Premier League 2024/25: Dates, Favourites and More

A thrilling 2023/24 Premier League season has come to an end, with Manchester City crowned champions for the fourth consecutive time, two points ahead of nearest rivals Arsenal. As we look forward to the new season, it’s essential for fans and bettors alike to stay informed about key details and changes. For comprehensive guides and resources on sports betting, you can visit RG. Here’s what to expect from the upcoming season, the form of the teams, and the schedule for the most exciting games.

When does the 2024/25 season start and end?

The Premier League has confirmed that the first match of the 2024/25 season will take place on Friday 17 August, 90 days after the end of the previous season. The last round is scheduled for 25 May and all 10 matches will start at the same time.

Schedule changes

In order to relieve the busy schedule of games over Christmas and New Year's Day, league management has taken steps to give clubs extra time off in three of the holiday game weeks. No team will play for 60 hours after the previous match.

For the first time since 1995, a Premier League match was played on Christmas Eve 2023, when Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Chelsea 2-1 at Molineux. However, there will be no festive matches in 2024.

What is the format of the English Premier League

The English Premier League is played in a round-robin format: a team plays one match at home and one away. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero for a defeat.

According to the results of 38 rounds, the final table is formed: the best club becomes the champion, and the three worst are relegated. The position in the table also affects the qualification for European competitions: the first four teams qualify for the Champions League, the fifth - for the Europa League.

Two more tickets - one each to the Europa League and the Conference League - are given to the winners of the FA Cup and the League Cup. But if they are the top-five teams in the APL, which already qualify for the European Cup, the tickets will go to the sixth and seventh teams in the league.

How many total matches are there in the season?

The 2024/25 season will consist of 380 matches, including 33 weekend games, four midweek rounds, and one game week on bank holidays. The full schedule will be published on 18 June.

Who are the favourites to win the league title?

Under Pep Guardiola, who has confirmed he will stay at the Etihad Stadium for another season, Manchester City remain the team to beat, having won six of the last seven titles.

The Citizens have long dominated the domestic scene, breaking numerous records. One of the secrets to their success is Guardiola's ability to constantly adapt his philosophy and carry out mini-rebuilds, replacing key players with new talent.

Championship contenders

It won't be easy to break Manchester City's winning streak, but if their level drops a little, then Mikel Arteta's side, Arsenal, can take advantage of that. The Gunners fought for the title until the last day in the 2023/24 season but ended up finishing second. Nevertheless, given the progress under Arteta, Arsenal will be considered one of the favourites.

Other contenders

Liverpool: the only team to have beaten Manchester City in the last seven seasons (2019/20 season). After nine years under Jurgen Klopp, a new era awaits the team with Arne Slot.

Manchester United: since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, the Red Devils have never been able to regain the league title. Whether Erik ten Hag will continue is still unknown, but off the pitch there have already been changes aimed at returning the club to former heights.

Chelsea: after a disappointing 12th place in the 2022/23 season, the team under the leadership of Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the season still managed to win the right to participate in the European Cup. Let's see what the Blues will show with the new coach.

Conclusion

The 2024/25 season promises to be an exciting one. Will Manchester City be able to continue their dominance, or will any of the challengers be able to dethrone them? We will find out the answers to these questions very soon.