With less than a week until the English Premier League is in full swing, clubs are starting to take shape with their new signings as they wrap up preseason tours across Asia and America.
Five squads finished ahead of Liverpool last season, though the Reds turned around an abysmal start to remain just on the cusp of European qualification. After a summer commitment of improving the team, the Reds should be looking up at fewer opponents.
First, recapping the Reds offseason spending spree, Liverpool brought in three main components to help solidify a midfield that fielded over a half-dozen regulars last season. Adding width (Stewart Downing), durability (Charlie Adam) and youth (Jordan Henderson), the Reds' midfield features talent and depth at each spot.
One target still on the mind for Liverpool is a left back, as Newcastle's Jose Enrique is still strongly linked to a move to Anfield.
While Liverpool hasn't been shy of spending during this summer's transfer window, only a few other EPL teams followed suit. Fifth place Tottenham is having a hard time holding on to its key players, let alone buying new talent. The only improvements made at White Hart Lane have been bringing in American keeper Brad Friedel to challenge for the starting goalie spot and retaining Mexican standout Giovani Dos Santos back from a loan spell.
Unless Tottenham can keep all its current stars (looking at you, Luka Modric), and return to the form that earned it a Champions League birth two years ago, then the Spurs will once again be on the outside looking in.
Unlike Tottenham's recent glory into European soccer, its London neighbors Arsenal are mainstays in the top four. However, with a potential exodus of Cesc Fabregas (finally!) and Samir Nasri, the Gunners won't be gunning for an EPL crown, but rather trying to maintain a spot in the Champs League.
While Nasri's exit appears farther away than Fabregas', the loss of either midfielder would be devastating, especially so late in the transfer window. While much emphasis has been made on improving their offense (the signing of Gervinho could be similar to Man U's signing of Javier Hernandez last year), the Gunners have yet to address their need in the back line and in the net. After starting four different net-minders last season, Arsenal didn't bother to shore up the goal by adding Manchester City castoff Shay Given, who was available for cheap. In addition, one of their most consistent defenders, Gail Clichy, left the Emirates to join the glut of talent on Man City's bench.
Without filling the holes that were leaking, Arsene Wegner and Arsenal are in for a tough year, especially if injuries become a problem again.
Another underachieving transfer club is Chelsea, which has done little after getting very old over the course of last season. Chelsea does appear to still be active, continuing talks with Tottenham over the purchase of Modric, but if it can't land the star Croatian, then it could be a brittle lineup out there for the Blues.
Chelsea is also the only top team that needs to work in a new manager, as Andre Villas-Boas hopes to work his system in with January transfer Fernando Torres. El Nino is expected to share time up top with Didier Drogba and another newcomer, Belgian teenager Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku's power and goal-scoring tendencies have drawn comparisons to the man that he will surely learn from in Drogba.
Finally, the two sides with the best chances of eliminating the Reds' dream of a 19th English title both happen to play in the same city.
Starting with the Light Blues of Manchester City, the ever-evolving lineup appears to be more talented than ever. With the arrival of Kun Aguero, the Light Blues add another mesmerizing attacker, while the defensive side of the ball remains as strong and physical a group as one can find.
The biggest issue going forward with Man City is going to be the same one that plagued it last year: How can manager Roberto Mancini control all these world-class players and keep everyone happy? He hasn't done that well thus far, with star striker Carlos Tevez severely disgruntled about being in Manchester. Adding to that, fellow striker Mario Balotelli continues to be an even bigger head case than he is a talent, most recently by trying an unnecessary back-heel in a friendly. Balotelli was immediately pulled from the game.
However, if Mancini can keep this combustible group calm and content, there are few teams in all of Europe that can match up with them.
One of those teams, however, lives just down the road from Man City, and have been a thorn in its side -– as well as Liverpool's -– for quite some time.
As Manchester United embarks on an unprecedented 20th English title, it already proved that the second-half heroics that were apparent last year haven't gone anywhere. In the Community Shield Match with Man City, the Red Devils battled back from a 2-0 halftime deficit to defeat their wealthy neighbor 3-2.
Man U improved a squad that had little weaknesses last year. One of its strengths last season was forced into a weakness as starting goalie Edwin Van Der Sar retired, and the Red Devils replaced him with Spanish youngster David De Gea, buying him off Atletico Madrid. Also on that back line, the Red Devils brought in Phil Jones to replenish the depth in the back four after the departures of Wes Brown and John O'Shea. The addition of winger Ashley Young gives Man U an abundance of outside midfielders, with Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ji-Sung Park adding width and scoring for United.
The only spot still on the mind of Sir Alex Ferguson is the replacement of Paul Scholes, who retired. Fergie has had his eye on Inter star and Dutch international Wesley Sneijder, but it appears Man City has joined for either his services or just to drive up the price for its cross-town rivals.
As a few pieces (Modric, Sneijder, Febregas) still determine who will be best equipped to take the coveted top spot of the EPL, the Reds, Red Devils and Light Blues all appear ready and willing to do battle.
