Serial champions Man City on quest to make it 5 EPL wins on the trot
Arsenal are building momentum and could give the Citizens a run for their money once more
BARELY three months after Manchester City captured yet another English Premier League (EPL) trophy, the new season of the world’s most watched football league begins this weekend.
The Citizens clinched a fourth consecutive league title in May, with last season also memorable for Jurgen Klopp’s departure as Liverpool manager and the once-mighty Manchester United ending in eighth place – their worst-ever finish.
The summer transfer window has delivered big changes to many of the EPL’s 20 teams, while some clubs will start the new campaign with a fresh manager in charge.
Title contenders
Manchester City are the big favourites to win the title again, according to the bookmakers. They already bagged the Community Shield by beating Manchester United at Wembley on Aug 10, and Pep Guardiola’s men are looking strong and confident.
Their squad depth, financial muscle and Guardiola’s tactical genius makes them the team to beat. As dull as it would be for many neutrals to see the trophy remain at the Etihad Stadium, all signs point to that being the eventual outcome.
Arsenal, however, have proven in the last two seasons that they can mount a serious challenge. Mikel Arteta’s team have been quietly building momentum, and his young team could well give Man City a run for their money again.
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Teams to watch
Despite the defeat to Man City in the Community Shield, there were enough positives for Manchester United fans to remain optimistic about the season ahead.
The Red Devils beat the likes of Man City and Liverpool to win the FA Cup in May, their second trophy in two seasons under manager Erik ten Hag.
They have also been active in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to strengthen the injury-riddled squad. With a bit more luck and consistency, Man United could possibly do enough to finish in the top four.
Aston Villa punched above their weight last season, finishing fourth and qualifying for this season’s Champions League. While their fans are thrilled at the prospect of top European football at Villa Park in the coming months, the downside is player fatigue and whether Unai Emery’s men can maintain their good form this season.
As for Liverpool, they kick things off with new manager Arne Slot. The Reds were strong contenders for most of last season but ended on a disappointing note with just the Carabao Cup trophy to show for their efforts. Star striker Mohamed Salah has been a shadow of his former self in recent months.
With Klopp gone, there is some uncertainty at Anfield. Liverpool did enjoy a solid pre-season, though, with one of the highlights being a 4-1 win over Sevilla and a 3-0 thrashing of Man United. These are signs that Liverpool are unfazed by the hiccups and still have plenty in their tank.
Managerial hot seat
All eyes are on Chelsea and Liverpool and their new managers Enzo Maresca and Slot, respectively.
Chelsea have received a lot of criticism for their struggles in the last two seasons. The high turnover of players continues to be dizzying, mirroring the ownership’s lack of patience with managers. Maresca’s appointment has raised some eyebrows, as he has limited experience at the top level.
However, he was once Guardiola’s prodigy and helped Leicester City to win the second-tier league title, so there is some hope for the Blues to turn things around.
Slot’s appointment as Liverpool boss also sparked some curiosity. The Dutchman is managing in the EPL for the first time, and he has big shoes to fill after Klopp’s successful nine years in charge.
Ten Hag is not new at Man United, but he remains one of those who could get the sack if the club does not produce positive results on a regular basis.
While his FA Cup triumph has helped him to cling on to the job for now, this is probably his last chance and a poor start could see him get the boot, especially with the club’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe now fully in charge of football operations.
Relegation battle
Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City will all face a tough fight to maintain their top-flight status.
Southampton’s inconsistent form and lack of depth in key positions, especially in defence and midfield, make them vulnerable. Ipswich’s limited resources, along with a squad that is untested and their manager’s inexperience, are causes for concern. Leicester’s main woe, meanwhile, is the fact that they lost their head coach Maresca to Chelsea.
It will be nothing short of remarkable if one or more of these clubs can somehow escape the dreaded drop to the second division.
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