The Guardian

As mentioned earlier, Erik ten Hag set his stall out in his news conference on Thursday, highlighting his ambition to win the Premier League.

The Guardian seized upon the Dutchman's comments about the club's trophy haul - the EFL Cup in his first campaign at United, followed by the FA Cup last season.

"With the two trophies we won more than any other club - apart from City - in England," said Ten Hag.

"We are confident we have a good team and a good squad. We have to be more consistent and we want to win every competition in which we are taking part, definitely also the Premier League."

Image source, Guardian

BBC Radio 5 Live

We gave you a taste of the views of Manchester United fan Kim Burdett earlier.

She spoke about the club's season opener on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, adding that while they are not ready to challenge for the title, Erik ten Hag's side should be pushing for top four:

"I think we can say, since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, we’ve never known what we were going to get from a Manchester United team.

"We are starting off this season with problems, injury-wise, but we have a good footballing structure in place now. The quality of the people we have coming into the club is refreshing, compared to the past, but it's not going to change overnight,

"I don’t expect us to be challenging for the title, but maybe in a couple of years' time we can be. We can't finish eighth again. If we keep everyone fit and play well, we should be pushing top four."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel came out with some pretty strong stuff on Luke Shaw on BBC Radio Five Live earlier.

I asked Erik ten Hag about Shaw's availability in yesterday's press conference ahead of the Premier League opener against Fulham.

Subsequently Ten Hag was also asked about the full-back in the section reserved for the daily newspapers.

The United boss is adamant Shaw is committed to the Old Trafford club.

"The first season I was here he played many games so I am very confident we will get him back into shape," said Ten Hag.

"He is only 29 and played many games for Manchester United already.

"I talk to Luke. He is so committed. He will return soon and contribute to our levels."

Shaw has not played for United since February but he had already missed three months of last season before that. He did play 57 matches for club and country in the 2022-23 campaign.

We will be hearing more from Peter Schmeichel in a moment, but what do you think about his comments on Luke Shaw?

Club v country is an old debate, which the former Denmark international has stoked again.

If a player is selected while recovering from an injury, should a club have a right to argue against it?

And could it ever be right for a player to refuse to play for their country, if they do not feel fit enough to do so?

Where do you think a player's loyalty should lie?

Get in touch via text, WhatsApp or X using the contact details above.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Schmeichel has been discussing Manchester United's injury problems on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast and shared his thoughts on defender Luke Shaw, who missed the final five months of last season before battling to get back fit for England at the Euros, only to suffer another injury in pre-season:

"Luke Shaw last played in February (for United) and yet he still went to the Euros. I think he played a little bit in the quarter final, and then some of the semi-final and then he played the final.

"Now, he's injured again. He's so important. He's got experience and he's a really, really top-class left-back.

"He's a Manchester United player - we pay him. He should be focusing and prioritising Manchester United and not his country."

The Daily Telegraph

Whereas the Telegraph seized upon Erik ten Hag's comments about Manchester United's injuries and disjointed pre-season as to why they are "not ready" for the start of the new season.

Image source, Daily Telegraph

The Daily Express

The Express led with Erik ten Hag's assertion that Manchester United have the players to challenge for the Premier League title.

There is also a line from England's new interim manager Lee Carsley, who says he has made helping the Three Lions win a senior tournament his major objective.

Image source, Daily Express

The first game of the season is, of course, Manchester United at home to Fulham tonight (20:00 BST).

United boss Erik ten Hag was yesterday quizzed about his side's chances this season and the coverage of his responses has been mixed - from "we are not ready" to "we can win the title".

Let's have a look at some of today's national newspapers, which should explain...

John Wark is certainly excited about Ipswich's chances in the Premier League this season.

The question is - do you share his optimism about your club going into the new campaign?

Tell us whether you feel your team is ready for the challenge ahead and why.

Get in touch via text, WhatsApp or X using the contact details above.

Remember to include your name and the club you support.

Thanks.

Image source, Getty Images

We will come back to Ipswich later when we hear from manager Kieran McKenna, but for now we will leave you with the thoughts of Town legend John Wark, who made more than 600 appearances for the Tractor Boys.

He was asked what the team means to him in the latest edition of the Football Daily podcast: "Ipswich Town is my team, I came from Glasgow as a 15-year-old and played from the age of 17 to 39. We had a fantastic time then, we’ve had bad periods since and now we’re back in the Premier League. I'm so looking forward to it.

"The atmosphere now around the place - I’ve been here a long time and everywhere I go, people are stopping me for a chat saying they are looking forward to the game coming up against Liverpool. They're asking 'are we going to win? Are we going to stay up?'.

"Everywhere is buzzing…we’re back and that’s the main thing. I'm really looking forward to it and I think we will do well."

• Click here to listen to the full Football Daily special on Ipswich's return to the Premier League.

To say it would be a surprise if Ipswich were to bag all three points in Saturday's opening fixture against Liverpool is probably an understatement.

But stranger things have happened on the opening day of the Premier League season - click on the play icon below to watch some of the biggest upsets.

Saying that, making bold statements on the back of opening-day results has been known to come back to haunt fans and pundits alike...

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich have made six additions to their squad over the summer, so far, including big-money deals for Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson, Hull city defender Jacob Greaves and Manchester City forward Liam Delap.

They are also hoping to bring in Sammie Szmodics after having a bid accepted by Blackburn for the Republic of Ireland striker that could rise to £11m.

And England midfielder Kalvin Phillips is poised to join on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Read more here.

Kieron Dyer
Former England and Ipswich Town midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

It's not just a big deal for the football club but for the town as a whole. If you walked through town over the last two or three years, businesses have shut down, on the dock and the harbour they were going to build flats and they didn’t get built.

It was just a crisis in our town and with the football club being revived [with back-to-back promotions], businesses are starting to pick up and with us being in the Premier League, the town and the football club are just going to flourish. We've got our club back!

BBC Sounds

Sticking with the 5 Live theme, Ipswich supporters won't want to miss today's Football Daily special, All about Ipswich Town, focusing on the club's return to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Host Aaron Paul is joined by Ipswich Town legends John Wark and Kieron Dyer, BBC Suffolk's Brenner Woolley and current player Wes Burns as they look ahead to Saturday's season opener at home to Liverpool.

Town fan Sam Baker talks about what it means to the supporters to see their team back in the big time. Also, former Norwich City striker Chris Sutton gives his thoughts on the Tractor Boys' prospects.

• You can listen to the Football Daily special right here on BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast will feature plenty of Premier League build-up this morning, with former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and 5 Live commentator and chief football reporter Ian Dennis among the guests.

The station also featured an early chat with Manchester United supporter Kim Burdett and Fulham fan Elizabeth Barnard before tonight's season opener at Old Trafford.

Kim said: "It’s that lovely part just before the season takes off where your mind takes you anywhere and you can imagine all these amazing things happening. I don’t know, I might be coming back down to earth with a bump later on.

"But I am feeling much more positive for the start of this season than the last one."

Elizabeth added: "Feeling really excited about the start of this season. I think it’s going to be a good one for us. A little bit of nerves but can’t want to get started."

• Click here to listen live.

In case you need a reminder, here is a full list of this weekend's Premier League fixtures:

Friday, 16 August

Man Utd v Fulham (20:00)

Saturday, 17 August

Ipswich v Liverpool (12:30)

Arsenal v Wolves (15:00)

Everton v Brighton (15:00)

Newcastle v Southampton (15:00)

Nottm Forest v Bournemouth (15:00)

West Ham v Aston Villa (17:30)

Sunday, 18 August

Brentford v Crystal Palace (14:00)

Chelsea v Man City (16:30)

Monday, 19 August

Leicester v Tottenham (20:00)

Join us as we take a long run up to tonight's Premier League opener at Old Trafford.

We have a host of news conferences to bring you today, including Liverpool's Arne Slot and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe from around 09:30 BST, while Aston Villa's Unai Emery will be last in at around 14:00 BST.

In between we will hear from last season's top two - Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta - as well Kieran McKenna, who has led Ipswich back to the top flight for the first time in more than two decades.

Image source, Getty Images

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

The Premier League begins this weekend, with Manchester City bidding to continue their supremacy in English football and Ipswich making their top-flight return.

Manchester United host Fulham tonight to get us under way, with matches spread across four days.

Ipswich host Liverpool on Saturday before Manchester City travel to Chelsea on Sunday in the two most eye-catching games of the opening weekend.

Arsenal will be hoping they can finally pip Manchester City to the title, while Manchester United are looking to recover from their worst season since 1990.

There will be tweaks to handball, VAR and injury time, plus more.

Click here to read BBC Sport's full Premier League preview - who, and what, is new and what we can expect in the 2024-25 campaign.

Image source, Getty Images