2015/16 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: BATTLE ROYALE

The coming season which kicks off today will be one of the most interesting in the history of the English Premier League. The desperation to wrest the title from Chelsea and the flood of new signings will no doubt emblazon the season.


Last season, the chase for the title turned into a foregone conclusion fairly early as a disciplined Chelsea ran away with the league. This time out, a much tougher fight looms. Again Chelsea will be the favourites, in my reckoning, and a very good bet indeed to achieve something special with back-to-back titles. Manager Jose Mourinho is targeting consistency ahead of an unnecessary overhaul, with Radamel Falcao the only arrival of note. But can Falcao be able to exorcise his injury demons, that's the question to be asked, as the season gets underway. Seriously agitating to challenge Chelsea will be the usual suspects, Man City, Man United, Arsenal, and from the outside, Liverpool.

Attempt by City at defending its crown went poorly last season, so the chequebook has been opened in this transfer window as the oil-rich club looks to propel itself back to the top. Raheem Sterling has arrived from Liverpool for a club record fee, and Kevin De Bruyne could be next in line for potentially another record fee. But the problems may be at the back, Vincent Kompany seems to be losing his grit,  as massive preseason losses to Real Madrid and, worryingly, Stuttgart have suggested. Work is still to be done for City.

Meanwhile, United has been busy as every preparing for a very important season. After two years out of the title race, it is imperative Louis Van Gaal gets United back into it in this campaign, and the incomings have reflected that urgency, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin are among the first wave of new United players, with Angel Di Maria's departure and David De Gea looking to be on the way out, there could be a seriously expensive second wave on the way. Depending on how quickly the new signings gel, United could be either a genuine threat for the title or in a scrap for the Champions League.

Liverpool are always there or thereabouts, and yet another spending spree makes them somewhat of an unknown quantity ahead of the new season. Liverpool struggled last season after the sale of Luis Suarez inspired a squad overhaul, and the off-season has appeared remarkably similar, they will struggle to finish among the top four again.

Tottenham, Southampton and Everton will again fight it out for European slots. As the the newly-promoted sides, Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford, staying up will be their priorities.  Provided all three teams don't go straight back down, the Premier League will have to lose something of a mainstay, with Aston Villa top of the list of candidates. Poor last season but saved largely by Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph - players who are no longer at Villa Park - Tim Sherwood desperately needs his new signings to make an immediate impact.

Overall, the season is going to be interesting. Again it is Chelsea's title to lose, United could only provide a stern challenge by signing a centre back and a proven goal scorer before the transfer window closes. Arsenal is in the same region, if the can get Karim Benzema Monsieur Wenger could swing surprises. City will be desperate, but I don't see them winning the title with Kompany, Mangala and Demichelis at the heart of their defense. The trio might turn a new leaf, if they do Chelsea will be in danger of losing the title.