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Premier League

The 2022/23 Premier League season will kick off on Friday and in the first match, Arsenal will take on Crystal Palace following which the flood gates open on Saturday.

Manchester City and Liverpool are once again the favourites to lift the EPL title but the likes of Spurs and Arsenal have also done great business during the summer so they too will push the title contenders. Bournemouth and Fulham have returned back to the top division after a small hiatus but all eyes will be on Nottingham Forest because they have returned to the Premier League for the first time since the 1998–99 season.

Before the new season begins we take a look at the changes that will come into effect.

Five substitutions:

This rule was temporarily brought in during the 2020/21 season due to that abrupt break cause of the pandemic and since then all the teams have been urging to bring this rule back.

Finally from the 22/23 Premier League, five substitutions will be allowed but within a maximum of three “windows”.

Penalty kicks:

Previously the goalkeeper had to have at least one foot on/above the goalline at the moment when a penalty was taken but that rule has now been changed.

Now, “When the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, or in line with, or behind, the goalline.”

Offside rule:

The IFAB has clarified the offside rule before the new 22/23 EPL campaign.

“‘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,” IFAB has stated.

“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.”

Taking the knee:

Earlier, all the teams would take the knee in every match but from this season onwards, players will take the knee during the opening and last matches of the season, dedicated No Room for Racism matches in October and March, Boxing Day and the FA Cup and EFL Cup finals.

Cut down on time-wasting:

In order to avoid time wasting, the authorities will use a multi-ball system wherein one ball will be in play, one with the fourth official and eight balls will be placed at various points around the pitch.

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