(Football news) With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar scheduled for later this year, the new Premier League season will begin a week earlier than usual with Crystal Palace taking on Arsenal at Selhurst Park. This season will be unlike any other as a winter break will be fitted in to accommodate the World Cup while there are some rule changes that should improve England’s top flight league for the better. Let’s explore everything that you can expect from an action packed Premier League season ahead.
One of the biggest changes in the 2022/23 Premier League season is that five substitutions will be allowed in the match instead of three. The rule was first introduced during the 2019-20 season when games were played in closed doors due to the COVID-19 lockdown but the Premier League had reverted back to three the following season. They have now reverted to the five substitutions rule with nine players on the bench with each team having three opportunities to use their five substitutions excluding half-time. Moreover, the Premier League is also introducing a multi ball system where 10 balls can be used during the match to avoid delays. One will be the match ball, another will be with the fourth official and eight others will be around the pitch next to the ‘ball assistants’.
The 2022/23 Premier League season will also feature new managers with Erik ten Hag becoming the eighth person to take over Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Nottingham Forest, who have been promoted to England’s top flight league for the first time in 23 years, also have a new manager in Steve Cooper. The 42 year old has previously worked at Swansea City as well as managed the England U16 and U17 teams. Also for the first time in the history of English football, no Premier League game will be played for six weeks this winter with the Qatar World Cup being moved to November and December. In order to fit that break, the season will start a week earlier (August 8th) and end a week later (on May 28th).
A number of new players will also feature in the 2022/23 Premier League season with Manchester City signing Erling Haaland for £51m from Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian striker scored 130 goals in club football and another 20 for his country at the age of 22 and will hope to adapt to English football quickly. Liverpool have signed former Benfica striker Darwin Nunez for £64m as a replacement for Sadio Mane. Tottenham have signed Richarlison from Everton for £60m while Arsenal have bought Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City for a combined total of £75m. Former Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd and Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca have joined West Ham United for more than £60m.
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