Dates: 13 August 2021-22 Might 2022Protection: Watch highlights on Match of the Day on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and on-line; Take heed to reside commentary on BBC Radio 5 Dwell, Sports activities Additional and Sounds; reside textual content on BBC Sport web site and app.
Newly promoted Brentford launch the 2021-22 Premier League season once they host Arsenal on Friday (20:00 BST) – the primary of 380 matches over the subsequent 9 months.
The London derby on the Brentford Group Stadium – the primary league assembly between the 2 golf equipment since 1947 – takes place 33 days after the Euro 2020 closing at Wembley.
Champions Manchester Metropolis, who’ve smashed the British switch file to signal Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m, start their title defence at Tottenham on Sunday (16:30).
Champions League winners Chelsea host Crystal Palace on Saturday (15:00).
“This season goes to be one of many strongest Premier League seasons,” mentioned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, supervisor of final season’s runners-up Manchester United.
“Anybody who finally ends up above final yr’s champions can be champions.”
For the primary time in 17 months, capability crowds can be allowed following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Whereas Brentford – nicknamed the Bees – are competing within the Premier League for the primary time, Watford and Norwich have each made quick-fire returns after being relegated in 2019-20.
4 golf equipment – Crystal Palace, Wolves, Everton and Tottenham – begin the season with new bosses.
Who’re the massive signings to look out for? What are the rule adjustments? What are the Covid-19 protocols? What else is new?
Huge signings to this point: Grealish, Sancho, Varane & White
Manchester Metropolis, who completed 12 factors clear on the prime final season, have proven they imply enterprise once more by spending £100m on Aston Villa captain and midfielder Grealish.
The payment surpasses the £89m Manchester United paid to re-sign midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus in 2016.
As well as, Metropolis have indicated an curiosity in Tottenham striker Harry Kane as they intention to win the league for the fourth time in 5 seasons below Pep Guardiola.
With the summer time switch window deadline 23:00 BST on 31 August, golf equipment nonetheless have time to strengthen squads as soon as the season has began.
Manchester United have spent £107m on England winger Jadon Sancho and France 2018 World Cup successful defender Raphael Varane.
Jadon Sancho returns from Germany having beforehand performed for Manchester Metropolis
Chelsea are desirous about signing former United striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan, whereas Arsenal have signed Brighton’s England defender Ben White for £50m because the Gunners look to enhance on final season’s eighth place.
Liverpool, who’ve Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez again in rivalry after long-term accidents, have added defender Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig for £35m.
Elsewhere, Villa have spent a mixed £83m on England striker Danny Ings, Argentine midfielder Emiliano Buendia from Norwich and winger Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen.
FA Cup winners Leicester , who beat Manchester Metropolis within the Group Defend final Saturday, have added midfielder Boubakary Soumare from Lille for a reported £17m.
Tottenham have signed Argentina defender Cristian Romero from Atalanta for £42.5m.
Notable outgoings embrace Manchester Metropolis’s Sergio Aguero to Barcelona, Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud to AC Milan and Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum to Paris St-Germain.
Season to start out with near capability crowds
Not since March 2020 have there been capability crowds at Premier League matches due to Covid-19.
Capability limits at sporting venues have been lifted on 19 July, when the federal government stripped away virtually all remaining authorized restrictions associated to coronavirus.
The 2021-22 season is about to start out with grounds near full capability, aside from any seating deemed to be shut sufficient to the enjoying space to fall into the ‘pink zone’ of the stadium.
The UK authorities is but to resolve whether or not to make it obligatory for followers to indicate proof of full vaccination from the tip of September.
High-flight matches are set to be performed at near full capability
Studies have instructed proof may very well be required for occasions, corresponding to soccer matches, with crowds of 20,000 or extra.
The Premier League needs all golf equipment to trial Covid-19 ticketing measures earlier than doable government-mandated passports.
Chelsea have introduced followers might want to “present proof they’re at low danger of transmitting Covid-19” to enter Stamford Bridge.
Solskjaer says season hasn’t been profitable
New faces in cost
One-fifth of golf equipment within the Premier League have modified managers because the closing day of final season on 23 Might.
Nuno Espirito Santo, who guided Wolves to 2 top-seven finishes, the FA Cup semi-finals and Europa League quarter-finals earlier than leaving in Might, has taken over at Tottenham, who had Ryan Mason in caretaker cost on the finish of final season following Jose Mourinho’s sacking.
Rafael Benitez is again within the Premier League after a two-year absence following his appointment at Everton – which has not been effectively obtained by all Toffees followers.
The previous Liverpool supervisor, who has changed Carlo Ancelotti, referred to as Everton a “small membership” after a draw within the Merseyside derby in 2007.
“It was a very long time in the past,” Benitez, simply the second man to take cost of each Everton and Liverpool, replied to a query about his “small membership” remark.
Beginning the season at a brand new membership: Nuno Espirito Santo (left), Rafael Benitez (second left), Bruno Lage and Patrick Vieira (proper)
Benitez is considered one of 4 Spaniards managing within the prime flight together with Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Metropolis’s Guardiola and Watford’s Xisco Munoz.
Former Benfica boss Bruno Lage has changed fellow Portuguese Nuno at Wolves, whereas France 1998 World Cup winner Patrick Vieira is the new boss at Crystal Palace.
Thicker strains: VAR to be ‘dialled again’
The video assistant referee system was launched to the Premier League in 2019 to evaluate “clear and apparent errors” in 4 game-changing incidents: targets, penalties, straight pink playing cards and mistaken identification.
Regardless of criticism of the system from managers, VAR stays for 2021-22 however there have been changes.
Thicker strains can be used when utilizing VAR to evaluate offside calls.
Final season there have been a number of cases the place a participant’s toe or armpit led to targets being dominated out, which followers and pundits felt was ruining the sport.
The usage of VAR can be ‘dialled again’, with officers advised to not penalise “trivial issues”.
Referees can be below orders to not give the type of penalty that England’s Raheem Sterling was awarded of their Euro 2020 semi-final win over Denmark.
There was solely minimal contact on Sterling when he received a late spot-kick.
What else is new for 2021-22?
Past the time taken to achieve selections, most likely probably the most contentious elements of VAR are handball and offside calls.
For the 2021-22 season, each have been amended.
Within the case of handball:
What’s the hand or arm place in relation to physique motion?Is the physique being made unnaturally greater?
For unintended handball:
It’s an offence if an attacker scores straight or instantly after the ball touches a hand or arm.
So the penalty Leeds conceded at Liverpool final September would not be given, as Mo Salah flicked the ball off Robin Koch’s knee and his arm.
Likewise, Wolves’ Max Kilman would not be punished for the handball that price his aspect in opposition to Leicester as his arm can be deemed to be in a pure place.
For offsides:
Good thing about doubt for attacking sides now restored.
As well as, assistant referees have now been given higher scope to flag for clear offsides instantly, relatively than delay in case they’re unsuitable.
Gamers to proceed taking the knee
Gamers from all 20 Premier League golf equipment will proceed to take the knee earlier than matches to spotlight their opposition to racism.
The Premier League say they “assist wholeheartedly” the choice that has been made.
A ‘No Room For Racism’ sleeve badge may also be worn by gamers and match officers on their shirts.
“We really feel now, greater than ever, it is vital for us to proceed to take the knee as a logo of our unity in opposition to all types of racism,” mentioned a gamers’ assertion launched via the Premier League.
Premier League gamers kneeling in Black Lives Matter solidarity
Tips on how to comply with
The Premier League has been granted authorities permission to roll over its present home tv cope with broadcasters for an extra three years.
The brand new cope with Sky Sports activities, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video and BBC Sport will run from 2022 to 2025.
The earlier deal was price £4.7bn.
Premier League matches will proceed to be screened reside on Sky Sports activities and BT Sport, whereas Match of the Day on the BBC will proceed to display highlights.
As well as, BBC Radio 5 Dwell and 5 Dwell Sports activities Additional could have reside Premier League commentaries all through the season.
Our protection of your Premier League membership is greater and higher than ever earlier than – this is all the things it’s worthwhile to know to ensure you by no means miss a second
