EPL Weekly Wrap | Premier League Headlines – Round 1 Preview

A new season starts on Saturday morning NZT, and I don’t think I’ve ever been less certain about who finishes where. 

There are nine new managers across the division. A record British transfer broken twice in the same window. Defending champions Arsenal just dismantled Manchester City 3-0 in Cardiff, and City might be about to lose their best midfielder before the opener. 

If you’re looking at the best betting apps ahead of the weekend, good luck pricing this lot up. Here’s a breakdown of all the Premier League news you may have missed this past week.

Sunday’s Community Shield was meant to be a first look at the post-Guardiola era. It lasted about 24 seconds. 

Riccardo Calafiori met a Myles Lewis-Skelly pass on the edge of the area and slotted past Gianluigi Donnarumma before many fans had even found their seats. Kai Havertz doubled the lead on 28 minutes after Martin Odegaard’s cross was headed on by Christos Tzolis, with Havertz’s effort fumbled over the line by Donnarumma. Odegaard then added a third early in the second half, walking the ball past Josko Gvardiol and into an empty net.

I expected City to be rusty under Enzo Maresca, but this was worse than rusty. Their press was non-existent in the first half and they created nothing until the game was gone. Maresca talked afterwards about already knowing what he needed to do in the transfer market, which doesn’t exactly radiate confidence.

City’s bigger problem is Rodri. He was omitted from the Community Shield squad, and Barcelona have reportedly agreed a deal worth €65 million plus €5 million in bonuses. City had been holding out for closer to €80 million, so Barcelona got it done below that threshold. I think the confirmation is just a matter of time now. 

Losing a Ballon d’Or winner a year after losing Guardiola is rough. Elliot Anderson – for all his quality – is a different type of player. If Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille arrives, that softens things, but he’s still only 18.

Arsenal have their own concerns. William Saliba has been nursing a back problem since March and aggravated it at the World Cup. He’s now on a rehabilitation programme – no surgery required, but no firm return date either. Jurrien Timber is also out with a groin issue. Arteta will lean on Gabriel and Piero Hincapie at centre-back for the opening weeks, with Cristhian Mosquera as another option.

Liverpool’s appointment of Andoni Iraola is one I’m really interested in. 

The manager left Bournemouth after an 18-match unbeaten run to end last season and takes over a squad that underperformed badly under Arne Slot. Mohamed Salah is gone. Conor Bradley is still injured. 

Iraola has signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna so far, but the real question is how he uses Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, both of whom had underwhelming 2025-26 campaigns. His opening fixture at Newcastle on Monday morning NZT is a big test from the start.

At Old Trafford, Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge feels significant too. 

He finished third last year after being appointed as interim manager in January, and United are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2023-24. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans arrived for a combined £83 million to replace the departed Casemiro, and Marcus Rashford is back from his loan at Barcelona. 

I expect United to be competitive, though their defence still needs reinforcing before the window closes.

Coventry City return to the top flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship by 11 points. Frank Lampard has done impressive work since taking over with the club near the drop zone in November 2024. Their reward is Arsenal away at 7am Saturday NZT for anyone wanting to catch the curtain-raiser.

Hull City are back after nine years away, promoted through the play-offs thanks to Oli McBurnie’s 94th-minute winner in a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the final. I thought they were dead at half-time. They host Manchester United at 11:30pm Saturday NZT.

Ipswich Town, who finished second in the Championship, open at home to Sunderland at 2am Sunday NZT. Of the three promoted sides, I reckon Ipswich have the best chance of establishing themselves long-term. But I said that about Leicester two years ago, so take that with a grain of salt.

Newcastle host Liverpool at 3:30am Monday NZT in arguably the best fixture of the round. Manchester City’s first competitive league match under Maresca is at home to Bournemouth at 1am Monday. 

For NZ punters browsing legal betting sites for pre-season odds, Arsenal are heavy favourites to retain their title, but I wouldn’t rule out a late charge from United if Carrick gets another couple of signings over the line. If you’re using the best live betting sites this season, the curtain-raiser is a good place to start.