Premier League season preview: ‘Big Six’ fortunes are mixed

By Nicholas MendolaAug 2, 2022, 1:09 PM EDT

The 2022-23 Premier League season is upon us and there can be arguments made for any of the Big Six teams to have a better season than last.

[ MORE: Premier League TV schedule ]

But will Manchester City and Liverpool continue their high standards of dominance or will they find another gear with new strikers Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, respectively?

Below we look at all of the key factors, including their odds to win the Premier League title and lay claim to a top four spot.

We dig into key new signings and exits, plus analyze what these teams are all about and much more.

2022-23 Premier League preview: ‘Big Six’ fortunes are mixed…

Full odds provided by our partner, PointsBet – PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links

Manchester City

Odds to win the Premier League: -150
Odd to finish in top 4: -9000

Key new signings: Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Stefan Ortega Moreno (Arminia Bielefeld), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)

The gaffer: Pep Guardiola — The only reason he isn’t lauded as a top Premier League manager of all-time is because City spends the most and other big teams like to pretend they don’t spend at all. There is no better manager in the world when it comes to implementing a system — yes, even Diego Simeone and, for now, Jurgen Klopp.

Why you should watch them if your team isn’t playing: Only five times has a Premier League club scored more than 100 goals in a single season. Three of those were Man City, two of those were under Pep Guardiola, and last season they scored a paltry 99. The only team to crack 100 points in a season. Man City has added one of the world’s elite goal scorers in Haaland.

Youngster to watch: Assuming 22-year-old Julian Alvarez doesn’t count — and it would be cheating given his years at River Plate — look to Cole Palmer. The 20-year-old has been brought along nearly as slowly as Phil Foden and just gets the edge over teenage Brazilian import Kayky.

Liverpool

Odds to win the Premier League: +250
Odd to finish in top 4: -1100

Key new signings: Fabio Carvalho (Fulham), Darwin Nunez (Benfica), Calvin Ramsay (Aberdeen)

The gaffer: Jurgen Klopp — Charisma, guts, and glory rolled up in one package and seeking even more of that last one. The only question about Klopp is how he’ll somehow manage to play the “underdog without resources” card while being a clear favorite who’s spent big at every position.

Why you should watch them if your team isn’t playing: The team that would be a dynasty if it wasn’t stunningly the second-best side in its league and era. Klopp’s entertainers play fast, hard, and surprisingly disciplined given the fiery, passionate players he’s recruited to Anfield. A joy to watch and winners of a trophy in three of the last four seasons (two last season).

Youngster to watch: Harvey Elliott is still a teenager until early April, and last season’s long injury delayed his breakout by a year. Fabio Carvalho would be thrilled to jump the line if Elliott takes slow to the water, but that doesn’t seem likely.

Chelsea

Odds to win the Premier League: +1400
Odd to finish in top 4: -150

Key new signings: Eddie Beach, Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Omari Hutchinson (Arsenal)

The gaffer: Thomas Tuchel — There will be no European Cup honeymoon this season, even if there will be some sympathies for Roman Abramovich’s drawn-out exit holding up player retention when it comes to Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger. Tuchel’s a brilliant manager with terrific accomplishments at multiple big clubs, but scapegoating Romelu Lukaku (and maybe Timo Werner) for his fierce allegiance to how he deploys his front three means the holdovers and new additions better deliver more goals this season.

Why you should watch them if your team isn’t playing: There’s attacking talent for days here and any number of players can step up and steal the show with a brace. Control of the midfield also means something special can come via a striking long pass or a scintillating, multi-member buildup.

Youngster to watch: Armando Broja — Both for what he may do on the field if he stays and what he may mean to both Chelsea’s coffers and/or another team’s Premier League fortunes if the England-born Albania international becomes a transfer exit.

Big Six — LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 14: Armando Broja and Malang Sarr of Chelsea (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur

Odds to win the Premier League: +1200
Odd to finish in top 4: -155

Key new signings: Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Yves Bissouma (Brighton), Richarlison (Everton), Tyrell Ashcroft (Reading), Josh Keeley (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Clement Lenglet (Barcelona), Djed Spence (Middlesbrough)

The gaffer: Antonio Conte — Do you have to stick around somewhere a long time to qualify as the best manager in the world? Because few can claim to have won as much, as often, and in as many places as the Italian. If Conte claims English honors with Spurs this year, there will be no debating his status in the most rarefied of air (and his altitude may already be irrefutably high).

Why you should watch them if your team isn’t playing: Tough, fast, powerful, and with a penchant for the showy and/or delicate? Yes, please.

Youngster to watch: Djed Spence — It feels a bit like cheating but the youngest of Tottenham’s big additions is the one most poised to break out (even if he’s just a few months younger than Dejan Kulusevski).

Arsenal

Odds to win the Premier League: +2500
Odd to finish in top 4: +190

Key new signings: Marquinhos (Sao Paulo), Fabio Vieira (Porto), Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City)

The gaffer: Mikel Arteta — Yes he’s gleaned a ton from Pep Guardiola and is now bringing over Man City talent from the Etihad Stadium, but can the intense, raven-haired Arteta go from student to teacher? It would take a dramatic shift, as Arsenal is 1W-5L all-time in the Arteta-Guardiola era and the last four affairs have been losses (two of them lopsided).

Why you should watch them if your team isn’t playing: Much like Tottenham, the scoring can come from anywhere and so the red cards have also been plentiful. Arsenal plays with fire in the way it plays with fire.

Youngster to watch: Almost all of their kids have familiarized themselves with the Premier League over the past few seasons of Arteta’s youth movement.

.@JPW_NBCSports breaks down why Bukayo Saka's (+2500) odds on @PointsBetUSA to be Premier League's Player of the Year is great value: https://t.co/GSQaLp7Dmd pic.twitter.com/8wcgwfDucx

— NBC Sports EDGE Betting (@NBCSportsBet) August 1, 2022

Manchester United

Odds to win the Premier League: +3300
Odd to finish in top 4: +135

Key new signings: Tyrell Malacia (Feyenoord), Christian Eriksen (free), Lisandro Martinez (Ajax)

The gaffer: Erik ten Hag – Ruthless and detail-oriented, this leader of men will be given a certain amount of patience to implement his system, something the Red Devils have not truly had in a while (and some would say even longer, depending how they view Jose Mourinho’s blueprints).

Why you should watch them if your team isn’t playing: It’s not a reach to call Manchester United the most-followed club in the world. But the finger-pointing that will follow if Ten Hag doesn’t get the ship pointed straight is also appointment-viewing.

Youngster to watch: Amad Diallo — The 20-year-old may not become a feature piece, but his versatility could see him off the bench in multiple attacking positions. At Manchester United, those positions can sometimes fall into chances even if they fail to manufacture them.

Follow @NicholasMendola

Premier League transfer news live, today! Latest updates on the summer window

By Joe Prince-WrightJun 3, 2023, 2:45 PM EDT

We are all set for a very summer transfer window, as the latest transfer news keeps flooding in and plenty of big names are expected to be on the move.

[ VIDEO: Premier League analysis ]

The 2023 summer transfer window opens on June 14, 2023 for Premier League clubs and it will close at 6pm ET on September 1, 2023.

From superstars like Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in-demand, to speculation around the future of Lionel Messi and plenty of money set to be spent by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, this will be a fun summer.

Below we roundup the latest transfer news, done deals, reports and rumors and give our analysis on what’s going on as Joe Prince-Wright (JPW), Nicholas Mendola (NM) and Andy Edwards (AE) will guide you through a hectic last few weeks of the window.

Transfer news live today! Latest from the summer window, so far…

June 3 – In-demand $40M back name checks Liverpool

Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven has had a dream to play at Anfield since attending a game there as a youngster. An excellent ball progressor, Van de Ven is viewed as a $40 million target and reports have said Jurgen Klopp is an admirer. So it’s a mutual appreciation society.

“I once went to the Liverpool stadium with my dad,” he told AZ WAZ. “That was over Christmas on Boxing Day. Liverpool vs Arsenal. That was madness. Then when ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ comes [on] – that’s a goose bump moment, that was very cool. It’s a dream to play there.”

The 6-foot-4 Van de ven turned 22 in April and has served as the captain of the Dutch U-21 national team. He moved from Volendam to Wolfsburg in the summer of 2021 and became a full-time starter in his second season, occasionally swinging to left back. (NM)

June 2 – Man United in ‘detailed talks’ for young forwards

According to The Athletic, Manchester United have been in ‘detailed talks’ over the signing of Randal Kolo Muani and Rasmus Hojlund. The young forward duo are both being chased by the Red Devils as Erik ten Hag wants to add one of them and a more experienced striker. Per the report, John Murtaugh has spoken to both Eintracht Frankfurt and Atalanta multiple times about Kolo Muani and Hojlund respectively and United are hoping to move on with chasing summer targets despite uncertainty surrounding their ownership status as the Glazer Family continue to explore the option of a full or partial sale of the Premier League giants. Kolo Muani and Hojlund both fit the mould for the type of player Erik ten Hag wants and if United can land one of them and somehow pull off an unlikely move for Harry Kane (unlikely due to Daniel Levy’s unwillingness to do business) then it will be a heck of a summer for the Red Devils. (JPW)

June 2 – Gvardiol wanted by Manchester City

According to a report from The Times, Josko Gvardiol is at the top of Pep Guardiola’s wish-list this summer. The Croatian defender, 21, is thought to be valued at $108 million by RB Leipzig and although the German giants don’t want to sell, it is believed Gvardiol is keen on a move to City. The report says that City plan on moving on at least one of their center backs and all of John Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake seem certain to stay with Aymeric Laporte perhaps the most likely to move on. Gvardiol has long been linked with a Premier League move and his power in the air as well as his pace and ability on the ball is a perfect fit for the Premier League and City. Josko Gvardiol also got a good look at City this season as Leipzig were hammered by Erling Haaland and Co. in the UEFA Champions League. We’ve seen this season how Guardiola’s side dominated the final months of the season not only due to their incredible goalscoring exploits but largely thanks to a solid defensive unit. Having mobile center backs who can slot in at full back and step into midfield is key to the way they play. Gvardiol can do that. (JPW)

June 1 – Manchester United move to front of queue for Mason Mount

A report from ESPN says that Manchester United have moved to the front of the queue when it comes to signing Mason Mount this summer. Mount, 24, has just one year left on his contract at Chelsea and is expected to move on this summer. Mount has been linked with moves to United and Liverpool but the report says that Mount is keen on heading to United although the Red Devils have some reservations over the $75 million transfer fee Chelsea are asking for. Per the report, clubs are waiting for later in the summer to try and buy Mount as they known Chelsea will have to move players on due to the enormous squad Mauricio Pochettino has inherited and will have to trim. Does Mount to United make sense? It does. He can slot in anywhere in Erik ten Hag’s midfield and is the perfect kind of player to add depth to their squad and be a great 12th man or step in when key midfielders are injured or need a rest. His time at Chelsea is clearly coming to an end and even though Mount has struggled this season at Chelsea, his quality is proven in the Premier League in recent years and on the international stage with England. (JPW)

May 31 – Liverpool eye Bundesliga midfielder

Bild says that the Reds are turning to the Bundesliga to address their midfield. Jurgen Klopp will turn to Borussia Monchengladbach’s Kouadio “Manu” Kone this summer, as Liverpool has reportedly told the player that it will be approaching Gladbach. Kone, 22, has been linked with several big clubs including a late March report regarding Manchester United interest. A ball progressor who reads the game very well, Kone is said to carry a price tag of more than $40 million. (NM)

May 30 – Chelsea all-in on Ugarte

Chelsea are in talks to sign Manuel Ugarte, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Uruguayan and Sporting Lisbon holding midfielder is admired by new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino. Romano says PSG are in the race for Ugarte too. Ugarte, 22, is exactly the kind of player Pochettino loves as he will dig in, win the ball and get it to others to create. Alongside Enzo Fernandez, Ugarte will add extra defensive stability to Chelsea’s midfield and improve the balance of their squad. Our partners in the UK at Sky Sports says that Ugarte has a $65 million release clause in his contract. (JPW)

May 30 – Declan Rice linked with Bayern Munich

Our partners at Sky Germany say that Bayern Munich are very interested in signing Declan Rice from West Ham. Bayern, who won their 11-straight Bundesliga title on the final day of the season, have made Rice, 24, their top target as Thomas Tuchel is a huge fan of the England international.

Here is more from Sky Germany reporter Uli Kohler: “Tuchel had a phone call with Rice. I don’t know what they were talking about – maybe money, maybe about what he can expect here [in Munich]. Bayern is keen on him. They need a strong defensive midfielder but everybody knows there are a lot of other clubs interested in him. Bayern could afford it. They would like to keep it below €100m [£86.4m]. They have to look at their accounts very closely but I think they can afford it.”

Rice has long been linked with a move to Arsenal or Manchester United but it is believed that West Ham’s asking price for their captain and central midfielder (who is out of contract next summer) is putting up Premier League clubs. Bayern appear to be ready to pay close to the $120 million West Ham want for Rice. Is he worth it? He is. There is perhaps no better two-way central midfielder under the age of 25 in Europe and Rice’s ceiling is extremely high. (JPW)

May 25 – Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Mason Mount are summer targets for Man United

A report from our partners in the UK at Sky Sports says that Manchester United are trying to sign a trio of England internationals: Harry Kane, Mason Mount and Declan Rice.

“Manchester United will try to sign Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Mason Mount this summer. Their No. 1 target is Kane. He is the player Erik ten Hag wants most. It is unlikely they will sign all three players and everything depends on what happens with the takeover. Kane, Rice and Mount are exactly the kind of characters Ten Hag wants in his dressing room.”

It is clear Kane will be the top target for United as Erik ten Hag has spoken about signing a new striker and that is their main transfer need. It is tough to see Tottenham selling Kane to a direct top four rival in Manchester United for anything less than $130 million, even with Kane’s contract winding down. That said, do you take that money this summer and use it to rebuild? Or let him go for free in the summer of 2024?

Next up, Declan Rice will surely be their next main target, as all three of these players have just one year left on their contract. Rice, 24, is just the type of player United need alongside Casemiro in central midfield and the England international has become one of the best two-way central midfielders in Europe under the age of 25. Rice’s close friend is Mason Mount and the latter clearly doesn’t want to sign a new contract at Chelsea, so he could be the cheaper option of the three. All of this hinges on Manchester United’s takeover but if, as expected, they qualify for the Champions League, then signing two of these three players would be a huge upgrade on their current options and gives them quality, depth and experience in midfield and attack. First choice would be Kane and Rice but Kane and Mount would still be pretty decent. (JPW)

Follow @JPW_NBCSports

Barcelona wins Women’s Champions League with stunning comeback

Associated PressJun 3, 2023, 1:41 PM EDT

Midfielder Patricia Guijarro ignited a stunning second-half comeback as Barcelona overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 and win its second Women’s Champions League title on Saturday.

“We didn’t make it easy for ourselves,” Barcelona and England defender Lucy Bronze said in a pitchside interview after securing her fourth Champions League crown. She won it three years in a row with Lyon.

[ MORE: Man City beats Manchester United in FA Cup Final ]

Fridolina Rolfö capped the fightback by calmly firing the winner into the far corner of the net after a mix-up in the Wolfsburg defense in the 70th minute.

Guijarro is one of 15 Spanish players, including Bonmati and four other Barcelona teammates, who renounced playing for Spain last year, citing differences with their coach. They have not played since and their participation in this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is in serious doubt.

Wolfsburg led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Ewa Pajor and Alexandra Popp.

But Barcelona kept believing it could win.

“We were never worried about scoring three goals,” Bronze added.

It's Wolfsburg's former player, Fridolina Rolfö, turning the tide in favor of Barcelona, 3-2!

Watch the @UWCL live on @DAZNFootball YouTube channel.#WatchWithAta #UWCLfinal #ataFREE

🎥 @DAZNFootball pic.twitter.com/V01VGYoqsf

— ata football (@atafball) June 3, 2023

Barcelona earned its second league crown – the first was in 2021 – from its fourth final since 2019 in front of 33,147 fans at PSV Stadium, a record crowd for a women’s game in the Netherlands.

Guijarro’s double in the 48th and 50th minutes swiftly overturned a first half in which Wolfsburg’s pressing play and clinical counterattacking earned two goals.

First, the Barcelona midfielder slammed the ball into the roof of the net in the 48th. Aitana Bonmatí then made room for herself on the right before crossing for Guijarro to head past Merle Frohms for the equalizer. Guijarro was named player of the match.

It was a remarkable turnaround for coach Jonatan Giráldez’s Barcelona Wolfsburg took the lead inside three minutes when tournament top scorer Ewa Pajor robbed Bronze of the ball close to the Barcelona penalty area and fired a powerful shot that goalkeeper Sandra Paños touched but could not stop from flying in. The goal improved Pajor’s tally in the competition to nine.

It was a rocky start for Bronze, who returned to the Barcelona lineup for the first time since she was injured in the semifinal first leg against Chelsea and underwent knee surgery.

[ MORE: Pep Guardiola reaction – Okay to talk treble now ]

Irene Paredes clasped her hands to her face when she squandered a great chance to equalize 10 minutes later, heading wide at the far post a corner from the right by María Pilar León.

Wolfsburg doubled its lead when veteran forward Alexandra Popp ran into space between two defenders and headed a cross from the left by Pajor past Paños from close range in the 37th. Popp equaled Ada Hegerberg’s record of scoring in four finals.

Wolfsburg goalkeeper Merle Frohms made sure her team went into the break without conceding by racing off her line in stoppage time to smother an effort by Salma Paralluelo.

But she couldn’t stop Barcelona’s onslaught after the break.

With Barcelona leading and the minutes ticking down, Giráldez brought on two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who has recently recovered from an ACL injury. Barcelona’s vocal fans in Eindhoven roared as Putellas replaced Bonmatí.

It was Putellas who accepted the trophy from England coach Sarina Wiegman after Wolfsburg players formed a guard of honor for their opponents as they walked up to collect their medals.

Manchester City vs Inter Milan: How to watch Champions League Final, odds, predictions

By Nicholas MendolaJun 3, 2023, 1:20 PM EDT

Manchester City is on the chase for a historic treble and standing in the way is Inter Milan, one of Europe’s precious few clubs to claim such an honor.

[ LIVE: Manchester City vs Inter Milan ]

The Premier League winners three times running have an FA Cup under their belt after beating Manchester United on June 3 and the final jewel in their treble crown awaits with a win in Istanbul on June 10.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Pep Guardiola could lead a second club to a treble after he did it with Barcelona in 2008-09, and they would give heated rivals United domestic company on the treble stage right down the road.

Guardiola says it’s now okay to talk about the treble. We agree, and we’ve laid out why the achievement is so special after the jump.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Manchester City vs Inter Milan.

How to watch Manchester City vs Inter Milan live, stream link and start time

Dates: 3pm ET June 10, 2023
Online: Live updates via NBCSports.com
How to watch: TUDN, Paramount+

What Premier League clubs have won the treble?

Manchester United won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in 1998-99.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils are the lone Premier League club to win it.

That’s it. For now.

How many times has the treble been won?

Nine times in history has a team won its domestic league, top domestic cup, and the European Cup.

Bayern Munich and Barcelona have each done it twice, with Bayern doing it in 2012-13 and 2019-20 and Barca pulling it off in 2008-09 and 2014-15.

Celtic was the first to win a treble, doing it in 1966-67, while Ajax was the next in 1971-72.

PSV Eindhoven then won it in 1987-88 before Man United made it happen 11 years later. Inter Milan is the only Italian team to pull it off, winning in 2009-10.

(UEFA.com)

Champions League Final odds (Betting odds provided by our partner, BetMGM )

BetMGM is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on BetMGM for the first time after clicking our links.

Man City (-250) vs Inter Milan (+625) | Draw over 120 mins (+380)

Over 2.5 goals (-160). Under 2.5 goals (+110)

Champions League Final predictions

Joe Prince-Wright: Man City 2-1 Inter Milan
Andy Edwards: Man City 3-1 Inter Milan
Nick Mendola: Man City 2-0 Inter Milan

Manchester City team news, injuries, lineup options

QUESTIONABLE: None

Inter Milan team news, injuries, lineup options

QUESTIONABLE: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Joaquin Correa. OUT: Dalbert.

Follow @NicholasMendola

Pep Guardiola after FA Cup win: Man City ‘can now talk about the treble’

By Nicholas MendolaJun 3, 2023, 1:10 PM EDT

Pep Guardiola is giving Manchester City’s players a couple of days to celebrate their FA Cup Final, but now they can admit there’s something even bigger than the Champions League final at play.

“We can now talk about the treble,” Guardiola acknowledged after Man City topped Manchester derby rivals Man United on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. “It is one game away.”

[ MORE: Man City vs Inter Milan preview ]

Nine times in history has a team won its domestic league, top domestic cup, and the European Cup, and only once has it happened for an English team: The 1998-99 Manchester United team.

“What a privilege we are one game away. I said to the players you have to put the pressure on yourself to be recognized as something good you have to win Europe.”

Guardiola said Erik ten Hag’s set-up surprised City, as a narrow formation forced the Citizens to find different routes to goal.

And he was asked about his post-game tears of joy, spotting by cameras on the pitch.

“It was so important for us today,” Guardiola said. “The FA Cup is so nice. I’m a Barcelona fan but I will love this club for the rest of my life. I know today we gave our fans a good gift to enjoy against our neighbors.”

Look what it means to Pep Guardiola 💙#FACupFinal pic.twitter.com/rXm0HZ47mx

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 3, 2023

Follow @NicholasMendola

Premier League 2022-23 season preview

2022-23 Premier League preview: ‘Big Six’ fortunes are mixed…

Manchester City

Liverpool

Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal

Manchester United

Latest transfer news

Transfer news live today! Latest from the summer window, so far…

June 3 – In-demand $40M back name checks Liverpool

June 2 – Man United in ‘detailed talks’ for young forwards

June 2 – Gvardiol wanted by Manchester City

June 1 – Manchester United move to front of queue for Mason Mount

May 31 – Liverpool eye Bundesliga midfielder

May 30 – Chelsea all-in on Ugarte

May 30 – Declan Rice linked with Bayern Munich

May 25 – Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Mason Mount are summer targets for Man United

Women's World Cup news

Premier League news

How to watch Manchester City vs Inter Milan live, stream link and start time

What Premier League clubs have won the treble?

How many times has the treble been won?

Champions League Final odds (Betting odds provided by our partner, BetMGM )

Champions League Final predictions

Manchester City team news, injuries, lineup options

Inter Milan team news, injuries, lineup options