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The Three Lions face their first foe of this winters World Cup at 1pm on Monday the 27th November, as England kickstart their campaign against a tricky Iran side ranked 18th in the world.

The opening game of an international tournament is always a cagey affair, such is the importance of being able to hit the ground running, neither team dare to lose. Yet since Southgate’s appointment as manager, he’s undefeated in curtain raisers – winning both by fine margins. If England can overcome their poor Nations League form and start strong on Monday, morale amongst a close-knit squad will be higher than ever, and it could set the stage for an exciting few weeks ahead.

Iran head into this tie after a number of impressive results – the highlight of which a 1-0 friendly win over Uruguay. Manchester United fans with be familiar with their man in charge – manager Carlos Quieroz was Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant for a number of years, and carries an acute knowledge of the game, well known for his rigid and well organised defensive approach.

Iran aren’t blessed with stand out players like the Three Lions, but they do have a sense of home turf advantage – and should head into this match a well-drilled unit, that’s tough to break down and ready to counter attack given the opportunity. It may not look it on paper, but Monday presents a dangerous first test for Gareth Southgate and England.

Unfortunately for Quieroz and his players, Iran’s pre match build up has been blighted by political unrest in the country – sparking interrogation from journalists present at the tournament. When questioned over the Iranian governments stance on women’s rights, Queiroz slammed journalists, before storming out of his press conference after stating that ‘the whole world is against us, so it’s us against the world.’

The same kind of siege mentality was reflected in captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who accused the English media of trying to undermine and unnerve his team by asking questions about the chaotic protests raging on back home. It’s unconfirmed whether the players will sing the countries national anthem or not, yet one thing is for sure – the Iranian squad will be fired up and ready to restore pride in their country, so things could get feisty.

Predicted England Starting 11:

GK: Pickford – Everton’s number one hasn’t been in great form this season, yet never lets his country down when it matters most

RB: Kieran Trippier – One of England’s stand out players in 2018, Trippier’s performances for Newcastle have cemented a starting place at right back, yet expect a switch to left back once Walker returns to fitness

CB’s: John Stones and Harry Maguire – Both men have become accustomed to playing with each other in previous England tournaments, Maguire’s inclusion has sparked much debate, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?

LB: Luke Shaw – Injury to Ben Chilwell was a sore loss for Southgate, yet Shaw has delivered in the past. His role in the build up to attacks on the wing could be crucial against a deep lying Iran side

CM (Holding): Declan Rice – West Ham’s star man has been hit and miss this season, but his ability to break up play and kickstart sustainable attacks is vital in this England side

CM: Jude Bellingham – Appearing in his first World Cup, Bellingham has quickly become an important figure in England’s midfield. His energy and persistence as a box to box maestro could be key in finally breaking down tough defences

CM: Mason Mount – Southgate has continually put his faith in the Chelsea midfielder, who at his best can help press from the front and spring the attack

RW: Phil Foden – Simply down to the supreme talent of the City attacker, he must be included. Foden’s flair and vision is irreplaceable, yet his willingness to press for a full 90 minutes is what Southgate will admire in his forward

ST: Harry Kane – Usually a slow starter, Kane has been flying this season for Spurs, if he can replicate that form, England’s front line could finally click when it matters most

RW: Bukayo Saka – Arsenal’s exciting youngster has only excelled at club level since his fabulous Euro’s last summer. His pace and direct runs in behind can be a problem for any team. Sterling could take his place instead, yet poor form for Chelsea could prevent him a start

Prediction:

Iran’s resilience will be a test for Southgate’s men, but there’s still enough quality on the pitch to take the victory. England should dominate, and have long periods of the ball in which they’ll have to be patience in order to break down their opponents. In what could be a slow game – corners, free kicks or a penalty may be the game changer.

At the last two tournaments, the Three Lions have scored and created a hatful of chances based upon the delivery and movement on set pieces. Iran might not be able to cope with the aerial threat of Maguire and co – yet Kane has also shown a frequent knack of finding himself in the right place at the right time for Spurs to finish rebounds and loose balls recently, so don’t be surprised if the captain delivers the killer blow later on, after a frustrating first half.

The midfield battle will be key and England must continue to play at a high intensity for the full 90 minutes – the heat will be searing in Qatar on a Monday lunchtime, so expect changes made proactively, rather than reactively by Southgate as energy levels begin to fade amongst the squad. Fresh legs could be a crucial factor in the dying embers of a tight affair – the pace of Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling could be damaging on the counter attack if England were to take the lead. Whereas Grealish’s ball carrying abilities and Henderson’s experience can help dictate the game and dominate possession.

If Southgate’s decision making is on point, and he uses his substitutes well, England should be able to sustain pressure throughout – and eventually Iran’s stubborn resistance should crack. Given the stakes, and the style of both teams, a high scoring game is highly unlikely – but the Three Lions should have enough to edge a narrow 1-0 win, kickstarting their campaign with a hard fought, morale boosting victory.

Verdict: England 1-0 Iran

Dark horses, unexpected gems and unbelievable storylines. Every World Cup has them – every four years, a little known player takes their chance and strives for greatness – Diego Forlan was flying for Uruguay in 2010, James Rodriguez fired Colombia to the latter stages in 2014, Kieran Trippier was detrimental for England in Russia too.

As Qatar 2022 beckons, the question remains, who will be this winters surprise stand out? Here’s 5 players that could emerge from the shadows and play a pivotal part in their sides success.

Edson Alvarez (Mexico, Holding Midfielder)

A staple of Erik Ten Hag’s exciting Ajax side, Mexico’s 24 year old midfield enforcer Edson Alvarez has only excelled in the Eredivisie since his previous managers departure.

In a Mexico team famed for it’s fighting spirit, Alvarez’s qualities as a combative defensive midfielder can help his side withstand pressure. As a holding midfielder for Ajax, Alvarez is a phenomenal reader of the game – and positions himself well defensively to intercept a pass or clear up trouble before his team mates see it coming. When the Mexican takes control of the ball, his adept vision allows him to push his team forward by finding a forward runner with ease.

In the oppositions half, Alvarez abandons his positional approach by causing chaos and aggressively pressing against the counter attack to steal back the ball and sustain another attack for his team. It’s a genuine surprise Ten Hag didn’t try and persuade his former player to come over to Manchester with him, or that Chelsea didn’t follow through on their approach – opting to sign Switzerland’s Denis Zakaria instead.

Alvarez embodies the fighting spirit of Mexican athletes, for his side to do well this winter in a group featuring Argentina and Poland – they must be aggressive – in Alvarez, they have the perfect midfielder for it.

Dusan Vlahovic (Serbia, Striker)

Vlahovic may already be a household name in European football, given his status as Juventus star striker – yet Qatar 2022 remains the 22 year old Serbian’s first international tournament. After a tricky start to the season delayed by injury, despite being the spearhead of an inutile Juventus side, Vlahovic has 6 goals and 1 assist in 10 Serie A appearances this season – fine form indeed.

Vlahovic performs for his country too, after forming a partnership up top with Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, he’s notched 5 goals in his last 7 games for Serbia – and 4 in World Cup qualification games certainly helped his country reach this winters tournament. With a strong side behind him, Serbia look a dangerous team for anyone and should give tournament favourites Brazil a run for their money on Matchday 1 – if Vlahovic is fit, his pace and precision in behind could be crucial.

Milinkovic Savic, Dusan Tadic and his Old Lady team mate Filip Kostic will look to feed the 22 year old as he bursts in behind with frightening pace. Yet, much like his strike partner Mitrovic – he offers an aerial threat too. At 6ft 3, both strong and quick with intelligent runs, explosive finishing and dynamic build up play – Vlahovic is certainly showing signs of evolving into the perfect number nine. It’s safe to say Qatar 2022 could be his coming out party.

Kieffar Moore (Wales, Striker)

Gareth Bale has long been the poster boy of Welsh football, rightly so too. The winger was the driving force in dragging his international teammates forward to the Euro’s in 2016, and played a monumental part in their historic qualification run for this winter’s World Cup – but his powers are fading, and for Wales to make it out of Group B the squad needs more than Bale as their focal point.

In comes Kieffar Moore, Bournemouth’s tall, direct and criminally under rated centre forward. At 6ft 5, Moore’s powerful frame gives him the ability to bully defenders in the air, he doesn’t just use it to get on the end of a cross too – Moore is effective as a target man, where he can outmuscle defenders, bring the ball down and find his team mates out wide before bursting into the box for a return pass too.

7 goals in 17 games for the Cherries since his arrival in January is a respectable return, a broken foot hasn’t helped him settle yet he still managed to score the goal that clinched promotion – and finally found his feet in the Premier League with a brace against Spurs and a goal against Everton recently. The forward man seems to have struck a good partnership with Harry Wilson too, who should feature in Rob Page’s side. With Dan James, Bale and Ramsey the providers, Moore could be the man to down USA and Iran to fire Wales into the knockout stages.

Ibrahim Konate (France, Central Defender)

Ibrahim Konate’s brilliant record since joining Liverpool has resulted in the centre backs inclusion at international level. Liverpool have only lost twice in 33 games with him in the starting eleven, an outrageous stat supported by Konate’s outstanding performances paired with Virgil Van Dijk at the back.

The Frenchman’s form was a massive reason Liverpool were able to fight for all four trophies last season, and he’s since become a regular for the reigning champions, as they look to make history and retain their title.

Konaté excels as a central defender in either a back three or a back four. At 6ft 4, his height enables him to tower above challengers both in his own and the opposition penalty area. Despite his frame, the Frenchman has pace, allowing him to be aggressive when stepping out to press – it’s rare an opponent will manage to secure the ball when he presses them given how strong he is too.

Injuries to Ngolo Kante, Paul Pogba and more suggest midfield frailty for France. It’s glaringly obvious Didier Deschamps may have to rely on the solidity of his defensive unit and, of course, the wide array of world class forwards at his disposal to fire France into the latter stages of the tournament. Deschamps is known for his defensive approach though, so a fully fit Konate and co could form the rock solid back line needed to achieve success in major international tournaments.

Cody Gakpo (Netherlands, Left Winger)

Flying high on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs, PSV’s explosive forward Cody Gakpo is set for big things not just this winter, but in the coming years too. With 9 goals and 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie matches so far this season, and some stunning Europa League displays under his belt too, Gakpo heads into this tournament in fine form – meaning the Dutch may have a secret weapon up their sleeve.

Blessed with the rare combination of raw speed and power, Gakpo is most effective as a left winger, and can punish teams when given the freedom to come inside onto his favoured right foot and skip past defenders for fun before finding a finish or his team mates with a cut back or cross – either way, the end result is usually a goal.

Louis Van Gaal is well practiced in international football – and he’ll know how to get the best out of his squad. With Gakpo surely set to start alongside Memphis Depay, and two target men in Luuk De Jong and Wout Weghorst to aim for, the 23 year olds goal involvement numbers should reflect his talent as one of the most sought after creative forwards in Europe.

England will play their first of two final World Cup warm up games this Friday night, facing Roberto Mancini’s Italy – as the Three Lions take a tough trip to the San Siro on a quest for revenge, after having their hearts broke by the Azzuri at the European Championships.

The final international break before this winters World Cup in Qatar presents the perfect opportunity for Gareth Southgate to rally his troops and cement his starting eleven by building some genuine momentum heading into the tournament.

Despite some of the teams key players struggling for form and minutes in the Premier League, Southgate remained loyal in his recent squad selection – defenders Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell have all been surplus to requirements at their club this season but remain in the squad based on their previous international performance – whilst others like Rice, Mount and Jarrod Bowen are struggling to find form early on in the season, and still find themselves in favour.

Ivan Toney’s first England call-up is justified, the striker’s notched 5 goals and 2 assists in 7 league games for Brentford this season, – but with Harry Kane in fine form, and Tammy Abraham ready to take his chance too, it’s difficult to see how Toney can establish himself in a team that’s certainly top heavy in attack. Eric Dier and Conor Coady find themselves back in favour too, after a good start to the season with Spurs and Everton – the centre back pair are dependable and experienced playing in a back three too, which we’ve seen Southgate deploy on numerous occasions. Surprisingly, their inclusions appear a wise move by the manager.

Southgate’s suggestion that he’ll pick players based on form rather than merit seemed to slip his mind – players like Ben White, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho must feel aggrieved after being left out of the squad despite a stellar start to the season. With Kalvin Phillips out due to injury, Jude Bellingham is expected to start in midfield for the Three Lions.

To say Jude Bellingham’s talent has flown under the radar in England is a profound understatement. Since moving to Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham in 2020, the teenager has become a mainstay in BVB’s starting eleven, whilst quickly growing into the clubs most valuable player after the sale of Erling Haaland.

Still only 19 years of age, Bellingham is a technically brilliant combative box to box midfielder, boasting quick feet and intricate control very rarely seen in such a young footballer. The teenagers vision is excellent, he carries absurd levels of stamina and knows how to find the back of the net too – with England’s midfield rocked by a poor start to the season by Henderson, Rice and Mount alike, then an injury to Kalvin Phillips, Bellingham has his chance at cementing a place in Southgate’s World Cup starting eleven. It’s a tough test against a scrappy Italian midfield, yet the 19 year old is more than ready to pass with flying colours.

Italy head into this contest after failing to pick up where they left off after last seasons Euro 2020 win at Wembley. The Azzuri missed out on World Cup qualification in shocking fashion, losing 0-1 at home to minnows North Macedonia.

Losing 5-2 to group toppers Germany certainly didn’t help, but a narrow victory at home to Hungary – who smashed the Three Lions 4-0 away from home in June – offered a glimpse at an upturn in form for the Italians. England haven’t won away in Italy since 1961, and look to kick off their World Cup warm up games at the San Siro by rewriting the history books and reminding the world how far the squad have come as a genuine force in tournament football.

Prediction :

Italy have failed to score once at home since the Nation League’s inception, yet aren’t as robust and organised defensively as we’ve come to expect historically.

The last four ties between two of Europe’s elite have resulted in a draw come full time, 1-1 seems a familiar scoreline for both countries – due to the nature of international football, both sides will set up not to lose, and the midfield battle is key. The Italian midfield is dynamic, battle tested and rarely tire – to beat them on their home turf, England must utilise youth and legs in their team by maintaining the press and energy levels set throughout.

Don’t expect a goal-fest, and certainly don’t hedge your bets on a Three Lions win – injuries and poor form leave Southgate’s players are desperate for a performance to prove their worth in the squad before they head back to their clubs and focus on the league until November again.

Kane and Sterling will undoubtedly be the teams focal point, after a scoring start to the season – so don’t be surprised if Kane pops up with a penalty or headed goal, before a repeat of Euro 2020’s final, in which Italy equalise and finish the stronger team on the night. Italy are making one of their final appearances at Milan’s world famous San Siro stadium before it’s knocked down and replaced next year – so the atmosphere should be electric.

If England are to get anything out of this game, the players just remain calm and attack Italy’s back line with speed and precision, as opposed to any intricate build- up play – however it seems as though the game has come at the wrong time for Southgate, who may face backlash from the media with another sub-par, toothless performance.

1-1 Draw

In one of the more unexpected transfer rumours of the summer, Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford has been linked with a sensational move to French giants Paris Saint Germain.

With rumours circulating around the 24 year olds future, Rashford’s representatives were reportedly in Paris to hold transfer talks as he enters the final 12 months of his United contract. Sources at ESPN state PSG value the Englishman at £60 million, whereas Manchester United expect double for the striker, a staggering £120 million at the very least.

The French champions know all about Rashford’s capabilities – the striker broke their hearts with late winners twice in UEFA Champions League encounters, as both sides frequently met under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.

However, the proposed switch certainly comes as a shock. Last campaign, Rashford endured his worst ever season since his breakthrough at Old Trafford. 5 goals in 35 appearances has left the striker struggling to regain his place in a talented England squad – unless Erik Ten Hag has told him he’s surplus to requirements, it’s a transfer that really doesn’t make much sense for both sides.

Evidently unsure of his preferred position, Rashford’s all round game has flattered to deceive in the last 2 seasons, whilst he sometimes shows all the traits required to become a serious force in world football (pace, power and flair in abundance), fans have become equally frustrated with his inconsistent finishing ability, it’s no surprise youngsters like Anthony Elanga found themselves ahead in the pecking order under Rangnicks embarrassing tenure late last season.

Despite inconsistency, new man in charge Erik Ten Hag remains confident Rashford will stay at Old Trafford, claiming he’s still an integral part of the squad. Given the fact the striker is still a mainstay in the Red Devil’s starting eleven, and guaranteed at least 35 games a season, it begs the question – why on earth would he actually want to leave in the first place?

PSG boast one of the most expensively assembled squads in world football, with a frightening front three made up of superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar – consequently, a winger/striker hybrid like Marcus Rashford has absolutely no chance of breaking into the first team, even if he was to improve on his declining statistical return. His reasons for wanting a move can’t be for more minutes, and it can’t be for an exciting challenge either – PSG continue to walk away with the French league without breaking sweat. What was once his boyhood club seems to be a living nightmare, and it appears as though the only reason Rashford would prefer to play in Paris would be for the money – if that is the case, what a shame that would be.

Placing the shoe on the other foot, and the same question looms large. Why on earth would PSG want to sign Marcus Rashford? In Kylian Mbappe, they have a phenomenon who very much plays with a similar style to Rashford. Mbappe is miles ahead of him though, and won’t be going to Real Madrid anytime soon. So where would Rashford fit in, the bench? I don’t see this transfer going ahead, yet much like the Frenkie De Jong saga – this could stew on for much longer. One things for sure though, Rashford needs to bounce back after a poor display against Brighton, quickly too. Will we see a return to form against Brentford this Saturday?

Pep has Problems in Defence

I think it’s fair to say the loss of several key battle ready squad players like Fernandinho and Zinchenko has been made to feel worse by the unjust injury to Aymeric Laporte. Whilst Nathan Ake is decent on his day, too many times we’ve seen a general problem with his inconsistency and concentration in defence, he’s an excellent ball playing defender, which is exactly what Pep likes to deploy in his favoured system, but when it’s all said and done, I genuinely don’t think the Dutchman is strong, brave or switched on enough to cope with some of the best attackers in the league.

We saw it against Liverpool on Saturday, and we’ve seen it before last season too. City can’t afford to let injuries cost them on their quest for titles this time round, think Fernandinho playing at right back when he got turned inside out by Vinicius Junior, key mistakes in defence ultimately cost them the cup competitions last season, if the sky blues really do want to go on and win it all again – expect them to make another signing or even two before the transfer window shuts in September. Marc Cucurella has just handed in a transfer request at Brighton after a summer of rumours linking him with the champions, I’ve no doubt the Citizens will get stronger all round.

Haaland Will Score Next Weekend

What was expected to be a flying start for the Norwegian goal machine resulted in a bagful of chances uncharacteristically spurned, so much so – the striker smirked his way out of the penalty area, in utter disbelief he’d just missed another golden opportunity in the final minutes. Disbelief is entirely the response Pep and co would want though – this is a man so confident in his abilities he couldn’t believe his eyes and genuinely started laughing when he missed. Now that’s self-belief. No whining, no throwing his arms up in the air, just sheer drive and determination to find himself in the perfect opportunity for another golden chance at grabbing a goal. It really is just a matter of time.

I remember when Zlatan Ibrahimovich played his first game for Manchester United at Bournemouth. Jose Mourinho was like a cheshire cat on the touchline, grinning in full anticipation of what was coming next. He knew the Swede would score, everyone else knew he’d score, yet no one could stop it.

West Ham away isn’t as pretty a prospect as Bournemouth the week after though, in recent years, the Hammers have managed to transform the Olympic Stadium into a tough test for anyone. But let’s be honest, it’s the same story as Ibra – whether he starts or not, Pep knows Haaland will score, the striker knows it too – and so do we. Honestly, good luck stopping him.

Darwin Nunez is No Joke

Signing for one of the worlds biggest clubs in a record transfer deal worth up to £85 million must be a heavy load to bare on the shoulders of a young man still finding his feet in the game. Eager fans were quick to jump on the Uruguayan’s back after a pre season of mixed fortune for the new-man. Memes were flying across social media, and rival fans were starting to wonder whether dropping such an astronomical fee on a relatively raw prospect in world football would come back to haunt the Reds.

One things for sure though, Darwin Nunez certainly didn’t disappoint when he was finally introduced to the action on Saturday. From the minute the striker was subbed in, Nunez’s energy and desire to steal the show and score a winning goal swung the match in Liverpool’s favour in dramatic fashion.

His movement is superb, and was constantly pinned to the back of City’s two centre backs, ready to spin in behind and split the defence as soon as Liverpool’s midfield win the ball back. It was his headed effort that resulted in the penalty, and another stooping header that sealed the game in injury time, and you saw exactly what scoring on his competitive debut meant to the 23 year old – he went absolutely mental, the celebration was an outpouring of sheer jubilation and relief – rightfully so too, it must have been some feeling. Yet just like Haaland himself, seeing Nunez celebrating is clearly something we’re going to have to get used to. If critics were skeptical before Saturday – they’ve definitely been silenced now. Just like the title race, it seems like the golden boot might be a two horse race this season too.

It’s a Two Horse Title Race – Again

I mean, it’s hardly a surprise is it? Since Pep and Klopp’s switch to the Premier League, not only has the landscape of English football dramatically transformed for the better – for the last 5 years, the persistent excellence of both clubs have seen them race clear of the rest and essentially form their own mini Premier League. Jose Mourinho raised the bar in 2005, winning the league with Chelsea at a canter – the stakes were raised and the rest of the league were playing catch up – but the exploits of Guardiola and Klopp have put The Special One to shame, realistically, given the fact Mourinho tried and failed to topple both at United and Tottenham before escaping for Rome, you could argue he was ran out of the league by Pep and Klopp’s revolutionary brand of swashbuckling football.

You’d forgive both teams for taking their foot off the gas a bit. In the last 5 years, they’ve been relentless. Selling key players and admittedly entering a period of transition threatened to bridge the gap slightly, especially given wide-scale improvements to the starting eleven of chasing pack teams like Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea – yet after another 90 minutes of absolute carnage from both clubs, it’s alarmingly obvious the astonishing levels of quality and consistency shown over the years isn’t going to stop anytime soon. To put it bluntly, until Klopp and Guardiola part ways with the Premier League, it’s City or Liverpool’s to win.

The Five Sub Rule is Huge

One alarming takeaway from Saturday’s Community Shield clash is the impact changes to substitution regulations will have in the second half of fixtures. Following a consultation and vote from all 20 Premier League CEOs, managers will be permitted to make five substitutions per game – revitalising the starting eleven and allowing the opportunity to change the teams shape and approach on the pitch.

Whilst Guardiola opted for traditional methods, introducing Foden, Alvarez and Gundogan in the second half in an attempt to swing the game and grab an equaliser. It came in the 70th minute via a debut goal for Alvarez, and the game certainly looked as though it was balanced on a knife edge. But Klopp played his hand, taking full advantage of the new system, after bringing Darwin Nunez into the game, and seeing the equaliser go in – the German threw down the gauntlet, using all 5 substitutes to impeccable effect as his Liverpool side were entirely re energised in the final third of the game. City couldn’t cope with the adjustments made, and their midfield were outfought and ultimately ran into the ground by the time Nunez sealed the victory in stoppage time.

When the season finally kicks off on August 5th, expect the bigger clubs with squads boasting strength in depth to take control of close games against lesser opposition, as reinforcements are introduced in the final 30 minutes – and the new 5 sub rule completely transforms the way managers approach their game plan.

‘Not in my lifetime’, quipped Sir Alex Ferguson, after being questioned whether United would ever head into a Manchester derby as underdogs, in September 2009.

How wrong he was. Since that famous quote, City (with the help of Pep Guardiola) have transformed the landscape of modern day English football, dominating the division, winning four of the last 5 Premier League titles. Add 2 Fa Cup triumphs, 6 League Cups and a Champions League final appearance to the ever growing collection of achievements at the Etihad and it’s fair to say the Mansour families ambition to transform the Citizen’s into a titan of world football is almost complete.

In recent years, only Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have been able to contend with Guardiola and City’s consistent class on the pitch, off the pitch, it’s a similar scenario. Both clubs boast this summers most exciting signings in young strikers Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, suggesting both managers aren’t going to take their foot off the pedal anytime soon – if rival clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs don’t take urgent action, City and Liverpool look likely to leave the chasing pack behind once and for all disappear into the horizon.

The sale of Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal is certainly unexpected yet the fact Guardiola wasn’t afraid to drop the Brazilian and play without a striker in big games last season, coupled with the bonus of Haaland’s arrival means fans needn’t worry about losing such a high-class forward anytime soon. City haven’t had an out and out centre forward in the peak of his powers since Sergio Aguero, it’s fair to say injuries limited the Argentinian’s opportunities under Guardiola since his arrival – not that it mattered, he still left City as the clubs all time leading goal scorer in 2021.

Haaland has a big job on his hands to fill the void left by Aguero – yet he’s still only 21, and 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga games playing for a below-par Borussia Dortmund side is a frightening return. At 6ft 5, the Norwegian is a rare example of both strength and speed – he’s great in the air, wonderfully effective as a holding striker, yet lethal on the turn with no problem finding either corner, with either foot too.

There are some players who’s transition into Premier League football appear effortless, a sure-fire investment guaranteed to reap the rewards of its risk. Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Luis Suarez, and of course Aguero himself spring to mind. Expect Erling Haaland to follow suit and emulate his explosive start in Germany by beginning his career in England in statement making mood, especially when you take this city squads chance creation stats into consideration – the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden must be licking their lips.

Kevin De Bruyne was mesmeric last season. The brilliant Belgian was City’s main man, 3.6 chances created per 90 minutes in the league helped his team mates thrive in the final third, a staple of the midfielders game – yet sparkling post-festive period form helped De Bruyne hit his highest goal return yet at 15, single handedly driving City to within touching distance of the title. We’re accustom to the ridiculousness of the Belgian’s passing palette by now, but as De Bruyne settles into his prime – performance levels have peaked – with Haaland in front of him, it’s hard to see anyone else holding the award for most assists at the end of the season, but can he beat his record tally of 20?

It’s not just Haaland causing ruptures either – the low key arrival of tenacious young Argentinian Julian Alvarez adds pace and promise to a front line already boasting several world class players heading into their prime years of their career. With rumours circulating around Raheem Sterling’s future at the club, perhaps Guardiola has big plans for Alvarez, a seamless transition into life as a premier league footballer would make matters much easier for the Spanish manager if Sterling is to leave the club – after all, 13 goals and 5 assists last season is still an excellent return for the English winger – if he does fall out of favour at the Etihad, you’d understand if he felt somewhat unjust and decided to push for a move, especially given the prospect of a World Cup in November – he’d be a massive loss too. On the flip side, if he does stay, much like Kevin De Bruyne, the introduction of Haaland brings an extra body to pick out up top and could see Sterling’s assist numbers sky rocket on the wing.

A player that will definitely be missed at the Etihad is long-serving defensive midfielder Fernandinho. The Brazilian was one of the league’s best holding midfielders since his arrival from Shaktar Donetsk in 2013, and departure back home to Brazil leaves City with a gap in midfield when the ever-present Rodri is unavailable/injured. Despite a significant loss in experience, Fernandinho’s performances last season were nowhere near the usual standards set by the Brazilian after nearly 10 years playing at the highest level – Vinicius Junior tore him apart in the first leg of City’s champions league semi final against Real Madrid. Evidently, his time had come, so City fans shouldn’t be too worried with life after one of their most influential, senior players – especially given the fact his immediate replacement has already been finalised in the form of Kalvin Phillips.

Phillips is a defensive midfielder with a superb passing range and great tactical awareness. On the pitch, his style bears an alarming resemblance to a young Fernandinho – whilst he may not expect to start every week, his inclusion in the squad is still an important addition across all competitions. Having said that, City cherrypicking the best players from mid table teams to sit on their bench is awful for the competitiveness of the Premier League and is a direct consequence of the 5 subs rule. You’ll start to see a lot more top clubs hoarding players for squad depth and lesser clubs like Leeds who are now without their most important player will find it continuously tougher to sustainably compete in the league.

Undoubtedly, the gap between the best and the rest will continue to widen in the coming years, and City are certainly the very best this country has to offer – for no matter who dons the sky blue shirt on match day, so long as they have Pep Guardiola in the dugout the upper hand is there’s. A serial winner blessed with true footballing genius – the Catalonian is the most influential manager of his generation – 33 titles in 14 years as a manager is a formidable record, given he’s expected to stay at the club until at least 2025, clearly more is yet to come.

Liverpool have pushed them hard in recent seasons, last season the Red’s were playing from a different planet – yet still couldn’t keep up with City’s relentless dominance in the league. Whilst Liverpool haven’t really improved this summer, City have bought well to make petrifying adjustments to a starting eleven that was already tearing through the division. The Citizen’s will start their race for a fifth title in 6 years with a tricky test at West Ham, but a debut goal for Erling Haaland seems inevitable.

Expect a strong start as per usual from City – fixtures could mount up pre World Cup but a well-earned rest for key players missing Qatar like Ruben Diaz, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Haaland himself should see City race clear post Christmas. It wouldn’t surprise me if the chasing pack struggle to compete with Guardiola’s men after this winters World Cup tournament – the doubt for sky blue fans is still how they fair on the European stage, given Guardiola’s failure to capture the club’s first Champions League trophy.

Nevertheless, another Premier League title remains a formality. They notched 99 goals last time out, a scary return – with Haaland up top, who knows how many they’ll score this time out. Forget any final day dramatics on the closing day of this season, City should have this one wrapped up in April.

Verdict: 1st

It’s been a long time coming – 4 years in fact, but the red side of North London seem to finally have their act together. Since his appointment in 2019, Arteta’s Arsenal revolution has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. 73 wins after 130 games in charge is a reasonable return, but as previewed in the Amazon’s latest ‘All or Nothing’ series, inconsistency in performance and inexcusable results against clubs in the bottom half of the division crippled the teams chances of a top four finish, leaving fans with the familiar feeling of disappointment once more.

Much like Manchester United, to the enjoyment and humour of rival fans, the Gunners have struggled to adapt to life after the Wenger era. In fact, since his departure, the club have failed to qualify for the Champions League every single season.

Finishing fifth was once deemed as failure, and would have caused ruptures amongst fans at the Emirates in years gone by – yet baby steps in the right direction made by Arteta, his staff and the players on the pitch means for what seems like forever, the club head into a Premier League season surrounded by optimism.

Intelligent signings and the introduction of youth has propelled the club into a much better place. After both senior star strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette flattered to deceive, before falling out of favour and ultimately leaving the club, Arteta and Arsenal’s downfall was seemingly inevitable – yet by increasing his trust in, and relying on young prospects like Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to perform to the best of their ability, in the second half of last season – his side thrived.

Whilst his departure is unlikely, another stellar season of quality and consistence from 19-year old attacker Bukayo Saka proved his breakout premier league season and excellent European championships were no fluke. The young star cemented himself as one of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s teamsheet with 11 goals and 7 assists. Much like Mo Salah, the young Englishman is yet to extend his contract, and fans are becoming increasingly worried about his future at the Emirates. For too long now, the Gunners have been happy to sell their star players and haven’t thought twice about who too – the most outrageous example is obviously Robin Van Persie to Manchester United in 2012, but history repeated itself in the form of Alexis Sanchez. In his final years, Mesut Ozil was clutching at straws to run down his contract and leave the Emirates – more recently Aubameyang used his pace to sprint out the exit door too.

Arteta has invaluable assets in Saka and Martin Odegaard. If Emile Smith Rowe continues to excite, the future is bright – but keeping hold of the talented trio is crucial, they mustn’t be separated.

Nevertheless, immediate improvements to the teams starting eleven are required. In one of the summers most unexpected transfers, out of favour Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has left the Etihad for the Emirates, in a deal worth up to £45 million. Mikel Arteta and Arsenal guarantee regular first team football for the Brazilian striker, who found himself on the bench multiple times last season despite the fact he was the only striker at the club. Erling Haaland’s arrival in Manchester will have only made matters worse for Jesus. At Arsenal, the striker will become the main man and focal point of his team for the very first time in his career.

Five years playing for the Premier League’s best club in City means the Brazilian won’t take much time to adjust in his new role – especially given his extreme desire to lead the line for Brazil at the World Cup in November – the likelihood remains this is a sure fire signing for Arsenal, and exactly what the team required to take them to the next level and genuinely mount a realistic top four challenge.

Never far from controversy – famous Arsenal fan Piers Morgan joined TalkSPORT to discuss his expectations surrounding Arsenal in the upcoming season, and made his opinions on former player turned manager Mikel Arteta loud and clear – Morgan is less than convinced by the Spaniards tactical ability and experience as a manager, outrageously claiming he’d rather take ex Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, in a move that would rival Sol Campbell’s ‘Judas-like’ transfer back in 2001.

Piers does have a point, though – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as Manchester United manager was blighted by the same theory amongst fans and pundits – a theory that ultimately proved true. Arsenal fans have every right to be wary, especially after hope fizzled out in the last campaign, leaving a top 4 finish in Spurs’ hands. Direct rivals Chelsea, Spurs, (and potentially even United) now boast world class managerial talent in the dugout – as a result the race to break into the top four will undoubtedly be tighter than ever, and the margin for error may be practically non-existent.

Verdict: 5th

An uncharacteristically efficient transfer window shows the intent to achieve is rife amongst the club, but strength in depth and top-class experienced managers like Conte, Klopp, Tuchel and Ten Hag leading rival clubs in the fight for Champions League qualification – short term success still seems a step too far for a wonderfully bright and exciting young Gunners side. Having said that, the signing of Jesus could prove to be the saviour of Arsenal’s season.

Expect them to start slow, but a capable cup run and consistent league form post World Cup in winter could rejuvenate one of English footballs more passionate fan bases and catapult the club into top four contention.

Despite a ridiculous run of form that saw them win a domestic double, reach the Champions League final and take the title race to the final day, Jurgen Klopp’s men somehow ended last season with the bitter taste of disappointment.

Missing out on the big two will certainly hurt, but under Klopp, Liverpool have been here before. After losing his first of 3 Champions League finals at the club, the German proved his worth to the Anfield faithful the following season, as he steered his side past Spurs to lift the trophy.

It’s not the first time Liverpool have failed to win the league title on the final day too. Whilst it may not have been as dramatic as last seasons stunning City comeback, fans may recall Glenn Murray opening the scoring for Brighton in 2019, the last time both teams tussled for the trophy on the final day. The season after that, the curse was broken, and they finally won the Premier League. It begs the question, can they bounce back again?

Selling star asset Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich for a staggeringly low 30 million euros certainly doesn’t help, especially when for the majority of last season, despite their strength in depth the Senegalese attacker was the team’s driving force – and even had a case for Ballon D’or contention until Karim Benzema decided to morph into football’s equivalent of Thanos.

His replacement, 22 year old Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, signed from Benfica for a club record fee of 85 million. The striker scored 34 times for Benfica in all competitions last season, including goals in both legs of the club’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Liverpool in April. His stats certainly appeal, and Nunez certainly has the talent – but it’s easy to assume such a young player can embed himself into a completely new environment, then slot into a complex and pressurised starting eleven like Liverpool’s so seamlessly. It’s a big transition, and one that must happen fast if Liverpool are to come anywhere close to performing as well as they did throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

Klopp and Liverpool’s gegenpress gung-ho style of fast-paced pressure football has seen them become the divisions most engaging football team. A spine of world class players like Allison, Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander Arnold, Fabinho, Mane and Salah mixed with energetic tenacity in the combative styles of Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino transformed a stagnant Liverpool side into one of the best in the world.

Jurgen and his heroes in red have brought Liverpool back from the dead, winning the Premier League during the pandemic was their crowning moment – but they didn’t rest there. Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s Head of Performance and Recruitment worked wonders alongside Klopp in creating an extraordinary side before leaving his role this summer – but perhaps their most impressive body of work lies in the aftermath of each triumph.

Despite overwhelming success, fighting on all fronts for the most part of three long, gruelling seasons was clearly starting to have an impact at Anfield. In Manchester, cash-rich title rivals City and Pep Guardiola were hurt, and continued to throw money in the transfer market in the hopes of securing a coveted quadruple. In Edwards, Liverpool had their magic man. The ‘transfer guru’ made his mark again, finalising the signings of Thiago, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate and more. For the rest of the Premier League, a scary prospect lay ahead, for a team already thriving at the top under Klopp, now had back-up.

As it transpired, City’s quest for the quadruple changed hands – and Liverpool’s startling new strength in depth tore through nearly every team in every tournament they took part in. They almost did it – the unthinkable, the unimaginable. Never before have an English football team been in the position to win all four competitions in one season, yet there they were, on the verge of history.

History never repeats itself though, surely something most fans and pundits can agree on is that Anfield won’t see a season quite like that again this time round. Firmino’s impact is no longer what it was when he was at his brilliant best, Mane’s departure and Mohammad Salah’s stalling contract negotiations mean the famous front three is no more – Jota and Nunez certainly fit the bill, but it will take time to adjust after pivotal changes made to the ever-present starting eleven accustom to success. For Liverpool to keep up with City, new man Nunez will have to hit the ground running and light up the league like Mane did for so long.

Teenage stars Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay are signings for the future – whilst they may feature sporadically, the likelihood both will have an impact on the team instantly remains doubtful. Minamino and Divock Origi’s departure may not look to tragic on paper but the loss of two capable match winners on the substitutes bench could damage their short term success in cup competitions and removes any sort of last ditch scenario tactically like in important league games of the past – remember Origi’s winner against Everton in the dying moments? It’s just one example of countless times the Belgian was brought on to save the day. Games add up, and one of the soul reasons the squad were so successful last season was, as mentioned, strength in depth. It begs the question, can they still keep up?

Verdict: 3rd

Liverpool won’t disappoint, but this coming season may prove more difficult than expected after the departure of Mane and the relentless nature of the squads work ethic and consistency. The league may not be within reach this season, but expect strong performances in all three cups, including against Manchester City in the Community Shield, and another stellar season at Anfield. I don’t think they’ll win the league this time round, but the Champions League is well within their reach, after a World Cup break giving key squad members like Salah and Jota time to rest before crucial games when the season resumes post Christmas.

From Amsterdam to Manchester, there’s a new dawn of Dutch swagger descending down upon Old Trafford.

Once paired with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich II, his footballing philosophy is heavily influenced by City’s managerial mastermind, and dashed with a sprinkle of the once great Johan Cruyff’s ‘total football’ ideology.

“I learned a lot from Guardiola,” Ten Hag said in February 2019. “His philosophy is sensational, what he did in Barcelona, Bayern and now with Manchester City, that attacking and attractive style sees him win a lot. It’s this structure that I’ve tried to implement with Ajax.”

United fans, sounds good right?

Manchester United fans can be forgiven for having mixed emotions heading into the 2022/23 Premier League campaign. Whilst the club ultimately hired the top dog on their managerial shortlist in Erik Ten Hag, which is undoubtedly a step in the right direction – there are no two ways about it – the long list of fundamental issues crippling the club both on and off the field after years of horrific decision making behind the scenes will take more than the arrival of one man, and years to correct into success.

An almighty summer-long car boot sale of unwanted and unsettled players amongst the squad coupled by the arrivals of exciting new blood was expected amongst Red Devils fans – yet unlike many of their league rivals, United are yet to make a move in the transfer market. Losing midfield anomaly Paul Pogba due to the expiration of his contract may be contextually embarrassing given the circumstances surrounding the players relationship with the club, but failing to replace him in any way shape or form on the pitch could ultimately prove to be the most embarrassing move of them all.

Looking to capitalise on Spanish giants Barcelona’s financial crisis, Erik Ten Hag has identified fellow Dutchman Frenkie De Jong as the clubs number one priority in the transfer market, Barcelona we’re quick to reject United initial offer of £60 million plus add ons, but another bid has been launched in the hope of reuniting the former Ajax pair once more. Should Barcelona decide to negotiate and a deal be finalised, at least the objective to find an immediate Paul Pogba replacement can be ticked off. De Jong is a world class holding midfielder, and plays an important role when his team are in possession of the ball. His vision to spot a pass and constantly scan his spatial surroundings to create a pictorial understanding of where his teammates are on the pitch is second to none. Think, Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool.

Now, Thiago is an integral part of a formidable Liverpool side, but it did not come without a period of adjustment, and lessons learnt. Just like any player new to the physical aspect and ferocious pace of the English game, if United do sign their man, it will take time for his impact to show.

Ajax forward Antony is, according to Goal, ‘determined’ to team up with former coach Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer – his arrival would alleviate the pressure of performance from the shoulders of the young English pair Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. Much like the heavily-linked Antony, they both have the potential to be world class in their favoured positions. However unlike the 22-year old Brazilian, both Sancho and Rashford underperformed last season – much to the annoyance of some United fans. Patience is required in that aspect, the phrase ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ springs to mind. They will shine bright one day, when that day is though – is the underlying question.

Nevertheless, the lack of impact and technical development shown in the entire squad, suggests the introduction of more than a few world class players is imperative.

Unless the fans prayed are answered, and chaos ensues late on in the transfer market, the departure of Pogba, Cavani and others mean United’s squad has more limitations than ever. It’s arguable that Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes are the only two world class players left in the squad, and it’s certainly evident that even with Ronaldo’s exploits under Sir Alex Ferguson over a decade ago – the team will have to rely on him and Fernandes more than ever before.

However before performances on the pitch are rectified, Manchester United and Erik Ten Hag’s number one priority should be to restore the spirit of his new, once great club. For over 100 years, United squads never-say-die attitude, free-flowing attacking mindset and the integrity and pedigree of the clubs board and chief executives were the underlying factor in their monumental global success on and off the pitch – since the Ferguson era came to its close, the mediocrity of the teams performances have been matched by consistent failure to rebuild higher up at the club.

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick was welcomed with optimism by fans, especially after he was set to continue his work as an advisor to Ten Hag, the future started to look bright. As it went, his managerial tenure was abysmal – the Austrian did nothing with the side, instead scrapping his consultancy role in favour of managing his native country. One would suggest Rangnick found his time dealing with the United hierarchy much more difficult than he could have ever imagined.

Perhaps a step in the right direction would be the rumoured coupe of Michael Edwards – the man instrumental in Liverpool’s recent transfer success. He recently left his role as head of performance and analysis at Anfield. Edwards joined in 2011, had a huge part to play in hiring Jurgen Klopp and oversaw the low budget recruitment of Mohammad Salah, Sadio Mane, Andrew Robertson and more. His resume and experience speaks for itself – yet with the rivalry of both North West clubs, alongside Chelsea joining the race for his signature – Edwards opening office at Old Trafford seems nothing but a pipe dream. Frankly, unless United’s executive staff oversee an immediate overhaul in personnel, from top to bottom, including wide scale change to the Glazer’s ownership model (which we know won’t happen anytime soon) – the club will continue to cast a shadow of its former self.

Fans should be worried. And they really, really are. Outside CEO Richard Arnold’s house, a group of supporters prepared to protest the Glazers’ ownership – but the CEO instead brought them to a bar to talk things over. Describing the 2021/22 season as a ‘f****** nightmare’ and saying he wasn’t thrilled about where United are, he also revealed he’s worried about the club’s future having ‘burned through cash’.

If that wasn’t bad enough, earlier this week more leaked footage emerged – where Bruno Fernandes appeared to condemn teammates Fred and Alex Telles for filming a YouTube video at the training ground. The 27-year-old was caught dishing out an expletive-filled rant towards the Brazilian duo. Urging them to ‘Stop being such ballers! You are here to play football, not film it,” before instructing their camera crew to “Film my dick”. Telles and Fred’s reaction? “Chill out, you f***er!”.

Evidently, all is not well amongst the squad, morale is low, relationships are twisted and miracles need to be performed by the new man in charge to achieve any sort of success heading into the upcoming season. Miracles can only happen amongst those who believe in them – but this Manchester United squad bear no belief whatsoever, the likelihood remains no matter how high Erik Ten Hag’s stock can rise during his time at the club, he may inevitably fall foul to the same exorbitant responsibilities all 7 previous managers have found quite literally too much to manage.

Verdict: 6th

Ten Hag may hit the ground running early on the season, down to a temporary morale lift often formed as a result of a new managers introduction – but the clubs inadequate boardroom capabilities, a lacklustre transfer market and failure to replace key members in the squad (even with the coupe of De Jong), paired with a lack of identity on the pitch and the over reliance on Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo is a recipe for disaster. But are we really surprised anymore?