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The English top-flight returns this weekend and the season ahead promises to be exciting. Last term, Liverpool dazzled on their way to a first-ever Premier League crown, Leicester City narrowly missed out on Champions League football and Aston Villa survived relegation on the final day.
We also saw a plethora of new talent join the league and enjoy varying degrees of success. The current transfer window has seen several exciting players join the Premier League too, with the likes of Allan and Hakim Ziyech set to debut for their new clubs this weekend.
This article will look at five players who should impress for their new teams this weekend as the Premier League gets underway.
#5 Rodrigo Moreno's Premier League debut (Leeds United)
Rodrigo Moreno has joined newly-promoted Leeds United for a club-record transfer fee. The Whites are set to make their much-awaited return to the Premier League after a 16-year hiatus. What better way to make your return than with your marquee signing leading the line?
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The 29-year-old Spanish forward arrives from Valencia for a reported £30 million. He will bring experience and versatility to this Leeds side, as he is not your typical No.9.
Rodrigo likes to station himself in wide areas, utilizing his movement and the timing of his runs to breakdown the opposition’s defensive lines. Leeds have displayed a fluid style of attacking play under Marcelo Bielsa, which could see Rodrigo integrate himself perfectly.
He contributed four goals and seven assists in the La Liga last season, while also scoring two goals and assisting a further two in the Champions League. Rodrigo's creativity will be pivotal as it will help free up the likes of Patrick Bamford and Pablo Hernandez.
His ability to occupy pockets of space in the final third should also see him score consistently for the Whites, possibly against this weekend’s opponents, Premier League champions Liverpool.
#4 Gabriel Magalhaes' Premier League debut (Arsenal)
Arsenal capped their 2019-2020 season off by winning the FA Cup but they endured their worst Premier League finish in 25 years, earning 56 points and an eighth-place finish. However, the Gunners took massive strides under Mikel Arteta in the latter stages, with impressive victories against Manchester City in the FA Cup and Liverpool in the Community Shield.
One man that will be pivotal to Arsenal’s success this season - Gabriel Magalhaes. The 22-year-old Brazilian was a regular for Lille last term, helping the French side to a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1.
Arteta has already spoken of the defender’s “many outstanding attributes," therefore, he is expected to start this weekend against newly-promoted side Fulham. The left-sided centre-back will be pivotal in the Premier League as he is an aerial presence, winning an average of 5.22 aerial duels per game last season.
He is also known for his calmness when in possession of the ball, completing 3.7 accurate long balls and 50.8 accurate passes per game, and can anchor the build-up play for Arteta’s side.
He is also physically strong on the ball as he is press resistant and comfortable inviting on pressure. His height and power will make him a threat from set-pieces too.
His probable partnership with William Saliba should help Arsenal improve on last season’s Premier League tally of 48 goals conceded. Look out for him to showcase his impressive skills when he makes his debut this weekend.
#3 James Rodriguez's Premier League debut (Everton)
James Rodriguez joins the Toffees for £22 million from Real Madrid in a move that sees him reunite with Carlo Ancelotti for the third time, having played under him at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. This time he'll grace the Premier League.
Rodriguez only made eight appearances for the La Liga champions during the 2019-2020 league campaign, but is expected to play more of a significant role at Goodison Park. Ancelotti has proved that he can bring the best out of Rodriguez, coaching him through strong seasons at Real and Bayern.
He scored 17 goals and provided 18 assists for the former in the 2014-2015 season and boasted 11 goals coupled with 12 assists in the 2017-2018 campaign for the Bavarians. The Colombia international played 71 minutes per game in his first season for the German outfit, the most since his first campaign under Ancelotti at the Bernabeu.
Extended minutes for the Colombian will undoubtedly benefit Everton, who scored 44 goals in the Premier League last season, their lowest total since the 2004-05 campaign. Ancelotti will want more creativity from his side this season and James brings just that.
His inclusion in the side will benefit the likes of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi as his intricate passing between the lines will put them in a good position to score a lot of goals. Expect him to impress in the Premier League and this weekend against Tottenham Hotspur.
#2 Kai Havertz's Premier League debut (Chelsea)
Chelsea’s new German playmaker was one of the most coveted young talents in world football before his arrival. Kai Havertz impressed for Bayer Leverkusen last season, scoring 18 goals and assisting a further nine in all competitions. The 21-year-old is set to make his Premier League debut against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend and here is how he can make an impact.
Frank Lampard’s side will showcase a brand-new forward line this season including the likes of Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, who joined from. Chelsea mainly lined up in 4-3-3 formation last season but also used a 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 on different occasions.
Havertz played most of his football in the no. 10 position for Leverkusen last season, which should suit him well in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. He has also played as a right-winger for Die Werkself.
The German is known for his precision on the ball, positioning and calmness on the pitch. He exploits spaces through his excellent reading of the game and has superb anticipation, making the game simpler for his teammates.
He created 15 big chances in the Bundesliga last season, with only five players creating more. Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the only players who created more than 15 big chances in the Premier League last season.
The Blues have only won two of their last five opening Premier League matches, including a 4-0 loss to Manchester United last season. Therefore, they will need their new star to hit the ground running and set them off to an excellent start.
#1 Timo Werner's Premier League debut (Chelsea)
Timo Werner joins Chelsea for £49 million following a successful season at RB Leipzig and is instantly one of the Premier League's most exciting stars. The German international recorded 34 goals and 12 assists, leading his side to a third-place finish in the Bundesliga and a semi-final berth in last season’s Champions League.
He brings speed and versatility to this Chelsea side, playing as a centre forward or winger. Werner plays well alongside another striker, as evidenced by his partnership with Patrik Schick at Leipzig last season.
The pair combined for 38 Bundesliga goals last term and that could read as good news for Chelsea fans. Frank Lampard could start Werner alongside Giroud in the Premier League, allowing the German to exploit spaces and profit off Giroud’s hold-up play.
He is already one of Europe’s most prolific goal scorers and the creativity provided by the likes of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount should help make Chelsea's attack deadly.
Werner scored on his non-competitive debut for the Blues against this weekend’s opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion, and then scored again on international duty for Germany in a 1-1 draw with Spain. Blues fans will want to see their new star striker get on the scoresheet and help his side kick off the Premier League campaign with a win.
