More question marks hang over the 22nd English Premier League campaign than ever before. It all begins again on Saturday at Anfield, as Liverpool hosts Stoke City in the opening game of the campaign. The champions round out the day in South Wales, as David Moyes makes his debut for Manchester United away to Swansea City.
Here is an in-depth look at the season ahead.
Saturday programming alert: Liverpool vs. Stoke City (on Sportsnet), Arsenal vs. Aston Villa (on Sportsnet), Sunderland vs. Fulham (on Sportsnet World) and Swansea City vs. Manchester United (on Sportsnet). Also, watch these three games, plus Cardiff City vs. West Ham United, on Sportsnet World Online. Live coverage on Saturday begins at 7:30 am ET/4:30 am PT.
Title chasers
Chelsea: The Special One is back! Fans and haters rejoice in the notion that Jose Mourinho will provide ample entertainment. With Frank Lampard also returning for at least another season, and a healthy John Terry, the dressing room will be a position of strength, instead of a cesspool of various cliques. Aside from reuniting a divided dressing room, Mourinho also made a couple of brilliant additions to an already formidable squad. Chelsea spent just under $50 million on Marco van Ginkel and Andre Schurrle, both highly-rated and incredibly dangerous. However, the two players who are expected to make the biggest impact are Kevin De Bryne and Romelu Lukaku.
Both return from loans with plenty of experience and much to prove. Lukaku is a powerful specimen, physical in nature, but quick for his size and extremely deadly in the air and on the ground. Fernando Torres beware, your place in the first team is up for grabs, despite Mourinho claiming he will try and get the best out of the Spaniard. Many have tried, but few have succeeded so far. Rumours of David Luiz heading to Barcelona won’t go away, even though Chelsea has publicly refused to sell. It will be interesting to see how the trio of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar adapt under Mourinho. One thing is certain: Chelsea is back to being serious contenders for the Premier League crown.
Manchester City: The 2012 Premier League champions found out fairly quickly that defending the title is far more difficult than winning it. City finished 11 points behind their city rivals last season, and though injuries played a significant role, poor summer signings that never lived up to expectations (Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell) also attributed to the club’s eventual fate. Even more discouraging was bowing out of the group stages of the Champions League for a second consecutive season, failing to secure a solitary victory and finishing dead last. If it couldn’t get any worse, defeat at Wembley in the FA Cup final to relegated Wigan led to Roberto Mancini’s departure.
Last season was a humbling experience, and only built character and filled desire for the new campaign. Manuel Pellegrini enters into the fold, and has immediately made an impression with four incredible, but expensive signings. The total tab is in excess of $170 million, and you can be sure it hasn’t ended there. Striker Alvaro Negredo fills the hole left by Mario Balotelli last January, with Stefan Jovetic and Jesus Navas providing mind-numbing depth to a team that already has a stacked deck. Eyebrows were raised when City shelled out $62 million to Shakhtar Donetsk for midfield stud Fernandinho. However, Fernandinho might be Pellegrini’s most pivotal signing. Nothing short of being crowned champions will be accepted.
Manchester United: David Moyes is reminiscent of a young Alex Ferguson, diving into the fire at Old Trafford. The difference is when Ferguson did it, United were a mess. Moyes is taking over the defending champions and attempting to carry on the legacy of the most successful United manager of all-time. The aura of Ferguson is ever present, though United must prove they still possess the same invincibility that wears down the opposition.
If a managerial change wasn’t enough of a challenge, Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request following trophy celebrations at Old Trafford. The ongoing crisis is far from over, despite United’s refusal to sell, especially to a league rival, rejecting two formal bids by Chelsea. Rooney had an obvious falling out with Ferguson, and previously with Moyes at Everton. Whatever the end result, United must add a few pieces, and have so far yet to do so, having come up short to Bayern Munich in the Thiago Alcantara sweepstakes. The Red Devils were forced to give up their chase of Cesc Fabregas, and are nowhere near close in securing targets Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines. Clearly, Moyes doesn’t have the same lure as Ferguson. Besides Wilfried Zaha, who was purchased in January, and young Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Varela, the champions have been remarkably quiet over the summer months on the transfer front. Unless a few new faces come through the door before the Sept. 2 transfer deadline, United will be in for a fight.
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European places
Arsenal: Despite the proclamation by chief executive Ivan Gazidis that the Gunners will finally spend big this off-season, only one new body has come in (Yaya Sonogo), and it was on free. Arsene Wenger is in the final year of his contract, and has yet to commit to a new one, with rumours continuing to swirl that he will leave for PSG next season. The Frenchman has failed in his attempt to lure any of his targets to the Emirates. Personal terms were agreed to with Gonzalo Higuain, only for Napoli to come in and pull the rug out from under Arsenal. Focus switched to the audacious attempt of luring Luis Suarez away from Liverpool, tabling two bids that were flat out denied by the Merseyside club. As usual, Gunners supporters are left in limbo, and playing the waiting game. Wenger is notoriously known for leaving things late, but this time it isn’t from a lack of trying. The position of most concern for Arsenal is at centre back, not up front. Forward Olivier Giroud is more than capable of shouldering the load, and is poised for a breakout sophomore season. More attention is needed to solidify their defensive issues, with Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny being the only options.
Everton: After 11 years, the Toffees will have a new man on the bench, with Roberto Martinez replacing David Moyes as manager. The Spaniard is coming off an FA Cup triumph at Wembley with Wigan, and has already cherry-picked three players from his former club, most notably Antolin Alcaraz and Aroune Kone, with the latter expected to have the most impact. A proven goal-scorer has always eluded Everton, and with Kone in the picture, it provides a solid one-two punch with Nikicka Jelavic. Considering their financial position, the Toffees have always overachieved, and the same is expected this season. Martinez was even able to secure the season-long loan of one of Spain’s hottest prospects, winger Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona. If they can hold on to Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, Everton must be considered a serious threat for a top-six finish.
Liverpool: The summer has been consumed by speculation involving the departure of Luis Suarez. The headlines have seen the player accuse the club of broken promises, directed mainly at manager Brendan Rodgers. Throughout it all, two things remained consistent: the club’s stance has always been he’s not for sale, and Reds supporters’ unwavering admiration for the Uruguayan. Liverpool will always be better with Suarez, but Rodgers has bolstered his squad nonetheless, purchasing Simon Mignolet from Sunderland for $16 million, effectively ending Pepe Reina’s seven year reign as the Reds’ starting goalkeeper. A couple of Spaniards were also brought into the fold with winger Luis Alberto and forward Iago Aspas, the latter being the most intriguing. Should Daniel Sturridge hit the ground running, while Suarez serves out his remaining six-game suspension, and Phillipe Coutinho continues to flourish, Liverpool could break their four-year Champions League jinx. Another defender would be ideal, as Kolo Toure is not the answer. Keeping Daniel Agger out of the clutches of Barcelona is also a priority.
Swansea City: It’s safe to assume the Swans cashed in their chips for the remaining three months of last season. After Michael Laudrup guided the club to victory in the League Cup final, effectively earning Swansea a place in the Europa League, their fighting spirit was extinguished. Two wins in their final 11 matches is proof of the obvious mental checkout. Gone was the killer instinct, spearheaded by Jonathan De Guzman and Michu, who was the signing of the season, smashing 18 goals. His sophomore campaign will be slightly different from a positional sense, due to the signing of striker Wilfried Bony from Vitesse Arnhem. Defensive stalwart Jordi Amat was another one of Laudrup’s astute summer purchases, though his best could be Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey ($9 million). Every football enthusiast should keep an eye out for the first topflight South Wales derby against newly promoted Cardiff City.
Tottenham: The mood around White Hart Lane was supposed to be positive, with Spurs finally solving their striker dilemma with the addition of two proven internationals. However, the imminent sale of Gareth Bale has overshadowed pre-season training. Paulinho and Roberto Soldado cost a combined $77 million, and will immediately be under pressure to produce. But Andre Villas-Boas’ best piece of business could come from two signings that have flown under the radar in winger Nacer Chadli and holding midfielder Etienne Capoue. Both arrived at White Hart Lane for the cut price of $30 million, and provided added cover. The spine of the team has significantly improved, with Sandro back in the line-up, having recovered from a nasty knee injury last season. Failing to address the elephant in the room would be foolish, as is Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy’s hesitance to accept a mind-blowing $130 million bid from Real Madrid for Bale. Spurs won’t be the same without Bale, but who’s to say they aren’t capable of being better? Whether Tottenham use all the funds or a portion, that amount of money can positively change the structure of any team. Missing out on the Champions League last season was a severe blow. However, should this bit of business be concluded quickly, Spurs could easily challenge for the top four.
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The in-betweeners
Aston Villa: The most important set of business for Paul Lambert — convincing Christian Benteke to stay for another season — was done quickly this off-season. The Belgian striker wreaked havoc on the Premier League last season, scoring 19 goals. Bids were expected after Benteke issued a transfer request. But Lambert managed to sway his player to commit his future to Villa, at least for the time being. Also, astute low-cost signings have strengthened a solid core of youth that drastically underachieved last term. With Darren Bent surplus to requirement, and an impending sale looming, Villa picked up Danish forward Nicklas Helenius to compliment Andreas Weimann and Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack. More consistency will be needed from Barry Bannan, and keeping Marc Albrighton healthy after missing the majority of last season through injury is key. Lambert is expected to significantly better the club’s 15th place showing from a year ago.
Fulham: On the field, the Cottagers ambition for the new campaign looks optimistic under new American owner Shahid Khan. But any hopes of challenging for a place in Europe hinges on an improved home record, as Fulham only managed to secure 24 points from the 57 available last season. Another strong campaign from Dimitar Berbatov is a must, with the Bulgarian collecting 15 league goals and leading by example. Maarten Stekelenberg has replaced veteran Mark Schwarzer in goal, while both Derek Boateng and Fernando Amorebieta arrive in London at no cost, adding much needed depth.
Newcastle United: The French revolution continues on Tyneside, despite the catastrophic collapse last season which saw the Magpies finish 16th and only five points from the drop zone – that’s 11 places lower and 24 points inferior to their successful 2012 campaign, which saw the club qualify for Europe. A plethora of injuries to key players and the demand of playing in Europe were ultimately too much to handle. Alan Pardew has no choice but to focus on the league this season, and has added Loic Remy on loan from QPR to take the pressure off Papiss Cisse of shouldering the bulk of responsibility up front. Newcastle continues to chase Lyon’s Bafetimbi Gomis, though no deal has been reached thus far. Ambitions of drastic improvement hinges on the club’s ability to keep hold of influential midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who is being courted by PSG. The Frenchman’s departure would have a disastrous effect on results.
Norwich City: Of all the clubs who were involved in the relegation battle last season, none have better addressed their shortcomings than the Canaries. A severe lack of bravery and finish in front of goal condemned Norwich to a very nervous ending (41 goals). But a new season brings with it plenty of promise. Chris Hughton convinced the board to shell out $22 million on Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper to alleviate his side’s incompetence up front. Van Wolfswinkel scored 18 goals for Sporting Lisbon last season, while Hooper netted 29 times for Celtic. The double swoop overshadows the departure of Gary Holt. Another key signing was made in midfield with Leroy Fer being brought in to strengthen the team’s spine. The additions are all well and good, though Hughton must put an end to the Canaries’ deficiencies away from Carrow Road, as the team managed only two wins and 13 points last season.
Southampton: Saints supporters voiced their displeasure with owner Nicola Cortese for his impromptu sacking of Nigel Adkins last January. However, incoming manager Maurici Pochettino succeeded in keeping hold of the club’s topflight status by collecting 19 points from their remaining 16 games. An impressive $32 million was splashed out over the off-season to establish some depth and give Pochettino more options. Dejan Lovern was lured away from Lyon and will provide the back-line with critical experience that was severely lacking last year. But the surprising capture of Victor Wanyama from Celtic tips the scales, as the thoroughbred-like Kenyan has the pace and power for a seamless transition to the big leagues. Expect young captain Adam Lallana to continue the stellar form he displayed last season, and the same goes for Jay Rodriguez. If Rickie Lambert smashes in the goals at a similar rate (15), and Gaston Ramirez lives up to his club record $20 million price tag from a year ago, the Saints quite possibly could punch above their weight, and be this season’s Swansea City.
West Bromwich Albion: Steve Clarke produced a memorable managerial debut with the Baggies last season. West Brom finished with their highest point total (48) and most wins (14) in a Premier League campaign, not to mention their best league position (eighth) in 22 years. It all began with a triumphant 3-0 demolition of Liverpool in the season-opener, and ended with an entertaining 5-5 result against Manchester United in Alex Ferguson’s last match. The hero on that night was Romelu Lukaku, who scored a hat-trick, which took his final total to 17 goals on the year. Unfortunately, the Belgian returned to Chelsea this summer, after a season-long loan expired. It will be next to impossible to compensate for the loss, though Clarke is hoping Matej Vydra can duplicate his prolific scoring rate (22 goals) that was achieved in the Championship with Watford last season. The striker was acquired on loan from parent club Udinese. The Premiership will see the return of Nicolas Anelka, with the Frenchman acquired on a free, though his impact is questionable given his age. The challenge of recreating the success from a season ago may be a bridge to far to cross.
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Relegation battle
Crystal Palace: After eight seasons outside the topflight, the Eagles have returned triumphantly following their Wembley playoff victory over Watford. Having Ian Holloway back in the Premier League is also a huge bonus. The entertainment value of the Bristol-born manager on and off the pitch is worth the price of admission. He gets another shot at the big-time with Palace, having failed to keep Blackpool up two years ago with a no non-sense brand of attacking football. Unfortunately, the same fate is expected to befall Holloway. There was an inevitability of Wilfried Zaha’s move to Manchester United, with the transfer sealed in January. His influence on the field cannot be understated, and will be next to impossible to compensate. Palace spent $11 million on reinforcements (Marouane Chamakh, Jose Campana and Dwight Gayle), though depth continues to be an issue, and will ultimately be the reason for their demise.
Hull City Tigers: Let’s start off with Egyptian owner Assem Allam’s decision to rebrand the club with the Tigers moniker. Not the best use of his authority, though quite humorous to say the least. Now onto the club’s chances of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship. The prognosis is improbable at best, but Steve Bruce did his best to strengthen a side that struggled to score goals in the second-tier last season by adding Yannick Sagbo and Danny Graham on loan from Swansea City. It’s nowhere near enough fire power to make a difference. Even with the proposed signing of Wolverhampton’s Kevin Doyle, Hull are well-short of attacking prowess. The free transfers of veterans Steve Harper and Allan McGregor will provide much needed competition and experience. But near heroics from either won’t save Hull from their inevitable fate.
Stoke City: The much anticipated Mark Hughes era begins at the Britannia with plenty of plaudits and belief from a loyal fan-base. If you’ve failed to notice the sarcasm, look a little bit closer. The departure of long-serving Potters boss Tony Pulis was agreed upon by mutual consent, and realistically the necessary step for the club to move forward. Teetering on the brink of relegation, Stoke barely managed to avoid the drop last season, meaning an overhaul was of maximum importance this off-season. Hughes must find a way to inject some offence into a side that averaged less than a goal-a-game last campaign. The striking foursome of Jonathan Walters, Peter Crouch, Cameron Jerome and Kenwyne Jones combined for only 21 goals, gravely below par for any top-level club who wants to stay that way. The decks were cleared through expiring contracts and one retirement (Michael Owen). However, little was added of real quality, mostly question marks (Juan Agudelo, Erik Pieters, Marc Muniesa). It also doesn’t help that Brek Shea suffered a long-term knee injury from a horror tackle while on international duty. The American was expected to have a more prominent role this season under Hughes. The Potters’ six year status in the Premier League is dangerously close to coming to an end.
Sunderland: In seven matches last season, Paolo Di Canio managed to steer the Black Cats clear of impending relegation by three points. The eccentric Italian compiled a losing record after taking over from Martin O’Neil last March, even succumbing to a dreaded defeat on the final match-day which could have proved costly. Luckily, other results went their way, giving Di Canio his first opportunity at a fresh campaign to prove his worth. His over the top celebrations in the 3-0 humbling of derby rivals Newcastle endeared him to club supporters, and gave the neutrals plenty of entertainment. After the sale of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to Liverpool ($14 million), Di Canio recruited compatriot Vito Mannone from Arsenal to battle Kieran Westwood for the number one shirt. The additions of Jozy Altidore and Emanuele Giacchirini have provided depth at positions of weakness, and the return of Steven Fletcher from injury will also help considerably. It will be anything but smooth sailing, though Sunderland is poised to undergo an improved season.
Cardiff City: Runaway winners of the Championship title, Cardiff City got off to their best-ever start to a campaign last season, and set a record for consecutive home victories (10), en-route to posting the best home record in the league. Cardiff City Stadium was a fortress, with the club amassing 51 out of a possible 69 points (only two defeats). There wasn’t one stand-out performer, as it was a genuine collective effort by Malky Mackay’s men. Now the hard part begins, this being the club’s first journey in the Premiership. Cardiff broke their transfer record on three separate occasions this off-season, first acquiring Danish forward Andreas Cornelius ($11.5 million), then Steven Caulker from Tottenham ($12 million), and finally with the surprising capture of Sevilla’s Gary Medel ($17 million). All three players should give Mackay the courtesy of options, if nothing else.
West Ham United: Manager Sam Allardyce’s style of play isn’t pretty, but it did allow the Hammers to earn a mid-table finish in their return to the Premier League last season. You won’t see Hammers fans complaining. However, a duplicate performance is going to be difficult. Only a strong record at Upton Park saved West Ham from being in the relegation mix last term. They’ve secured the services of Andy Carroll on a permanent basis from Liverpool, and more recently his former teammate Stewart Downing, for a combined $30 million. It definitely shows positive intent, though the pair never really clicked at Anfield, so the jury is still out. With Carlton Cole’s departure, and the shopping around of Ricardo Vaz Te, the squad seems a little thin on options to lead the line. A full injury-free season from Mohamed Diame is needed desperately, as is a seamless transition from new signings Razvan Rat and youngster Daniel Whitehead. Look for the Hammers to slip further down the table this season.
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