EPL: Predators circle Manchester City

With Manchester United resurgent and big-name signings at Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, Manchester City will face a battle to hold onto their Premier League crown in the 2014-15 season. Liverpool's late-season collapse enabled City to power to the title in May, but the campaign that gets under way on Saturday will look very different to the one that preceded it. Luis Suarez, last season's outstanding player, has left Liverpool for Barcelona after creating yet another biting storm by sinking his teeth into the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. After a wretched 2013-14, United have a new manager at the helm in the straight-talking Louis van Gaal, who quickly won over the club's fans during a successful pre-season tour of the United States. Didier Drogba is back at Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas is back in the Premier League, at Chelsea rather than his former club Arsenal whom he left for Barcelona. Frank Lampard, who left Chelsea last season, is now a Manchester City player. Arsenal, meanwhile, will start the season with three World Cup-winners in their ranks and having pulled off another transfer coup with a $US30 million ($A32.46 million) swoop for Chile forward Alexis Sanchez. Frank Lampard, who left Chelsea last season, is now a Manchester City player. Frank Lampard, who left Chelsea last season, is now a Manchester City player. Photo: AFP "It will be interesting to watch, the Premier League, because it looks like the big teams will all be very strong," predicted Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side outclassed City 3-0 in Sunday's Community Shield. City have signed six new players, but it was not until Monday, when the $US32 million ($A34.62 million) capture of French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala from Porto was finally confirmed, that they truly flexed their muscles. With key players such as Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero short of fitness after taking time off after the World Cup, Manuel Pellegrini's side are unlikely to be firing on all cylinders for some time. "Five or six teams have the chance to win, but we have a stronger squad than last year," said Pellegrini. "We hope we can repeat it, but we have to demonstrate that on the pitch." Chelsea seem likely to provide the strongest threat to City, with manager Jose Mourinho having bolstered his side in every department. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returns from his long-term loan at Atletico Madrid to challenge Petr Cech for the No.1 jersey, while Filipe Luis, Fabregas, Diego Costa and Drogba all add quality and experience. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/english-premier-league-predators-circle-manchester-city-20140812-1031fg.html#ixzz3ABu7ICLT