The countdown is firmly on for the 2024/25 Premier League season and excitement is building among fans across the world.
Premier League clubs have been active this summer, sparing no expense to strengthen their squads, so the upcoming campaign is set to be more competitive than ever.
Manchester City are aiming to defend their Premier League crown, while Arsenal will be hoping it is third-time lucky in the title race.
At the other end of the table, the newly-promoted trio will be determined to fight for Premier League survival, injecting fresh energy into the fiercely competitive division.
As we prepare for another rollercoaster ride, here are three things to watch out for in the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Alex Paulsen Could be a Bargain Acquisition
Alex Paulsen became Bournemouth’s fourth summer signing after completing a move to the Vitality Stadium from Australia’s A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix.
The highly-rated New Zealand-born goalkeeper enjoyed a breakout season in 2023/24, which earned him a lucrative move to the Premier League.
The 22-year-old conceded just 28 goals in 29 games. He kept 12 clean sheets, helping Phoenix reach the A-League play-offs before they were eliminated by Melbourne Victory.
Paulsen capped an excellent debut season as the first-choice keeper by bagging several accolades, including the Young Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year awards.
The talented keeper is considered a long-term successor for Brazilian keeper Neto, with the 35-year-old approaching the twilight of his career.
It remains to be seen if the Cherries will sanction a loan exit for Paulsen to get regular first-team opportunities or if manager Andoni Iraola will integrate him into the squad immediately.
With Bournemouth eyeing a first top-half finish in seven years, Paulsen’s presence in the team would strengthen the club’s odds of realising their lofty ambitions.
The Kiwi stopper will likely attract plenty of interest on sports betting NZ platforms as punters in his homeland back the Cherries to succeed, especially with one of their own in the spotlight.
Given his eye-catching performances for Phoenix last season, Paulsen could be a good bet to establish himself as Bournemouth’s number one in his debut campaign.
Man City & Arsenal Set to Slug it Out in Another Thrilling Title Race
Man City and Arsenal engaged in one of the most thrilling title races in Premier League history last season, with both sides going head to head for the coveted crown until the final fixture.
Both clubs were keen to etch their names in Premier League history, but Pep Guardiola’s side ultimately beat the Gunners to the punch by clinching an unprecedented fourth league title in a row.
Arsenal have now finished as second-best behind Man City in two consecutive seasons, missing out on the title by five and two points, respectively.
Mikel Arteta must be wondering what he must do to beat his mentor, but he’ll be keen for his side to pick up where they left off last term after winning their final six Premier League games in a row.
It goes without saying that the Gunners will need to accumulate more than 90 points to stand a chance of wrestling the title away from Man City’s grasp.
Guardiola’s side are the team to beat, and Arsenal may need nothing short of perfection to stop them from making it five in a row.
Ipswich Aiming to Avoid Dropping back into the Championship
Ipswich Town ended their 22-year exile from the Premier League in sensational fashion last season.
They defied the bookmakers’ odds to become the first team since Southampton in 2011 and 2012 to achieve back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
Despite their historic run, the Tractor Boys are one of thebookies’ favourites to be relegated from the Premier League this season.
The odds are stacked against them, but they are no strangers to punching above their weight, so it will be interesting to see how they adapt to Premier League football after over two decades away.
Ipswich have been one of the most active Premier Leagueclubs in the transfer market. They’ve reinforced Kieran McKenna’s squad with six new recruits, and there could be more additions before the end of the month.
McKenna must find a way to balance integrating the new signings while retaining the core of last season’s successful team, which will be crucial to the club’s chances of survival.
Ipswich will likely be embroiled in a relegation battle for most of the 2024/25 season, but they’ve made some impressive signings and could be exciting to watch.