Newcomers Brentford Host Arsenal in Season’s Opening Battle Tonight

Newly promoted Brentford will launch the 2021-22 English Premier League season when they host Arsenal tonight at 8pm – the first of 380 matches over the next nine months.

The London derby at the Brentford Community Stadium – the first league meeting between the two clubs since 1947 – takes place 33 days after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Champions Manchester City, who have smashed the British transfer record to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m, begin their title defence at Tottenham on Sunday.

UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea will host Crystal Palace tomorrow at 3pm.

Defending champions Manchester City have won the Premier League in three of the past four seasons – but can anyone stop them this time?

Manchester United were City’s nearest rivals last time out but finished 12 points back and have still not sustained a serious title bid since they were last champions in 2013.

Will United challenge for top spot until the end in 2021-22? How will Liverpool respond after their title defence imploded at the start of the year? Can Chelsea be contenders again domestically after conquering Europe? And will Leicester, Arsenal, Tottenham or anyone else break into the Champions League places?

While Brentford – nicknamed the Bees – are competing in the Premier League for the first time, Watford and Norwich have both made quick-fire returns after being relegated in 2019-20.

Four clubs – Crystal Palace, Wolves, Everton and Tottenham – will start the season with new bosses.

Speaking about the new season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, manager of last season’s Premier League runners-up, Manchester United, said: “This season is going to be one of the strongest Premier League seasons.

“Anyone who ends up above last year’s champions will be champions,” stressed the United manager.

For the first time in 17 months, capacity crowds will be allowed following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.