The 2020-21 Premier starts this Saturday and this first day offers an exciting duel between Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool and Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds. The historic English club is back among the greats and will put to the test none other than the Premier and Anfield champions. The match that will open the Premier is Fulham-Arsenal.
The two Manchester giants will rest this first weekend competition because their matches were postponed: Burnley-Manchester United (those of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reached the semifinals of the Europa League, in which they lost to the later champion Sevilla) and Manchester City-Aston Villa (those of Pep Guardiola played the quarterfinals of the Champions League, in which they lost to Lyon).
For the first time since 1990, Liverpool were proclaimed champions of England and now it is their turn to start defending their title after losing the Community Shield on penalties against FA Cup winner Arsenal. Since the end of Mancheter United's reign in 2009, only City has managed to revalidate the Premier (2017-18 and 2018-19).
Klopp and Bielsa have in common that they have maintained their block, but the Argentine has added additions such as Rodrigo and spent 68.2 million euros on reinforcements. On the other hand, Liverpool is not only the one that has invested the least
of the ‘Big Six’ but the penultimate of the entire English league. Only Brighton and Burnley have spent less than the 'red' club in this summer market.
Liverpool's only reinforcement so far is Greek left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas. But it must be remembered that the summer transfer market does not close in the United Kingdom until next October 5.
Back 16 years later
In their first Premier League game after a 16-year absence, Leeds dreams of surprising the champions at Anfield itself, without the 'red' fans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Klopp on Friday expressed concern that the well-being of players is at risk by banning five substitutions in English championship games this season. The clubs voted against following the temporary rule that allowed five changes, adopted when the competition resumed after the stoppage due to the coronavirus. Spain, Italy, Germany and France have decided to maintain the rule that allows the five substitutions. “It would have been common sense” that it had also been done in the Premier.
Liverpool-Leeds
Anfield, 18.30 (DAZN)
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Firmino and Mané
Leeds: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas; Costa, Klich, Phillips, Pablo Hernández, Harrison; Rodrigo
Referee: Michael Oliver