Manchester United may be the bookies' favorites to defend their
Premier League crown but after a summer of big spending there are
no safe bets this season.
Instead, once the action kicks off on August 11, the only secure
prospect is that the title will be won by one of the 'big four' -
again.
United won their 16th title last season and have spent around
$75 million on reinforcements, including England midfielder Owen
Hargreaves.
Liverpool have spent a similar sum in a bid to add to their
record 18 titles, while Chelsea, by their own standards, have laid
out only a modest $20 million.
Beaten in the European Cup final by AC Milan last May and
without a championship triumph since 1990, Liverpool are expected
to mount a more powerful domestic assault than seen for many
seasons.
Manager Rafa Benitez has added competition to his attack with
the acquisitions of Ukrainian striker Andriy Voronin and Spaniard
Fernando Torres.
But many observers feel they will fall short of the ever-rising
standards set by United and Chelsea, both of whom have formidable
squads packed with quality.
Arsenal, champions in 2004, have endured a period of turmoil
following the departures of influential vice-chairman David Dein,
captain Thierry Henry and stalwart forward Freddie Ljungberg.
Arsene Wenger, one of the summer's most frugal managers,
believes, however, that his young squad have the ability and spirit
to mount a title bid particularly with Dutchman Robin van Persie
back from injury.
Foreign owners
Arsenal, who often field a team made up entirely of foreigners,
remain the only English-owned club among the top four.
However, if a talked-about takeover by American billionaire Stan
Kroenke comes off it would enlarge the number of clubs in foreign
ownership to 10 - half the league.
Already Aston Villa (American), Birmingham City (Chinese),
Chelsea (Russian), Fulham (Egyptian), Liverpool (American),
Manchester City (Thai), Manchester United (American), Portsmouth
(Russian) and West Ham United (Icelandic) have foreign owners.
This has intensified the cosmopolitan flavour of the league on
and off the pitch and helped contribute to the rich tapestry of
international gossip, scandal and intrigue each week.
Of these clubs, Villa, Manchester City and West Ham, and their
respective managers Martin O'Neill, Sven Goran Eriksson and Alan
Curbishley, will be under close scrutiny this season as they
attempt to end periods of under-achievement.
O'Neill has had a year already to take stock of Villa, who
should be in the top 10, former England manager Eriksson has been
given a big transfer budget in his first job as a Premier League
manager and Curbishley has to steer big-spending West Ham away from
trouble.
Tottenham Hotspur, who have spent around $45 million to
strengthen their inconsistent squad, will seek to make the step up
from two successive fifth-placed finishes.
Newcastle United, Everton, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers are
likely to fall into the category of also-rans while the sole goal
of promoted trio Sunderland, Birmingham City and Derby County is
survival.
(China Daily via Agencies August 3, 2007)