Manchester City has initiated legal proceedings against Burnley as they strive to become the first team to secure four consecutive English top-flight titles.
And so it commences once more.
The new Premier League season commences on Friday with reigning champions and treble winners Manchester City taking on Burnley as they embark on the pursuit of an unparalleled fourth consecutive English top-flight title.
Continuing to ride the wave of elation after securing their inaugural Champions League victory alongside their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs, Pep Guardiola's squad embarks on a journey to face newly-promoted Burnley, now under the management of former City captain Vincent Kompany.
As they kick off the new season, the reigning champions will be without their former captain Ilkay Gundogan, who departed for Barcelona, and Riyad Mahrez, who has joined Saudi side Al Ahli. The Croatian duo of Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are the sole new additions to the transfer market thus far.
Under the influence of Guardiola, Kompany has reshaped Burnley into a team that emphasizes ball possession.
"I would choose to play against a team of Manchester City's caliber every week, every month, every year. That's the most effective way to enhance one's performance," remarked the former Belgian captain.
"You can't expect to win against them all; it's an unattainable feat given the caliber of that squad – arguably the finest team in the current world football landscape. However, that's the kind of challenge that brings out the best, and I wouldn't wish for it any other way," remarked Kompany.
Nevertheless, Burnley experienced the less favorable aspect of facing City when they suffered a 6-0 defeat in the FA Cup quarter-finals last season.
Arsenal, who finished as runners-up last season despite leading for a significant portion of the campaign, will welcome Nottingham Forest in the Saturday lunchtime kickoff. Mikel Arteta's team, which has bolstered its squad with the addition of English midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham, German forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea, and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax Amsterdam, secured a victory over Manchester City through penalties to clinch the Community Shield on Sunday.
"It serves as a benchmark, confirming that we have the capability to defeat Manchester City in crucial matches. It's a significant mental hurdle we've overcome," expressed goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. "Although I'm uncertain about how the upcoming season will unfold, that mental barrier has been shattered."
In other matches, Newcastle United, who secured fourth place in the previous season, will be hosting Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
Liverpool, finishing fifth in the last season, is scheduled to face Chelsea on Sunday, with former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino making his league debut for the home team, which had a disappointing 12th-place finish last season.
"We are making positive progress; I believe we are creating something exceptional," Pochettino stated over the weekend. "We recognize our identity as Chelsea, and even if we have young players in the mix against Liverpool, our mindset remains focused on winning."
Manchester United, who secured the third spot in the league last May, will have to wait until Monday for their opening game as they host Wolverhampton Wanderers. The visitors have a new manager, with former Bournemouth coach Gary O'Neil being appointed just on Wednesday following Julen Lopetegui's sudden departure.
Over at Tottenham, former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou takes charge as they travel across London to face Brentford on Sunday. Speculation is on the rise about the future of England's captain and all-time leading scorer, Harry Kane, due to repeated approaches from Bayern Munich.
Promoted Sheffield United will play at home against Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Luton Town travels to Brighton & Hove Albion for their first top-flight game since 1992, before the Premier League era.
On Saturday, Everton will host Fulham, and West Ham United will be on the road against Bournemouth.
Here's the complete schedule of matches for the opening day of the Premier League:
Friday
Burnley vs Manchester City at 19:00 GMT
Saturday
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest at 11:30 GMT
Bournemouth vs West Ham at 14:00 GMT
Brighton vs Luton at 14:00 GMT
Everton vs Fulham at 14:00 GMT
Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace at 14:00 GMT
Newcastle vs Aston Villa at 16:30 GMT
Sunday:
Brentford vs Tottenham at 13:00 GMT
Chelsea vs Liverpool at 15:30 GMT
Monday:
Manchester United vs Wolves at 19:00 GMT
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