The Premier League 2023/24 season kick-starts today as Manchester City host Burnley at the Etihad Stadium fot their first fixture of the campaign. Ahead of the new season, which promises to be fierce, GOAL has named the most important player from each team.
While reigning champions Manchester City face intense challenges, Arsenal's strong signings, Manchester United's continuous improvement, and the expected revivals of Chelsea and Liverpool all contribute to the heightened competition. Tottenham and Newcastle United will also have significant impact in the shaping of the Top 6 of the league table.
Arsenal: Bukayo Saka
Saka's remarkable progression persisted in 2022-23. While club captain Martin Odegaard's creativity is crucial for Arsenal, Saka's global impact as a winger is unparalleled. With 15 goals and 11 assists last season, his performance continues to improve. In an even stronger squad this year, his potential is going to thrive.
Manchester City: Kevin De Bruyne
While Erling Haaland is the primary goal scorer for the Citizens, his goals would have been significantly reduced by 13 without Kevin De Bruyne's incredible playmaking. The Belgium international's unreal 31 assists across all competitions were pivotal in City's historic treble win last season. As Pep Guardiola's men strive to protect their titles, his unmatched impact remains crucial, possibly heightened by taking over the captaincy after Ilkay Gundogan's exit.
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Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk
The Reds possess ample attacking strength, relying on the prolific trio of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz for goals. Yet, their defensive vulnerabilities require attention, a task entrusted to captain Virgil van Dijk. Leading the team, he must bolster a revamped squad defense after a disappointing 2022-23 season marked by notable individual and collective errors.
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Chelsea: Reece James
If not for Christopher Nkunku's unfortunate knee surgery sidelining him for about three months, he'd have claimed the title of Chelsea's key player. Nonetheless, considering his delayed start, focus turns to Reece James. Positioned at right-back, James holds the potential to be the team's primary creative force. Moreover, his presence could stabilize a defense that has seen fluctuations recently.
Newcastle United: Bruno Guimaraes
Eddie Howe's side showed great balance last season, evenly distributing goals in attack and maintaining a strong defense. Central midfielder Bruno Guimaraes played a metronomic role, expertly guiding the team. His skills in ball distribution and tackling make an impact on both offense and defense. Newcastle struggled in his absence due to a shortage of midfield options. A potential strong partnership with new addition Sandro Tonali is anticipated.
Manchester United: Bruno Fernandes
While Marcus Rashford delivered many goals last season, Bruno Fernandes has stood as Manchester United's reliable performer since his Premier League debut and remains pivotal in their 2023-24 strategy. His dynamic and aggressive style perfectly aligns with head coach Erik ten Hag's preferences, essential for unlocking potential in newcomer Rasmus Hojlund. Taking over the captaincy from Harry Maguire underscores the Portugal international's leadership.
Tottenham Hotspur: James Maddison
This choice hinges on Harry Kane's decision amid Bayern Munich's strong interest. If he does move to Allianz Arena, James Maddison must step in to provide creativity and goals. Maddison's partnership with Son Heung-min becomes crucial to prevent a repeat of the latter's challenging previous season, especially if Kane departs.
West Ham: Lucas Paqueta
Although Declan Rice remains irreplaceable for West Ham, Lucas Paqueta is now tasked with stepping into the midfield void. While not known for ball-winning, his surprising ability in that aspect was evident last season. With strong dribbling skills to evade pressure, he needs to improve his attacking stats, although his technical prowess offers promise.
Brighton: Kaoru Mitoma
Brighton have experienced the departure of Alexis Mac Allister and might face another loss if Liverpool secures Moises Caicedo. While Roberto De Zerbi's standout team faces being dismantled, Kaoru Mitoma remains a steadfast figure. The Japanese talent, after a remarkable debut season, is set to bear significant responsibility with his impressive 10 goals and eight assists. As a dynamic winger, Mitoma possesses the qualities to excel once more.
Brentford: Kevin Schade
Losing Ivan Toney to an eight-month ban due to FA's betting rules is of utmost significance. Brentford areleft without their primary goal-scorer and influential figure until January. Currently, there's no replacement following his departure in the summer transfer window. This situation places considerable responsibility on the shoulders of January signing Kevin Schade, bought for £21.5 million (€25m). Though Schade hasn't made a significant impact yet, he must step up in the upcoming season to fill Toney's void.
Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins
Unai Emery has achieved a pleasing equilibrium in his Aston Villa team this summer, securing notable signings like Youri Tielemans, Moussa Diaby, and Pau Torres. Yet, to contend for a top-six position, consistent goal-scoring is essential. In the absence of another prolific scorer, Ollie Watkins remains Villa's main hope. Following his impressive previous Premier League season, he's anticipated to build upon his progress and maintain his upward trend.
Wolves: Matheus Nunes
After prolonged links to Barcelona, Ruben Neves, the midfield standout, has departed Molineux to join Al-Hilal, a surprising choice over European giants. Wolves are banking on Matheus Nunes as a replacement, despite his modest debut Premier League season after transferring from Sporting CP. Having recorded only one goal and assist, Nunes is now anticipated to step up in the upcoming 2023-24 season and fill the void left by Neves.
Burnley: Josh Brownhill
Following quiet seasons at Burnley, Josh Brownhill's role evolved notably in the Championship last year. Leading under Vincent Kompany, he played a key role in securing the league title and promotion. Now, the expectation is for him to carry his creative prowess into the Premier League, building on his impressive tally of 15 combined goals and assists from last season.
Fulham: Joao Palhinha
As Aleksandar Mitrovic is nearning an exit, Fulham must identify a new leading figure for the upcoming season. Joao Palhinha played a crucial role in their triumphant return to the Premier League, central to their playing style. His ability to win the ball initiated numerous attacks, evident from his league-leading 148 tackles. Considering his impact, Fulham's valuation of £60m on Palhinha, a substantial increase from his acquisition cost a year ago, is justified.
Everton: James Tarkowski
Crystal Palace: Eberechi Eze
Crystal Palace face a notable blow in the departure of talisman Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray on a free transfer. As a result, there's an increased responsibility on Eberechi Eze for both creativity and goal-scoring. Eze, now an England international, has steadily become more influential each season and seems poised to fill Zaha's void. In the previous season, he led Palace in scoring, being the sole player to achieve double figures in a team struggling for goals.
Bournemouth: Dominic Solanke
Although Dominic Solanke's technical skills were never in question, doubts persisted about his productivity. Yet, he proved himself in 2022-23, tallying 14 goal involvements as the newly-promoted team, led by Gary O'Neil, miraculously avoided relegation. Impressively, he evenly divided his contributions between scoring and assisting.
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Sheffield United: John Egan
With a star player like Iliman Ndiaye leaving for Marseille, recently promoted Sheffield United might lean on defensive strength this season. Ireland's John Egan will play a crucial role in this, returning to the Premier League with captaincy responsibilities for the Blades. Having excelled during the promotion campaign in the Championship, Egan must elevate his performance further to ensure his team's top-tier survival.
Nottingham Forest: Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White took time to settle at Nottingham Forest, yet emerged as their most reliable attacking midfielder, aiding their survival with a sequence of positive outcomes. His impressive late-season display highlighted his importance. His determination becomes key as Forest aims to evade the potential challenges of second-season syndrome in 2023-24.
Luton Town: Carlton Morris
Having secured promotion through the play-offs, Luton has maintained a conservative stance in the transfer market. As a result, they will depend on the existing players who contributed to their success. The spotlight will be on striker Carlton Morris, aiming to replicate his 20-goal performance in the Championship as he transitions to the Premier League.
