The wait for the return of English football comes to an end at the beginning of August, as the 2022-23 Premier League season finally gets underway. This year promises to be like no other season, as there will be a month-long break in the middle of the campaign due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

However, the same questions remain for the forthcoming season, as the title challenge, relegation rivalries, and top scorer races will make for captivating viewing. As of July 25, Manchester City are the clear favourites to regain their Premier League title at 4/6 with Betway, while Liverpool is an 11/4 chance. But, what are some of the biggest questions ahead of the new season?

More Manchester City Dominance?

Manchester City have got their hands on the Premier League title in three of the previous four seasons, and there is little doubt that they look to have finally added the final piece of the jigsaw with the addition of Erling Haaland. The former Borussia Dortmund star fills a void left empty since the departure of Sergio Aguero last summer, and could yet be the difference-maker in Manchester City’s pursuit of Champions League glory. However, keeping hold of the Premier League title would be the main goal for Pep Guardiola’s side this term, as they look to fend off the challenge from a new-look Liverpool side.

The Reds have needed to replace Sadio Mane this summer, as the Senegalese finally managed to force through a move to Bayern Munich. After impressing for Benfica against Liverpool in the Champions League last season, Jurgen Klopp identified Darwin Nunez as the perfect candidate to replace Mane, but he will need to hit the ground running in 2022-23 if Liverpool are going to fight for the league title.

The most interesting rival in the title race may actually come in the form of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have managed to keep hold of Harry Kane and Heung Min-Son, while the additions of Yves Bissouma and Richarlison add depth to their squad. Few would be surprised to see Tottenham in the hunt under the stewardship of a renowned winner, such as Conte.

Can Any Of The Newly Promoted Sides Survive?

The race to stay in the Premier League is always one of the most interesting stories to follow throughout the season, and that will once again be the case in 2022-23, on either side of the World Cup. The newly promoted trio of Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Fulham have already splashed the cash this summer, and a quick start for all three could be the difference between fighting for places in the middle of the standings or sweating safety throughout the campaign.

Out of the three, Forest have done the best business to this point, which includes deals for Dean Henderson and Jesse Lingard. However, the signing of Taiwo Awoniyi could be the standout piece of business. The 24-year-old impressed in the Bundesliga last season with Union Berlin, as he scored 20 goals in all competitions.

Bournemouth appears to be in the most danger of the sides that were promoted. The Cherries haven’t yet brought in any players for a substantial fee, with their only signing likely to slot straight into the first eleven expected to be Ryan Fredericks. The next few weeks could be crucial towards their chances of staying a Premier League side.

Who Will Be Fighting Against The Drop?

While the promoted three teams will likely be among the front-runners in the betting to suffer relegation this season, there could be a case to support the belief that all three may stave off the threat. There were no shortage of weak performances by the teams that finished last season towards the drop zone, and cases could be made for all being weaker this term. Leeds United have lost Raphinha and Kelvin Phillips, while Everton have failed to make much of an impression in the transfer market since the departure of Richarlison. A 4-0 loss in pre-season against Minnesota FC has failed to raise too much confidence around Goodison Park with the start of the season creeping into sight.

Brentford are also likely to be in the mix. Thomas Frank’s side found themselves in free-fall around the festive period last season, but the arrival of Christian Eriksen changed their fortunes. Eriksen’s departure for Manchester United once again means that second-season syndrome could strike again. Southampton haven’t strengthened as much as others, and their young team recorded just nine wins last season, which was the joint-fewest of the sides that stayed up.

A case could also be made for Wolverhampton Wanderers to struggle this season. The fans were already beginning to turn on Bruno Lage towards the end of last season after a disappointing end to the campaign, while the arrival of Nathan Collins has done little to improve the areas where the Midlands side struggled most. Wolves managed just 38 goals last season, which was the fourth-worst attacking record in the Premier League. Only the relegated sides failed to score more than the side from the Black Country.