LIVERPOOL started their season with a bang — and I expect it to be drama all the way to a second Premier League title in a row.
Bournemouth gave them a really good go at Anfield on Friday night and exposed some potential weak points, but Arne Slot’s men showed their quality in the end.
It feels like it is going to be a great season, with a few good clubs looking to challenge at the top of the table.
But I still can’t get past the Reds for top spot. They have recruited so well this summer and just in case we had forgotten about him, Mo Salah reminded us of his class with a goal late on.
Richard Hughes, who played for me at Portsmouth , has done an incredible job.
He got a bit of stick early on after a quiet summer last year — and all the noise around contracts for Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold .
But he is an encyclopedia of football — ask him about any player, playing anywhere and he will know all about them.
He is a real plus for Liverpool and certainly looks to have found a gem in Hugo Ekitike — if they go and get Alexander Isak on top then everyone should be worried.
I don’t like how Isak has handled the situation, but this is the way it is now.
He will know exactly what is on offer at Anfield in terms of a contract and will have known for some time.
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If he ends up staying at Newcastle , things will go back to normal quite quickly.
His team-mates won’t give a monkeys about how he has behaved recently, they all know it could be them in that boat next year pushing for a big move.
The fans all have the hump with him, and rightly so, but the moment he comes back and scores a goal there will be 50,000 Geordies singing his name.
That’s just the name of the game now, he has no problems either way, but Liverpool’s title rivals will have a problem if he makes the move to Anfield.
The most dangerous rival, again, will be Arsenal . They have certainly got stronger since finishing second, again, last time out and finally have that striker we’ve all been saying they needed.
Mikel Arteta’s side fell away a bit at the end last season but they will be back.
No one should be calling for Arteta’s head if the Gunners don’t quite get there again, he has done a smashing job there and just been beaten by some very good teams.
And even though I’ve gone for Slot’s side, I’m not saying Arsenal can’t do it, they can and look to have what they need to kick on.
Chelsea get going at home against Crystal Palace today and are an interesting one to look at. They could go close to the title, for sure, but I can’t see them going all the way.
The Blues have signed some good players, they have a strong, powerful squad, but there might be too many options for Enzo Maresca and that can bring problems.
I can’t name their best team, even their best centre-halves. That is not the case with Arsenal and Liverpool, the teams can name themselves at times.
You need a happy dressing room and, I don’t care who they are, if players are not playing they are not happy.
With so many players there will be big names nowhere near the team at times, and that can cause big problems — it won’t be easy to manage.
I also worry they lack a bit of leadership still — what they would give to have a John Terry-type in the squad.
A proper captain and leader on the pitch. Where are they in this Chelsea squad?
There aren’t many about but the proper title contenders have them in players like Kop skipper Van Dijk.
We have to mention Manchester City and Pep Guardiola — you can never write them off but there are questions.
They will miss Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker , Rodri is still not quite fit and there are always worries over whether John Stones can be available — he’s a fantastic player.
Outside the title contenders, I fancy Tottenham to be a dark horse after a horrible season last time out.
They looked good against Paris Saint-Germain in the main and have a strong squad if they can stay fit.
