Premier League 20/21: Will anyone be able to overcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool?

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Another Premier League season started and expectations are high to see how big-six clubs will perform in the 20-21 season. After a year of absolute dominance of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, the old same question pops up when a Premier League side goes head and shoulders ahead of other contesters. Will anyone overcome the reigning champions this season? If yes, who are the clubs up to the task? 

Surely, we have some strong contenders this year and it’s unlikely Liverpool will win yet another PL season with 7 games to go just like they did last season. The first reason why is that we’ve got the likes of Man City and mainly Chelsea splashing the cash to recruit new talents for the upcoming season. 

Mix that with the fact that the Reds have kept the same squad for about three seasons in a row now. It’s more of a double-edged sword for the PL title holders as players can either go for it to establish themselves as a legendary and memorable PL team or have that natural relaxed stance, as they’ve won pretty much everything but minor domestic cups.

Also, unlike most of other English clubs, Klopp and Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, or simply, FSG, are having that sell-to-buy approach with talented academy players such as Harry Wilson and Rhian Brewster expected to leave before deadline day.

However, the German manager seems to have acquired such a “hidden gem” in terms of a player in Spain international Thiago Alcantara. The Spaniard’s addition might play an enormous role in Liverpool’s mission to defend the PL title, as the Anfield Road side will count on a massive improvement in terms of passing.

Even Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has admitted that Liverpool might as well rip it off in the Premier League in case they hired Thiago - which they did days later.

Enough about Liverpool, though. What about the other PL clubs? Will Frank Lampard’s Chelsea be able to do harm? Will Pep Guardiola’s superb Man City squad knock Liverpool off their perch? We rank the big six clubs who could win the English nPremier League this season!

1 - Man City

Let’s begin with last season’s runners-up, Manchester City. Despite losing Leroy Sane to European Champions Bayern Munich, the club managed somehow to avoid a UEFA ban due to allegedly breaking financial fair play rules. Key-players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, and Guardiola himself reportedly said that they would reconsider their Manchester stay in case the club faced the two-year UCL ban.

Fortunately for them, the decision was overturned and their firepower was kept. However, Guardiola’s side’s Achilles heel is still their defense. The team lost solidity since the Vincent Kompany departure and bet on newcomers Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake to restore order at the back.

Kevin De Bruyne is still their maestro and he’s set to win yet another PL’s Player of the Year trophy. 

2 - Chelsea

Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, and Ben Chilwell. It has been quite a busy summer transfer window for the Blues of Stamford Bridge. Led by Frank Lampard, Chelsea have the quest to make a functional collective team out of these absolute ballers. We can say that fans see Havertz as the ideal Eden Hazard replacement and the Germany International seems to have what it takes to go down in history wearing the Blue kit. 

3 - Arsenal

The Gunners have been in great form since the end of last season. From then on, they clinched the FA Cup trophy against London rivals Chelsea, and the Community Shield against Liverpool. The North-London side led by former player Mikel Arteta seem to have used these trophies as a confidence boost-up and will attack the Premier League title. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is gassed up to become the club's heir to legend Thierry Henry and he will probably go for yet another PL Golden Boot this season. 

4 - Tottenham

In a recent online pool, Tottenham Hotspur won the most-supported club in the Philippines award. And quite frankly, the Spurs' success amongst Filipinos is set to be only at the beginning. The Special One, Jose Mourinho, will have his first full season ahead of the Spurs and will count on an attacking trio formed by the likes of Son Heung-Min, Harry Kane, and Gareth Bale. That's right! The Welsh who was snubbed by Zinedine Zidane in Madrid has come back to England and has everything to help Tottenham to go that extra mile. 

The Welshman is experienced in beating Liverpool as he did so in the UCL final against the Reds still wearing the Los Blancos jersey.

5 - Manchester United

With Ole at the wheel, the Red Devils will go again this PL season and will probably aim for yet another top-four spot. I know a top-four spot is frustrating for Man Utd but that doesn't mean they cannot surprise. At least on paper, and based on recent performances, Man Utd will have to rely on Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and an uninspired Paul Pogba to get somewhere. To have a better chance against other big-six clubs, the club should start having this sense of togetherness instead of desperately getting into the box and trying to get penalties, which seem to be Fernandes' specialty.

Players to watch: 

Here is our list of players to watch in the PL this season: 

1 - Kevin De Bruyne

2 - Thiago Alcantara

3 - Kai Havertz

4 - Gareth Bale

5 - James Rodriguez

6 - Bruno Fernandes

Of course that it can change and, who knows, the 20/21 will have another Leicester City to shock the whole world? Back in the 2015/16 season, when the Foxes won the League, odds were at 5000/1 for anyone who backed the King Power side to win the title. 

Since we brought sports betting up, it should be a good thing to use bitcoin sportsbooks to protect yourself against a possible devaluation of the Philippine peso. Once Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are on a high, plus the whole uncertainty brought by this uncommon situation we're living in, it could be a good thing.

That was our pick for the big six clubs that could dethrone Liverpool this season in the PL. Do you agree with the order? Would you back an underdog side to live a Leicester City fairytale? Leave a comment with your opinion below!