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Everyone loves a fairytale and yet it is 90 long days since Leicester City finished the English Premier League as champions, 10 points clear of their nearest rivals.
Rarely can a returning title holder have been so poorly backed to retain their trophy – in fact some are predicting their relegation more strongly then a repeat success.
Personally, I do not buy into the philosophy that they will be a target in the manner of former winners thanks to the arrival / return of a number of the world’s top managers.
The arrival of messrs Guardiola, Conte and Mourinho mean that, added to the likes of Klopp, Wenger and Ranieri, managers in the Premier League boast a remarkable 23 national titles between them.
Last season saw what many believe to have been the lowest level of performance and tactical awareness witnessed for a long time in England yet surely, with the array of tactical nous now at the various top clubs’ disposal, this will change, particularly when combined with some of the signings made in pre-season.
What makes the Premier League additionally riveting this season is that there are so many teams that are genuine contenders.
Just behind the giants are a number of sides that I expect to show massive improvements with their results against the top teams likely to have a major impact on the final destination of the title.
The wealth of attacking talent available at Manchester City is likely to make them the division’s top scorers, particularly with Gundogan and Sane providing the ammunition for Aguero and De Bruyne. While doubts remain about their back line, despite the arrival of Stones, Guardiola is known to prefer to use ball-players at the back with organisation preferred over defensive ability.
Arsenal still possess one of the top squads and Wenger’s addition of Granit Xhaka is the type of signing that fans have been crying out for although they are still reliant on Giroud to lead the line and are suffering a defensive injury crisis.
Liverpool is another team that can score goals for fun and Klopp’s Kop will be salivating at the prospect of Sadio Mane linking with Sturridge, Firmino and Coutinho.
However, the key to success for all of these teams will be keeping their key players fit, a problem that has eluded them in recent years.
It will also be intriguing to see the impact that Champions League football will have on the likes of Leicester and Tottenham while the lack of any European away-days for Liverpool and Chelsea will undoubtedly aid their attempts to secure the title.
Manchester United could be hampered by Thursday evening visits to Eastern Europe in the Europa League although much will depend on their attitude to this competition.
Mourinho has certainly clinched the most eye-catching signings with Pogba and Ibrahimovic and could be forgiven for settling for a top four place. However, the Special One has publically stated he is aiming for the title despite the fact that United have struggled since the departure of Alex Ferguson and, putting aside the spending, concerns remain over the quality of his squad.
Another manager with a long way to climb up the table after last season’s woeful results is Chelsea’s Antonio Conte. He inherits largely the same squad as the one that claimed the title before Leicester – the suspicion is that they need to find the motivation. Another classy forward in Belgian Michy Batshuayi may invigorate Eden Hazard and releasing pressure off Diego Costa while N’Golo Kante will help shield a defence that was poor last year.
Ronald Koeman proved at Southampton that he can run a successful campaign on a shoestring yet now he has money to play with at Everton it will be intriguing to see whether he can secure a higher finish than seventh.
The destruction of White Hart Lane has commenced, not as a result of their greatest rivals, Arsenal, again somehow finishing above them, but due to the building of their new super-stadium that overlaps the current site. Spurs looked rejuvenated last season and boast a wealth of young talent that simply tired as the season progressed and will hope to provide a similar send-off to the one that witnessed West Ham’s remarkable departure from the Boleyn Ground.
Vincent Janssen looks a good partner for Harry Kane while Victor Wanyama will provide strong support throughout the season to Dele Alli and Eric Dier in midfield, much needed as a result of Mauricio Pochettino’s high-energy pressing game.
The Hammers started their season in style with victory in European competition at the redesigned Olympic Stadium yet their greatest statement of intent has been to retain Payet.
At what is likely to be the other end of the table Sunderland has changed manager earlier than normal although David Moyes’ replacing of Sam Allardyce was not a result of their relegation-level performances. He has raided his former club for a number of signings although Jermaine Defoe still looks to be their best hope of avoiding the drop.
Few teams can have entered the league is such a poor state of affairs as Hull City, managerless, with barely enough players to fill the bench and a stadium of supporters showing red card to the owners. However, what a start!
Their victory over Leicester, for whom Jamie Vardy squandered a host of gilt-edged chances, was the first time in history that a newly-promoted side has beaten the champions on the opening day.
Robert Snodgrass fired a 57th-minute winner for Hull but Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester lacked the intensity that underpinned their previous campaign.
Riyad Mahrez’s second-half penalty cancelled out Adama Diomande’s acrobatic overhead kick for the hosts before Snodgrass slammed the ball home from inside the box.
Indeed the Foxes become the first title winner to lose their first match since Arsenal lost at Manchester United back in 1989. Indicative of their weak squad, the Tigers also become the first team to win a Premier League game without making a substitution since 2012.
Hull City will have to hope that this result aids their attempts to find a new owner before the end of the transfer window.
The Beast, Alvaro Negredo, returns to the league with Middlesborough while another striker to watch will be Andre Gray at Burnley as he seeks to emulate Jamie Vardy in moving seamlessly up from non-league football to the premiere flight.
Another plus for the season ahead is the freedom afforded to match officials to issue red cards to players who confront them. l Abu’s prediction to win the English Premier League: Manchester City
Editor’s prediction: Hull City
