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1. Will Liverpool flee with the title again this season?
In a word: unlikely. While they remain a formidable and intimidating team, their relative inactivity in the transfer market – the second season in a row that Jurgen Klopp’s team has avoided significant reinforcements – has his legion of fans nervous and uncertain.
Can the same team maintain its relentless intensity through another grueling season? Can they get through another season without major injury setbacks? Can you fend off your closest rivals, all of whom have made important additions to your squad’s strength?
These doubts make it highly unlikely that Liverpool will win the EPL title as they did last season, when they won with a record seven games to play.
2. Will Manchester City’s obsession with the Champions League hurt their title hopes?
It can be argued that Pep Guardiola’s expensive team got a bit bored from winning the EPL last season, after winning the league twice in a row in previous seasons. When Liverpool started on the run with the title in December, Manchester City lost interest in chasing the Reds and instead put all their efforts into trying to win the coveted Champions League for the first time in their history.
However, they were surprisingly defeated by French Lyon in the quarterfinals, and that trophy that has eluded the owners of City Abu Dhabi, and Guardiola, remains unattainable despite its astronomical expense.
Will City be concerned about winning in Europe again? There is good reason to believe that such an obsession will raise its head if City find themselves on defense again in the EPL.
3. Will Chelsea be able to squander their way to the top?
Not yet. But the Blues’ spectacular off-season acquisitions could see them break the current duopoly of league dominance of Liverpool and Man City.
Hiring six big-name players is a strong statement of intent for a team eager to return to the top of the league for the first time in three years. Yet despite all the preseason bluster, Frank Lampard’s team still has doubts about its Achilles heel: a leaky defense that scored 54 goals, the most of a top-10 team last season.
Chelsea will definitely improve, as will Lampard’s acumen in his second season as a top-flight manager, but matching the relentlessness of Liverpool or Man City could mean a bridge (Stamford) too far.
4. Can Manchester United survive the burden of the London brigade?
Stuck in sixth place for much of last season, the Red Devils found a rich streak of form after the COVID-19 breakout to finish third. By signing midfielder Bruno Fernandes during the January transfer window, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found the missing piece of the puzzle and bought more time to rebuild the English giants.
Few signings still seem to mount a strong title challenge, so Man United’s main concern this season is to fend off challenges from London’s top three clubs, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, and qualify for the League again. of Champions.
It won’t be easy, even with the signing of prominent Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek. Much will depend on how quickly Van de Beek finds his feet between his fellow midfielders Fernandes and Paul Pogba, and how well the trio of midfielders can provide the ammunition for Marcus Rashford’s young United frontline Anthony. Martial and Mason Greenwood.
Most likely they will fall from the third, but not from the sixth.
5. Who will be the best dog in North London: José Mourinho or Mikel Arteta?
One is a successful veteran who has been written off as a former, no longer a “Special” in recent years. The other is entering his first full season as a coach, but is highly regarded even before he begins his coaching career.
These two disparate paths will intersect this season as José Mourinho and Mikel Arteta attempt to lead their respective north London teams Tottenham and Arsenal back to the Champions League qualification.
Both will have points to prove. Mourinho will want to show his previous employers, Manchester United and Chelsea, that he still has the Midas touch even after splitting bitterly with the two clubs. Arteta, for his part, will want to justify Arsenal’s confidence in handing him over the reins despite his relative inexperience.
Surprisingly, it seems that Arteta may have the upper hand. Since being named in December of last year, he has addressed the Gunners’ defensive shortcomings and led them to two trophies (the FA Cup and the Community Shield). Meanwhile, Mourinho is already dealing with restless players amid Tottenham.
6. Will Leeds United be Sheffield United this season?
Sheffield United were without a doubt the surprise packages of last season. Widely inclined to be relegated immediately after The Championship’s promotion, the Blades instead charged to the top half of the league table with innovative tactics from manager Chris Wilder. They finally finished a highly deserving ninth.
This season, another newly promoted team will be hoping to emulate the fortunes of Sheffield United. Leeds, promoted after a 16-year absence from the Premier League, will be hoping their eccentric coach Marcelo Bielsa can conjure up some tactical masterclass to keep the Yorkshire club at the top level.
Can they stay awake? In all likelihood, Leeds should be successful. However, they may be hampered by the absence of their rowdy local crowd, which has often had positive results on Elland Road. Bielsa will need all his acumen to negotiate this tough league.
ANALYSIS: Tough defense of the PLA title for Liverpool when they become the hunted for the first time
Liverpool vs Leeds: a delicious ‘shadow boxing match’ to enjoy
