The 2018/19 Premier League season kicks off on Friday night with Old Trafford as the setting. Hosts Manchester United take on Leicester with both sides looking to be the first team to be the first victors of what is set to be an exciting campaign over the next nine months.
Jose Mourinho has been vocal in the past week at his frustration to land top transfer targets, whether this is a sign that all is not well in the red half of Manchester remains to be seen but with his usual pattern of only staying in a job for three seasons, this could prove to be a pivotal one for the Red Devils.
After his performances in the World Cup, Harry Maguire has come to prominence and has been linked with a move to United in the past few weeks. As to what colour shirt he will be wearing come kick off is still up in the air at the time of writing, but the likelihood is that it will be blue.
Leicester have lost Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City and his contribution in terms of goals and assists will no doubt be sorely missed. Manager Claude Puel has bought in compatriot Rachid Ghezzal though in a bid to fill the gap.
Also, there is the arrival of James Madisson from Norwich, a player who has been on the radar of both Tottenham and Liverpool in the past has decided that a switch to the Foxes will be the best in terms of career trajectory and he will be keen to make an immediate impact.
Another new signing for Leicester is that of Johhny Evans who joins from relegated West Brom. He will look to add some steel to a defensive backline that had a habit of been porous at times during last season.
A perfect example of this was their ludicrous 5-4 defeat to Tottenham on the final day of the previous campaign. Jamie Vardy was on the scoresheet that afternoon and although he did not play too large a role in England’s World Cup exploits he will be keen to pick on the form that got him to Russia.
Vardy scored 20 Premier League goals at a fact that is almost forgotten due to Leicester finishing down the table, that said there can certainly be no diminishing the feat of the player who played a huge part in his side winning the division back in 2016.
Whether Leicester have got enough at their disposal to cause Manchester United an opening evening shock remains to be seen, while there is also the underlying question of just how many of the hosts World Cup stars will be available for selection.
Paul Pogba scored in the 4-2 win over Croatia and has been linked with a move to Barcelona, something that could still happen between now and the end of the month, however getting to the final means he has had little time to recover.
More importantly if he does play then he needs to convert that form on international duty back to his Manchester based employers, if he can then it should mean that United get off the mark with all three points on Friday night.