Although a number of clubs have passed a difficult pre-season and sticky transfer window, there are some Premier League fans who will be absolutely happy this weekend for the return of top football.
Last Sunday, Liverpool supporters may missed their first chance of silverware with their community shield, but the glimpse of new signing sessions such as Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong in competitive action have lifted the spirits longer term.
But how do the rivals want to place a dent in their title defense ambitions?
Here the Daily Mail Sport experts assess every club in the travails for the top flight season, and single from who has taken the most out of their time for the restart – and whose fans can watch the first game of their campaign that hide behind their hands.
After you have read who came out the best in part one, why didn't you read part two, to find out who is on top of the start of the new campaign.
10. Burnley
Record for the season: 2-0 v Huddersfield (A), 2-2 V Shrewsbury (A), 0-1 V Stoke (A), 0-1 V Lazio (H)
How did it disappear: instead of exotic trips to America and the Far East, the promoted side of Scott Parker has not been further away than Shrewsbury after a training week in Portugal. The manager has given priority to work on the grass above Air Miles to prepare for the challenge for the challenge.
Last season Burnley kept 30 clean sheets and Parker's approach to survival will be less Gung-Ho than predecessor Vincent Kompany. He will not be the defeat for one goal for Stoke and Lazio while covering new players in 13.
Parker used wing backs against the Italians and seems to stay with the formation in Tottenham on Saturday. The English Kyle Walker is the key to the crucial importance of three central defenders.
Goalkeeper Max Weiss did well to fill James Trafford's gloves that joined Manchester City. The German saved a fine last weekend to deny Lazio's Mattia ZaAccagni.
Striking artist: Quilindschy Hartman
Joe Bernstein
9. Crystal Palace
Record for the season: 1-0 v Millwall (H), 3-0 v Crawley Town (A), 1-1 v Mainz (A), 2-3 v Mainz (A), 3-1 v Augsburg (A), 0-1 v Augsburg (A), 2-2 (3-2 pens) v Liverpool (Wembley, Community)
How did it disappear? What should have been spent a summer in the joy of a first major trophy, quickly became acid when the message dropped that the loot of that deserved victory – namely Europa League football – were in danger. Instead, Eagles -fans spent the summer on the fading hope to stay in Europe's second -class competition, only to lose that dream – together with the windfall of £ 20 million that it would have brought.
The disputed rooms of Marc Guehi and Ebereechi Eze make the prospects also darker, but that gloom is somewhat tempered by an encouraging season under Oliver Glasner – and more Wembley Glory to book the new campaign.
Striking artist: Justin Devenny
Tara Anson-Walsh
8. Manchester United
Record for the season: 0-0 v Leeds United (A), 2-1 V West Ham (A), 4-1 V AFC Bournemouth (A), 1-1 v Everton (A), 1-1 V Fiorentina (H)
How did it disappear? Larger intensity over United during the preseason and a new line-up has more competition winners on the field with the additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. There are still well -known concerns about large holes that open themselves too often in midfield and the lack of a reliable keeper is a great concern for supporters.
Ruben Amorim himself has admitted that, although they have taken steps ahead, he still expects his side to 'suffer' in the Premier League, who may emphasize how United's Rebuild is still a work in progress.
Striking artist: Leny Yoro
Nathan -Zout
7. Aston Villa
Record for the season: 0-1 v Walsall (A), 1-3 v Hansa Rostock (A), 2-2 v Eintracht Frankfurt (A), 2-1 v St. Louis City (A), 2-2 v Nashville (A), 4-0 v Roma (N), 1-3 v Marseille (a), 2-0 Villarreeal (a)
How did it disappear? Villa started to get their pass at the end of the preseason and looked sharp in all three of their last games, against opposition at the highest level. It was a slow burner for that, but Unai Emery is more interested in trying out tactical innovations – such as a back three – than in the results, during this period.
The only care is Morgan Rogers, who was a knock on his ankle against Roma, but Villa is hopeful that the English attacker will be good for the opener against Newcastle. Ollie Watkins has looked in good condition and seems to have benefited from a full preseason.
Striking artist: Ollie Watkins
Tom Collomosse
6. West Ham
Record for the season: 3-1 V Grasshoppers (A), 1-2 V Manchester United (Pl Summer Series, New Jersey), 2-1 V Everton (PL Summer Series, Chicago), 2-0 V Bournemouth (PL Summer Series, Atlanta), 1-1 V Lille, Wonen on Pears (H)
How did it disappear? Much better than expected. Moral was at a low point after a gloomy end of the season and small signs of a squador television during the first half of the transfer window. But slowly things are just starting to click in place for Graham Potter. El Hadji Malick Diouf seems like an exciting prospect left and young keeper Mads Hermansen Slots in a position that the Hammers desperately needed.
The less said about the arrival of Callum Wilson on a free transfer, the better, but Niclas Fullkrug has returned slimmer, fitter and sharper than ever. So far he scored in every pre-season game and connects well with Jarrod Bowen.
Pre-season versions have been considerable, but they still need a number of midfielders if they want to succeed and follow a deal for Matheus Fernandes from Southampton.
Striking artist: Niclas Fullkrug
James Sharpe
5. Arsenal
Record for the season: 1-0 V AC Milan (A), 3-2 V Newcastle (A), 0-1 V Tottenham (A), 2-3 V Villarreal (H), 3-0 v Athletic Bilbao (H)
How did it disappear? Arsenal has finally brought in a NO9 in Viktor Gyokees, to the excitement of fans, and has strengthened their team across the field. The Gunners were impressed by Tottenham and Villarreal, although they showed their class in the other competitions.
There is a feeling that the North -London club still needs a left wing player to be completely complete, with the position of Gabriel Martinelli under a lot of research. The big talk points are about whether Gyokees can bring his goals from the sporty Lisbon to the Premier League, and if the impressive 15-year-old Max Dowman could appear for the first team this season.
Striking artist: Martin Zubimendi.
Isaan Khan
4. Manchester City
Record for the season: 1-0 V Preston (H), 3-0 V Palermo (A)
How did it disappear? A withheld pre-season after the World Cup Club, where the emphasis was on training instead of competitions. City's first friendly was behind closed doors – Rico Lewis scoring – before new signature Tijjani Reijnders stole the show in Sicily with a second half of a brace.
There are personal worries in the campaign, where Pep Guardiola says that Rodri will not be fully fit until September. In terms of attacks, they looked powerful in Palermo (Erling Haaland scored his weaker foot) and in America, but there are defensive problems and general firmness to find out. And although the expenditure is rising, with Jack Grealish and James McATee who are leaving this week, more will come.
Striking artist: Tijjani Reijnders
Jack Gaughan
3. Brighton
Record for the season: 6-1 v Wycombe (h), 3-1 v Stoke (A), 2-0 v Los Palmas (A), 2-0 v Coventry (h), 1-0 v Southampton (A), 2-2 v Southampton (A), 2-0 v Wolfsburg (h), 2-1 v Wolfsburg (H)
How did it disappear: how hard Brighton fans should find it to tell himself that it is not to reflect on the results for the season. Eight games, seven victories, a draw and 20 goals in front of Fabian Hurzeler. And that's all after they had sold Star -Spits Joao Pedro to Chelsea.
It helps you to come your goals for the season of 13 different players. Veteran frontman Danny Welbeck Netten four in a friendly doors doors friendly against Wycombe, Yankuba Minth has two goals and an assist from the campaign, Georginio Rutter has made one and set three more. New left back Maxim de Cuyper has settled well as the replacement for Pervis Estupinian.
Brighton is even impressed by a large of the preseason with a mysterious fitness issue impressed without a ball-winning midfielder Carlos Baleba, a target for Manchester United. Baleba is the latest taxi from the brilliant midfielders in Briljet after Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Co. When Baleba goes, Brighton has often shown that they know how to replace them.
Striking artist: Yankuba MINTEH
James Sharpe
2. Liverpool
Record for the season: 3-1 V Preston (A), 5-0 V Stoke (H), 2-4 V AC Milan (Hong Kong), 3-1 v Yokohama F Marinos (A), 4-1 V Athletic Club (H), 3-2 V Athletic Club (H), 2-2 (2-3 pens) V Palace (Wemblery,)
How did it disappear? This preseason has all been aimed at informing the new players after a busy transfer window. The will of Florian Wirtz excelled, while teenagers Rio Ngumoha, 16, and Trey Nyoni, 18, have made important cases to be in the first team.
The only concern was the defense with only one clean leaf and teams that seem to pick holes in the Liverpool four back.
Striking artist: Florian Wirtz
Lewis Steele
1. Chelsea
Record for the season: 2-0 vs Bayer Leverkusen (H), 4-1 vs AC Milan (H)
How did it disappear? It all happened so fast – two friendly competitions in three days in the middle of a preseason that lasted less than fourteen days. Levi Colwill's ACL injury on the first day was a blow, but the atmosphere is otherwise purely positive.
All their goals scored versus Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan from newcomers in Estevao Willian, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, who saw it deadly since he arrived from Brighton.
Although a few fans want to see that they are competing for the Premier League title, the care at a certain stage is their extraordinary long 2024-25 season that culminated in Chelsea that is crowned world champions, they can catch up in 2025-26.
Striking artist: Joao Pedro
Kieran Gill