Three clubs are busily preparing for life in the Premier League after securing promotion from the Championship last term.
Norwich City, Watford and Brentford will feature in the top flight in 2021/22, meaning trips to Carrow Road, Vicarage Road and Brentford Community Stadium are on Aston Villa’s schedule.
Here, we take a look at the Premier League new boys…
Norwich City
The Canaries are back in the top flight again following one season in the Championship, winning the title by six points.
Daniel Farke’s side, powered by 15 goals and 16 assists from new Villa arrival Emiliano Buendía, lost only seven games en route to becoming champions, winning 29 times.
Norwich picked up 49 points on their travels, compared to 48 at home, as their league-best away record propelled them to top spot.
A strong spine with top flight experience, comprising of goalkeeper Tim Krul, captain Grant Hanley, playmaker Todd Cantwell and striker Teemu Pukki should ensure the Canaries are competitive.
Six players, including Buendía, were named in the PFA’s Championship Team of the Year, and City will be hoping to keep most of their title-winning team together as they look to stay in the Premier League.
Watford
Villa’s opening day opponents Watford were struggling for consistency and looked destined for the play-offs when they sacked Vladimir Ivic in December.
But his replacement Xisco Munoz galvanised the team, leading them to 17 wins in the final 24 league games and securing the second automatic promotion spot.
Vicarage Road was a fortress throughout the campaign, with Watford winning 19 of 23 league games at home compared to just eight on their travels.
Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Troy Deeney provide plenty of attacking threat, while Will Hughes, Tom Cleverley and Nathaniel Chalobah have top level experience in midfield.
The Hornets have quickly set about adding to their squad for the upcoming season, signing Danny Rose, Ashley Fletcher, Imran Louza, Mattie Pollock and Kwadwo Baah so far.
Brentford
The London club will compete in the top flight of English football for the first time since the 1946/47 season.
A 2-0 win at Wembley in the play-off final against Swansea City secured their place in the Premier League, guided to the promised land by Danish head coach Thomas Frank.
The Bees were the top scorers in the division, firing in 79 goals as they finished third in the table.
Ivan Toney’s 33 league strikes made him the Championship’s top marksman, and he’ll have to keep finding the net as the Londoners look to establish themselves in the Premier League.
