Premier League preview: Will Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal remain the ‘big four’?

WHO will win the Barclays Premier League? That’s what we’re asking as we conclude our preview series with a look at last year’s ‘big four’.

Manchester City v West Ham United - Premier League

OUR countdown to kick-off culminates today with a look at the ‘big four’ from last year as we examine the Premier League’s title contenders.

Manchester City will be looking to join Chelsea and Manchester United as clubs to have retained the EPL crown, but the improvement in the chasing pack has been clear to see in the transfer market.

It all kicks off on Saturday night on Fox Sports 1 with Manchester United v Swansea at 9.35 EST. FULL BROADCAST SCHEDULE.

WE PREVIEW ALL 20 EPL SIDES

DAY 1: RELEGATION ROLLERCOASTER

DAY 2: MID-TABLE SAFETY

DAY 3: EUROPEAN HOPEFULS

Read on for our guide to the title contenders, and check out Adam Peacock and Robbie Slater’s video previews, as well our special edition of the Fox Football Podcast.

RIVALS TO CITY’S CROWN?

WHY LIVERPOOL AREN’T MAKING SPURS’ MISTAKES, Daniel Garb explains

WHY JOSE HAS TO WALK THE WALK, David Weiner writes

IS THIS FINALLY THE YEAR FOR ARSENAL, Carly Adno asks.

THE FIVE HURDLES VAN GAAL HAS TO OVERCOME, Huw Bonello examines.

DOWN THE OTHER END

CAN THE NEWBIES REMAIN IN THE EPL, Martin Gibbes explores.

MANCHESTER CITY

IN: Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Fernando (Porto), Willy Caballero (Malaga), Bruno Zuculini (Racing Club), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Frank Lampard (New York City, loan)

OUT: Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland), Joleon Lescott (West Brom) Gareth Barry (Everton), Alex Nimely (released), Rony Lopes (Lille, loan), Emyr Huws (Wigan, loan), Reece Wabara (Doncaster Rovers), Jack Rodwell (Sunderland), Jason Denayer (Celtic, loan)

Can they go back-to-back?

Case for: A settled defending champion, who have arguably strengthened thanks to two men from Porto, Mangala in defence, to play alongside Vincent Kompany, and Fernando, in midfield. Although everyone around them has spent and spent well, Manuel Pellegrini boasts one of the best, and deepest, squads in Europe. There’s also the bonus of Stevan Jovetic, who will be like a new signing up front.

Case against: Injury worries over Alvara Negredo and Sergio Aguero, who are both key to their ambitions, as well as complacency. City did not fare as well after their previous title win, and even last year, at times, dropped points inexplicably in between looking imperious. There will also be a desire to push on in the UEFA Champions League, often a distracting sub-plot to league action.

Manager watch: Pellegrini silenced plenty of doubters by claiming the biggest piece of silverware of his career. He’s assembled an impressive squad but the owners will now expect bigger things in Europe.

Key man: Yay Toure. After birthday cake-gate, the Ivory Coast midfielder seems willing again to pledge his future to City. 20 goals from midfield, an unshakable presence, voted as Fox Sports’ best EPL player … one of the most complete players on the planet.

OUR TOP 50 PLAYER COUNTDOWN

LIVERPOOL

IN: Adam Lallana (Southampton), Lazar Markovic (Benfica), Emre Can (Bayer Leverkusen), Rickie Lambert (Southampton) Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Divock Origi (Lille), Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid, loan)

OUT: Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Pepe Reina (Bayern Munich), Conor Coady (Huddersfield,), Luis Alberto (Malaga, loan), Iago Aspas (Sevilla, loan), Andre Wisdom (West Brom, loan), Divock Origi (Lille, loan), Brad Smith (Swindon, loan)

Case for: Faith in the Brendan Rodgers project. Luis Suarez might be gone, but in the eight signings completed so far (Alberto Moreno as well), there are talented names added to an Anfield roster that showed last season it was not to be easily written off. Lambert provides a different focal point, Lallana another creative outlet, while Rodgers has brought in defensive enforcements – arguably the key factor to Liverpool going the extra mile this term. Indeed, replacing Suarez’s herculean goal haul isn’t essential to Liverpool winning the league; plugging an inconsistent defence is.

It’s a massive stage for Daniel Sturridge.

Case against: This won’t be the last time you read about Suarez and Liverpool this season – his shadow, or lack thereof, will loom, like Gareth Bale’s did at White Hart Lane. Suarez wasn’t the core of Rodgers’s plan, nor were his side a one-man team. But he provides the icing on the cake that made Liverpool a bona fide title threat. Without him, will they lose their mojo?

Manager watch: Publicly, Rodgers has remained confident and assured all off-season despite Suarez’s departure. His methods have brought him success at Swansea and now Liverpool – the question now is, can he add defensive steel to attacking flair, go to the next level and claim the big silverware, and how will he fare with the distraction of Europe, matching wits amongst the big fish in the UCL?

Key player: It’s still Steven Gerrard. So much about Liverpool’s temperament works hand in hand with their talisman and skipper. In his deep lying midfield role, Gerrard has the game on his foot. Sturridge, Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho have such vital roles, but at the heart of it all, is Gerrard alongside Henderson, and the skipper needs to put a devastating last six months of football behind him.

CHELSEA

IN: Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona,), Diego Costa (Atletico Mdrid), Mario Pasalic (Hadjuk Split), Filipe Luis (Atletico), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray)

OUT: David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Samuel Eto’o (released), Frank Lampard (New York City), Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday), Henrique Hilario (released), Wallace (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Bertrand Traore (Vitesse Arnhem, loan) Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach, loan), Ashley Cole (Roma), Demba Ba (Besiktas), Mario Pasalic (Elche, loan) Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton, loan), Gael Kakuta (Rayo Vallecano, loan), John Swift (Rotherham, loan), Oriol Romeu (Valencia, loan) Christian Atsu (Everton, loan)

Case for: Jose Mourinho identified weaknesses in his squad and has not just replaced those gaps, but enhanced the quality. This was a side that almost won the competition last season, and now has even more artillery. Mourinho was able to squeeze the life out of big games last term, but it was obvious Chelsea lacked a top striker. They’ve got that now in Diego Costa, plus Didier Drogba. Although 36, he will be able to contribute in a cameo capacity. He has depth in each position and players who will play the pragmatic role he requires at times, but also with the quality to attack. There’s every reason to suggest Chelsea are the title favourites.

Case against: How long will it take Costa to settle? Is Drogba still up to it? If those two flop or get injured, Mourinho will be left with Fernando Torres again. John Terry’s durability isn’t what it used to be, so although Mourinho got plenty out of him and Gary Cahill last campaign, it has to be inevitable that there will be some rotation through the heart of defence.

Manager watch: For all the bravado of the Special One, Mourinho has not won a trophy in his last two seasons. The expectations are astronomical and he really has few excuses if there isn’t some silverware at Stamford Bridge this season. Even FA Cup or League Cup silverware may not suffice.

Key player: Cesc Fabregas. The box-to-box midfielder has the chance to assert himself on the big stage again after a few years playing second fiddle to the likes to Xavi and Iniesta. Frank Lampard was so vital to Chelsea’s success over the last decade, and Mourinho has lured the Spaniard knowing that void needed filling. Every side needs its metronome behind their Hazards, Oscars and Costas. Fabregas will need to be Chelsea’s.

ARSENAL

IN: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Calum Chambers (Southampton), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), David Ospina (Nice)

OUT: Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Thomas Eisfeld (Fulham), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Nicklas Bendtner (released), Park Chu-young (released), Chuks Aneke (released), Daniel Boateng (released), Wellington Silva (Almeria, loan), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham, loan), Benik Afobe (MK Dons, loan)

Case for: Has the time finally come? Wenger has his balance of midfield technicians, physical strength, pace, and direct threats, with a backline that is also starting to take shape, although lacking depth. He also has, for the first time in a few seasons, world class talent – Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, when at their best, and a potential talisman, Aaron Ramsey, should he remain injury free. Arsenal led the league for so long last term before running out of gas. With a bit of luck, and this greater depth, could this be the year?

An early piece of silverware.

Case against: The same perennial questions. Weak at the big moments, stars on the continent who might not be able to sustain it for a full English campaign, and too many cooks. Wenger has a balancing act he needs to get perfect. But winning the FA Cup, and now the Community Shield, is quite a monkey off his back.

Manager watch: After doubts seriously crept in at times over the last two-three years, it looks as through the Emirates is once again an impenetrable Casa-de-Wenger.

Key player: There’s a case for a number of players but Ozil, a World Cup winner now, has the capacity to truly influence the competition and should be better for having a full season under his belt. Arsenal’s best coincided with his best over the first half of last term – including a club high number of assists – and his ability to bring the best out of others will be vital.

Originally published as Premier League preview: Will Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal remain the ‘big four’?