This Premier League season could see the tightest contest in years, with potentially more clubs able to mount a challenge than ever before. The window will certainly play a key role, and the next few weeks will determine the sides most capable of a title challenge.
As things stand, Man City have lost Sergio Agüero and signed Jack Grealish for £100 million. This alone must place them as title favourites, but Liverpool should run them close. Last season saw the reds suffer an injury list like never before, and yet they still managed to finish a remarkable third place. With senior defenders back, and Thiago Alcântara, Diogo Jota and Ibrahima Konaté added to the side which ran away the season prior, they will be a force once more. Having lost Gini Wijnaldum to PSG, Liverpool will probably still see at least one addition brought in (much like City), and the top two will be fighting for honours to the bitter end.
Chelsea will pose a significant threat with a whole season under Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel (along with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp), are either elite or world class in their roles, and each have a squad to match. Chelsea could well win this years title, especially with the brilliant Lukaku returning. Their issue will be in not having a steady formula or system as yet, and that is required for consistency over a long campaign.
Manchester United have a stellar squad, yet their inability to sign a true holding midfielder may well see them struggle against the top teams, much like last season, at times. Ole Gunnar Solskjær has yet to prove himself as a top tier manager, and this will see them fighting for top four, instead of the top spot.
The middle section of the league will no doubt see lots of movement, with some good quality amongst this groups starting line ups. A lack of quality in depth will probably see a gap from the top six emerge early, with UEFA places hotly contested at the seasons end.
The three sides coming up will be fighting for their lives. The need to add Premier League calibre players, will likely see each team struggling to compete over a long campaign. Teams like Crystal Palace and those hovering above the relegation zones will be scrambling to survive, and the bottom three will be an interesting watch throughout the year.
This table represents an opinion, and with a busy few weeks of window remaining, most teams will be hurriedly recruiting till the last moment. With players such as Kane still in limbo, this pandemic affected window will most definitely see some interesting deals emerge, the the last day could be a great watch.
If Manchester City sign Harry Kane, Liverpool sign Saúl ÑÃguez and Chelsea sign Jules Koundé to go with Romelu Lukaku, then this could be a battle to remember. The only hope is that fans can remain to witness this great league, and the tremendous football that comes with it.
1 Manchester City – 85-95 points
2 Liverpool – 85 – 95 points
3 Chelsea – 75 – 85 points
4 Manchester United – 70-80 points
5 Tottenham Hotspur – 70-80 points
6 Leicester City – 60-70 points
7 Arsenal – 55-65 points
8 Aston Villa – 55-65 points
9 Everton – 55-65 points
10 West Ham – 50-60 points
11 Wolverhampton Wanderers – 50-60 points
12 Leeds – 45-55 points
13 Southampton – 45-55 points
14 Crystal Palace – 40-45 points
15 Burnley – 40-50 points
16 Newcastle United – 35-45 points
17 Brighton Hove & Albion – 35-45 points
18 Norwich 30-40 points
19 Brentford – 25-35 points
20 Watford – 25-35 points
