NFL
By Keith Richards
Sunday, May 19, 2024. That’s when the 2023-24 English Premier League season ended, which saw Manchester City win its fourth straight title. Friday, August 16, 2024. That is when the 2024-25 English Premier League season begins. Will Manchester City win its fifth consecutive title? Or will any other Big Six squad finally end their reign? Today, Keith Richards looks at the four key players that could make or break their clubs in the 2024-25 season.
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
While Manchester City secured its fourth straight English Premier League title in 2024, it was about as vulnerable as it has been throughout this run. Even though Erling Haaland is City’s unofficial face, the team’s unquestionable heart is Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne is the key that starts and controls the well-oiled Manchester City machine.
2023-24, Manchester City won the league title with 91 points, only two points ahead of Arsenal. Kevin only started in 15 matches in that season, the lowest he’s started since the 2018-19 season. The 2020-21 season is when City started their run. How critical is KDB to its success? Look at the numbers:
- 2023 – 15 starts – 14 goal contributions (four goals and ten assists)
- 2022 – 28 starts – 23 goal contributions (seven goals and 16 assists)
- 2021 – 25 starts – 23 goal contributions (15 goals and eight assists)
- 2020 – 23 starts – 18 goal contributions (six goals and 12 assists)
In short, De Bruyne is a playmaker. To take it a step further, he is the key playmaker for Manchester City. As great as Haaland, Foden, and Grealish can be, it all starts with Kevin De Bruyne. At 33 years old, Kevin is no spring chicken. While that’s not super old compared to some other stars, health is becoming a key to his (and City’s) success. Winning five straight league titles will be tough. If Manchester can manage that feat, Kevin De Bruyne will be the key to their accomplishment.
Darwin Nunez – Liverpool
Why is Darwin Nunez the key to the success of Liverpool? It’s simple. He’s young and has as much talent as you could expect from a star forward. Entering his third season with Liverpool, the club needs Darwin Nunez to have a breakout season. Since 2017, Mohamed Salah has been the chief goal scorer for Liverpool. Like De Bruyne, Salah is not spring chicken, either.
At 32 years old, Liverpool can’t be sure how much longer Mohamed Salah can be the key to the Liverpool attack. Conversely, Darwin Nunez is only 25 years old. He’s just in the infancy of his prime and must be the key to the Liverpool attack moving forward. Don’t get me wrong. Salah still has much to offer his club. Still, he’s more like when Shaq joined the Miami Heat and teamed with Dwayne Wade. Shaq was a crucial player in the team winning the championship, but in the end, Wade was the key player.
When Liverpool had that historic 2019-20 season, they finished with 99 points. Since then, they have finished with 69 points (2020-21), 92 points (2021-22), 67 points (2022-23), and 82 points (2023-24) consecutively. 2021-22 was a great season, if we’re honest. Their downfall was that they ran out of gas. Darwin Nunez and his youth could be key to Liverpool having enough to cross the finish line and secure a title late in the season.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham)
The 2023-24 season is the first season since 2014 that Harry Kane has not made at least 28 appearances for the Spurs. For nine years, Kane was the key to Tottenham’s success. Even though the club has brought in players like Richarlison and Werner, Son is now the key to Tottenham’s success.
Aside from regressing slightly in the 2022-23 season, Son has been consistent for Tottenham. In that season, Son only tallied 16 goal contributions (ten goals and six assists). Outside of that season, since 2019, Son has tallied at least 21 goal contributions. Son’s best season was 2021-22.
It’s no coincidence that 2021-22 was the last season that the Spurs qualified for the UEFA Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League. In that season, Son had 31 goal contributions (23 goals and eight assists), which was better than the 26 goal contributions tallied by Harry Kane. So, it’s not far-fetched to summarize that Son having a monster season is the key to success for Tottenham.
At 32, Son is likely in the downhill portion of his prime but has prime years left. Tottenham triggered the one-year extension in July, keeping Son with the Spurs through the 2025-26 season. If he is to remain with Tottenham and receive a lucrative contract past 2025-26, the 2024-25 season will be key to reaching that goal.
Matthijs de Ligt – Manchester United
Matthijs de Ligt is the only defender to make this list. de Ligt hasn’t even played a regular season match for Manchester United. So, how can he be one of the four key players in the English Premier League? It’s because Matthijs is a winner. As one of the Big Six in the English Premier League, winning is key for Manchester United.
2023-24 was United’s worst season since the 2018-19 season. In both seasons, they failed to surpass 70 points and failed to qualify for the Champions League. Winning is key for Manchester United, especially regarding the league title; the club has not had many significant wins since they won the league title in the 2012-13 season. Enter Matthijs de Ligt.
Since 2018, de Ligt has been winning. He’s won league titles with Ajax, Juventus, and Bayern Munich, with Bayern Munich winning the Bundesliga title in both Matthijs’ years with the club. In 2018, de Ligt was the first defender to win the Golden Boy award. In 2019, Matthijs became the youngest player (19) to captain a team in a Champions League knockout match. Whatever it is, de Ligt has it!
At 25, the Dutch Centre-back is considered one of the best defenders in the world. Matthijs signed with United through June 2029, with an optional additional year. Even if the deal is extended to 2030, de Ligt will just be 31. For an aging backline, Matthijs de Ligt will be key to their success now and moving forward.
The 2024-25 season of the English Premier League will be one you do not want to miss. Can Manchester City be dethroned? Will a club outside of the Big Six take the league title? Who will be the breakout player of the season? Follow Team NBS Media throughout the season to analyze what will be an exciting season!
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