After 75 days away, the Premier League is back and the football gods have been kind enough to start the season a week earlier than usual.
It’s the 30th year of the Premier League and what a season it promises to be after a summer of huge investment, the return of a sleeping giant and the big guns are primed and ready to battle it out for the title and top four.
The slate is wiped clean. New chances, new expectations and new hopes and dreams.
Excited? So are we at talkSPORT and we can’t wait to bring you the action.
In fact, we’re so excited that to get you in the mood, we sat down with talkSPORT’s finest to find out their favourite Premier League moments from the past 30 years and what they are looking forward to most, ahead of the big kick-off.
Alan Brazil
Favourite moment
“Thirty years of the Premier League can you believe it? My finest moment thinking back would probably have to be my old club QPR against Manchester City– last game of the season in 2012.
“Unbelievable! What a game it was. Joey Barton causing chaos then commentator Martin Tyler screaming ‘Aguerooooooo’. That was just remarkable. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.
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Looking forward to...
“I can’t wait for the season to start and for me the big battle and it could make out who’s the champions or who comes runner-up – [Darwin] Nunez against [Erling] Haaland.
“I think Nunez looks magnificent the way he runs in behind. Haaland missed chances in the Community Shield but make no mistake, the guy’s a superstar. He will get bundles. That’s the battle I’m looking forward to.
Darren Bent
Favourite moment
“My favourite moment in Premier League history has to be the 2003-04 season. Arsenal invincibles – going the entire season unbeaten in the Premier League. A record that still stands today – absolutely fantastic.
“To be able to achieve that and when you think of some of the great sides to have been in the Premier League – Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea – none of those teams could go all season unbeaten. Arsenal managed to do it so that would be my favourite moment in Premier League history.”
Looking forward to…
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how Haaland and Darwin Nunez are gonna fare in the Premier League. We’ve seen Nunez last season, he was brilliant for Benfica and Haaland speaks for itself, his goal record, almost a goal a game. Fantastic, scores goals for fun.
“I want to see how he’s gonna integrate into this Manchester City side that will give him that much service.
“Could he be the missing link that finally gets them over the hill in the Champions League? Who knows?
“But that’s what I’m most excited about for this Premier League season.”
Tony Cascarino
Favourite moment
“When you ask someone what’s your favourite moment you’re always going to associate it with the club you support. So I have a bias, it’s true and it will be Liverpool.
“It’s the goal Mo Salah scored against Manchester City last season. Early part of the year, jinking one way then the other – great finish. I think it’s one of the great goals. It’s up there for me with the Aguero goal when they [Manchester City] won the title against QPR. That type of goal, they’re moments you can’t forget.”
Looking forward to…
“The moment I can’t wait for it to see just how exciting the Premier League is going to be with so many teams making so much investment and changing the dynamic of how they play.
“We have got an incredibly challenging season coming ahead. So many teams have gone for it to try and improve their teams to another level and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Gabby Agbonlahor
Favourite moment
“My favourite moment of the Premier League era is when Leicester won the Premier League title.
“A club like Leicester who no one thought would ever win the Premier League, to come and win it in the season they did, was massive for football and massive for teams who want to make a shock and win the Premier League. So for me, that was the biggest moment in Premier League history.”
Looking forward to…
“The thing I’m most looking forward to is hearing Aston Villa fans singing after winning against Everton in their first home game of the season. It’s one of the most iconic stadiums that are left and Aston Villa winning at home always brings joy to all Villa fans.”
Hugh Woozencroft
Favourite moment
“Manchester United against Arsenal for me is the defining rivalry of the Premier League era. I’m talking about Arsene Wenger’s invincibles led by Patrick Vieira and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United led by Roy Keane.
“That era, those two sides and that rivalry epitomised what made the Premier League so great. It was like tuning in for a heavyweight knockout bout in the middle of the night. The moment that defined it was the tunnel at Highbury. Vieira and Keane squaring off. It will always be etched in my memory.”
Looking forward to…
“The atmosphere at the City Ground is going to be immense when Nottingham Forest get their campaign underway and we’ll see if their home fans can carry them to survival this season.
“There are two moves that I’m really intrigued to see and I hope they do really well. One is Raheem Sterling who’s gone to Chelsea and Gabriel Jesus – I think he could be the surprise of the season.”
Paul Hawksbee
Favourite moment
“My most memorable moment of the Premier League is a personal one. It was Peter Crouch’s goal at Manchester City that finally got Tottenham into the Champions League. It was something I thought I’d never see. There’s been great moments of course but that’s the one that stands out for me.”
Looking forward to…
“I’m most looking forward to that first pint on the concourse with my mates who I go to the game with – some of which I haven’t seen much of over the season. We are predominantly football mates and it’s always a joy to see them.”
Stuart Pearce
Favourite moment
“My favourite moment is Leicester City winning the Premier League. That fairytale story is still by far the best thing that’s ever happened to the Premier League.”
Looking forward to…
“Forest’s contribution, the head-to-head between Manchester City and Liverpool and the new introduction of Nunez and Haaland. Also to see how my former club West Ham fare.”
The Premier League is back and talkSPORT has it covered, with games on Friday, Saturday and Monday, beginning with Crystal Palace vs Arsenal on 5 August
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