The new football season is getting ever closer and so now is a good time to look at the top end of the Premier League which begins again on Saturday.
Chelsea won the title last year but you have to go back to 2009 for the last time this league was defended so Chelsea will be looking to secure a little bit of recent history in defending the title this year.
The challengers to the Blues appear to be the same as last year with Man City, Arsenal and Manchester United the only ones shorter than 28/1 in the outright betting market. Liverpool and maybe Tottenham fans might dispute that but the bookmakers seem convinced the Premier League title race is between four sides.
Chelsea look to be well equipped to defend their title but although I don’t take a lot of notice of pre-season form and results it has been noticeable that they are quite light up top without Diego Costa. Didier Drogba has gone to the MLS and has been replaced with Radamel Falcao who looks done to me. Loic Remy is there too but Costa is very much the main man and if Chelsea are to defend their title they need him fit for much of the season.
Behind Costa, Chelsea have a wonderful midfield. Nemanja Matic looks the best holding midfielder in the league while Cesc Fabregas can open up any defence and the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian provide good attacking options. The Blues also have the best keeper in the league and probably the best back four too so I fancy them to defend their title.
Man City are rated in the outright market as the chief dangers to Chelsea. They were runners up last season and spent big in the summer to recruit Raheem Sterling and they will be looking for that investment to produce instant results. City look like they will score plenty of goals this season. Sterling joins an attacking core which already included Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Wilfried Bony and that quintet could be very prolific.
I worry about City on the road at times though. They looked weak at times away from the Etihad last season and when they were in a battle not only did they wilt on occasions but they seemed to have no Plan B to turn things around. Another concern would be they clearly want better results in Europe and that might be to a detriment to their PL form if they trail Chelsea early.
It could be that Arsenal turn into Chelsea’s biggest rivals. Arsenal made good strides last season and now that they are back to winning trophies again the next thing would be to launch a sustained tilt at the title. In Petr Cech they have a keeper their back four can depend on and he should be able to organise those in front of him to be harder to break down.
If they do defend as well as they did in the second half of last season then they have the attacking talent to take any side in the league apart. They do still struggle in the really big matches and that is something they will need to improve if they are to get close to Chelsea but perhaps with the exception of a world class sitting midfielder and a 25 goal a season striker Arsenal look capable of sustaining a title run.
Manchester United were much improved last year under Louis van Gaal but they still look to be lacking in key areas not least in defence where they were woeful at times last season. The Dutch coach has reinforced a midfield that I’m not sure needed strengthening and Memphis Depay comes with a big reputation but that defence looks capable of being exposed.
Another issue for United this season will be juggling the Premier League with a European campaign. They weren’t in Europe last season but we saw Liverpool struggle to remain consistent in the face of European adversity and battles so United need to guard against that. Of the four fancied sides unless they sign significant defensive reinforcements in the transfer window I would fancy them the least in terms of winning the title.
Over nine months backing 7/4 shots isn’t really my thing but I do expect Chelsea to win the title so I’m going to take a chance that bookmakers have the two sides to follow them in the wrong way around. Arsenal are improving all the time and I’m not sure City have as much improvement in them so the 16/1 about a Chelsea-Arsenal-Man City tricast looks a better value alternative over a long distance like an ante-post bet of this kind.
Back Chelsea-Arsenal-Man City tricast for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 with Coral
