No plot change but new stars in made-for-TV Premier League season

MANCHESTER: The new Premier League season kicks off on Saturday with some fresh talent but still without fans as the world’s most popular domestic football competition continues, for the time being at least, as a made-for-television product.

The plot is unlikely to be dramatically different from the past two seasons.

After winning the title by 18 points, Liverpool start as favourites again but Manchester City will be strong challengers as they seek their third title in four years.

Chelsea, who have invested heavily in new recruits, will aim to be in the hunt, while Manchester United hope to improve on a thirdplace finish, 33 points behind Liverpool.

Leeds are back in the top flight after a 16-year absence and start their campaign at Anfield.

The partial return of spectators will be tested at lower league level, with the Premier League hoping to have some fans back in October, depending on the threat level of the coronavirus.

Having ended their 30-year wait for a domestic league title, Liverpool have been surprisingly quiet in the transfer market, with Juergen Klopp sticking by the players who dominated last term.

Pep Guardiola’s City will have a familiar look as well but they have lost their inspirational Spanish midfielder David Silva as well as Germany winger Leroy Sane. While the hopes of a move for Barcelona’s Lionel Messi were ended by the Argentine’s decision to stay put, Spanish wide-man Ferran Torres has joined from Valencia and Dutch defender Nathan Ake has been recruited from relegated Bournemouth.

Frank Lampard has been the busiest of the big six managers, the Chelsea boss adding two German internationals in striker Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and midfielder Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen plus Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech from Ajax Amsterdam and England fullback Ben Chilwell from Leicester.

While it is probably too soon to talk of the London club, who were fourth last season, being title contenders, those signings, combined with young players such as Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic who showed promise last season, should give Lampard the strength-in-depth for a more consistent campaign.

Manchester United fans hoped for a summer of busy transfer market activity, but while the deadline for deals is not until Oct 5, they have so far added just one new face in Holland midfielder Donny van de Beek from Ajax.

The prospect of the Dutchman alongside Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in midfield offers promise but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping that a deal eventually gets done with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho.