With the 2022/23 Premier League season still fresh in the memory fans up and down the country are counting down the days until the new season starts.
The players are back in training and, with no major international responsibilities, there are some pretty tasty friendlies in the schedule as the league’s biggest clubs take their game around the world. Much of the current Premier League 2023 news concentrates on the transfer activity and some stars will be settling in with new clubs.
So let’s take a look at four eye-catching matches set to take place this month.
22nd July: Arsenal vs Manchester United at the MetLife Stadium, USA
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal came so close to glory last season, finishing runners up to Manchester City after leading the table for much of the campaign and the Gunners will hope to kick on again this season. Manchester United too made progress under Erik Ten Hag. The Red Devils won the Carabao Cup and reached the final of the FA Cup, while earning a Champions League place with a top four finish.
Both teams will hope to push Manchester City hard in 2023/24 and are looking for players who can improve their first elevens. Arsenal have already made a move, signing Kai Havertz from Chelsea and travelling fans will be able to see the German forward in action. The Red Devils have plenty of support in the United States and the MetLife Stadium will be full of expectation to see two of the Premier League’s most exciting teams.
23rd July: Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur at the Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand
So Leicester City, the 2016 Premier League Champions and 2021 FA Cup winners, are now a second tier club after suffering relegation last season. And when they face Spurs in Thailand they may well come up against their former star James Maddison who has arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a £40m deal. Vincenzo Maresca, one of Pep Guardiola’s assistant coaches at Manchester City has taken the reigns at Leicester and will be hopeful of taking the Foxes straight back to the Premier League. But the Championship is a hard league to get out of, with 46 games to play, and Maresca will try to get his squad settled in good time.
Spurs have a new boss too, with Ange Postecoglou heading to London after two successful campaigns as Celtic boss and the jury is out as to whether he can make the leap into the best league in the world. The new Tottenham manager may have to start the campaign without talisman Harry Kane who is subject to much transfer speculation with Bayern Munich at the head of the queue for the England striker’s signature.
26th July: Bayern Munich vs Manchester City at the Japan National Stadium
The SBOTOP stats team is working hard on the Premier League 2023 betting odds but there is little doubt that Manchester City will start the next campaign as favourites. And as part of the Sky Blues’ pre-season preparations they have this blockbuster clash against the German champions to test their sharpness. Having won the treble in 2023, Pep Guardiola’s side are searching for more success and, if Erling Braut Haaland continues to progress they could be unstoppable. The former Borussia Dortmund striker will welcome the chance to face his old Klassiker foes and get scoring again.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel got the better of the Sky Blues when he was manager of Chelsea, notably at the 2021 Champions League final, but the Bavarians struggled to win the 2023 Bundesliga title, pipping BVB at the post on a dramatic final day and Tuchel has some serious work to do in the transfer market.
27th July: Chelsea vs Newcastle United at the Mercedez Benz Stadium USA
There’s more entertainment in store for fans in the USA when Todd Boehly’s Chelsea take on Saudi owned Newcastle United in Atlanta, Georgia. Blues fans may have a chance to see new signing Christopher Nkunku who has joined the Londoners in a £52m move from Red Bull Leipzig. New boss Mauricio Pochettino may not have long to mould his squad and pre-season is vital for Chelsea, who will have a difficult job to fight their way into the top six.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle did just that last season and they will play in the Champions League next term, with a chance to meet the likes of Real Madrid, FC Bayern and Napoli. This will be a fascinating friendly between a club which has tasted much success over the past two decades and one which is desperate to join the world’s elite. Newcastle won’t be slow to spend over the summer and Magpies fans might see some new faces too.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
