Who is best placed to challenge Manchester City?
Manchester City have dominated the Premier League having finished in top spot in the last three seasons. With the dominance that the blue half of Manchester have, they will be many people's favourites to repeat the trick again and win the league. After a season in which they achieved an unprecedented treble, the question that lingers is who can stop Manchester City?
We look at the teams who could push the citizens for the forthcoming 23/24 season.
Manchester United
Manager - Erik Ten Hag
22/23 position – 3rd
No team will be more desperate to burst the Manchester City bubble than their neighbours Manchester United. The Red Devils head into the season looking to end their own title drought of 10 years.
Ten Hag has made notable additions to the team with Andre Onana and Mason Mount joining from Inter Milan and Chelsea to only maximise the way the Dutchman wants to play. Onana will add the quality he has with his feet to allow the team to play out from the back, something they lacked last season with David De Gea in goal. Mason Mount will bring the composure and work rate in midfield, and with a big transfer fee paid he will be keen to impress at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag has shown that he is not afraid to let players go if they are hampering the team. Having let go of Cristiano Ronaldo last season, he has done the same with David De Gea this summer despite the Spaniard winning the Premier League’s golden glove last season, Ten Hag noticed the liabilities for the way he wants to play. With Danish striker Rasmus Højlund joining Ten Hag, that will only bolster the already talented attack that is there.
Erik Ten Hag said himself that all eras come to an end; can he be the man to end this era of blue dominance over Manchester?
Liverpool
Manager – Jurgen Klopp
22/23 position – 5th
Last season was a largely disappointing season for the Reds having finished outside the top four for the first time since Klopp’s first season. Jurgen Klopp is one of only two other managers to win the Premier League since Pep Guardiola joined City, in 2016.
They have proven over the last 5 years that they are the only team who can consistently go head-to-head with Pep Guardiola, despite coming up short on two occasions they are aware of what is required to win the title back off Manchester City.
They have made stellar signings with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively. Two of the notable exits from Anfield this summer were two midfielders at the heart of that title-winning team from 2020, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho as they have departed for Saudi Arabian riches. The two additions will bring much-needed creativity to the Liverpool midfield, something that has lacked for many years under Klopp.
There is a rebuild in place at Anfield as many of the title-winning squad have left the club in the last couple of years, notably Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. It is the first time Klopp has had to rebuild a successful team so it will be interesting to see how a fresh look Liverpool can compete, next season.
Arsenal
Manager - Mikel Arteta
22/23 position – 2nd
Arsenal led the Premier League for the longest time of any other team last season, yet they came up short as they finished as runners-up to Pep’s men. They have not won the Premier League title since Wenger’s invincible team in 2004. However, there is a good feel factor around the club under Mikel Arteta, having finally taken Arsenal back to Europe’s top table. It was an unfortunate end to the season as they tailed off towards the end of the season and Manchester City comfortably secured the title in the end.
Arsenal have now set a standard which the fans will be desperate for the club to maintain and push for the title again. They have recruited in a way that we have not seen the Gunners do in a long time having splashed £105 million on Declan Rice from West Ham while also securing Jurrien Timber from Ajax, a promising young centre-back.
The Gunners also secured Kai Havertz from Chelsea despite an underwhelming 3 years at the Blues, it will be interesting to see what Arteta has in store for the German international. The club have spent a lot of money and have recruited well over the last few years as it looks like it could be a make-or-break season for Arteta as Arsenal fans are more demanding of success than ever.
Arsenal have had a gradual rise under Mikel Arteta having improved on their league position in every full season he has been in charge, the next step for Arsenal is getting their hands on one of the big prizes. Arteta has already won a trophy as a manager, with the FA Cup success in 2020 however that will not cut it for most Arsenal fans if they are empty-handed at the end of the forthcoming season.
No one has ever won the Premier League title four years in a row and Manchester City are certainly favourites to do so. An era of dominance that few could rival has to end at some point but could there be a different ribbon colour on the Premier League trophy in 23/24?