Man City, Chelsea are ‘hot favourites’ as new EPL season kicks off

Jack Grealish has joined Manchester City with Harry Kane hoping to join Pep Guardiola’s squad soon. Manchester United signed Jadon Sancho, City’s former apprentice, while Romelu Lukaku rejoined Chelsea. Welcome to a new English Premier League season where the excitement never stops.

Goals will be scored, the video assistant referee technology (VAR) will make questionable calls while fans, the 12th element, are back to stadia.

Ahead of Friday’s opening match, TheCable gives its takes on the 2021/2020 English Premier League (EPL) season.

A new champion?

Manchester City remain pundits’ favourites for the league following a fifth EPL title in the last decade. The Cityzens were denied the much-coveted UEFA Champions League (UCL) by Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel would certainly desire to upset City once again this season by depriving Guardiola’s men of winning the league. The presence of Grealish and the possibility of Kane will give them a multi-dimensional and tantalizing attack, but problems remain elsewhere. The wingbacks will continue to be Achilles’ heel while a creaky defensive midfield has not been upgraded. Add the fact that the big six and mid-table sides are adapting better to Guardiola’s tactics, points would be dropped in a 38-match season.

In comes Chelsea, shining with the UCL and Super Cup, plus Lukaku upfront and rock-solid defence. Add the N’golo Kante factor and it is hard to find a fault in this squad. It remains to be seen how Tuchel would adapt over the marathon as the EPL does not forgive the lapse in concentration that nearly cost the Blues top four at the end of last season. However, Roman Abramovich’s club looks the most likely — not Liverpool or Man United — to take advantage of City’s European dream.

In defence of Man United, they look set to sign Raphael Varane from Real Madrid, solving their central defence issue, while Sancho should add urgency in the attack. The problem now is who will lead the attack and who will pair with Pogba in midfield. Get the balance right and Manchester United will not only win the league, but they could also go unbeaten as they showed on their away run last season.

While Liverpool cannot be written off, the Reds have not rejuvenated their fearsome attack that appears less frightening now. While they peaked to snatch a top-four spot, the midfield is still disjointed as we are yet to see if Virgil van Dijk, who returned from a 10-month injury that derailed Liverpool’s title defence last season, remains the real deal.

Can Leicester City keep up this time?

While billions of dollars continue to flow in the EPL, Leicester City have looked the best bet to disrupt the top six hegemony. With Tottenham slipping and Arsenal still in the wilderness, Brendan Rodgers’ side, propelled by Jamie Vardy and Super Eagles of Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho, has threatened in the last two seasons before derailing at the end. The purchase of Patson Daka, top scorer in Austria last season, should bring a diverse attack that would help break down small teams. Games against big clubs could be the problem but an experienced core in defence and midfield could make the difference. I expect big things (or burst) from the 2015/16 EPL winners.

Iheanacho leads Super Eagles in new EPL season

The self-styled ‘Seniorman Kels’ has continued where he left off for Leicester with the winning goal in last weekend’s FA Community Shield victory over Man City. He scored 12 league goals last season, and with Jamie Vardy at 34, the 24-year-old Iheanacho should give Nigerians plenty to celebrate this season.

He is ably supported by Wilfred Ndidi (who is due for a transfer to a big-six club). The midfield enforcer would be crucial again for Leicester with his interceptions and block. The 24-year-old can add important goals from set-pieces and long-range crackers into the mix. A top club beckons for this consistent performer. The next Kante, perhaps!

Frank Onyeka joined Brentford from FC Midtjylland in Denmark and it remains to be seen if the 23-year-old will make an impact in the EPL. Built to press and harass opponents like Wilfred Ndidi, Onyeka’s performances in last season’s UCL for the Danish side could be an indication of his prospect, and maybe a future move to a bigger English club.

In defence, William Troost-Ekong, Eagles’ captain, will marshal Watford’s defence he strung together to gain promotion from the Championship. Oghenekaro Etebo and Isaac Success should also earn some playing time as the Hornets hope to reclaim their mid-table EPL status. It remains to be seen if Alex Iwobi would regain his form under Rafa Benitez, Everton’s new manager. The fleet-footed, versatile attacking midfielder enters a make-or-break season as he continues to find the form that propelled him into Arsenal’s first team before a big-money move to the Toffees.