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I feel like last season's top three will be the same this time, although not necessarily in the same order. After that, there are going to be four or five teams challenging for fourth place.

I am pretty confident Newcastle will be one of them, although the dream is still for them to win a trophy. It's the same as every year, really, in that I'd love to see them go deep in a domestic cup... and finally win one.

Can they do both? Well, you would never say having no European football is a good thing but the one positive to Eddie Howe's side not being involved this time is that their workload is a lot less than when they were in the Champions League.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, BBC Sport

Points deductions, battles against relegation and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the takeover – it hasn’t been a dull couple of years covering Everton.

As manager Sean Dyche said last season, just as he builds one wall, another falls down around him. The ex-Burnley boss has performed an admirable job in the most testing of circumstances.

It felt like the weight had been lifted off the shoulders of everyone at the club when they guaranteed survival with three games to go, so can they claim a top half finish this season?

Performances were encouraging towards the end of last term and they have added quality to the squad with the astute signings such as Jesper Lindstrom, Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Ireogbunam.

But there is always something unexpected around the corner for the Blues, so what will 2024-25 bring for Everton – and for those who cover the club - in their final season at Goodison Park?

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger in BBC Football newsletter

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The club I am truly fearful for is not a newly promoted side. If I am brutally honest, my real concerns are for my old club Everton. In this last emotional season at Goodison Park before they move down to that beautiful, purpose-built arena by the old docks, there will be great sadness saying goodbye as they embrace the future.

‌However, the future is incredibly uncertain. Last season saw points deductions but Sean Dyche still managed to keep them safe with a mighty and frankly incredible 14 points to spare.

‌For some people, including me, considering the pressure and problems he dealt with, Dyche should have been a serious candidate for manager of the season.

‌This season the problems are bigger than leaving Goodison, losing more important players, the threat of another relegation battle if there are any injuries or any more draconian points deductions.

‌No, it is the crushing debt and the inability to get a buyer that can pass muster and is considered trustworthy.

‌Everton’s financial woes are not over. In fact they are as bad, if not worse, than they have ever been.

‌If they cannot find a buyer, it could still be the biggest and saddest story of the coming season.

Image source, BBC Sport

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Scott McCarthy, Fan writer

Absolutely no idea [what to expect]. My suspicion, though, is that it will be sink or swim.

Fabian Hurzeler is either going to have Brighton challenging for Europe again and everyone praising the genius of Tony Bloom for appointing him. Or Sami Hyypia Version 2. Nothing in between.

What do you want from your manager this season? Fireworks, a la Roberto de Zerbi. After sacking Gus Poyet in 2013, every appointment Bloom made until De Zerbi was someone he could trust not to go berserk in public. Hopefully Hurzeler is going to keep up the entertainment rather than be a return to the geography teacher demeanour of Graham Potter.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter at Goodison Park

This will be Milner's 636th appearance in the Premier League and he has the opportunity to go above Gareth Barry's record of 653 later this season.

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James Milner is set to appear in his 23rd different Premier League season, which would be a new outright competition record.

He would surpass Ryan Giggs' record of 22 if he features against Everton. At 38 years and 226 days old, he will also become Brighton's oldest ever Premier League player.

New season, new hopes in Fantasy Football.

Picked your team? You can join the BBC Sport League on the official Fantasy Premier League game using the code bbcfpl - or by clicking this link., external

You can also listen to the Fantasy 606 podcast each gameweek on BBC Sounds where Alistair Bruce-Ball, 'Statman Dave' and Chris Sutton discuss and debate all things FPL including the latest news from the BBC Sport League.

We will also be letting artificial intelligence have a go at playing fantasy football this season, using various generative AI tools to pick a team and make transfers throughout the season.

'AI FC' will be strutting their stuff in the BBC Sport League, so keep an eye on their progress and see if you can beat them.

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Mark Warburton
Former Brentford and Nottingham Forest boss on BBC Radio 5 Live

First half Ipswich were superb, they matched Liverpool and held their own and the fans would have been delighted at half time.

However Liverpool's ability to step up one or two gears and bring in the likes of Cody Gakpo from the bench shows the depth that they have in their ranks.

A steep learning curve for Ipswich, nothing they would not have expected and a very good performance from Liverpool.

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Phil Jones
Former Manchester United defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

This season is not going to be defined by playing Liverpool at home, it will be about the teams around them. They acquitted themselves well in the first half and didn't let Liverpool dictate the play.

When Liverpool went up a few gears in the second half though they just had too much quality for them.

Liverpool

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, speaking to TNT Sports: "It was quite tough today to be fair, the weather was really warm. It's a tough team, I'm glad we won today, I'm always happy to make a difference"

On playing a promoted side: "When they play home especially it's quite tough. The crowd is always up. We knew that before the game, we're experienced, so we expected a tough game."

On his opening day goals record: "Hopefully I keep going like this for the whole season! I always help to try to help the team all the time, I'm always happy to score goals or assist."

On the changes under Arne Slot: "It's quite different. Jurgen was in the team for eight years, he gave everything, now it's a new manager and new system. It's quite different for all of us, we need to adapt. We just need to know his way of playing and enjoy the football.

"We don't need to put more pressure on him, we just need to play football and enjoy our games. Let's see in the end."

Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator

Image source, BBC Sport

The sales of Pedro Neto and Maximilian Kilman helped Wolves recoup a substantial amount this summer. But the situation this time is different.

The immediate value of the Neto and Kilman deals may not so much be the cash amount actually booked, as the timing. Much better to take the money now than in the window's final, frantic hours. There is time to use it judiciously.

But it will need to be spent in a way that returns value, not just in balance sheets several years hence, but on the field.

Now.

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on The Football News Show

I think Arsenal are still the closest challengers to Man City. I think it would be disrespectful to rule out others but it is about doing it consistently over the season and Mikel Arteta has that with Arsenal now.

I think they are actually ahead of Man City at the moment given the days they have trained because of the Euros, I think that gives Arsenal the better start. City predominantly don't start that well either.

Love a quick poll.

Arsenal to win the league? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

Theo Walcott
Former Arsenal forward speaking to BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

This year is the best chance that Arsenal have ever had. They have obviously strengthened their squad by signing Riccardo Calafiori but they have also strengthened mentally really, in terms of how robust and prepared they are going into the season, because of the mistakes they have made in the past.

I think one where Mikel Arteta would have particularly learnt a lot was playing away at City when Arsenal got a draw last season. Each and every single point counts now, so he is going to have to adapt and I feel like they are ready to adapt into a different level this year, playing against teams when they need to win.

I feel like Mikel has learned from the last two seasons and this could well be his year.

Final Score

And we're live!

Final Score has just started, and you can watch along for analysis and opinion on all of Saturday's games across the Premier League and Football League by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

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Laura Kirk-Francis, Fan writer

Arsenal will win the league this year. Mikel Arteta is five years into his project at Arsenal, but at what point will fans grow tired of trusting the process if the process does not deliver silverware?

Having finished the previous two seasons agonisingly close, fans are now used to sitting at the big boys' table. The pressure will be even greater to convert these title challenges into title wins - hope turns to entitlement, ambition turns to expectation.

Third time will be the charm for Arsenal. This year the title is heading to North London.

Chris Wise
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at the Emirates Stadium

Glorious sunshine, and great ambitions at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta was very keen to point out how ‘desperate’ they are to get going this season having come so close to taking Man City’s crown.

The new faces are in Wolves’ pack. I’ve seen a fair bit of Jorgen Strand Larsen when he’s played for Norway, and he’ll definitely give Gary O’Neil’s team a different dimension this season. The lingering question is where the supply of goals is coming from after the departure of Pedro Neto.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, we will bring all the reaction to that game but our focus also now switches to the 3pm kick-offs.

It is a winning start for Liverpool and new boss Arne Slot but a defeat for Ipswich on their Premier League return. The home fans won't be too bothered, however, they are just happy to be back.

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