Why Klopp just can’t stop City party bus

Is Jordan Henderson going to get better? And will Virgil van Dijk have a better season than the last one?

Trent Alexander-arnold and Andy Robertson? Maybe the attacking fullbacks (below) can improve, but will that be enough to surpass what City bring this year?

That’s why I’m having Liverpool to hover around the same standard as last season and, if they do, it will still mean them winning a ridiculous amount of points.

But, for the Reds to win the title, City will have drop a whole load of points – and I just don’t see that happening.

Enthusiasm

I know they have lost Vincent Kompany, but they have added strength in depth in midfield by bringing in Rodri, and Phil Foden will make more of an impact.

So they are my favourites for the title again – and this time by six points from their Merseyside rivals.

I expect a battle royal between Tottenham and Chelsea in the race for the two other Champions League slots.

But a lot will depend on Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs.

The Argentinian’s body language in pre-season has been questionable and I wonder if the love affair with the club is going to end?

I wonder if he can eke out another season from virtually the same group of players and, if he can’t, then that will be Chelsea’s gain.

I know I have questioned Frank Lampard getting the Stamford Bridge job so soon, and, of course, there’s the transfer ban. But he and Jody Morris have breathed a new enthusiasm into the club, and the players look very much on the front foot and expressive in pre-season.

So I will have the Blues finishing in third place above Tottenham in fourth again this season, with Manchester United and Arsenal battling for fifth and sixth again.

There haven’t been enough material changes in the leadership of the team for Arsenal to be taken seriously in the league.

But United could finish third, if everything was to go their way.

It would have to be everything, though, and, while there’s a lot of expectation on young shoulders at Old Trafford after the signings of Aaron Wan-bissaka and Daniel James, I don’t think it will happen this time.

Match-winner

Paulo Dybala will get bums on seats if he joins the Reds from Juventus.

But will he regularly prove to be a one-man match-winner in games when United aren’t playing well?

I don’t think he will.

I could easily see United or Arsenal having a poor season and, if they do, then Wolves, Leicester or West Ham could leapfrog them and snatch a top-six finish.

West Ham have got rid of some deadwood and bad blood – thank you very much, Hammers fans, I was right about Marko Arnautovic all along.

And, with Manuel Pellegrini, they have a real chance of closing the gap and picking off that straggler, if opportunity knocks.