The 2023-24 Premier League season is set to kick off in two months, with teams preparing for the new campaign… but why will Bournemouth start at the top of the table?
- The 2023-24 Premier League season is set to get underway on Friday, August 11
- Bournemouth will begin the new season top of the Premier League standings
- The Cherries start the season with a home clash with David Moyes’ West Ham
The 2023-24 Premier League season is due to kick off on Friday, August 11, with Bournemouth set to start the campaign top of the pile.
Pep Guardiola’s men will be in action on the first game of the season as they face Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
City will be looking to win their fourth title in a row, finishing five points above Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Prior to the opening game between Burnley and City, Bournemouth are set to start the season top of the pile ahead of Arsenal.
The Cherries face a tough start to their second season back in the division with a home opener against West Ham, followed by four matches against the ‘Big Six’ by the end of September.
Bournemouth will officially begin the 2023-24 season top of the Premier League
The Cherries finished 15th in the division last season, five points above the drop zone
While the club are recognised as ‘Bournemouth’ on the table, their official name is AFC Bournemouth, meaning their name would start ahead of Arsenal’s by virtue of the alphabet.
The club will begin the new season without Gary O’Neil after sacking the Englishman despite guiding the club to a 15th placed finish last season.
O’Neil, who took charge initially on a caretaker basis before being handed the job permanently picked up 36 points during his stint with the south coast side.
Following the sacking of O’Neil, the club quickly appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager.
After their clash with the Hammers, Bournemouth then face a trip to Liverpool in the second week, before matches against Tottenham, Brentford, Chelsea, Brighton and Arsenal by the end of September.
While Bournemouth will begin the season top of the pile despite not using their official name, the same can’t be said for League Two side Wimbledon.
The Dons will begin the new season top of League Two, but are officially recognised as ‘AFC Wimbledon’ by the Football League.
The Cherries begin the new season at home to West Ham before facing Liverpool at Anfield a week later