Premier League Top Contenders

This piece will focus on the teams that finished in the top 4 and how they can possibly mount a title challenge in the 2020/2021 Premier League season.

Liverpool FC

Jurgen Klopps mighty reds finally did what was expected of them at the start of the season really by winning the Premier League and in some fashion too. Liverpool finished the season with 99 points and lost just 3 of their 38 league games.

However looking towards next season what will the reigning champions need in terms of recruitment? Truth is outside Liverpools first XI there isn’t much quality there, at least compared to Pep’s Man City so I think Jurgen Klopp should target mainly back up players as there aren’t much players out there to replace the likes of Mane, Salah and Alexander-Arnold. So 2 or 3 back up players would be ideal and given the recent promotions of youth players like Brewster, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliot etc. Klopp is in a really good situation going into the next season. Liverpool should be ready for their title defense.

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola’s Man City failed to defend their Premier League title after winning it back to back in the last 2 previous seasons. They finished 2nd on the table in a season where they lost 9 games, the most for Pep in a single season. That “poor run” was highlighted by their bad defensive performances as City looked very unconvincing at the back perhaps an effect of Vincent Kompany’s departure and Laporte’s long term injury.

But City can now look to next season and they have as Pep has dipped his hands in the transfer window by signing Nathan Ake from Bournemouth and Ferran Torres from Valencia and it doesn’t look like he’s done. However I think more defensive reinforcement is required as Mendy hasn’t looked convincing at all so another left back perhaps and maybe another center back for them to be in real business. Attacking wise they look okay, I mean they scored 102 league goals so I don’t see why the likes of Sterling, Aguero and Foden can’t hit those numbers again.

Manchester United

Manchester United’s strong run at the end of the season accompanied with poor results from Chelsea and Leicester City saw United finish 3rd on the table with 66 points. Ole’s reds experienced a resurgence with Bruno Fernandes joining in January and the return of Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford after the lockdown. With the team reaching 3 semi-finals in all cup competitions and young players such as Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams breaking into the first team there are definite positives for Ole.

However United can’t afford to kick back as they have to fire on from here and reinforce heavily but at the moment that looks a long shot with the club admitting that their finances have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. United have looked quite inconsistent at the back despite only two teams conceding fewer than them in the league (Liverpool, Man City). They still need more quality with at least another center back and back up for Wan-Bissaka. Back up is also needed for January signing Bruno Fernandes and addition to the front line as well, but with the Jadon Sancho deal now in the past things aren’t going to plan. But with the current squad Ole should be able to push for a top 4 finish yet again….but things happen. Don’t they?

Chelsea FC

In Frank Lampards first year as Chelsea manager he guided them to a top 4 finish and to the FA cup final which they lost to Arsenal. But in hindsight the season was good judging from the fact that Chelsea had a transfer ban and star player Eden Hazard leaving in the summer. Lampard managed his squad very well by using a lot of previously loaned and youth players throughout the season.

But next season seems very bright for Chelsea with 3 signings confirmed (Chilwell, Werner, Ziyech) and more to follow in coming weeks Lampard seems to have had his transfer business all wrapped up and frankly (see what I did there) I can’t see where else they need to improve anymore, without departures I think Frank is done in the window and Chelsea have all the tools to close the gap on the top 2 and perhaps challenge for the Premier League.

You like this post? Subscribe to get alerted when new content is posted.