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LONDON, UK | THE INDEPENDENT | Matchday 2 of the 2024-25 Premier League will be headlined by a clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal, though Manchester United and Liverpool also face tricky fixtures across the weekend of 24-25 August.
Villa and Arsenal will meet in Birmingham in the early-evening kick-off on Saturday, with the hosts looking to repeat the kind of form which saw them record a league ‘double’ over the Gunners last season – though manager Unai Emery has warned that those results are irrelevant now.
“The players have to understand, everybody has to do one step ahead, not only playing with their qualities, but also get their commitment higher,” said Emery. “I want every player doing this step ahead and I like when the players are being smart and being a protagonist, trying to add when we are having meetings together about the objectives.”
The weekend’s action opens with the early kick-off on Saturday, which sees Brighton and Hove Albion host Manchester United. In what will be the Seagulls’ first home match of the season, new manager Fabaian Hurzeler will be looking to secure a result that will make him an instant cult hero on the south coast.
“I want to achieve big things and I want to challenge the establishment,” said the American-born German tactician. “The Premier League is the best league in the world with a lot of good coaches. You need your own philosophy and identity but it’s important to take other elements and adapt.”
Saturday’s mid-afternoon kick-offs are headlined by Ipswich City visiting champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, as well as potential banger between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton in North London.
Sunday features Newcastle United and manager Eddie Howe heading back to his former stomping ground of AFC Bournemouth, as well as a London derby between Crystal Palace and West Ham United, before the round-closing clash between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield.
The Reds are still adapting to life under new manager Arne Slot but will be hungry to record a victory in their first competitive home match under the Dutch tactician.
Liverpool is playing a different style compared to former manager Jurgen Klopp, with winger Fabio Carvalho explaining: “I’d probably say playing more through the midfield. Players like Curtis [Jones], Harvey [Elliot] and Szobo [Dominik Szoboszlai] as well – we’ve got the players to do so.
“Playing through them and getting me, Mo [Mohamed Salah] and the players higher up like Jots [Diogo Jota] on the ball as well. Being able to play through the thirds is what we want to do and what the manager wants to be our identity.”
Matches in details.
Saturday 24 August
– 13:30: Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United
– 16:00: Crystal Palace v West Ham United
– 16:00: Fulham v Leicester City
– 16:00: Manchester City v Ipswich Town
– 16:00: Southampton v Nottingham Forest
– 16:00: Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
– 18:30: Aston Villa v Arsenal
Sunday 25 August
– 15:00: AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle United
– 15:00: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea
– 17:30: Liverpool v Brentford
