It’s here! The 2017-18 Premier League season is finally upon us! After weeks without the beautiful game, we can finally watch a Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City take on their fierce rivals for the chance of that elusive third Premier League title.
It has been an exciting transfer window and pre-season, with a number of new faces and a few departures. The big names include Kyle Walker from Tottenham Hotspur and Benjamin Mendy from AS Monaco, who will massively improve an area which has cost City so much in the past few seasons. Another high-profile capture has been Bernardo Silva, also from Monaco, who has the ability to play in a number of positions. His versatility will prove useful to Guardiola this coming season.
Key departures include Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta, who have gone to West Ham United, as well as Jesus Navas and Nolito, both going to Sevilla. Youth players such as Aleix Garcia, Pablo Maffeo and new signing Douglas Luiz have been loaned to either Spanish side Girona or Dutch side NAC Breda.
City’s first opponent, Brighton, have had a busy summer. They have signed a number of players from a range of leagues to replenish their squad for the start of the new season. The biggest signing could potentially be Jose Izquierdo from Club Brugge in Belgium for what would be a record fee of £13.5 million. Manager Chris Hughton will have a tough job on his hands to keep a club who will be playing in the Premier League for the first time. Despite this, they will want to make a good impression by putting in a good performance.
Here’s how we expect Pep Guardiola to set out his team for the game.
GK - Ederson Moraes
New signing Ederson will most likely make his Premier League debut.
RB - Kyle Walker
Another new signing in Walker will make his City debut at right-back.
CB - Vincent Kompany
The Captain will start as part of a back four to contest Brighton’s aerial threat.
CB - John Stones
Stones will be eager to prove to Pep Guardiola that he is crucial to City’s defence this season. He will most likely start over Otamendi and Mangala.
LB - Danilo
Danilo isn’t officially a left-back, but can play on both flanks and in the midfield. His versatile qualities will be helpful to City when injuries occur to certain players. He will complete the back four.
CM - Yaya Toure
Yaya will start in front of the defence to dictate the play once again for the Citizens.
CAM - Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin looks set to have a fantastic season after achieving the award for most assists in the league last time out. He will start behind the strikers.
CAM - David Silva
Albeit a different hairstyle, Silva is still the same enigmatic magician that we all know and love. His presence will cause nightmares for opposition defences once again this year.
LM - Leroy Sane
Leroy was superb in his first season at the club, and will be looking to continue his progression whilst helping City to potentially a third Premier League title. He will start on the left flank ahead of Danilo.
RM - Raheem Sterling
Raheem has had a scintillating pre-season for City and looks ready to perform. He will most likely start on the right flank ahead of Walker.
ST - Gabriel Jesus
Like Sterling, Jesus has had a good pre-season for City and looks ready to lead the Citizens strikeforce alongside Aguero this campaign.
ST - Sergio Aguero
This is a big season for Aguero, despite scoring over 30 goals in all competitions last season. He needs to convert more of his opportunities, and if he can do that City will be huge favourites for the title.