Eddie Howe’s departure sets a new Premier League record – and it affects Liverpool the most
Liverpool looks set to make history by starting a Premier League season facing six different teams, all led by new managers—twice as many as the previous record of three. The Premier League kicks off on 21 August, with champions Arsenal hosting Coventry in the opening game.
This summer has seen some big-money moves, like Elliot Anderson joining Manchester City for £116 million and his England teammate Morgan Rogers moving to Chelsea for £117 million. Alongside these transfers, many clubs have changed managers. Newcastle, for example, is now searching for a new boss after Eddie Howe stepped down following five years at the club. Howe first planned to stay despite a tough 12th-place finish last season but then changed his mind. Newcastle is moving quickly to replace him, with Al Ahli’s Matthias Jaissle as their top choice. Whoever takes the job will affect Liverpool’s start to the season.
Liverpool, with a new manager of their own, Andoni Iraola, will face six different new managers in their first six matches. They begin the season on 23 August against Newcastle’s new coach. Next up, they host Nottingham Forest, who recently replaced Vitor Pereira with Oliver Glasner. Then, Liverpool face newly promoted Ipswich, managed by Gary O’Neil after Kieran McKenna left. After that comes a game against Fulham, now led by former Liverpool player Alvaro Arbeloa, who previously managed Real Madrid briefly. On 20 September, Liverpool visit Bournemouth, where Marco Rose just took over from Iraola. Then, after an international break, they play Manchester City at Anfield—with new boss Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola, who left after ten years.
Liverpool will meet a side with the same manager from last season for the first time on 17 October, when they play Brentford under Keith Andrews. The previous record of facing three teams with new managers in a row was set in 2016/17 with Southampton, and West Ham once started a season playing three teams with new bosses, although one was an interim manager.
If Jaissle joins Newcastle, he brings an interesting background. A former player who retired early due to injury, he learned under Ralf Rangnick and quickly rose through the coaching ranks. He won two Austrian Bundesliga titles with Salzburg and two Asian Champions League titles at Al Ahli, gaining a reputation for exciting, energetic football.