The 2023/24 Premier League season is nearly upon us and it yet again feels like Manchester City will be the team to beat.
After winning their third league title in a row in 2022/23, Pep Guardiola’s men will be looking to become the first side ever to win four Premier League campaigns in succession.
Arsenal sat on top of the table for 248 days last season, but an injury to William Saliba derailed their chances of lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2003/04. Manchester United and Newcastle United secured their places in the Champions League, meanwhile, Liverpool just missed out and could only manage fifth.
But as the new season approaches, fan optimism grows and we take a look at whether Liverpool can make up the 22-point gap between themselves and the champions last time out.
MORE: Why Jordan Henderson’s reported move to Saudi Arabia is so controversial
Premier League 2023/24 winner odds
Man City
Arsenal
Liverpool
Man United
Chelsea
Newcastle
Spurs
BetMGM
(USA)
-150
+450
+800
+1000
+1200
+1600
+4000
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)
Top Betting Sites
(UK)
8/11
9/2
7/1
11/1
18/1
25/1
50/1
Unibet
1.8
6
9
12
17
19
51
Dafabet
(India)
1.8
6
9
12
17
19
51
Depth and Europa League could cause problems for Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool come into the new season having brought in a World Cup winning midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister, and an exciting Hungarian midfielder, Dominik Szoboszlai. However, they are the only two signings to date.
Mac Allister signed from Brighton for £35million and Szoboszlai was brought in for a £60million fee. The Argentine midfielder was one of the main reasons why the Seagulls were able to secure European football for the first time in their history after a stunning season.
✍️ Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton. The Argentina midfielder compared to Liverpool’s midfielders in the #PremierLeague 2022/23:
⦿ Most possession won (213)
⦿ Most shots (86)
⦿ Most tackles (70)
⦿ Most chances created (47)
⦿ Most… pic.twitter.com/nHnB6ngmrP
— Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) June 8, 2023
Last season, the Reds were desperate for depth in the midfield department and bringing in two starting XI players would suggest they have strengthened in that area. However, they have allowed Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain to leave the club.
The club are also going to be competing in the Europa League this season. That will see them play games on Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons, which has troubled teams with a lack of depth in the past.
With time running out in this summer’s transfer window, if Liverpool can bring in a final midfielder (preferably defensively minded) then their output could receive a huge boost.
In an ideal world, that midfielder would be Romeo Lavia from Southampton. The Reds have reportedly been hunting him all summer and are now haggling over just a few million pounds.
Klopp needs to figure out his front three
One massive bonus is that Mohamed Salah will be staying at the club despite rumours suggesting a move to the Saudi Pro League might have been on the cards. He managed an incredibly impressive 31 goal contributions (19 goals, 12 assists) last season in an underperforming side.
While Darwin Nunez showed glimpses of brilliance at times last season, his goal tally will need to be well into the double digits to help take the workload off of a 31-year-old Salah.
Liverpool’s preseason goal and assist totals:
Salah: ⚽️⚽️🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
Jota: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🎯🎯
Nunez: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🎯
Diaz: ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Gakpo: ⚽️⚽️🎯
Van Dijk: ⚽️
Doak: ⚽️
Clark: ⚽️
Mac Allister: 🎯
Szoboszlai: 🎯
Alexander-Arnold: 🎯
Robertson: 🎯
Matip: 🎯
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) August 7, 2023
Luis Diaz’s injury problems caused a rethink and saw the signing of Cody Gakpo in January. Since then, Klopp struggled to find a consistently performing front-three and that issue still seems apparent.
On one hand, you have Gakpo who is almost the perfect Roberto Firmino replacement and on the other, the £85million man Darwin who is more physical and enjoys running in behind defences.
But Klopp will need to find a firing front three if Liverpool are to compete at the very top this season.
When did Liverpool last win the title?
Liverpool’s last title came during the Covid-hit 2019/20 campaign when they amassed a huge 99 points.They were league winners by a whopping 18 points, ahead of second-place Man City.
Klopp’s men were then unfortunate not to win a second title under the German as they were beaten by Guardiola’s City (again) by just one point.
GOAL Man City 3-2 Aston Villa (81 mins)
Utter bedlam! Three goals in five minutes for City as Ilkay Gundogan taps in at the back post to potentially clinch them the title!#MCIAVL
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 22, 2022
It looked almost certain heading into the final 15 minutes at Anfield that they were going to be celebrating again, however, Ilkay Gundogan sparked a late comeback for City against Aston Villa and they went on to lift the trophy.
Klopp is entering his eighth full league season at Liverpool and will be desperate to improve on his worst-placed finish from last season.
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