Friday 15 August 2014

Everything you need to know: 2014/15 Premier League preview.

The wait is over, after 97 days the Premier League is back!

Last season was one of the best in it's 22 year history and the 2014/15 season could be even better.

Defending champions Manchester City spent £50 million in pre-season on Bruno Zuculini, Willy Caballero, Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando. Chelsea legend Frank Lampard joined on loan (from New York City FC) and former Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna signed on a free transfer. City have never retained the league title in their history and should be considered favorites this season.


Last seasons runners up Liverpool lost their star man and the league's top scorer Luis Suarez to Barcelona, how his replacements get on will determine what kind of campaign they have.

Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic represent good signings but replacing Suarez is a tall order. The Reds are in the Champions League again for the first time since 2009/10 and that fact could have a bearing on where they finish in the league, getting into the top four will be considered a good season for them.

Jose Mourinho has added top quality to his squad in Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas. Didier Drogba has come 'home' and the return of Thibaut Courtois (he spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid) is a bonus as Petr Cech showed signs of vulnerability last season. John Terry has signed a contract extension and they won't miss Ashley Cole as Luis Filipe is a class replacement, Chelsea will run Manchester City very close in the title race.


Another pre-season, another captain has departed the FA Cup holders. Thomas Vermaelen has joined Barcelona leaving Arsenal short of defensive cover.

Alexis Sanchez is a great addition and David Ospina will provide competition for Wojciech Szczesny but the lack of a clinical striker needs to be addressed (before the transfer window closes on September 1st) if Arsenal are to win the league for the first time since 2003/04.

The return of Theo Walcott will be a big boost for the Gunners and Mesut Ozil will be better in his second season in the Premier League, a top four place is guaranteed.

All eyes at Goodison Park will be on £28million man Romelu Lukaku. The Belgium international has made his loan move from Chelsea permanent and scored 15 goals in 31 games last term.

With a new contract and a World Cup appearance under his belt, Ross Barkley has a big future ahead of him. The 20-year-old possess immense talent and will need to shine if Everton want to improve on their 5th place finish last season.

No £100million spending spree for Tottenham Hotspurs this summer, so it's time for players like Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela to prove their worth. The Lily Whites did splash out £25m on Michael Vorm, Eric Dier, DeAndre Yedlin, Frederico Fazio and Benjamin Stamboli.


Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen had fine seasons last time out and new manager Mauricio Pochettino will hope their form continues. They don't have a big enough squad to compete for both domestic and Europa league's competitions so a FA or League cup win will be a good season for Spurs.

Things can only get better at Manchester United after their abysmal 2013/14 season.

Their new manager Louis van Gaal will hope to restore pride in the Old Trafford dressing room and get the Red Devils back into the Champions League.

Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera are brilliant signings but recruiting  a combative midfielder is a necessity. They also need to sign a center-back or two as Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have left.

New captain Wayne Rooney will blossom in the role and a fit Robin van Persie will ensure United will be competitive again.


New manager Ronald Koeman will hope he can keep Southampton in the league after they lost most of their squad during pre-season. Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers are just a few names who departed the Saints but Shane Long, Ryan Bertrand and Florin Gardos are decent replacements.

Stoke achieved their highest ever finish in the Premier League last season (9th) and Mark Hughes will want to build on that. Bojan Kricic can either be the signing of the summer or he will follow the pattern of his career since he was billed as the “next big thing” at Barcelona and be a disappointment.

Alan Pardew will hope to stay out of the limelight in 2014/15. He was banned from stadiums for three games and the touchline for four matches last season after headbutting Hull's David Meyler.

New signings Siem De Jong and Remy Cabella will help fill the void left by Yohan Cabaye's departure in January.


It was a quiet summer for Crystal Palace until Tony Pulis left the club by "mutual consent" on Thursday. It is rumored Pulis left after falling out with chairman Steve Parish over transfers, they have only spent money on two players.

Pulis will be a huge loss to the Eagles, he took over when they were bottom of the league and helped them to a decent 11th place. They might struggle to stay up without his guile and experience.

Swansea's only target for this season will be remaining in the Premier League as they flirted with relegation towards the end of last season.

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Baferimbi Gomis are good players but losing Michel Vorm and Michu (on loan) could come back to haunt them, keeping Wilfried Bony at the Liberty is vital to their survival hopes.

After achieving a "miracle" last season to beat the drop, Gus Poyet's Sunderland will hope to move up the table but a repeat of the double over fierce rivals Newcastle will make their fans happy. If he realises his potential, Jack Rodwell will be one of the bargains of the summer.


Speculation was rampant during the summer that West Ham were going to "part company" with manager Sam Allardyce but he stayed. His team are expected to play more entertaining football and the capture of Ecuador's World Cup star Enner Valencia (he scored three goals in Brazil) will help achieve that.

If Ravel Morrison can focus on football he will be an asset to his team and the appointment of Teddy Sheringham as an attacking coach could prove a master stroke. A mid-table finish is in the horizon.

Ron Vlaar's reputation sky rocketed after a fantastic World Cup so it is important Aston Villa keep hold of him.

The additions of experienced campaigners like Philippe Senderos, Joe Cole and Kieran Richardson will add a little nous to Villa's young squad in a season where they may just need it.


New assistant manager Roy Keane will do his best to make sure Villa push for a place in Europe this season.

Hull qualified for Europe for the first time ever last season (FA Cup runners up) and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the demands of playing Thursday-Sunday.

West Bromwich Albion and promoted teams Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Leicester City will hope to stay in the division.