Chelsea still team to beat in EPL
If nothing else, one thing you can count on in the English Premier League is the unexpected. With so little between some of the top teams and those scrambling to stay up, anything can happen. Still, here are 10 teams we think merit a closer watch:
ARSENAL Nickname: The Gunners Manager: Arsène Wenger
Position last season: Third Opening match: Sunday, Aug. 9 vs. West Ham Utd, 8:30 a.m. ET
Arsenal hasn’t finished higher than third place in a decade, but on the heels of a strong finish last season this could be the first time since 2005 the Gunners mount a true title challenge. They’ll need consistency, an Achilles heel for the team, to do so.
BOURNEMOUTH Nickname: The Cherries Manager: Eddie Howe
Position last season: Promoted (First in English League Championship)
Opening match: Saturday, Aug. 8 vs. Aston Villa, 10 a.m. ET
Bournemouth sat at the bottom of League Two in 2009; on Saturday, they’ll play the first top-flight match in club history. No one’s expecting Bournemouth to challenge for the title — or even finish mid-table — but avoiding relegation from the Premier League would be something of a fairytale ending for these newbies.
CHELSEA Nickname: The Blues Manager: José Mourinho
Position last season: First Opening match: Saturday, Aug. 8 vs. Swansea City, 12:30 p.m. ET
It’s been a quiet summer for typically big-spending Chelsea, but who can blame Mourinho? The Londoners won the league handily in May, and remain the side to beat even without many improvements. But with reinforced Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United sides, it won’t be such an easy ride this time around.
EVERTON Nickname: The Toffees Manager: Roberto Martinez
Position last season: 11th Opening match: Saturday, Aug. 8 vs. Watford, 10 a.m. ET
When Martinez took over the Toffees two years ago, his task was to make the side a top-four contender. Instead, the club’s gone in the opposite direction. Don’t expect that to be tolerated for another season; Everton will need to get off to a good start — and stay there — or Martinez’s days will be numbered.
LIVERPOOL Nickname: The Reds Manager: Brendan Rogers
Position last season: Sixth Opening match: Sunday, Aug. 9 vs. Stoke City, 11 a.m. ET
Liverpool has some making up to do at Britannia Stadium Sunday, after losing 6–1 there in their final match last season. They’ll also want to improve on that disappointing sixth-place finish.
MANCHESTER CITY Nickname: City Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Position last season: Second Opening match: Monday, Aug. 10 vs. West Bromwich Albion, 3 p.m. ET
Manchester City rejigged its roster again this summer, but the influx of players like Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling won’t be enough to boost them above Chelsea. The poor transfer window, after a poor run-in last year, could see City fighting for third with their Manchester counterparts.
MANCHESTER UNITED Nickname: The Red Devils Manager: Louis van Gaal
Position last season: Fourth Opening match: Saturday, Aug. 8 vs. Tottenham, 7:45 a.m. ET
Louis Van Gaal says his squad has “no excuses.” Come May, the Red Devils better be fighting for the league title or the season’s a failure. But this squad, leaving out Wayne Rooney, isn’t the Manchester United of old, and without any in-form blockbuster stars, they’ll be hardpressed to reach that goal.
NEWCASTLE Nickname: Magpies Manager: Steve McClaren
Position last season: 15th Opening match: Sunday, Aug. 9 vs. Southampton, 8:30 a.m. ET
Newcastle nearly dropped out of the top flight last season despite producing spurts of exciting football. Those moments were too few and far between. The Magpies will be in a fight for their Premier League life this season.
SOUTHAMPTON Nickname: The Saints Manager: Ronald Koeman
Position last season: Seventh Opening match: Sunday, Aug. 9 vs. Newcastle, 8:30 a.m. ET
Southampton was the dark horse in the race for the Premier League title last season. They’ve lost more players in this summer’s transfer window — still too small a club to fend off offers from the big four — but, in their underdog fashion, could continue to snake points off the top four.
SUNDERLAND Nickname: The Black Cats Manager: Dick Advocaat
Position last season: 16th Opening match: Saturday, Aug. 8 vs. Leicester City, 10 a.m. ET
Sunderland wouldn’t be in EPL this season if it weren’t for a magic comeback spurred when Advocaat took over as manager from Gus Poyet with nine games to play last season.