- Man City going for three EPL titles in a row
- Liverpool not on their tales
- Only Spurs with genuine hope of closing gap
The start of the new English Premier League season is just one week away, so what better time to look at the runners and riders in the hunt for the title. Last season was a two-horse race between Manchester City and Liverpool, but will anyone be able to enter the mix this time around?
Manchester City -150
The reigning champions look in great shape and well equipped to make it three EPL titles in a row. Manager Pep Guardiola’s summer spending spree has been modest by City’s usual standards, but they’ve still spent a cool £81 million, most of which was used to bring Atletico Madrid’s defensive midfielder Rodri to the Etihad.
Equally important is that Pep has retained all of his star players, and he heads into the new season with one of the strongest midfields in world soccer. In Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and David Silva they have loads of creativity to provide ammunition for Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.
Liverpool +215
The Reds missed out on the Premier League title by just a single point but were more than compensated by winning the UEFA Champions League. Manager Jurgen Klopp has yet to make a major summer signing but, like Guardiola, has retained all his players from last season, which puts them in a strong position to challenge City.
The gains need to be only marginal as Liverpool only lost a single game last season and Klopp will be working hard over the summer at some tactical tweaks that may give them that edge. If they don’t win it, they’ll push City all the way.
Our prediction: Liverpool to win the EPL
Tottenham Hotspur +1600
Spurs are third favorites for the EPL title, but still appear to have some ground to cover before they offer a genuine title threat in the way City and Liverpool do. Spurs have a great team when their best players are fit and healthy but what they don’t have is a good squad.
Injuries to key players have hit them hard over recent years – particularly to striker Harry Kane – and manager Mauricio Pochettino knows he needs more depth in a squad that at times looks threadbare.
They’ll be competitive but their best bet for a trophy is one of the domestic cups.
Chelsea +2500
New signings are non-existent at Stamford Bridge as the Blues are in the first transfer window of a two-window ban, but with a new manager in place – club legend Frank Lampard – they head into the new season with optimism.
Lampard will look to use the club’s many talented youngsters, and they’ll be a good team to watch, but they won’t have enough to get with 15 points of City and Liverpool.
Manchester United +2500
Ole Gunnar Solkjaer’s first full season in charge looks likely to be one of transition. With two of their biggest names – Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba – likely to depart, it’s not a United team that strikes fear into opponents like the United teams of old. News that they are about to spend £85 million on Leicester defender Harry Maguire will definitely shore up an uncertain defense.
They may improve on last season’s sixth-place but top-four is the best they can expect.
Arsenal +4000
Another team in transition. Unai Emery’s second season at the helm may be better than his first – not least due to a summer spending splurge to the tune of £105 million – but in order to progress he’ll need his four summer signings to hit the ground running.
The Gunners have some way to go before they can even think about challenging City and Liverpool.
