As the Premier League 2024/25 season kicks off, the first Monday Night Football of the campaign sees Leicester City, the 2016 Premier League champions, returning to the top flight after a year in the Championship. The echoes of Andrea Bocelli’s triumphant serenade at King Power Stadium are now distant memories, as the Foxes focus on survival in the Premier League, especially with the looming threat of a significant points deduction due to a breach of the league’s profitability and sustainability rules.
Leicester has undergone significant changes, including the appointment of Steve Cooper, the club’s third manager in as many seasons. Cooper’s previous role as Nottingham Forest manager makes this appointment somewhat controversial given the historic rivalry between the two clubs. However, Cooper’s unbeaten record in his first matches with his previous clubs (1 win, 1 draw) could bode well for Leicester, even if his personal record against Tottenham is less encouraging—three defeats in four encounters, all by a two-goal margin.
On the other side, Tottenham Hotspur enters the second year under Ange Postecoglou’s management, following a season where they started strong but ultimately finished fifth. The addition of Dominic Solanke for £65 million signals Tottenham’s ambitions. Postecoglou, known for his success in the second seasons at his previous clubs—including winning the Asian Cup with Australia and league titles with Celtic, Brisbane Roar, and Yokohama—will aim to replicate that success in the Premier League. However, winning the Premier League is a far more challenging task, especially considering the quality of the opposition and off-field issues, such as the recent suspension of Yves Bissouma for misconduct.
Tottenham’s end to their away campaign last season was less than ideal, with just one win, one draw, and four defeats in their final six away games. Postecoglou will be keen to rectify this and start the season on a positive note.
Players to Watch: Leicester’s pacey winger Abdul Fatawu, permanently signed from Sporting Lisbon this summer, is one to watch. The young Ghanaian has a knack for scoring the opening goal, having done so in four of the last five games in which he found the net. On the Tottenham side, fans are eager to see Dominic Solanke continue his scoring streak after netting 19 goals in the league last season with Bournemouth. Intriguingly, Solanke’s first top-flight goal for the Cherries was against Leicester.
