3 major takeaways from Premier League 2023-24 GW1 ft. Kevin De Bruyne, Liverpool and more
The highly anticipated 2023-24 Premier League season has finally kicked off in exhilarating fashion following months of excitement and speculation leading up to the big kick-off. After a long summer without competitive football action, the world's most watched and talked-about football league has finally returned.
The opening weekend didn't disappoint, with the first round of fixtures serving up plenty of thrills and talking points. With several major transfers being finalized shortly before the opening matches, there was a lot of talk around the debuts of high-profile signings at the country's top clubs.
With everyone starting from zero points, the opening matches brought a sense of limitless possibilities. An early statement could provide momentum, while mistakes could set the tone for the difficult campaign ahead.
With the first game week done and dusted,here are three major takeaways from the 2023-24 Premier League season.
Manchester City began their Premier League title defense with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Burnley, but the match was not without its challenges. The champions were forced into a tactical reshuffle after star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne limped off injured after just 35 minutes.
With the Belgian playmaker unavailable, manager Pep Guardiola deployed an adjusted midfield trio of Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, and Bernardo Silva. This represented a shift from City's preferred approach last season, when De Bruyne operated as an attacking 'number eight' in midfield.
Without De Bruyne pulling the strings, the Cityzens were unable to replicate the same patterns and rhythms in the central areas. However, they adapted intelligently to maintain control of the game, demolishing Burnley. With Rodri and Kovacic holding
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