The new football season is well underway with great action taking place each week. Fans of clubs at every level are hopeful their team can build and gain momentum as the campaign goes on. One of the main appeals of the beautiful game is its drama and unpredictability and the 2024/25 season is delivering plenty of memorable moments.
From the Premier League and FA Cup to competitions across Europe, there are countless games to be enjoyed this campaign and this article will profile some of the key fixtures you need to watch to boost your fandom and enhance your football viewing pleasure.
Arsenal vs Manchester City
Manchester City are on the hunt for a seventh Premier League title victory in eight season but the Gunners are determined the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s side at the top of the table. Arsenal have twice pushed City in the title race, with last season’s battle going down to the final day.
The two teams will meet at the Emirates Stadium at the start of February in a game many believe will see the two main contenders again going head-to-head. If Arsenal maintain the levels of consistency they have shown under manager Mikel Arteta, a victory over City could be help them take a giant step towards finishing top.
Fans keen to back team during the run-in can access a Sky Bet new customer offer and use free bets to enhance their experience. From predicting final results to first goalscorers, there are plenty of options to add an extra thrill to matches.
Arsenal vs Man City is sure to be one of the most entertaining matches of the season as both sides boast some of the top players in the world with Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias coming up against Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice in what will be an enthralling encounter.
Liverpool vs Manchester United
Liverpool and Manchester United are two of the biggest rivals in the history of the Premier League era with fans in the respective cities and beyond determined to earn the bragging rights when the two sides meet.
Last time out, the Reds claimed an impressive 3-0 victory at Old Trafford which embarrassed United. In fact, Liverpool have been top dogs in this fixture for a long while now, with the Manchester club struggling for more than a decade since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down from his role in 2013.
However, Liverpool have also lost an iconic boss following Jurgen Klopp’s exit and so a win at Anfield for new coach Arne Slot when United visit in February would be a memorable feat during his maiden campaign.
Everton vs Southampton
While Everton and Southampton are unlikely to be challenging for a place in Europe at the end of the season, their meeting in May will be historic as it will mark the final game at Goodison Park. The Toffees have called the ‘Grand Old Lady’ home since 1892 and it has hosted title triumphs, the most top division matches and even World Cup games in 1966. However, the Blues will leave at the end of the 2024/25 season for a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock on the Merseyside waterfront and so the long farewell has begun.
The final-ever clash at the ground will see Everton face the Saints in what will be a sad day for Evertonians all over the world. As one of the key arenas in English football for well over a century, sport lovers will be tuning in to see the curtain come down on more than 130 years of history at Goodison Park.
The New Look Champions League
The Champions League is the premier competition in Europe and will take on greater intrigue in the early stages after UEFA elected to give the format a refresh for the 2024/25 game. The traditional group phase featuring 32 clubs in eight groups of four has been replaced with a new league system featuring 36 teams. Now, sides competing will play eight games as opposed to six in the opening part of the tournament. What’s more, teams will no longer face the same team home and away but instead face different sides each game, hosting four fixtures while going on the road for another four.
The points gathered in these opening eight games will determine a club’s league position in the Champions League table. Sides who finish in the eight spots will go through to the Last 16 of the competition. Those who finish between 9th and 24th will enter a play-off for the chance to join the first eight. However, the teams who are 25th to 36th will be automatically eliminated. From there, the knockout phase will continue as before right through to the showpiece final.
It’s set to be a fascinating campaign with the new system boosting the appeal and ensuring the Champions League should not be missed this season with more football on show than ever before.
Magic of the FA Cup
The FA Cup pits teams from all levels of the English football pyramid against each other and creates stunning drama each year as giant-killings are commonplace in this competition. Whether it’s Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham, any giant of the game in the Premier League can be drawn against anyone, including non-league sides playing below the fourth tier. For that reason, the FA Cup is like no other tournament in the world and so be sure to tune in to the games as anything is possible and shocks do happen.
Summing Up
The 2024/25 campaign is set to be one of the most exciting in living memory. The Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup will produce unrivalled drama, while match-ups like Arsenal vs. Manchester City and Liverpool vs. Manchester United will produce some of the best football in the world.
