Six Reasons to Be Excited to Have the Premier League Return
It’s all kicking off...again! And while the stands may be empty, our hearts are full; more than three months since a ball was last struck in anger, the Premier League is back – and we’re counting down the minutes until the ref’s whistle blows.
So what have we missed – and what are we looking forward to? Well, we’d probably need to write a book to cover everything! But for starters, here’s six of the best; why the return of England’s top flight has us feeling like winners already…
POOL PARTY
They’ve waited 30 years for a title at Anfield, but the last few months have been nothing short of torture for Liverpool fans; close enough to touch the trophy, yet waiting for the world to right itself again. Now that we’re back in action, there seems to be only one question; when will they seal the deal? It could come as early as this Sunday against crosstown rivals Everton; or maybe they’ll have to wait until the following Tuesday against Crystal Palace. Both games are live on Sky Sports, Virgin TV 401 – so whenever it is, you’ll be able to see it!
THE EURO ZONE
The race for European qualification is always full of drama; throw in Manchester City’s ban – which still stands right now – and it could be more dramatic than ever! Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester United start in the box seats, but Wolves and Sheffield United are in hot pursuit. The real drama, though, might be in North London, where Arsenal and Tottenham could spring a summer surprise to crash the party in the run-in. So, yeah – get ready for some fun!
BEAT THE DROP
Norwich have long looked set for the Championship, five points adrift at the bottom, but above them a classic dogfight looks like developing. Five sides sit within four points of each other, with two destined for the drop; Brighton, West Ham, Watford, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa all in the danger zone. Of course, for out-of-form sides the break might have been just the tonic – funny old game and all that! Brighton have a particularly tricky path – Leicester waiting on Tuesday June 23, with Man Utd a week later, both live on Sky Sports. Villa have a run of home games, meanwhile, which would normally be something of a boon, but...
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The roar of the Kop, the sounds of the Stretford End, the Emirates’...polite conversation. Sorry, Arsenal fans! The unique atmosphere of Premier League grounds are a special part of the game, and no small factor in giving home teams an advantage – so what will the absence of fans mean? Well, results in Germany suggest the closed doors have made home advantage a thing of the past, so even games that might have been foregone conclusions before the break could suddenly be far more competitive affairs!
THE GOAL RUSH
Jamie Vardy began the season scoring goals like they were going out of fashion, bagging 17 by Christmas. At which point he clearly decided it had indeed gone out of fashion, adding just two more from that point. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang currently stands on 17, with Sergio Aguero and Mo Salah one behind – meaning we’ve got an almighty battle for the Golden Boot! Of course, Aubameyang and Aguero don’t have to wait long to see if they can add to their tallies; Man City and Arsenal face off on the first day back, live on Sky Sports this Wednesday!
THERE’S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR
Getting excited about next season seems premature – not least given that we don’t know when it will start! – but for a few clubs, eyes will already be on the future. José Mourinho, Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti will all be sizing up their squads ahead of their first summer in charge, while the usual transfer frenzy is already looming into view. Whether it’s clubs building for the long-term, or players looking to make immediate statements to secure their spots, there’s stories everywhere you look. That’s right – football’s most definitely back!
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