Spurs and Reds pose a major threat to the Big Four.
The race for the top four this season promises to be one of the most exciting to date, with Tottenham and Liverpool splashing the cash this summer to move closer to the current big four.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are in their third season as England’s Champions League representatives. They could struggle to make it four in 2014-15.
Not only have Spurs and Liverpool built impressive squads, but three of the aforementioned sides are in a period of transition under new managers. The other club has failed to add sufficiently despite the last-gasp signing on transfer deadline day of Mesut Özil.
Manchester City and Chelsea may be getting used to life under Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho respectively but they are doing so with stronger squads than last term. City have added Stevan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas, while the Blues have signed Andre Schurrle, Marco van Ginkel, Willian and Samuel Eto’o. It would be a major surprise if either side finished outside the Champions League places.
It would have been unthinkable to predict a top four without including Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. However, there is a different feel about the Premier League champions under David Moyes. Life after Fergie was always going to be tough; it could be even tougher after a quiet transfer window.
Arsenal fans too will be disappointed with their club’s summer dealings. Özil was an excellent signing but there must have been envious eyes glancing across north London as Spurs went on a major shopping spree. A couple of serious injuries at the back or up front and the Gunners could struggle to make the top four.
Spurs and Liverpool are the sides waiting in the wings. While neither are the finished article by any means, they both have enough quality to secure a place in next season’s Champions League at the expense of their rivals.
The Premier League will be a better place for the likes of Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Mamadou Sakho. Will the new star names be able to help disrupt the natural order?
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
