The 2024/25 Premier League season is fast approaching, bringing with it a clean slate for players looking to rewrite their narratives.
Several players have consistently been under the spotlight for underwhelming performances, and this season could be makeor break for them.
Whether it is due to injury, loss of form or the immense pressure that comes with a hefty price tag, several high-profile players have failed to live up to expectations.
With plenty of fans and pundits questioning their abilities, the new season presents a chance for these players to silence critics, rediscover their top form and prove their worth.
Evan Ferguson – Brighton & Hove Albion
Evan Ferguson was regarded as the golden boy of Irish football after bursting onto the scene at Brighton & Hove Albion.
He bagged six goals in 19 games during a sensational breakout year and began last season with the same promise, matching his tally from the previous campaign in fewer games.
Ferguson also equalled Wayne Rooney’s record for most goals by a teenager in a calendar year, further cementing his status as one of the finest prospects in the Premier League.
However, the goals have dried up and the Republic of Ireland international’s progress has been significantly hampered by injuries.
The Irishman expected to return in the first half of the new season, and he will be desperate to recapture his form and end his 23-game goal drought for club and country.
Although he is still a teenager, much is expected from the Irish striker, and his return to action could bolster Brighton’s chances of a top-six finish this season.
Popular Irish betting apps have handed the Seagulls juicy odds to qualify for Europe and their summer activity reflects the ambitions of a club determined to gatecrash the established order.
New manager Fabian Huerzeler is still an unknown quantity, but his prospects of defying the odds will be significantly boosted if Ferguson recaptures his scoring form.
Marcus Rashford – Manchester United
Eyebrows were raised when Gareth Southgate omitted Marcus Rashford from his England squad for the 2024 European Championship tournament.
Missing out on the plane to Germany was a stark reminder of the 60-cap forward’s fall from grace, but he could have had little complaint, considering his appalling form last season.
Rashford bagged just seven goals and two assists in 33 Premier League games, and two of those came from the penalty spot.
It was a sharp decline from the previous season, where he established himself as Man United’s talisman after taking the Premier League by storm with 17 goals and five assists in 35 games.
His sensational form stretched beyond the Premier League, with the Man United academy graduate notching a combined 30 goals and ten assists in 56 appearances across all competitions.
His tally resulted in him becoming the first Red Devils player in a decade to hit the 30-goal mark in a season, earning him the club’s Player of the Year accolade.
Just 12 months on, the Mancunian is one of the Premier League’s high-profile names who will be looking to prove heis not a one-season wonder in 2024/25.
Rashford’s struggles in front of goal has forced Man United to splash the cash in the transfer market, with the club payingaround £35 million to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
Rasmus Hojlund will also be looking to build on his ten Premier League goals next season, so Rashford must rediscover his spark to keep his place in Erik ten Hag’s team.
His 30-goal season earned him a new contract at Old Trafford, making him one of the best-paid players in the squad, so much is expected from the England international this season.
Darwin Nunez – Liverpool
Darwin Nunez falls under the big-money signing flop category, and he’s certainly a high-profile player who needs to justify his outrageous price tag this season.
Liverpool paid £73 million to sign him from Benfica two years ago – a deal that raised several eyebrows, given the Reds are not accustomed to splashing such huge amounts on a single player.
However, since he arrived at Anfield, Nunez has only shown flashes of his brilliance and his finishing has been hugelyerratic and frustrating to watch.
Nunez boasts a blend of raw power, pace and unpredictability that makes him a nightmare for defenders, yet his finishing has often left much to be desired.
Last season’s statistics paint a complex picture. While his 18 goals and 13 assists were impressive, he underperformed his expected goals (xG) by seven, ranking him among the worst in the Premier League.
The numbers are even more disappointing when you consider he was presented with 33 big chances but only converted six – the worst record among strikers with 30 or more such opportunities.
The Uruguayan is a goalscoring machine waiting to happen, but also a frustratingly profligate finisher. This season could be make or break for the former Benfica man.