Pre-Season Preview: Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Sheffield United

Liverpool

Following their triumphant 2019/20 campaign, Liverpool will finally go into a Premier League season as the reigning champions, a feat that they will certainly look to achieve once again this year. 

The Reds also added the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup to their trophy cabinet alongside their Premier League title last season, however it was in the other domestic competitions where they fell short.

Having been the reigning champions of Europe last season, the Anfield club were shocked by Diego Simeone’s resolute Atletico Madrid in the round of 16, who scored twice in extra-time in the second-leg at Anfield, knocking Liverpool out of the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp’s side also failed in both domestic competitions, exiting the League Cup at the quarter-final stage and the FA Cup in the 5th round; both titles are still vacant from the German’s impressive CV.

Having picked up 99 points in the Premier League last season, the Merseyside club will once again rely on the firepower of their front three Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino if they are to lift the Premier League title once again come May, with their forward line scoring a combined 46 league goals last term.

Transfers

It’s been a quiet transfer window for the Champions thus far, with the only addition at the time of writing being 24-year-old left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas from Olympiakos who’ll provide cover to first-choice Andy Robertson. 

Inconsistent centre-back Dejan Lovren departed for Zenit and midfielder Adam Lallana joined Brighton on a free transfer following his release from Anfield in July, meaning that there may be some gaps in Liverpool’s depth this year.

There have certainly been calls from some sections of the Liverpool fanbase for another centre-back to be signed as back-up to the colossal Virgil Van Dijk, in case the Dutchman is absent at any point during the season. However, it seems that only the only player who may join this summer is the heavily-linked midfielder Thiago of Bayern Munich. 

When analysing the Champions’ first-choice starting lineup from last season, the only area where you could identify the need for an upgrade is in central midfield. Fabinho has been excellent for the Reds since his arrival from Monaco in 2018, but his role is more defensive and Jurgen Klopp could certainly improve on his current offensive midfield options.

Naby Keita hasn’t exactly been a star man for Liverpool since he arrived from Leipzig two years ago and Gigi Wijnaldum is heading into the final year of his contract. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can be a good option when called upon and skipper Jordan Henderson had a sensational campaign last term but it certainly appears that the only area that has clear room for improvement is in the middle of the park.

Manager

Following Liverpool’s 5-3 home win to Chelsea back in July, the night which saw the Reds lift their first league title in 30 years, manager Jurgen Klopp was quizzed on preparations to defend the title in 2020/21 to which he responded:

“We will not stop. We have challenges. We can improve, each player. How we play. We have the chance to take another step. The others will not sleep. Chelsea is such a talented team. Now they are spending. There are no guarantees for anything.”

Targets

Naturally, Liverpool’s main target will be to retain the Premier League title. However, with an FA Cup and League Cup missing from Jurgen Klopp’s CV, winning at least one of the domestic competitions will surely be on the German’s mind. However, if this is to happen then he must take the competitions more seriously, having ‘played the kids’ on numerous occasions in both competitions during his Liverpool tenure. 

Success in the Champions League will also be a priority having fallen surprisingly short last term after back-to-back finals.

Key Player

This Liverpool team is full of superstars with the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane scoring the goals, Virgil Van Dijk keeping clean sheet after clean sheet, however the presence of captain Jordan Henderson is undeniably vital. The Englishman was awarded the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year for his efforts last term, proving to be a vital cog in Jurgen Klopp’s operation and captaining Liverpool to their first ever Premier League title. Liverpool will need his leadership once more if they are to win back-to-back league titles.

Youth Prospect

If Liverpool fail to recruit a midfielder then 19-year-old Curtis Jones can surely be expected to be seen in the Liverpool first-team on a more regular basis this season. The young midfielder impressed in his breakthrough season last term, making 26 appearances in all competitions, scoring three times, including a sensational effort in the third-round FA Cup tie with local rivals Everton. 

Having impressed in the U23s, Jones’ story could be similar to that of Trent Alexander-Arnold whereby a local lad takes his opportunity in the first-team and becomes a regular under Jurgen Klopp.

Manchester City

Having won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively, Manchester City significantly underachieved in the top-flight last season, finishing the campaign a whopping eighteen points behind winners Liverpool. 

As well as this, Pep Guardiola’s side ended the season with a bitter blow, being knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage yet again, being shocked by Ligue 1 outfit Lyon with the French side winning the contest 3-1. 

City also missed out on a second FA Cup under manager Pep Guardiola, losing to Arsenal 2-1 in the semi-finals, meaning that a third consecutive League Cup victory was the only piece of silverware added to the Citizen’s trophy cabinet. 

Based on the standards set by City the two previous seasons, nine league losses during the season was absolutely unacceptable, however a 4-0 victory at the Etihad in July over the winners Liverpool suggested that Guardiola’s side will return fighting to take back their status of Champions of England. As well as their fight for the league title, City fans will be hoping that they can finally end their wretched curse in the Champions League and have a more successful spell in Europe’s elite competition.

Transfers:

City have added two new faces to their ranks with the signings of centre-back Nathan Ake and winger Ferran Torres from Bournemouth and Valencia respectively. The £40m deal to bring Ake to the Etihad saw Manchester City’s spending on defenders under Pep Guardiola eclipse the £300m mark, however the 25-year-old was a bright spark in a dire season for the Cherries which ended in relegation and should prove to be a shrewd purchase from City.

As for Torres, the 20-year-old winger will look to provide competition on the flanks to the likes of Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez. The young Spaniard has already racked up over 100 senior appearances despite his tender age and will only get better under his fellow countryman Guardiola.

The major departure from the Etihad this summer was David Silva, who joined Real Sociedad in his native Spain following the expiration of his contract at City, a club where he spent over ten years. Silva proved a vital kingpin in the City midfield and thus a major creative crater in the has been left by the loss of ‘El Mago’. 

Leroy Sane also left City for a return to his respective home country, joining the Champions of Europe Bayern Munich in a £40m deal as well as Spanish back-up goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who signed for Real Betis on a free transfer.

Potential additions is where it gets interesting for Guardiola’s side, who have been reportedly identified by Barcelona heavyweight Lionel Messi as the Argentine’s desired club should he leave Catalonia this summer. 

The 33-year-old would be an immense capture for City if they were able to bring him to the Etihad this summer, with a departure from Barcelona looking likely for the winger, who has failed to report for training with last season’s La Liga runners-up.

It certainly sounds possible and Premier League fans all over the world will be keeping one eye on developments in this potential deal.

City also remain interested in Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, despite already signing Nathan Ake this window. This isn’t the first transfer window in which the Senegalese defender has been linked with a move to the Premier League, and if the deal isn’t completed then it surely won’t be the last. 

Furthermore, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Wolves’ Adama Traore are both reportedly on Guardiola’s shortlist should City make a move for an attacker this window. 

Manager:

Back in January, when it already looked all but confirmed that Liverpool would lift the Premier League title at the end of the season, Guardiola admitted to the club’s official website that he was already looking ahead to the 2020/21 season…

“We must improve in the games where we dropped points this season,”

“We’re not far away. We have played similar to the previous two years, but there have been games where we dropped points this season, where we didn’t in previous seasons. 

“I don’t think we need to change a lot in some areas, but adding new players is a possibility.”

Targets:

After a significantly underwhelming league campaign, a reclaiming the Premier League title will certainly be on Pep Guardiola’s mind. However, City’s failure to advance past the quarter-finals of the Champions League under the Spaniard is the elephant in the room and you can’t help but feel that City fans would rather prioritise winning Europe’s elite competition for the first time than being Champions of England once again.

Key Player:

Like with Liverpool, there’s a whole list of names that can be identified as star men for City during the upcoming season, but Kevin De Bruyne seems likely to once again be the main man for Guardiola’s side this season.

The Belgian picked up the official Premier League player of the season and PFA Player of the Season awards last term for his exceptional efforts in the middle of the park for City.

The 28-year-old scored 16 goals and assisted a further 23 in 48 appearances across all competitions for City last season and will be identified once again as their key creative output. 

Youth Prospect:

It has been said before but this season really feels like the year in which Phil Foden makes a name for himself in the Manchester City midfield. With the departure of David Silva, there’s a vacant place in the side, and the 20-year-old has already proven that he’s capable of filling it. 

Questions have been asked regarding Foden’s future at the club over the past couple of seasons and whether he’ll ever receive the game time required to develop and fulfill his potential. However, last term Foden made 38 appearances for the first team in all competitions, impressing with eight goals and nine assists to his name.

It seems like now or never when it comes to the young Englishman in a City shirt, he has to be starting more games otherwise he may have to look elsewhere for regular first-team football in the Premier League.

Manchester United:

An astounding recovery from Manchester United after their 2-0 home defeat to Burnley in late January saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side clinch a top-four place on the final day of the season, when at one point it looked like European qualification may not have even been on the cards.

United were the best side in the Premier League following the restart in June, picking up 21 points from a possible 27 in their final nine games, propelling them up to 3rd in the table.

The form of January signing Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon undoubtedly contributed to their turnaround and will be key for United next season if they are to exceed last season’s achievements.

Solskjaer’s side got over the line in the league, but failed in their other three competitions at the semi-final stage, meaning that the English heavyweight hasn’t seen silverware return to Old Trafford in over three years, a dry spell the Red Devils will surely want to end this year. 

Transfers:

At the time of writing, Manchester United are yet to make a signing but are extremely close to announcing the addition of Ajax midfielder Donny Van De Beek for a reported £40m. A partnership of the Dutchman and Fernandes in the middle of the park for United will certainly excite the fanbase.

Links to Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho have died down in recent weeks after Dortmund’s CEO claimed the Englishman would not be sold this window, however United remain keen but may have to postpone a move until next summer.

They are reportedly still keen on Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and have reportedly held talks with Villa but will have to match their £80m asking price if the Englishman is to head to Old Trafford this window.

Manager:

Following United’s 2-1 Europa League semi-final defeat to Sevilla, Solksjaer discussed the requirements for United to be successful in the 2020/21 campaign…

“We definitely need to improve if you want to move up the table and take steps further in the cups. I’ve never had three semi-finals in one season and that [losing them all]is one of those things you’re disappointed with as well. We are working to improve what we have. We’ve had spells with injuries and we’ve had spells where players have played a lot. We’re always looking to improve the squad.”

The Norwegian will be targeting another top-four finish for the club, but it certainly seems that winning silverware as Manchester United manager, having been so successful as a player at the club, is at the forefront of his mind.

Targets:

United were able to meet the targets set when it came to the Premier League, but three semi-final defeats were a significant blow, particularly in the Europa League as Solskjaer’s men would’ve backed themselves as favourites to win the entire tournament. 

As mentioned before, United haven’t lifted a trophy since their 2017 Europa League victory, a dry spell too long for a club of its status meaning that the United hierarchy will certainly see it as a necessity to be successful in at least one of the two domestic cup competitions this campaign.

You would expect Manchester United to advance past the group stage of the Champions League, regardless of who they’re drawn alongside, however it feels slightly too early for them to make a real challenge in Europe and make a push for the title itself.

There’s a project in progress at Old Trafford and if United can find consistency and form similar to that of which they finished last season with, they’ll have a strong campaign.

Key Player:

The impact that the arrival of Bruno Fernandes last January had on the Manchester United squad was invaluable and United fans will certainly be keen to see what the Portuguese midfielder can do starting the season with United from the off. 

The 25-year-old has a fantastic eye for a pass and will take plenty of confidence from his form last term into the new campaign, scoring 12 goals and recording 8 assists in 22 appearances (of course there is the argument that the majority of these goals were from the penalty spot).

Fernandes’ offensive play unlocks all sorts of possibilities for United going forward, with Anthony Martial a player in particular whose form has benefitted as a result of the Portuguese international’s arrival. The presence of Fernandes can be the difference between winning and losing football matches for United.

Youth Prospect:

Despite enjoying his breakthrough season last campaign, the potential of 18-year-old striker Mason Greenwood is frightening. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put faith in the youngster early on last season and was heavily repaid, with the Englishman scoring 17 goals and assisting a further five in 49 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils. 

Greenwood turns 19 in October and, if handed more starts, the young striker can certainly improve on the statistics achieved last season and, potentially, be in line for a senior England call-up ahead of the Euros next summer.

Newcastle United

It was another quiet season of mid-table obscurity for Steve Bruce’s Newcastle last term, finishing 13th with 44 points, and you wouldn’t be argued with if that’s what you predicted for the North-East club once again.

This preview could’ve read so much differently had their long-awaited takeover from a Middle-Eastern based organisation had gone through, however a grey cloud still looms over St.James’ Park, which still finds itself smothered with Sports Direct branding as Mike Ashley remains majority shareholder.

Admittedly, when Steve Bruce walked through the door at Newcastle last summer, following the departure of Rafa Benitez, there was plenty of talk regarding the possibility of relegation. Come Christmas though these suggestions evaporated with the Magpies finding good form in the run-up to the festive period which saw them briefly climb into the top-half.

Newcastle are currently the bookies’ 5th favourite for relegation, meaning that it looks to be another season of same-old at St.James’ Park this year.

Transfers:

Unsurprisingly, Mike Ashley is yet to empty his pockets in the transfer window, with midfielder Jeff Hendrick joining on a free transfer from Burnley being the Magpies’ only signing to date.

They are, however, reportedly in talks with Arsenal regarding a loan deal for centre-back Rob Holding, which would be a very shrewd move if Newcastle can get it over the line.

A striker also seems to be a priority with £40m flop Joelinton unable to impress in his first season in Tyneside, and Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson looks to be the man that they’ll make a move for with the Englishman keen on maintaining his stay in the Premier League following the Cherries’ relegation last season.

Newcastle were also able to tie down bright, 20-year-old midfielder Matty Longstaff to a four-year contract which is just about as exciting as it’s gotten for the Magpies this summer.

Manager:

With mid-table obscurity likely for Newcastle United this season, manager Steve Bruce expressed his desire for a run in both the League Cup and FA Cup to the Chronicle…

“Let’s remember the fans on those nights like Oxford and West Brom. That is what it is all about – the fans. There were thousands that went to West Brom on a winter night. I think I was right with my approach to it. Make no mistake, as long as I’m here we will try to go for the cups.”

Targets:

As mentioned before, it seems that Newcastle may find most of their enjoyment this term in the domestic cup competitions, with a top half finish in the Premier League looking a tricky ask this year. 

Steve Bruce’s side managed to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last season, getting knocked out by Manchester City at St.James’ Park.

As a bare minimum avoiding relegation will be Newcastle’s aim but, with other teams around them strengthening, it could be a torrid season for the Magpies.

Key Player:

The performances of Allan Saint-Maximin last season were rightfully praised with the tricky winger being a bright spark in what was a rather uninspiring season for Newcastle. At just 23 years of age, the Frenchman can only get better and, with improvement on his end product this season, he may be able to single-handedly keep Newcastle in the top-flight.

Youth Prospect:

After signing a new four-year deal with his boyhood club, it’s likely that Matty Longstaff will be used on a more frequent basis by Steve Bruce in the Newcastle midfield. The 20-year-old, brother of fellow midfielder Sean, scored both home and away against Manchester United last season, including a fantastic volley on his debut to give the Magpies a 1-0 win at St.James’ Park.

There was significant interest from other clubs around Europe when the midfielder’s contract at St.James’ Park was set to expire, but Steve Bruce has shown faith in the English midfielder and will hopefully offer more opportunities to him this campaign. 

Sheffield United:

After defying the odds last season with a ninth-place finish, Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United will be hoping for ‘the same again’ as they look to have another successful season in the top-flight.

Despite being favourites for relegation last season following their promotion, it did look for a long time like Bramall Lane would be welcoming European football, however poor form following the Premier League’s restart saw the Yorkshire club drop down to ninth, a finish that the club should still be immensely proud of.

However, it does feel like achieving another top-half finish will be even harder for the Blades this time around with significant competition elsewhere in the league.

Transfers:

Thus far goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is Chris Wilder’s only addition this summer following the Englishman’s £18.5m move from relegated Bournemouth. It was vital that the Blades found a new number one in between the sticks as impressive performances from loanee Dean Henderson over the past two seasons earned the Englishman a bumper new contract at parent club Manchester United.

The only departure thus far has been midfielder Luke Freeman, who’s joined Nottingham Forest on loan after failing to find his feet in the Premier League last season.

A striker has been on Chris Wilder’s shortlist for a while and the latest forward to be linked with a move to Bramall Lane is Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster. The 20-year-old impressed on loan at Swansea in the second half of last season, helping the Welsh club reach the play-offs, however if a deal was to take place it’s unknown as to whether it would be a loan or permanent transfer.

Star centre-back John Egan also signed a four-year contract extension which proved welcome news to the Sheffield United faithful as other Premier League clubs were certainly starting to show interest in the defender.

Manager:

Ahead of Sheffield United’s final Premier League game of the 2019/20 season against Southampton, Chris Wilder discussed his views on the season gone and what’s required for success in 2020/21…

“I believe we have taken confidence from what we have done this season but I do know how the game is,”.

“I want more from myself and the players and the football club. It’s been brilliant to manage against Mourinho and Ancelotti. Ancelotti has managed Real Madrid and AC Milan and won everything in the game but he is still humble, which I really admired. The Premier League has been everything I hoped it would be.”

“But I am not a comfortable manager. We have climbed a mountain but we have not come this far to only get this far. “

“We all know the hard work has to continue. In the last few weeks, the players have played against Kane, Son and Moura, and then Jimenez, Jota and Traore and then Pulisic, Tammy and Willian”.

“Brilliant experiences for us all and ones we want more of. Not being comfortable is the biggest thing I have to drill into the players because it has happened at a lot of football clubs.”

Targets:

Sheffield United have already finished in the top-half of the Premier League, why can’t they do it again? Improvement on last season’s finish will certainly be the aim for Chris Wilder and his team, however this Premier League season certainly seems more competitive and a top-ten finish will be even more difficult to achieve.

In order to have another impressive campaign, the Blades must stick to their strengths that got them in the discussion for a European place last season: their defence. Conceding just 39 goals in the Premier League last season, Sheffield United had the fourth-best defence in the league, a trait that they must maintain if they are to finish anywhere near the ninth place achieved last term.

However, if their backline start to leak cheap goals, Chris Wilder will have a serious issue, with goal-scoring a major area for improvement as only Norwich, Watford, Newcastle and Crystal Palace scored fewer league goals, two of which were relegated.

Like with Newcastle, targeting runs in the cups may also be sensible, but to have another successful Premier League season, Sheffield United will need to stick to what they know best and that’s being a resolute outfit.

Key Player:

Centre-back John Egan had an impressive debut campaign in the English top-flight last year, so much so that he was rewarded for his efforts with a new four-year contract. Remaining solid at the back is Sheffield United’s bread and butter and, in order to be successful once again this season, the Blades will need the likes of Egan on top-form once again.

Youth Prospect:

The Blades aren’t best known for producing footballers but one player you should keep your eye on this season is left-back Rhys Norrington-Davies. The 21-year-old impressed on loan at Rochdale last term and could be deployed as a back-up to left-back Enda Stevens. The Welshman can also play elsewhere across the backline and may prove a useful option for Chris Wilder when fixtures become congested.