Who can give City and Liverpool a fight?

Perhaps the so-called ‘Big Six’ group of the Premier League should be renamed the ‘Big Two’.

Manchester City and Liverpool have captured the top two positions in the English Premier League in three of the last four years. The exception was the 2020-21 season when injuries plagued a Liverpool defense that had to wait until the last day to secure a top-four finish.

English football has a rivalry of the highest quality, taking into account the points that both teams have achieved in each course.

One question remains. Can anyone break City-Liverpool supremacy?

The answer lies with Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United, the other teams that make up the Premier’s elite sextet, the same ones that were part of the aborted European Super League project.

Each has been very active during the summer break: Chelsea has new owners, United have a new coach, and Tottenham and Arsenal have moved a lot in the transfer market.

A look at the four hopefuls:

CHELSEA

Chelsea have become a powerhouse in English football since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. Can they continue to be so now that the Russian oligarch has had to sell?

The post Abramovich era began very hectic with its new American owners, with an unusual model. The one who leads the consortium, Todd Boehly, not only took over as executive director, but also became interim sports director and made the decisions on the signings.

It was feared that his lack of knowledge of the ins and outs of football could play tricks on him, but the acquisitions made promise. English striker Raheem Sterling landed from Manchester City, in one of the most outstanding operations on the market, and Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly arrives from Napoli to cover the gap left in the central defense after the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

But continuing to strengthen the squad has turned out to be more complicated. Manager Thomas Tuchel commented, after a 4-0 loss to Arsenal in a blank on June 24, that “I cannot guarantee that we will be ready” for the start of the season, adding that there are some players who “want to leave ”.

Chelsea need to add centre-backs and it is feared that Sterling, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount will not provide enough goalscoring flow.

TOTTENHAM

It has one of the best technicians in the world and, after going shopping, the most complete and versatile squad appears. Maybe Antonio Conte’s Tottenham can aspire to the title.

With Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski on the same page, Tottenham ended last season in great form, winning 11 of their last 16 games. That included a win at City — winning both games against the eventual champions — and a draw at Anfield that ultimately cost Liverpool the title.

Conte, who took over the reins in November, was quick to put his stamp on the team with a 3-4-3 scheme and demanded signings. He fulfilled her wish. Brazilian Richarlison arrives from Everton to add another variation to the attack. Yves Bissouma left Brighton to add muscle in midfield. And Djed Spence is a coveted right-back who may well have been the best player in the second division for Nottingham Forest last season.

ARSENAL

Arsenal’s lack of depth was on full display when they fizzled out at the end of last season, missing out on a Champions League ticket, displaced by classic North London rivals Tottenham.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was quick to rectify that in the summer and turned to the club he worked for before coming to London. Manchester City, where Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant between 2016-19, sold Gabriel Jesús and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal.

They are both versatile players. The Brazilian Jesús can move on the wing or in the middle. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Zinchenko is a midfielder who was converted to left back at City.

They also signed Fabio Vieira, a youthful attacking midfielder, who could cost Porto a €42m outlay, and 19-year-old Brazilian Marquinhos, Arsenal spent nearly $150m this summer.

The lack of experience suggests that they would not yet be in the mix for the title, but qualifying for the Champions League will be the most prudent objective.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Erik ten Hag is the new coach. Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave. A squad of players with close or distant histories with the Dutch league, such as Lisandro Martínez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia.

What can you expect from United?

The fans are clamoring for something better than last season’s sixth place, but even that shouldn’t be taken for granted given the competition in the league and the money spent by their rivals.

Cristiano’s situation is key. If he stays, will the 37-year-old striker abide by ten Hag’s tactical guidelines? Or will he be the other way around? If he leaves, will they be able to

Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho score enough goals in a season in which they will also have to row in the Europa League.

Eriksen will provide more clarity in midfield, but they lack a holding midfielder. It is also doubtful whether the Argentine Martínez, a central defender with good ball control who had ten Hag as coach at Ajax, will adapt to English football.

This story was originally published on August 1, 2022 5:30 pm.

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