team going top of the table.Source: Getty Images
Arsenal shrugged off Takehiro Tomiyasu’s red card to extend their perfect start to the Premier League season as Martin Odegaard sealed a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Tuesday [AEST].
Odegaard’s second-half penalty at Selhurst Park put Arsenal on course for their second successive win.
But Mikel Arteta’s side had to dig deep to preserve the points after Japan defender Tomiyasu was controversially sent off for a second yellow card midway through the second half.
10-Man Gunners hold on against Palace | 01:56
Tomiyasu had been booked for taking too long over a throw-in before his dismissal for making minimal contact on Jordan Ayew.
“I’m not wearing my Arsenal colours here… to get sent off for that just feels really harsh,” former Arsenal player Alan Smith said.
“A tug of the shirt I could understand but there was not much there at all.”
Arteta was delighted with the way Arsenal refused to surrender their lead as they moved up to third place, behind leaders Brighton and second-placed Manchester City on goal difference.
“Great win. I’m so happy. To play 30 minutes away from home with 10 men is extremely difficult,” Arteta said.
“Some players were suffering physically. The subs were magnificent, they knew what they had to do.
“Today we had a difficult one, we overcame it and it will make us better.” Frustrated by Tomiyasu’s first booking for time-wasting, Arteta added: “This is the standard. I think it was eight seconds. We might have to play with a stop watch.”
Expected to mount a sustained title challenge following last season’s late collapse that gifted the trophy to City, the north Londoners look up for the fight after building on their opening weekend win against Nottingham Forest.
While they haven’t played their most fluent football yet, this could prove a significant building block in their bid for a first title since 2004.
Arsenal had the best away record in the top flight last season and registered a division-best 10 clean sheets on their travels.
Arteta’s men looked like road warriors again as they repelled Palace’s late flurry of pressure.
With new goalkeeper David Raya among the Arsenal substitutes after his loan move from Brentford, the spotlight was on Aaron Ramsdale as the England international fights to hold onto his place.
Ramsdale rose to the challenge with a confident display from the moment he turned away Eberechi Eze’s long-range strike in the early stages.
Chelsea’s big signing flops in debut | 01:04
Emulating City boss Pep Guardiola’s tactic of instructing a defender to advance forward whenever they have possession, Arteta deployed Thomas Partey at right-back with a license to link up play from his preferred midfield role.
That allowed Arsenal to dominate possession but Eddie Nketiah, deputising for the injured Gabriel Jesus, failed to make their first-half pressure pay off.
The 24-year-old wasted a good chance when he nimbly turned away Joachim Andersen, only to scuff his shot against the far post with just Sam Johnstone to beat.
Palace were denied a penalty after William Saliba’s sliding tackle on Ayew was ignored by VAR.
Nketiah was profligate again when he chipped over from just six yards after Declan Rice picked out the unmarked forward.
Arsenal kept their composure and Odegaard’s fierce 25-yard strike forced a superb tip over from Johnstone.
Odegaard wouldn’t be denied again as the Norwegian netted from the spot in the 54th minute to reward Arsenal’s dominant display.
Mac Allister shown RED on Anfield debut | 00:37
Gabriel Martinelli’s quick free-kick caught Palace dozing and Nketiah rounded Johnstone before being upended by the keeper, who was sent the wrong way by Odegaard’s ice-cool penalty.
When Partey’s blast from the edge of the area was slapped over by Johnstone, it looked like Arsenal would cruise to victory.
But Palace were given a glimmer of hope in the 67th minute as Tomiyasu was harshly dismissed for a slight push on Ayew that was not reviewed by VAR under rules governing second yellow cards.
Palace’s frustration mounted when Eze went down under contact from Partey but saw his penalty claim rejected.
In a tense finale, Odsonne Edouard had Palace’s best chance to equalise when he headed wide from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross.
Mitchell also squandered an opportunity, blazing over from six yards as Arsenal held firm.
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.
