In just a few days, the most competitive (arguably) league
is going to kick off, showing promises already of being a very exciting and
challenging season. With the kick off set for Friday, 11th of
August, it is the first time in the history of the English Premier League to
kick off on a Friday Evening.
As expected, soccerhubng has been able to compile series of
factors to make an analysis of the teams to watch out for in the 2017/2018
season of the EPL.
The Big Six:
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| Alexandra Lacazette of Arsenal |
ARSENAL are the league openers of the season and see themselves facing a considerably big test when they face Leicester City on Friday. They certainly have plans to make sure that they build on their last season finish of a 5th position. And with the acquisition of former Lyon Star Man; Alexandra Lacazette for a record fee, and Sead Kolasinac (from Shalke 04), they have made an obvious statement to rivals that they are willing to go all out to make sure that the 2017/2018 season is a successful one for them. And if the signing of Lacazette didn’t make their statement clear enough, their triumph over current champions; Chelsea last Sunday to claim The FA Community Shield certainly did. Though, they still have to figure out how to keep star men; Alexis Sanchez and Mesuit Ozil in the fold. But so far, it is safe to say that the Gunners will be a team to beat this coming season.
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| Antonio Conte; Coach of Chelsea FC |
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| Morata of Chelsea FC |
Current Champions; CHELSEA,
are firm favourites to reclaim the English Premier League Trophy this season
but they face a harder task with the Champions League also added to their list
of competitions in the 2017/2018 season. The loss of a key figure in Nemanja
Matic is also a setback but the blues may not miss him much with the
acquisition of Tiemoue Bakayoko proving an equal replacement for the Serbian.
The acquisition of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger from Roma
and Willy Caballero from Manchester City all proves that coach; Antonio Conte
is seeking to bolster the depth of his
team to make sure that the EPL Trophy doesn’t leave the Stamford bridge anytime
soon.
Another team to watch out for is LIVERPOOL. They have in their folds Mohamed Salah from Roma to make
sure that the speed in their already fast attack doesn’t get any slower anytime
soon. They face a serious headache in making sure that their star man; Philippe
Coutinho stays at Anfield amid interest from numerous clubs around Europe, most
notably; Barcelona. With the acquisition of former Chelsea youngster; Dominic
Solanke, they have with them a huge promise in attack and yet another option to
make them a serious threat to any defense in the 2017/2018 season. Jorgen Klopp
has a lot of work to do with his team this coming season. Besides the English
Premier League, they still have to worry for their Champions League
Qualification match that is to come later this month of August and then focus
on making sure that the team stays fit all through the season as much as
possible.
TOTTENHAM have
been identified as “near missers” for the best part of two consecutive seasons.
And their second place finish last season was quite unfortunate given how much
effort they put to make sure that they came out on top. Mauricio Pochettino’s
team have had quite a silent transfer summer as they still remain the only team
in the top flight to not have added anybody to their team. Though, they have
seen key figure in the person of Kyle Walker go through the exit door to
Manchester City to join Pep Guardiola’s side. Even with a considerably quiet
summer, Tottenham has proven it time and time again that they are capable of
posing a real threat with a coach like Pochettino who is a full supporter of
using young players to achieve his goals with the likes of break out star,
Trippier who is now used as a replacement for Kyle Walker a perfect example.
They also have with them one of the most promising midfielders of recent times
in Dele Alli and with the ever effective Harry Kane, it shows why it is very
difficult to write off the spurs
from attaining Premier League glory for the first time since 1961, considering
that their temporary transition from White Hart Lane to Wembley does not prove
to be a setback for them.
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| Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City |
Pep Guardiola’s men; MANCHESTER
CITY have been predicted by so many football fans and viewers around the world
as firm favourites to take home the EPL Trophy in the 2017/2018 season. And not
to disappoint, Pep has made good moves to make sure that expectations are met.
With the acquisition of Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy from Monaco, they
have with them two great players who could easily help in achieving their goals
this season like they did in France last season. They made further statements
with the signing of the current most expensive Goalkeeper in the world; Ederson
from Benfica and the swift move for Kyle Walker from Tottenham proves why they
have been identified as favourites this coming season. Yaya Toure, David Silva,
Kun Aguero who remain key figures in Ethiad alongside Gabriel Jesus (tagged the
next Neymar) give more reasons why this season will most likely be a very
successful one for them.
To round up the top six is MANCHESTER UNITED, managed by “the special one”; Jose Mourinho,
they were able to pick up three trophies last season of which one of them gave
them a direct ticket into the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in the
2017/2018 season. Fans of the red devils hope for the EPL Trophy to return to
Old Trafford this season since Alex Ferguson last won it before his unexpected
retirement in 2013, though Jose Mourinho has played down being favourites for
the trophy as he claims that the goal of Manchester United this season is to
finish in the top three of the league and hopefully go as far as possible in
the UEFA Champions League. But their transfer summer says quite the opposite
with the acquisition of Romelu Lukaku seen as the solution of their most
obvious problem of scoring, Nemanja Matic; snapped from Chelsea to strengthen
the midfield and Victor Lindelof as an alternative option to bolster the
defense, all of which proves why many punters believe that they may actually
bring back the EPL Trophy to old Trafford at last.
Surprise Packages:
Another team to watch out for asides the above mentioned six
teams is EVERTON. They have with
them an experienced coach in Ronald Koeman who promises to try to turn their
fortunes around in the 2017/2018 season. And with promising singings like
Jordan Picford from Sunderland, Davy Klassen from Ajax, Micheal Keane from
Burnley and Manchester United legend; Wayne Rooney, they have been able to pass
a very clear message to rivals that things are going to be a little tensed in
the fight to take the EPL Trophy home this coming season in.
New Comers:
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| Anthony Knockaert of Brighton |
Huddersfield and Brighton & Hove Albion are set to
make their debut in the premier league in the next few days and have only one
goal of making sure they don’t drop back into the championship to make their
season a successful one.
But Newcastle, the champions of EFL Championship last
season hope that their swift return back to the top flight is a sign that they don’t
make the mistakes that dropped them into the second division in the first
place. And with an experienced coach in Rafa Benitez, it is hoped that Magpies can
have something to be grateful for come May when the 2017/2018 season comes to a
close.
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| Gayle of Newcastle |
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