What is new in the 2022/23 Premier League?

CHANGE TO OFFSIDE

IFAB has clarified the offside rule and explained what constitutes defending players “deliberately playing” the ball.

Now, an offside player will not automatically become onside upon a defender touching the ball. The guideline states: “Deliberate play is when a player has control of the ball with the possibility of passing the ball to a team-mate, gaining possession of the ball, or clearing the ball. If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the player deliberately played the ball.”

NO ROOM FOR RACISM

The club captains have decided to use specific moments during the campaign to take the knee, rather than before every game. This will include during the opening round of the season this weekend.

It will also occur during the ‘No Room for Racism’ match rounds in October and March, Boxing Day fixtures and the final day of the campaign.

NEW OPPONENTS

There are also, of course, more obvious things to be aware of this term.

Nottingham Forest are back in the top flight for the first time this century, and are likely to have United loanee Dean Henderson in goal. Bournemouth and Fulham are the other two newly promoted sides.

SEASON INTERRUPTION

Obviously, the biggest change is the pause in the Premier League programme due to the World Cup taking place this winter in Qatar. The domestic top-flight season stops on 12/13 November and resumes on Boxing Day (26 December).