Subplots aplenty with new Premier League season

While we were all captivated by hours upon hours of Olympics coverage over recent weeks, the Scottish Premiership season got back underway over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Seeing the names of the grounds - the likes of Tannadice, Fir Park and Tynecastle - dotted around social media signalled one thing: winter is coming!

The English Premier League season got up and running over the weekend, with the close proximity to the Olympics also making it feel like the start of this campaign happened somewhat under the radar.

Aside from matters on the field this season, there are a couple of interesting subplots to follow over the course of the coming months.

Manchester City are bidding for a record five league titles in a row, but what will come of the investigation into their now infamous 115 charges relating to Financial Fair Play rules?

Given the hefty punishments dished out to Everton and Nottingham Forest recently - in the form of points deductions - City could face a similar prospect, which would have a significant impact on any potential title race, or more damningly, relegation from the league altogether.

Secondly, the calendar is starting to become a major point of contention.

Last week, the Premier League chief, Richard Masters, spoke of the danger of the potential ‘saturation’ of football, with so much going on.

This is even more pertinent in the context of a new format for European club competitions, such as the Champions League, and the introduction of an expanded World Club Cup next summer as well. And it all comes off the back of a European Championships at international level this year, during which fatigue appeared to be a major issue for several countries, and ahead of a larger World Cup with 48 participating teams in 2026.

It means there are virtually no off weekends, or even midweeks, for a lot of the top players. We all love to watch football, but at some point there has to be an acceptance that constant adding to the schedule is bad for the game’s overall product.

Back to matters on the park. What did we learn from the early season fare over the weekend?

It is, of course, daft to make any wide ranging assumptions based off the opening 90 minutes of the season. For even Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, admitted his squad wasn’t ready for the new season ahead of Friday’s clash with Fulham.

The home side emerged with a 1-nil victory in a fairly dour affair at Old Trafford, and the performance did little to suggest United have transformed anything over the summer months. Don’t forget how bad they were last season. Even allowing for their FA Cup triumph in May, they had their worst-ever Premier League finish. Ten Hag would be out of a gig in any other era, only for the lack of high calibre candidates floating around the European game at present to fill the hot seat in the event of his departure.

The addition of Ruud van Nistelrooy to the club’s backroom team, following his stint as PSV manager, may add something but the former United striker hasn’t pulled up enough trees in management to suggest he’ll be the game changer needed to help propel his old club to former heights. A top four finish would represent a remarkable achievement.

Another storyline to follow is that of Liverpool, as they adjust to life without Jurgen Klopp.

The German will go down as an Anfield legend given his heroics as boss. Ok, the trophy haul isn’t as impressive as some other managers but considering where Liverpool were when he took over - 10th in the Premier League table in October of 2015 - it has been a pretty successful run.

The man with the unenviable task of maintaining Liverpool’s standing among the top clubs is Arne Slot. Highly rated from a successful stint at Feyenoord, the Netherlands native will have been pleased with what his side showed in a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday lunchtime.

The narrative around his appointment has been a suggestion there will be a change to Liverpool’s style - one based more about ball retention and possession, as opposed to the ‘heavy metal’ style advocated by Klopp.

Ipswich, as expected, started with a real ferocity on Saturday but Liverpool looked superb at times in the second half. Both goals were nicely constructed and there were some other sweet flashes of brilliance, particularly from the midfield sector where Dominick Szoboszlai thrived. Early days, but positive signs for Liverpool’s new supremo.

It’ll be really interesting to see how Chelsea will fare under Enzo Maresca, the former Leicester City boss. After a turbulent few years, both on and off the pitch, a stable period is what is required at Stamford Bridge to allow what is, on paper, a talented squad reach its potential. They performed well against Manchester City, who with minimal fuss still secured a 2-nil victory at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham are another tantalising prospect, as they begin a second season under the stewardship of the affable Aussie, Ange Postecoglou.

Don’t forget, Spurs enjoyed a wonderful start to last season and were being talked about as potential title challengers before their form tailed off.

Their 75-million euro acquisition of Dominic Solanke, who found some form at Bournemouth, could help spark another decent season for the north London club.

But their neighbours are the team to watch.

Arsenal have come close in recent seasons and now is the time to deliver.

Mikel Arteta has come in for sustained criticism but in the space he has been afforded by the club’s hierarchy, he has moulded together a really good footballing side knitted by a steeliness that has been absent from the Emirates Stadium for quite some time.

They’ll need all that, and more, to pip Manchester City to the title when all is said and done next May, but all the indications are that this is now Arsenal’s time.

A title triumph for the Gunners would be good for football.