English Premier League: Top Four For The Top Four, Matchday One, 2022-23
Which English Premier League games are you looking forward to this weekend?
The 2022-23 European football season is getting into full swing in just a few weeks and there will be fantastic games week in and week out. As the domestic league season is finally returning, it will be interesting to see how some of these teams handle it while competing in European competitions. With teams playing in the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Conference League it means we will be getting a week’s worth of football games, all leading up to the World Cup in Qatar in November. These are the four most interesting games in the English Premier League for August 6th and 7th, as matchday number one gets underway.
English Premier League Top 4 Games For Matchday One
Saturday, August 6th
1) Fulham vs Liverpool
It will be interesting to see how Fulham looks in their return to the English Premier League after their fantastic season in the English Championship (or division two of the table for casual fans). They have been a team that has consistently gone up and down over the last few years but this year they look like they want to compete for a mid-table or higher finish. Marco Silva returns to the bench after his total winning campaign last season and Aleksandar Mitrović will look to match his impressive goal total from last season as well.
Liverpool provides the best threat to dethrone Manchester City as champions of the English Premier League. They fell just short last season losing by a single point on the table and finishing in second. They will be playing double duty as they will also be having to deal with champions league obligations as well as their English Premier League fixtures. They did have one big departure over the off-season as they lost Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich. However, Egyptian national Mohamed Salah returns and looks to win the English Premier League golden boot this season.
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2) Leeds vs Wolves
At mid-season last year it looked like Leeds United was as good as gone from the English Premier League for this upcoming season. However, Jesse Marsch saved the day and Leeds lived another year. The American influence in England is growing by the day and leads that certainly embraced it as they added both Brendon Aaronson and Tyler Adams to their squad. It is very possible that they could compete for a European spot this season if everything goes correctly.
Wolves last year was a mid-table team that likely outplayed their expectations depending on who you ask. While they could repeat their success this year they will have to fight a lot harder and play a lot better to do so. Truthfully, I can’t see it happening again this season. As I expect him to finish towards the bottom of the table in the English Premier League.
3) Everton vs Chelsea
Everton will be out to prove a lot this season after they were nearly relegated after an abysmal performance last year. They barely escaped the relegation zone as they have been in the English Premier League now for one of the longest consecutive runs out of all the current teams and it would’ve been a devastating blow if they would’ve been relegated last season.
Chelsea is another team that I have a lot to prove after their team full of star stud players struggled throughout the season. Chelsea has another team that has a lot of American influence as one of their star players happens to be Christian Pulisic who is the leading man on the United States men’s national team. On top of that, they also went through an ownership change after a season full of turmoil.
Sunday, August 7th
4) West Ham vs Man City
West Ham United has been on the brink of a top four finish in the English Premier League throughout the majority of the last few seasons. This is a year that they truly think they could break through and find that champions league spot. Personally, I think this team is gonna have to wait yet another season to get their breakthrough moment as I think they will finish just outside the top four and earn themselves another Europa league appearance.
Manchester City is once again looking to become champions of the English Premier League. However, the one thing that has eluded them all these years is a champions league victory and that’s probably what their main focus will be, at least until they are knocked out of the competition. Their biggest competition this season is the aforementioned Liverpool squad but they could also find some competition from squads like Chelsea and Tottenham.
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