Jose Mourinho can bring the title back to Stamford Bridge this season
Luke Moore takes a look at the contenders for this year's Premier League title and feels like it could be winging its way back to west London for the first time since 2010...
At this stage, with the transfer window still open, it's difficult to make any cast-iron predictions on how the Premier League title race will develop. We've seen plenty of change across the summer, at both playing and management level, and it's reasonable to suggest we'll see more before the end of August and also before the end of the season in May.
That said, it is clear that the top flight in England can only realistically be won by, at a push, five teams. So let's take them in order according to the betting and see what we can see at this early juncture.
Chelsea
Last Season: 3rd, Current Odds: 3.02/1
Although the narrative around last season's title centred for the most part on Manchester City and Liverpool, Chelsea were in the mix for a good portion of the season and only finished four points off the top. The reason they've been installed as favourites this season is clearly due to the players they've added over the summer.
If we were to pinpoint where the Blues fell short last season, it would undoubtedly be their lack of goals when compared to their rivals and the addition of Diego Costa is the frontline, world class forward they so badly need, provided he can stay fit. If Costa replicates the form he showed at Atletico Madrid then Jose Mourinho's men will go close. Very close.
Cesc Fabregas at this stage of his career is an upgrade on the departing Frank Lampard also, and Filipe Luis is also a quality operator that will improve the Stamford Bridge outfit. Combine this with Mourinho's experience of winning the Premier League title and Chelsea are a team to be feared.
Manchester City
Last Season: 1st, Current Odds: 3.65n/a
The Community Shield defeat wasn't the start that anyone at Manchester City would have wanted, but the Citizens started relatively slowly last season as well and everything turned out fine when May rolled around. Sir Alex Ferguson is on record as saying that it's much, much harder to defend a Premier League title successfully than win one though, and Manuel Pellegrini needs to ensure his squad still have the focus and desire needed.
The Yaya Toure saga throughout the summer was an annoyance, and the big Ivorian hardly showered himself in glory at Wembley last weekend, but Fernando has arrived to bolster that midfield area and Eliaquim Mangala should add more solidity and competition for places to the centre of defence. On playing personnel alone, City are stronger than they were last season and will never struggle for goals or home form, but one wonders if Pellegrini has what it takes to keep them motivated for a successful defence. Mourinho will relish the mental war with his Chilean adversary and it's hard to oppose the charismatic Portuguese in a battle of wits.
The aforementioned Yaya Toure issue is a serious one, too. Much of what City did last season revolved around him, yet he is prone to playing up off the pitch and occasionally lacks focus in defensive areas. Without a classy operator alongside him, City could be turned over in the big games against title rivals and that could be the difference between being champions and also-rans.
Manchester United
Last Season: 7th, Current Odds: 5.79/2
Initially it's strange to see Manchester United at third favourites for this year's title, but there are probably just three words why this is the case: Louis van Gaal.
The charismatic Dutchman has started his tenure at Old Trafford impressively thus far, and doesn't in any way seem in awe of the size of the job he has on his hands. Results in pre-season have been good, the club has strengthened in areas that needed improvement in the shape of Luke Shaw at left back and Ander Herrera in central midfield, and all of a sudden the Red Devils feel like contenders again.
Of course, it's probably fanciful to suggest that Van Gaal can make up the 22 point difference that appeared last season, but United underachieved last time around and it's easy to see them much improved this term, especially given they'll play far fewer games than their rivals due to a lack of European football. The title will likely be beyond them but it's not much of a stretch at all to imagine them back in those Champions League places come May, especially if they bring in a couple of more players before the transfer window closes.
Arsenal
Last Season: 4th, Current Odds: 7.26/1
Arsenal started very quickly last season, aside from that disastrous home defeat to Aston Villa on the first day of course, and led the league for a lengthy amount of time. It all came crashing down around them in the spring though when a period of just two wins in nine league games saw them relinquish their title dreams and have to settle for fourth place.
Arsenal are unarguably stronger this year; only Bacary Sagna has left the club, and Arsene Wenger has brought in Mathieu Debuchy as a direct replacement as well as adding goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice, highly-rated youngster Calum Chambers who can operate at full back as well as centre back and the world-class Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona.
Sanchez, a league title winner with Barcelona, could make a real difference for Arsenal this year and his signing appears to have given the entire squad a lift. Signs at the Community Shield seemed positive and this squad could be the best Wenger has had for many a year. However, it'll be fiercely competitive at the top of the division this season and I'm not entirely convinced they can overhaul both Man City and Chelsea to lift the title. 7.26/1 is about right and could prove a good trade if the Gunners start well.
Expect them to fall just short.
Liverpool
Last Season: 2nd, Current Odds: 13.5n/a
2013-14 was a season to remember for fans of the Reds, but the market obviously feels it'll be difficult to replicate this time around, and I agree. Luis Suarez's goals will be a big miss, but Liverpool actually did ok in the games he missed at the beginning of last season through suspension and I think the Champions League will prove a bigger handbrake to any title ambitions than the departure of the talismanic Uruguayan.
Brendan Rodgers and his men benefited greatly from having no European distraction last year and the manager was able to keep their squad fresh throughout the campaign. That luxury won't be afforded to them this term and it may be hard for them to maintain the intensity they showed for the entirety of their Premier League campaign on the way to second place.
All four of Rodgers' summer signings - Lazar Markovic, Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Dejan Lovren - need to hit the ground running to lift the team and help soften the blow of losing one of the world's finest players. And, given the intensity of competition, even that may not be enough to hand them success in the league.
Having tipped them very heavily to break into the top four last season, I feel like the Reds may struggle to repeat the exploits of last year. Five into four doesn't go; Liverpool may well be the team about to find that out.
Recommended Bets
Back Chelsea to win the Premier League at 3.02/1
Back Manchester United to finish in the Top 3 places at 2.111/10
Lay Liverpool to finish in the Top 4 places at 2.1211/10
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