With transfer records been shattered owing to huge amount of money have been splashed to rope in players, analysts speculate that the 25th edition of the coveted league can bring about some of the fiercest battle to the EPL title.
The stage is set, the players are all geared up as the new season of the English Premier League kicks-off tonight at the Emirates Stadium with the first match between newly crowned Community Shield winner Arsenal and former EPL title holder Leicester City.
Later into the Saturday night, defending champions Chelsea will host Burnley with an aim to get off to a good start in their title-defense campaign, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will travel down to Falmer Stadium to play against league debutants Brighton. With transfer records been shattered owing to huge amount of money have been splashed to rope in players, analysts speculate that the 25th edition of the coveted league can bring about some of the fiercest battle to the EPL title.
1. Arsenal FC
)
Arsene Wenger brokered a fragile truce with Arsenal's dissenting fans by winning the FA Cup, but has little margin for error ahead of Friday's opener against Leicester City.
With the future of unsettled Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez still up in the air, France striker Alexandre Lacazette arrives as the long-term face of Arsenal's attack after his club-record switch from Lyon.
Lacazette hit 37 goals in 45 games last season and Wenger desperately needs the 26-year-old to emulate that form.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
2. AFC Bournemouth
)
Bournemouth's early off-season transfer activity has improved the quality of the squad. They have signed goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and defender Nathan Ake from Chelsea, and picked up midfielder Connor Mahoney and striker Jermain Defoe on free transfers. Several senior players also signed new long-term deals.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
3. Brighton and Hove Albion
)
The step-up to the Premier League presents a challenge to all promoted clubs but hosting the title favourites Manchester City on day one gives Brighton and Hove Albion little chance to ease themselves into the top flight.
Brighton have been busy in the transfer market since securing promotion from the Championship after two excellent seasons for Chris Hughton's team.
Two of the most impressive deals have come in the final week of pre-season with club record signings of midfielder Davy Propper from PSV Eindhoven and Colombian winger Jose Izquierdo from Club Brugge.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
4. Burnley FC
)
Burnley will be hoping to capitalise on early-season uncertainty as they bid to emerge from a visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday with a surprise win over Premier League champions Chelsea.
Last season, Burnley lost 3-0 at Chelsea and drew 1-1 at Turf Moor but the Lancashire club's defender Ben Mee believes that results early in the last campaign, including home wins over Liverpool and Everton and a draw at Manchester United, are a cause for optimism.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
5. Chelsea FC
)
Just three months after lifting the Premier League trophy, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has described the new season as the most "difficult" test of his career.
Conte has spent over £100 million ($130 million, 110.8 million euros) on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger to avoid facing an unexpected axe.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
6. Crystal Palace
)
Crystal Palace were dragged into a relegation fight last year, with Sam Allardyce managing to save the Eagles from the drop, but this season has brought new hope with the introduction of former Ajax boss Frank De Boer.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
7. Everton FC
)
Encouraged by Everton's seventh-place finish last season, manager Ronald Koeman has gone for broke in a bid to crack the top four.
Using the money from Romelu Lukaku's sale, he has brought former Toffees star Wayne Rooney back home, while spending over £90 million on Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane and Jordan Pickford among others.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
8. Huddersfield Town
)
Huddersfield Town will stick to last season's promotion-winning formula as they compete in their first top tier campaign in 45 years. They finished fifth in the Championship but progressed through the playoffs to reach the top flight and manager David Wagner insists he is in no hurry to change tactics this season.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
9. Leicester City
)
It seems a lot longer than 15 months since Leicester City's fairytale title win in 2016.
A dismal title defence and the shock sacking of Claudio Ranieri raised questions about the players' character, but a run to the Champions League quarter-finals under Craig Shakespeare augured well.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
10. Liverpool FC
)
After a fourth-place finish last season, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp splashed out a club-record £43.9 million on Roma winger Mohamed Salah, boosting a squad already brimming with potential.
But with Barcelona chasing star man Philippe Coutinho, winning Liverpool's first title since 1990 would be a remarkable achievement for Klopp.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
11. Manchester City
)
Unable to replicate his dominance with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola admitted his trophy-less first season with Manchester City had been a learning experience.
Spending over £200 million on six new players, including Tottenham Hotspur's Kyle Walker and Monaco duo Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva, puts Guardiola in position to mount a stronger challenge this time.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
12. Manchester United
)
Jose Mourinho's first season at Manchester United was a qualified success, with a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Premier League offset by Europa League and League Cup silverware.
Not content with that, Mourinho has spent over £140 million on Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof in a bid to win United's first league title since 2013.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
13. Newcastle United
)
From jubilation to growing alarm: just another three months in the life of Newcastle United. It has hardly been a secret that Rafa Benitez is concerned with a transfer window that has failed to significantly strengthen the side he led back to the Premier League.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
14. Southampton FC
)
Southampton will host a rejuvenated Swansea City side in their opening Premier League clash of the season on Saturday afternoon in what will be Mauricio Pellegrino’s first game in charge of the Saints.
Southampton have endured a relatively indifferent pre-season, with draws against Switzerland’s St Gallen and Championship outfit Brentford being followed by victory over Ligue 1’s Saint Etienne.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
15. Stoke City
)
Stoke City open their campaign with a trip to big-spending Everton. The situation with skipper Ryan Shawcross's contract, interest in Joe Allen from Swansea City, and a partner for striker Saido Berahino have been some of the headaches for manager Mark Hughes ahead of the season.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
16. Swansea City
)
Swansea City and Everton are close to ending the transfer impasse over Gylfi Sigurdsson and agreeing a deal under which the Iceland midfielder would move to Merseyside
This could prove to be a heavy blow for Swansea as Sigurdsson played a significant part in them avoiding relegation last season, scoring 10 goals in all competitions and making 13 assists, the third best in the Premier League.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
17. Tottenham Hotspur
)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has assembled a side capable of holding their own against anyone, but for two years in a row they have fallen short in the title race.
Having finished seven points behind Chelsea, Spurs have yet to make a single signing, while Walker's sale to City and a season playing their home games at Wembley adds to Pochettino's problems.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
18. Watford FC
)
Coach Marco Silva has told Premier League big spenders to forget about poaching Troy Deeney because he is staying at Watford - as captain.
The arrival of £18million record signing Andre Gray cast fresh doubt on Deeney's place at Vicarage Road, but new Hornets boss Silva insists one has arrived to supplement the other, not to replace him.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
19. West Bromwich Albion
)
West Bromwich Albion posted a top ten finish last season, their first since 2013, but their squad is currently dangerously thin in terms of senior bodies and work is still to be done before closure of the transfer window at the end of the month.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
20. West Ham United
)
West Ham United have made a number of impressive signings across the summer so far. They are set to welcome Aaron Cresswell and Manuel Lanzini back from injuries suffered during pre-season.
However, Sofiane Feghouli, Cheikhou Kouyate, Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio are all expected to miss their opener against Manchester United.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
