Treble-winning Manchester City will raise the curtains of the 2023/24 English Premier League season when they face Burnley as they start the chase of an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight title. They are still riding on the euphoria of bagging their first-ever UEFA Champions League title after beating Inter Milan back in Istanbul to etch their names in Champions League history. Pep Guardiola's side now travel to Turf Moor Stadium to face newly promoted side Burnley who are under the tutelage of former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. The defending EPL champions will be without their former captain Ilkay Gundogan who signed for La Liga champions Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez who now plies his trade in the Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. The Citizens, however, have got new arrivals in Croatian duo Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol.

“It feels like it finished yesterday but we start again,” Guardiola said on Thursday. “I don’t think it will be possible to do what we did last season, it’s once in a lifetime. I said to the players forget about it. We climbed the highest mountain last season but we have come down that mountain now. We start from the same as everyone else, with the same intention and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain again," he added. Vincent Kompany on the other hand has been inspired by Guardiola's style of play and has transformed his Burnley side to one that dominates the ball. “I would play every week of every month of every year against a team the level of Man City,” the former Belgian captain said. “That is the best way to improve. “You won’t get them all right, it’s impossible with the quality of that team – possibly the best team at the moment in world football — but that’s the best challenge so I wouldn’t want it any different,” he added.

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Arsenal who were the runners-up last season after leading for much of the campaign host Nottingham Forest in their opening game on Saturday afternoon. Mikel Arteta's side have added England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham, German forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea, and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax Amsterdam to their ranks. They beat Manchester City on penalties in the past weekend to be crowned the Community Shield title which serves as a curtain raiser to the English Premier League season. “It’s a marker to know we can go and beat Manchester City in a big game when it matters,” said goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. “I’m not sure what it’ll be like this season. But that mental block is gone.” 

Third-placed Manchester United will wait until Monday for their opening game at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves have a new manager as Gary O’Neil was appointed to replace Julen Lopetegui who parted ways with the club on mutual consent. The biggest game of the season begins perhaps on Sunday when Liverpool who finished fifth last season host Chelsea who had one of their worst seasons last time out in their Premier League history. Former Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino is now the new Blues coach and has been on a signing spree during this transfer window and has made some incredible signings having added Christopher Nkunku in their ranks from RB Salzburg. “We are in a good way; we are building something special I think,” Pochettino said at the weekend. “We know we are Chelsea and even if young players are involved against Liverpool, the mentality is to win.” 

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Newcastle who finished fourth last season and will be playing in this season's UEFA Champions League are at home to Aston Villa on Saturday evening. Former Celtic boss who is now the new Tottenham manager will be taking his side on a trip across London to Brentford on Sunday with speculations ripe about his star player Harry Kane reading himself for a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Bournemouth host West Ham also on Saturday, with Fulham traveling to Everton. Luton Town will be playing their first Premier League game since 1992 and will be traveling to Brighton & Hove Albion while newly promoted Sheffield United are at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday. 

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(Image: Metro)