5 Biggest Storylines Entering the 2014/15 Premier League Season
The 2014/15 Premier League season will begin on 16 August, and many talking points have emerged this summer that could have a huge bearing on where the league title ends up, what big-name players could find themselves out of favour and what clubs could struggle following the sale of key players.
So what are the five biggest storylines ahead of the new Premier League season?
A Suarez-Less Liverpool Challenging for the League Title and European Honours
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Liverpool sold striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona this summer for £75 million, and they have used the money to bring in new attacking options, as per Transfermarkt. However, while the Reds have signed quantity in Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi (who will be out on loan), they haven’t matched the quality of Suarez.
According to WhoScored, the Uruguayan scored 31 goals and added 12 assists in 33 league games last season as Liverpool finished second in the league table. Suarez contributed to 42.6 percent of their league goals, so it’s a big ask for the Reds to maintain a title challenge without him in 2014/15.
There’s also the Champions League, which can be detrimental to their league form, as the fixture list will see them playing midweek games between their weekend matches in the Premier League. By comparison, last year's Liverpool succeeded while not playing in any European tournaments.
Growing Rivalry Between Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho
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It’s clear Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will develop a rivalry this season as the title race takes off. Both managers are very blunt and candid regarding their players and opinions, but they also have history together.
According to Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph, Van Gaal appointed Mourinho as an assistant with Barcelona back in 1997 and mentored the Portuguese coach during his time there. The two met again years after their Barca tenure, in the 2010 Champions League final, where a Mourinho-led Inter Milan beat the Dutchman's Bayern Munich, 2-0.
But now they are direct opponents, potentially in each other's way for the Premier League title this season. It is sure to create fireworks. Alison Kervin of the Daily Mail highlighted how both have been called arrogant and innovative but have also been successful in their respective careers.
Mourinho likes to get under the skin of his opponents through comments in the media, and this summer, he’s been no different.
He started a row with Van Gaal at the end of July after criticising Manchester United for spending so much to sign former Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, as reported by Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail, but Van Gaal has tried to downplay any rivalry so far.
There will almost certainly be more to come from the pair. The two sides will meet first on 26 October at Old Trafford.
Petr Cech vs. Thibaut Courtois for No. 1 Spot at Chelsea
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With Mourinho having made it clear that goalkeepers Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois will be fighting it out for a starting place in the team, as per Samuel Stevens of The Independent, the battle between the two top shot-stoppers has dominated headlines this summer.
Cech has been the London side’s No. 1 goalkeeper for the last 10 years, but Courtois' rise to the top in the last 12 months means the Czech keeper faces a task to hold on to his spot at Chelsea. However, his previous comments made to Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail suggest that his Belgian counterpart doesn’t scare him.
"If, on the first day of pre-season, Thibaut Courtois is here, he is here. If he is not, he is not. It does not change anything. I will still have to do better than whoever else is here, to keep my place. It doesn’t change anything for me. ...
... If he comes back and he’s better than me, credit to him, well done to him, but who knows? I’m not afraid. ... I’m playing because I’ve been playing well and because the manager thinks it improves the team with me in goal.
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Courtois is equally as focused on ousting his competition to be a regular between the sticks this season, and Barlow is tipping the 22-year-old to become Chelsea's new No. 1 for 2014/15. However, according to Metro, Mourinho will reveal his plan for the two goalkeepers on Sunday, a day before their season opener against Burnley.
How Southampton Can Cope Following Mass Exodus This Summer
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While new Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has put on a brave face following a large exodus of first-team players this summer, as per Simon Yeend of the Daily Express, it’s clear the Saints have a difficult task to replace so many influential players.
As per Transfermarkt, striker Rickie Lambert, attacking midfielder Adam Lallana, left-back Luke Shaw, central defender Dejan Lovren and right-back Calum Chambers have all been sold this summer for over £100 million.
Southampton have reinvested the money to sign new recruits—two of whom (Dusan Tadic, Graziano Pelle) Koeman brought with him from Eredivisie—but gelling them in time won’t be easy. What's more, the former Feyenoord manager is still having problems trying to keep Morgan Schneiderlin at the club, as the midfielder wants the leave this summer, as reported by the Press Association (via The Guardian).
It could be a testing time for the Saints.
Inflated Fees Being Paid for Domestic Players
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Southampton’s summer sales lead us to another big storyline: the large sums of money being spent on players residing in the English leagues. It’s been a common theme for a number of buyers in recent weeks.
As per Transfermarkt, Everton paid more than £25 million for former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku this summer. Elsewhere, newly promoted side Leicester City spent £9 million on Championship striker Leonardo Ulloa, while Championship club Fulham signed former Leeds striker Ross McCormack for £10 million. There have been plenty more examples, too.
Is Lallana really a £25 million player? Is Shaw worth more than £30 million? Is former Saints defender Lovren really worth over £20 million after transferring to Southampton for under £10 million just last summer?
There have been some inflated valuations of players this summer, but clubs have been all too happy to meet the demands.
