Man City aim to hold off big-spending pretenders to Premier League crown
Manchester
City begin the defence of their Premier League title away to newly-promoted
Burnley on Friday as Pep Guardiola's men look to hold off an ambitious group of
challengers to their crown as English champions.
Arsenal
and Manchester United have spent big to try and end their long wait for a
league title, while Liverpool and Chelsea are expected to bounce back from last
season's disappointment.
But
another transfer window of major investment by English clubs has been
overshadowed by the lavish sums luring even some of the Premier League's best
talent to Saudi Arabia.
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City still the benchmark -
City
not only won the Premier League for a fourth time in five years last season,
but completed a treble of FA Cup and the club's first ever Champions League.
Maintaining
his side's hunger is the task awaiting Guardiola, but the Catalan coach is
confident City will rise to the challenge of becoming the first side to ever
win four consecutive English top-flight titles.
"We
have done it in the past, why should we not do it now? What we did belongs in
our hearts and minds but while we are here we cannot stop," said
Guardiola.
City
have lost captain Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez to the exodus
from Europe to Saudi.
The
arrival of Croatian internationals Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic has
softened that blow, but the champions have been quiet in the market compared to
the chasing pack.
Arsenal
were second last season and have splashed out over £200 million ($255 million)
on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber in an attempt to go one better
this time.
The
Gunners saw an immediate reward by beating City on penalties to win the
Community Shield on Sunday and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale believes victory at
Wembley was an important psychological hurdle for Arsenal to clear.
"For
us it's a statement," said Ramsdale. "It's a marker to know we can go
and beat Man City in a big game when it matters. I'm not sure what it will be
like this season but that mental block is gone. We're ready to push on
now."
United
remain in limbo off the field as talks over a potential takeover of the Red
Devils drag on.
But
manager Erik ten Hag has still been handed his desired targets with the arrival
of goalkeeper Andre Onana, midfielder Mason Mount and Denmark striker Rasmus
Hojlund.
United
finished third and won the League Cup in Ten Hag's first season, but have gone
a decade without a Premier League title.
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Saudi threat -
Liverpool
are not in the Champions League for the first time in seven years after
finishing fifth last season.
A
midfield overhaul at Anfield has been accelerated by the departures of captain
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia with Argentine World Cup winner
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai coming in.
"At
the moment it looks like they have quite an influence. It is massive,"
said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on the emerging threat in the Gulf to the
Premier League's status as the world's leading league.
However,
Newcastle -- who are 80 percent owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund --
have so far added just Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali and winger Harvey
Barnes from relegated Leicester.
New
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has overseen a huge clearout at Stamford
Bridge to trim down a bloated squad that sank to 12th last season.
Tottenham
are also under new management, but the early days of Ange Postecoglou's reign
have been overshadowed by the doubt over whether Harry Kane will leave to join
Bayern Munich.
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Luton's fairytale rise -
As
hundreds of millions are spent jostling for positions at the top end of the
table, Luton Town are spending big just to get their 10,000 capacity stadium
Kenilworth Road up to scratch for life in the top flight.
Luton
have risen from the fifth-tier National League to the Premier League in just 10
seasons.
The
Hatters, who begin their campaign away to Brighton, will have to wait for a
first home game until at least next month after a clash with Burnley was
postponed to allow extra time for stadium upgrades to be completed
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