Liverpool face an early take a look at of their Premier League title defence in opposition to Chelsea this weekend as Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United launch their quest to be champions. Arsenal, Everton and Leicester hope to construct on encouraging opening wins whereas Jose Mourinho wants a morale-boosting victory for Tottenham. AFP Sport seems to be at a number of the foremost speaking factors forward of the motion.
Will big-spending Chelsea make Liverpool pay?
Chelsea’s assembly with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday has added edge after a feisty trade between the managers over switch spending.
The London membership completed 33 factors behind the champions final season however have splashed out round 200 million kilos ($259 million) on new gamers.
In contrast, Liverpool have been comparatively quiet, including simply Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas to this point, with Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara more likely to observe.
Jurgen Klopp pointedly mentioned Liverpool couldn’t spend in the identical manner as golf equipment owned by “nations” and “oligarchs” reminiscent of Metropolis and Chelsea through the coronavirus pandemic.
However Frank Lampard, who additionally grew to become embroiled in a spat with Liverpool’s bench in July, identified the Anfield facet had spent massive in earlier seasons as they constructed their title-winning facet.
Liverpool shall be eager to chop out the defensive errors they dedicated in a Four-Three win in opposition to newly-promoted Leeds, however Mohamed Salah regarded in wonderful early season type as he scored a hat-trick on the opening weekend.
Chelsea had been additionally unconvincing winners in opposition to Brighton of their opening match, however Timo Werner, who selected to affix the Blues regardless of curiosity from Liverpool, did impress in profitable a penalty in opposition to the Seagulls.
Manchester Metropolis’s powerful job
Manchester Metropolis are the bookmakers’ favourites to land a 3rd Premier League trophy in 4 seasons however face a tricky opener in opposition to Wolves.
Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola has shored up his defence by signing Netherlands worldwide Nathan Ake and has added to his wealthy attacking choices, touchdown Ferran Torres from Valencia.
Metropolis scored 102 targets final season as they completed second, however misplaced 9 matches as they surrendered their crown to Liverpool.
Each Manchester golf equipment are beginning per week later than different sides attributable to their European commitments final season.
Guardiola shall be painfully conscious that his group have to be extra constant this marketing campaign and he can’t afford to let Klopp’s males open up an early lead.
However he’ll really feel nervous as he travels to face Wolves, who beat Metropolis twice final season, after a disrupted pre-season.
Metropolis duo Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez examined constructive for coronavirus earlier this month, whereas Phil Foden was despatched residence by England after breaking coronavirus protocols whereas on worldwide responsibility.
Can Man Utd progress?
The problem dealing with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer forward of a match in opposition to Crystal Palace is easy methods to enhance on final season’s third-place end.
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes was the catalyst as United put collectively a protracted unbeaten run, with a entrance three of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood offering the firepower.
However United have been comparatively quiet within the switch window, to this point including simply midfielder Donny van de Beek from Ajax, regardless of persistent hypothesis linking them with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.
“Once we signed Bruno Fernandes, we knew we wanted that sort of participant — now we have signed Donny and he is a sort of participant I felt we wanted within the squad,” mentioned Solskjaer.
Arsenal’s feel-good issue
Arsenal are buoyant after launching their season with a Three-Zero win at newly promoted Fulham and tying down captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for 3 extra years.
Mikel Arteta’s males, who host West Ham on Saturday, completed down in eighth place final season however ended their marketing campaign on a excessive, profitable the FA Cup for a document 14th time.
They adopted that up by beating Liverpool on penalties within the season-opening Group Protect earlier than the announcement on Aubameyang this week that followers had craved.
“I need to change into an Arsenal legend similar to Thierry (Henry), Wrighty (Ian Wright), (Tony) Adams and (Dennis) Bergkamp,” he mentioned.
Fixtures:
Saturday
Everton v West Brom (1130 GMT), Leeds v Fulham (1400), Manchester United v Crystal Palace (1630), Arsenal v West Ham (1900)
Sunday
Southampton v Tottenham (1100), Newcastle v Brighton (1300), Chelsea v Liverpool (1530), Leicester v Burnley (1800)
Promoted
Monday
Aston Villa v Sheffield United (1700), Wolves v Manchester Metropolis (1915)
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