THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2023-24

For the first time in five seasons, normality is back - no winter World Cup, no pandemic - but that doesn't mean it will be boring. Can anyone stop Manchester City? Will Wrexham storm League Two? Are Charlton fixtures about to turn into a rave? There's plenty to look out for in the year ahead...

- Chris Flanagan, Si Hawkins, Grant Shub, Jessy Parker Humphreys

01 PEP'S QUEST FOR SEVEN TROPHIES

In the 135-year history of league football in England, no team has won four top-flight titles in a row. In 2023-24, Manchester City are overwhelming favourites to do that.

True, City are unlikely to achieve universal popularity any time soon, but Pep Guardiola’s side confirmed themselves as one of Britain’s finest teams ever with last season’s stunning treble. Such dominance had been coming. They now top the UEFA rankings for results over the past five years, overtaking Bayern Munich at the European summit, thanks to that first Champions League trophy, secured courtesy of Rodri’s goal against Inter in June.

Their toughest test came against Arsenal in the Premier League – in the table at least, before they swatted the Gunners aside at the Etihad in late April, illustrating the gulf that still existed between the two sides. Perhaps nothing summed that up better than that game’s final minutes – 3-1 up, City were in such control that Erling Haaland literally let his hair down, removing his hair bobble to show off his long mane, then scoring mere seconds later. It was quite the flex. Against City’s nearest challengers, the goal bot could still score when barely trying.

Haaland’s 52 goals in 53 games have taken City to the next level and it’s hard to see anyone stopping them. The Norwegian insists he’s still got room for improvement, too: after all, there were 22 matches he didn’t score in, perish the thought.