Ranking Chelsea's Biggest Challengers for the 2014-15 Premier League Title

Chelsea have been ranked as favourites for the 2014-15 Premier League title by Oddschecker, who gives the best price at 4/5 on. Jose Mourinho spent the summer strengthening the squad that was in the title race until the final few weeks last season, and their performances so far have backed up their status as favourites. However, nothing is a given in the Premier League.

Last season was the most competitive for over a decade, as first place changed hands 25 times throughout the campaign, per Paul Campbell at The Guardian. All of the top six clubs have spent significant sums on their squads this summer, and results so far indicate that 2014-15 could be even more dramatic.

Click through for a ranking of Chelsea’s closest competitors for the 2014-15 Premier League title.

Rankings are based on the 2013-14 season, activity in the summer 2014 transfer window and performances so far this season. Statistics via WhoScored.com, all odds from oddschecker.com, transfer ins and outs per the official Premier League website.

Honourable Mention: Manchester United

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In the 2013-14 campaign, Manchester United suffered their worst season since the start of the Premier League era, finishing seventh with just 64 points. Louis van Gaal has been brought in to shake things up, and the Red Devils spent a whopping £122 million net this summer, per The Guardian.

Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria are the two biggest names brought in to Old Trafford, but they are unlikely to mask the defensive issues that will blight United's season.

Having lost their opening game to Swansea City, United could only manage a point apiece from their matches against Sunderland and Burnley. Despite this, they are still ranked at 13/1 for the title. 

Their lack of European competition will give them time to recover between games, and they should improve overall throughout the season. However, with the teams around them having also strengthened in the summer, it is unlikely that they will make it back into the top four this year.

5. Tottenham Hotspur

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Spurs have been jostling for a space at the top of the league for several seasons. The sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid last summer was supposed to herald a new era of exciting, expansive, and ultimately successful football. Unfortunately for them, that failed to materialise, and Spurs went through two managers in 2013-14.

The appointment of Southampton’s Mauricio Pochettino should bring some stability to the side, and his summer signings have already made an impact. Eric Dier’s debut goal handed them victory over West Ham in their opening game, which they followed up with a 4-0 thrashing of QPR.

However, the 3-0 capitulation to Liverpool shows that there is still work to be done at White Hart Lane before they can truly challenge for the title.

Odds of 50/1 are about right, as their participation in the Europa League will stretch the squad throughout the season.

4. Everton

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Everton beat Manchester United to the final spot in Europe last season, having lost their long-term manager David Moyes to the Red Devils. His replacement, former Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, has continued Moyes’ work in building a squad that can challenge at the top of the league.

Their summer window activity was among the strongest of last season’s top six, with Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry joining them on a permanent basis.

The Toffees have had a tough start to the season, facing Arsenal and Chelsea as well as Leicester City in their first three fixtures. Although the 6-3 thrashing handed to them by Mourinho’s Blues was tough, their tenacious performance will give supporters hope for the season ahead.

Everton are still outsiders for the title, although their 250/1 price feels slightly unfair. However, Martinez has done an excellent job at fostering a strong team mentality, and they will give all of the top clubs a run for their money throughout 2014-15.

3. Arsenal

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Arsenal fans spent another summer frustrated in the transfer window. Although the club won their first trophies in almost a decade with the 2013-14 FA Cup and the 2014 Community Shield, failure to bring in defensive cover could cost them this season.

Oliver Giroud has been ruled out for up to three months through injury, adding to Arsenal’s striker woes. Danny Welbeck’s arrival from Manchester United could help to alleviate the pressure on the squad, but a win and two draws from their opening three fixtures have not left supporters feeling inspired for the season ahead.

The Gunners are 11/1 on for the title, but will likely end up in a battle for fourth place after a good run in the FA Cup again.

2. Liverpool

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Liverpool’s collapse at the end of last season began with a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea at Anfield. Steven Gerrard’s slip which allowed Demba Ba through to score became one of the iconic moments of the campaign, and the Merseyside club will want to make up for that crushing disappointment in 2014-15.

Having sold Luis Suarez to Barcelona for £75 million this summer, Liverpool brought in eight new faces including Mario Balotelli. Currently 10/1 on for the title, the Reds have managed six points from their opening three fixtures, having been defeated by Manchester City in their second game.

While Suarez’s departure does not seem to have done much damage to the squad on paper, in practice it is likely that they will struggle without his prolific scoring record.

The spectre of last season’s failure will loom large over the characters of Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge, and they will struggle to keep any momentum going due to participation in the Champions League.

1. Manchester City

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While Chelsea are 4/5 favourites for the title, City aren’t far behind at 11/4. Despite being beaten home and away by Mourinho’s men last season, their strength in depth saw them over the line. Yaya Toure was their key player, scoring 20 of their 102-goal total.

This summer they have strengthened their defence with the additions of Eliaquim Mangala from Porto and Bacary Sagna from Arsenal, with Fernando also joining from Porto to play alongside Toure in midfield. They have also trimmed their enormously expensive squad by letting five players go permanently while sending Micah Richards and Alvaro Negredo out on loan.

Although a shock 1-0 defeat to Stoke City has left them on six points from a possible nine, City have the strongest squad to compete with Chelsea throughout the season. Their strikeforce looks as strong as ever with Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko leading the line, and if anyone can stop Chelsea from winning a fourth Premier League title, Manchester City have the means to do it.