Analysing Premier League's big teams and their title chances

Manchester City

Manchester City need to re-establish their dominance in the Premier League

The Invincibles of Arsenal, Mourinho’s juggernaut and Fergie’s rampant United sides all had one thing in common, a robust core. Manchester City in recent times under Mancini and Pellegrini have had that as well. In Hart, Kompany and Zabaleta, they’ve had leaders at the back, in Yaya Toure, a rampaging midfielder who can flip games and a buzzing Sergio Aguero who almost found the back of the net at will.

The last season though was a clear example of how their core has weakened due to the aging of Kompany, Toure and Zabaleta and injuries keeping Aguero out for significant portions of the season. Staying on top is sometimes harder than getting there and City were found wanting last season.

They haven’t been able to replenish their midfield in the way they would’ve liked to, Mangala hasn’t proved to be money well spent, yet and they’re still to find a striker who can give Aguero a run for his money if not complement him.

Financial Fair Play being uplifted meant City could splurge again and in Raheem Sterling, they have a player who could run at defences with pace and at 20 has many years ahead of him. But they’d still like to add a few more before the end of the window to bring the title back to Manchester.

If Kompany can get a decent run of games and Mangala comes of age, City will be able to shore things up at the back. They have enough firepower up front to get goals with the likes of Silva and Nasri who can unlock defences. Manuel Pellegrini has his work cut as the race to the top will only get tougher this year and with an ever demanding administration, he knows if they don’t get silverware this year, he may well have to walk out the door soon enough.

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers needs to get Liverpool back into the top four

The Reds have seen the best and worst in the last 2 seasons. While they came so close to winning the title a couple of seasons back, playing some of their best football in years, a 6-1 loss to Stoke on the last day of last season was a jolt that would have been very difficult to take.

Luis Suarez’s departure left a gaping hole that has yet to be filled completely, but the worst might well be behind them. Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling are also plying their trade away from Merseyside, but Rodgers will be happy that he can now focus on rallying his troops once again and maybe make the Kop dream.

They’ve done well to get proven Premier League talent in, in the form of Milner, Benteke and Ings. These are all those players who had stellar seasons for their respective clubs but it would interesting to see if they can truly elevate The Reds.

A lot will rest on Milner who may find a central role and on Benteke who needs to find 20+ goals to be branded a “value for money” signing. Liverpool’s problems were compounded by not only Sterling’s reservations but also Sturridge’s time in the treatment room.

They are a different animal with the England striker who provides pace and goals to them. Henderson and Countinho will find a lot of responsibilty and hope riding on them and they have proven to be quality but with other teams signing world-class players, their work is well and truly cut out for them.

Liverpool need to find a way to stop conceding goals as they leak in far too many for their own good and on paper, as of now, they seem to have good enough fire power. Firmino is another name who has been brought in but it will intriguing to see if he can make the transition from the Bundesliga to a very physical Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers is another man for whom time will be an enemy this season. He’s had enough time now to stamp his authority and rope in players of his liking and if he’s not able to conjur a top-four finish at best, the Kop may soon turn their back on him.