Premier League returns: How is the new season shaping up?

Defending champions Manchester City to visit Burnley in 2023-24 season opener at Turf Moor

By Can Erozden

The 2023-24 English Premier League season will kick off on Friday as defending champions Manchester City visit Burnley at Turf Moor.
The match in Burnley will start at 1900GMT.

The opening match week of the Premier League will see an important game between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, London. It will begin at 1530GMT.

Last season, the Premier League saw a relentless race between champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal. It is expected that both teams will fight for the 2024 Premier League title as well.

Arsenal won the 2023 FA Community Shield by beating Manchester City 4-1 on penalties last weekend to be encouraged for the new season in England.

The 2023-24 Premier League, which has 20 clubs, has been scheduled to end with match week 38 on May 19, 2024, nearly a month before the UEFA EURO 2024.

- Teams reinforced their squads with important signings

This summer, Premier League clubs signed important players to reinforce their squads for the 2023-24 campaign.

In July, Arsenal signed England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham United, which is regarded as one of the big signings in the Premier League.

Croatian central defender Josko Gvardiol arrived at Manchester City from Germany's RB Leipzig this summer. Man City also acquired Gvardiol's compatriot Mateo Kovacic. The Croatia midfielder left Chelsea to join the English champions.

France attacking midfielder Christopher Nkunku was another important signing as Chelsea acquired him from RB Leipzig. However, Nkunku faced a knee injury this week. He is expected to return to action in the fall.

England midfielder Mason Mount left his boyhood club Chelsea for Manchester United in July. Atalanta attacker, Rasmus Hojlund from Denmark was another Manchester United signing this summer.

Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana joined Manchester United from Italy's Inter Milan.

Germany midfielder Kai Havertz, a former Chelsea member, will play for the Blues city rivals Arsenal this season. He is among the big moves in the league.

Alexis Mac Allister, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina, signed for Liverpool this summer. He previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Liverpool also reinforced their midfield by signing Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai.

Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali joined Newcastle United from AC Milan. He was one of the Milan regulars in the past seasons.

Tottenham Hotspur, one of the big clubs in the league, signed England attacking midfielder James Maddison from Leicester City, who were relegated to a lower division last season.

- Premier League record holders: Man Utd

Manchester United are the Premier League's most successful team with 13 titles in the 31 seasons. The Red Devils last won the league in 2013.

The Premier League began in 1992 before it was named the Football League.

There were seven winners in the Premier League: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and Liverpool.

Erling Haaland led Manchester City, the defending champions.

- Premier League's all-time top scorer: Alan Shearer

Former England and Newcastle United forward Alan Shearer is still the Premier League's all-time highest goal scorer, with 260 goals in 441 matches.

Shearer, 52, retired in 2006.

Harry Kane, an active player, is Shearer's nearest opponent on this field.

Tottenham Hotspur's English star Kane, 30, scored 213 goals in 320 appearances. Kane has been playing for Spurs since 2011.

Wayne Rooney, a former Manchester United and Everton forward tallied 208 goals in 491 Premier League appearances to be third in the all-time top scorers list.

The 37-year-old former England star quit playing the game in 2021.

- Match week 1 in Premier League

Friday

Burnley - Manchester City

Saturday, August 12

Arsenal - Nottingham Forest

Bournemouth - West Ham United

Brighton - Luton

Everton - Fulham

Sheffield United - Crystal Palace

Newcastle United - Aston Villa

Sunday, August 13