New season kicks off on UK’s first dedicated Premier League channel

The best league in the world returns on Friday and the new Sky Sports Premier League channel is the place to see 126 games live this season — here’s why you should be excited about the new season

THE long wait is finally over as the Premier League returns, bigger and better than ever. Chelsea may have reigned victorious last year, but that counts for nothing on 11 August — the first time a Premier League season has kicked off on a Friday night — when Arsenal host Leicester City live on Sky Sports Premier League.

Much has changed over the summer and with rivalries renewed, we’re set for the fiercest title and relegation battles in Premier League history.

RECORD-BREAKING SUMMER

We may not have reached the peak of last year’s total summer transfer spending just yet, but based on outlays so far, you can almost certainly expect to see even more huge transfers in the last five weeks of the window. With six Premier League clubs having already broken their transfer records, the Premier League is gaining some of the world’s best players on our shores.

One such star name arriving this season is Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata, whose move from Real Madrid signals an ambitious attempt by Antonio Conte to further strengthen his side’s firepower. Arsenal too have broken the bank to bring in French international Alexandre Lacazette in the hope they can push their way back into the top four and threaten a title challenge.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have fully utilised their spending power during pre-season with over £200m of talent joining Gabriel Jesus (right) this summer, notably the most expensive defender in history — Bernard Mendy — from Monaco. Not to be outdone by their cross-city rivals, Mourinho’s United have wasted no time in replacing Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic with former Everton hotshot Romelu Lukaku, whose goals could prove invaluable in the title race.

Only time will tell which club has done the best business but it’s sure to be a topic for Jamie Carragher and Co in the new debate show on the Sky Sports Premier League channel every weeknight throughout the season.

AMBITIOUS UPSTARTS

Whilst Everton may have been left reeling by the departure of Lukaku, this summer represents a determined effort to bridge the gap to the big six sides fighting it out for the title.

Re-signing former youth star and England legend Wayne Rooney is a huge sign of intent, as was making goalkeeper Jordan Pickford their new £30million record signing. Going by early preseason showings, the Merseyside club look like they could be a real threat to the existing status quo.

However, they aren’t the only ones attempting to rise up the table, with West Ham’s summer spending on proven Premier League stars — including England’s number one, Joe Hart — a clear demonstration of their desire to progress through experience.

That experience is something Bournemouth too will look to utilise, as goal machine Jermain Defoe heads down to Dean Court in a bid to fire them beyond last year’s impressive ninth place.

FRESH FACES

With the start of every new campaign comes the uncertainty surrounding the new kids on the block, fresh from their Championship promotions. An experienced Premier League side previously, Newcastle will be looking to mark their return to the summit of English football with comfortable survival, and in Spanish manager Rafa Benitez have one of the best tactical minds in the game. Dwight Gayle’s 23 goals last season helped the Tyne side back up to the Premier League as champions and he will be desperate to continue where he left off.

At the other end of the scale, this season marks the arrival of Brighton and Huddersfield for their Premier League debuts.

Brighton will be looking to continue the free-flowing football that delivered them automatic promotion last year and have signed goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to shore up an already assured defence that was the joint meanest in the Championship last season.

Play-off winners Huddersfield, meanwhile, have invested heavily over the summer, breaking their transfer record an incredible four times in the process, with striker Steve Mounie’s arrival from Montpellier the latest at £11m.

They will hope their new boys can hit the ground running instantly in their first season in the top flight for 45 years. Don’t put it past manager David Wagner’s men to cause a few surprises along the way.

Bournemouth host Man City on Saturday, 26th August on Sky Sports Premier League