The Premier League returns tonight in Manchester and everything is different
All remaining fixtures will be played behind closed doors, with no fans in attendance, and teams will be allowed to make five substitutions rather than the usual three.
The Premier League finally kicks off again this evening – and the first day of fixtures sees current champions Manchester City take on Arsenal at the Etihad stadium.
Man City’s reign as champions may soon be coming to an end, but the blues still need to solidify their runners-up position ahead of Leicester, who are lurking four points behind.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be aiming to complete the double over Arsenal, while the Gunners will be attempting to continue their unbeaten run and make a challenge for the top four.
The match will be a very different spectacle to what we’re used to.
All remaining fixtures will be played behind closed doors, with no fans in attendance, and teams will be allowed to make five substitutions rather than the usual three.
The Premier League has also announced that all teams will have ‘Black Lives Matter’ printed on the back of their shirts instead of player names until the end of the season. This is in addition to a Black Lives Matter logo and an NHS badge featuring on the front of kits.
Despite losing 3-0 in the return fixture back in December, Arsenal will be hoping that an empty Etihad Stadium will negate home advantage and give the London team a shot at gaining some vital points to put themselves in contention for a top four position.
Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta, who tested positive for Covid-19 back in March, makes his return to the Etihad with the hopes of steering Arsenal to victory against City for the first time in the Premier league since 2016.
The Arsenal manger is aware that the unique conditions presented by the pandemic will not make things easy for his team.
Speaking during a press conference, Arteta said the game would be “different” without the opportunity to use the energy of the crowds, noting how “passionate” fans are in England.
Guardiola said that teams can only “adapt” to the situation but suggested things would be difficult with so many games in quick succession: “We are ready to play one game, but three days after another and four days after another… we are not ready.”
A three-month break has, however, given both teams a boost in terms of player availability.
City will be happy to see the return of Leroy Sane, who has a chance to play for the blues for the first time this season following an ACL injury. Aymeric Laporte, who has been unavailable since he took a knock in the game against Real Madrid, will also be back in contention.
It is not a completely fit squad for Arsenal, as Calum Chambers and Lucas Torreira are not quite ready for the game at the Etihad, but both players are back in training.
Manchester City v Arsenal will kick off at 8:15pm on Wednesday the 17th and will be shown on Sky Sports.
Sport
Manchester City set to re-sign former youth keeper James Trafford
Danny Jones
Manchester City look set to re-sign their former academy goalkeeper, James Trafford, just over two years after he left the club.
The Burnley shot-stopper was signed by the Lancashire side back in June 2023 after he impressed in two consecutive seasons on loan at Bolton Wanderers.
Now, just a few transfer windows later, it looks like Man City are set to fend off interest from other Premier League outfits for the chance to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, an agreement is already in place for him to return to Manchester in the next few days.
🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City agree deal to sign James Trafford as new goalkeeper, here we go!
Deal in place with Burnley under value of £40m buy back clause. Trafford said yes to Man City as Pep Guardiola wanted him.
According to Romano, the Cockermouth-born and Carlisle-blooded keeper, who joined the City youth setup at the age of 12, will be signed once again for a fee below the previously reported £40m price tag.
Although the details of the contract are yet to be fully confirmed, it is said that City maintained the option to match the bid of any other team that came in within three days as part of the stipulation.
Backed up by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, it seems the club have done just that, entering a matched price of £27m (before add-ons) after an offer was made by Newcastle United.
Once again, the wages he will earn upon returning to the Etihad remain undisclosed, but you can assume they have promised a more attractive package than Newcastle; you would expect some assurances surrounding playing time, too.
Although Ederson is the first-choice goalkeeper on paper, he and backup keeper Stefan Ortega have been increasingly rotated across multiple competitions, and the 22-year-old said in an interview back in 2021 that he believes he has the potential and talent to become “Manchester City’s number one.”
Here are some of the highlights from the previous term.
Having impressed at youth level for England and most notably keeping 29 clean sheets – conceding just 16 goals in all 45 league fixtures in 24/25 – with Burnley securing automatic promotion as one of the best defences in the EFL, he’s not just a young prospect any more: he’s a sought-after shot-stopper.
It seems only a matter of time before his comeback is officially announced by the clubs, with Trafford preparing to sign a five-year contract with his old employers and where the bulk of his youth development took place.
The question is, Man City fans: can you see him pushing Ederson and Ortega, who have both been linked with moves away themselves, for the starting gloves?
Meanwhile, although Pep might be looking to phase in a new go-to between the sticks, another member of his senior squad who has struggled to nail down a consistent spot in the first XI could, conversely, be on his way out the exit door.
Jack Grealish linked with Serie A switch as Manchester City star reportedly wants a move away
Danny Jones
Manchester City star and England international, Jack Grealish, has been linked with leaving for a possible Serie A switch as the midfielder is reportedly eyeing an exit from the Etihad Stadium.
The 29-year-old is already being monitored by a number of clubs here in England and in mainland Europe, but it appears that Italian champions Napoli have emerged as the latest and seemingly strongest suitors looking to add Jack Grealish to their growing roster.
A number of outlets are reporting interest from the ‘Gli Azzurri’, who have already signed former Man City talisman Kevin De Bruyne this summer, and look to be continuing with a productive period of recruitment ahead of defending their fourth league title – the second in the space of three seasons.
It wouldn’t be a change in colour or even in position, apparently, as they have identified him as a number of left-sided targets this summer, according to the likes of Corriere dello Sport.
🚨 Jack Grealish remains on a list of wingers still being considered by Napoli, @CorSport claim 👀🩵
The former Aston Villa favourite was left out of the FIFA Club World Cup after Pep Guardiola revealed the pair had shared “honest” discussions regarding his future in Manchester, but did reassure that it was the “best” decision for him and is not ruling out a resolution before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
The Telegraph‘s Matt Law states that Grealish has returned to City but only to train alone and will remain apart from the rest of the team until an outcome has been decided.
Other clubs that are said to be keen on tapping up the dynamic winger and attacking midfielder include Spurs, West Ham, Newcastle and even Everton are thought to be exploring a potential approach.
Guardiola‘s squad are expected to resume training on 28 July following a much-needed break post-tournament, which they crashed out of in the round of 16 following a shock defeat to Saudi side Al-Hilal.
Meanwhile, it is claimed that the England star has already flown to Naples.
As per Manchester Evening News (MEN), Grealish’s driver, Salvatore, told the ‘Radio Goal’ show on native station Kiss Kiss Napoli that the footballer is already training privately on the Amalfi Coast.
The outlet also recently wrote that the 29-year-old would be available if the right offer came in, with Man City supposedly wanting around £40 million for his prospective sale.
Jack Grealish is now considered well within his traditional ‘prime years’, and arguably soon to exit this crucial period for any athlete, so he will no doubt be pushing hard for a move this summer if his place with the sky blues is still undecided.
Despite being a well-regarded talent and regularly picked for his national team, the Brummy-born footballer has struggled to cement a spot in the starting XI under Pep, so perhaps leaving City might be the best for both Grealish and City, who are continuing to rebuild with new personnel.
He’s not the only Manchester-based star looking to the continent for a new lease on life.
Kate Jackson -
17th June 2020 
