The English Premiership, touted to be the world’s most exciting league, is scheduled to kick-off next weekend. Today, however, Manchester United prepare for a heated battle with city rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield to kick-start the new season. We look at some of the favourites to win the league this season
Manchester United
The defending champions, Manchester United, are still the favourites to retain the Premier League title. Last season Man U won their 19th title, a record surpassing Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles. Despite talks of United squad not good as that of the past seasons, they still cruised to the league title and even played in the final of the Champions League. There have been goings and goings in the team, though. Paul Scholes and Edwin Van Der Saar retired at the end of the season; David De Gea was bought from Athletico Madrid to replace Van Der Saar and United are still targeting Inter Milan midfielder? Wesley Sneijder to replace Paul Scholes. Man United also bought Phil Jones and Ashley Young, two hot prospects with a bright career ahead of them. There are still doubts surrounding the future of United’s top scorer last season, Berbatov, who has been linked with a move to PSG or Man City.Man United under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson are definitely the favourite to win the title, with its perfect pre-season so far, winning all their games and exacting revenge on Barcelona in a repeat of the Champions League final in the United States of America, though in a friendly and a Barca team with its soul, Lionel Messi. For United to win the leahue, their away form has to improve this season. Their away form was very poor last season and they won the league due to the inconsistencies of Arsenal and Chelsea. In attack, Man U have an abundance of strikers in Wayne Rooney, Chicharito,Owen, Berbatov and Welbeck, a young lad with Ghanaian blood who has successful emerged from the youth ranks.? Expect Man United to challenge for the title all the way.
?Chelsea
After finishing trophyless last season, Carlo Ancelotti lost his job and treble winning Portugese manager, Ander Villa-Boas, was brought from FC Porto to change the fortunes of Chelsea. Chelsea and United have rotated the last six titles between them and? one expects Chelsea to challenge for the title this season. Questions have been asked about Chelsea’s aging squad and the age of Villa Boas who is the same age with Drogba and Lampard. Chelsea have had few activities in the transfer market this time. They signed? keeper Thibaut Courtois, and midfielder Oriol Romeu from Barcelona.But Chelsea are looking to sign a playmaker this season and have been linked to Tottenham’s Luka Modric.Chelsea’s second bid for the Croatian has been turned down by Spurs, and a third is expected.
Chelsea’s undoing last season was their inconsistency and inability to kill off games.They lost all their away games to the big four last season and lost some home games, too.Their biggest weakness this season will the the age of the squad as most of them are in the twilight of their careers.Fernando Torres was bought to Chelsea to booster the attack, but the 50 million pounds man failed miserably as he found the back of the net just once during the second half of the season. Also their biggest strength is arguably that they have the players for the big games, players who have won the Champions League and after last season’s flop, most of them will be hungry to regain the league. A playmaker is needed in Chelsea to bring out the best in Torres who had his worst season, till date, last term.
?Manchester City
After winning the FA Cup last season, more is expected from Man City this season.Man City has strengthened with the signing of Aguero from Athletico Madrid, Stefan Savic and Clichy from Arsenal.Carlos Tevez wants out of the club, with Inter Milan his preferred destination as an earlier deal to Corinthians didn’t materialise. Man City qualified for the Champions Leaague this season for the first time in their history.Roberto Mancini has a squad good enough to challenge for the title and go all the way in Europe. They have a solid back up for positions, which tells a lot about the depth of the squad. They have arguably the best midfield in the premiership with Yaya Toure and David Silva inspirational last season, with Adam Johnson providing the supporting cast. Their attack is equally impressive with Argentine superstar Sergio Aguero, Mario Barlotelli and Edin Dzeko. That’s not counting Emmanuel Adebayor who is at odds with the coach.
Having tasted success by winning the FA Cup, the players now know how to win a title and this will be a deciding factor for City this season. Coach Roberto Mancini is targeting a central midfielder and a winger before the end of the transfer season with Arsenal’s contract rebel Samir Nasir his preferred option. Peter Barnes, former Manchester City player, said? that he believed that City’s title hopes could be a bridge too far this season.
“I still think if they play to their strengths, they’ll be in the top three or four when the season comes to an end.
“I don’t know if they’re good enough as yet, to be honest, to be title challengers to United or Chelsea. But they are top three and they might surprise me,” he said.
Indeed, it would be foolish to assume that City is going to win the title by default. There is an incredible amount of competition in the Premier League.
Arsenal
Before the coming of Roman Abramovich to English football, the league was contested between Arsenal and Man U until the coming of Abramovic with his billions and Chelsea quickly? displaced Arsenal. With the resurgence of Man City Arsenal have been pushed down the pecking order oncee again. Arsenal have gone without a trophy for six years now and Arsenal fans are hoping this will be their year.Arsenal have signed Gervinho from Lille and Carl Jenkinson and may lose Captain Cesc Fabregas and Nasri and this will be a big blow to them. Longtime left back, Clichy has already crossed over to City.
Arsenal have often been criticised for their approach to the contest. They play the best football in the English Premiership but lack the mental toughness to win big games and this has been their biggest undoing in recent times, and if they are to end their trophy drought this season, Arsenal need to delve into the transfer market to sign a? goalkeeper, centre-half, powerful midfielder, and striker to help Robin van Persie, and a new assistant manager. Central defence have been their Achilles’ Heel.? Since the departure or Gallas and Kolo Toure, Arsenal have lacked a leader at the back.Vermaleen was injured for most of last season and he was sorely missed.? Arsenal boss Arsenal Wenger is notorious and legendary for his unwillingnessness to fork out money to fortify noticeable weaknesses in the team, prefering to pick up cheaper stock and turning them into pearls – which has not worked in six years – and the sluggish moves in the transfer market is unsusprising, with players urging their coach to fortify the team. The expected capture of Spanish midfielder Juan Mata, and Premiership defenders Garry Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Chrisian Samba may all fizzle out at the death of the transfer window.
Arsenal will always flatter to deceive and end up with nothing and? things may become more difficult for them if they lose Fabregas and Nasir,? and for them to win the league this season, Man United and Chelsea have to play badly Anything apart from that will see Arsenal fighting for third and fourth spot in the league.
?Liverpool
Liverpool saw their record of 18 league titles broken last season by Man United.Liverpool have not won the league title since 1992 and have been in the shadows of Man United in the past decade.They failed to qualify for Europe this season and this might be an advantage for them.The return of Anfield legend Kenny Daglish seems to be right step in the right direction as his appointment last season turned around the fortunes of the club after a dismal start then under coach Roy Hodgson. Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market this season? with the signings of Charlie Adam Doni, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, taking their spending to over 100 million pounds since Daglish came mid-season.
Their biggest strength could be in the strike force of Andy Caroll and Luis Suarez who were bought in January as replacements for Fernando Torres who left to Chelsea.While Luis Suarez has had a bright start to his Anfield career, Andy Carrol has yet to light up Anfield. Kenny Daglish also said he is not done yet with signing, as Bolton’s Cahill is on his radar; so is Stoke’s captain Ryan Shawcross. Their defence need strenghtening. After a poor pre-season duuring which conceded 15 goals in five pre-season games,? a central defender should be a top priority if they are to compete for the league title with the likes of Man United and Chelsea.