Under what health conditions will the Premier League resume?
The 2020-2021 British Championship season kicks off this Saturday behind closed doors until at least October.
Premier League general manager Richard Masters told
BBC Sport
this situation “cannot go on forever.
We need to get back to the stadiums with the supporters as quickly as possible.
We need the fans' feedback for all kinds of reasons and that's the number one priority. "
Who are the favorites for the title?
We take the same and start again ?
The Reds, champions of England for the first time in 30 years, now have the ambition to retain their 19th title.
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp will be able to count on almost the same group but will nevertheless have to give new impetus to his team to make the double.
The ManCity of Pep Guardiola, champion in 2018 and 2019, will want to take revenge and recover his crown.
After two years of mano a mano between Liverpool and Manchester City, this season seems more open.
Chelsea, with its XXL recruitment, and Manchester United, who finished strong last season, can play spoilers.
Liverpool's memorable 2019-2020 season
How will clubs deal with an overloaded schedule?
The season promises to be exciting but without respite for the English clubs… Indeed, the Championship begins this Saturday, except for Wolverhampton and the two clubs of Manchester because of their European courses, and ends on May 23.
To this must be added the League Cup, the FA Cup (although the matches to be replayed in the event of a draw have been withdrawn), the Champions League and the Europa League for some, then international matches.
Therefore, the seven European clubs will play three matches per week until January 5, or even more for the semi-finalists of the League Cup!
The twenty elite clubs have also decided not to keep the rule of five changes per game (introduced in mid-June) for this new season.
Which should not help in view of the Euro (June 11-July 11).
Who are the big reinforcements of this transfer window?
With more than 200 million euros spent this summer, Chelsea blew up the counters of the European transfer window this summer with Hakim Ziyech (Ajax Amsterdam, 40 M €), Timo Werner (Leipzig, 53 M €), Benjamin Chilwell (Leicester, € 55m) and Kaï Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen, € 80m).
Not to mention the salary of Thiago Silva, who arrived free from PSG.
Everton also hit hard on the transfer market with the recruitments of James Rodriguez (Real Madrid, € 25m), Allan (Napoli, € 25m) and Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford, € 28m).
Manchester City, failing to have hired Messi, forced and forced to stay at Barça, strengthened its defense with Nathan Aké (Bournemouth, € 45.3 million).
Manchester United, for its part, recorded the arrival of the formidable midfielder Donny Van de Beek (Ajax Amsterdam, € 39m).
What can we expect from Leeds de Bielsa?
Marcelo Bielsa and his Leeds team will indeed be the attraction of this Premier League season.
The winner of the Championship (D2), who finds the elite for the first time since 2004, will have to get up to speed if he does not want to come back down immediately.
To maintain itself, “El Loco” will have to perform a new miracle.
With few starts, the Leeds idol will be able to count on almost the same group.
The former OM technician especially needs new recruits to be up to speed.
The arrivals of striker Rodrigo (Valencia CF, € 30m) and defender Robin Koch (Friborg, € 13m) are encouraging first signs.
To see if the very offensive game advocated by Bielsa will be able to fill the defensive gaps of his team.
Can Arsenal and Tottenham come back to the fore?
In difficulty last season, Arsenal (8th) and Tottenham (6th) will be keen to recover this year to find the Champions League.
As for the Gunners, it will be necessary to see if the internal revolution (dismissal of the Chief Scout, departure of the head of football, the executive director and the president), which gives full powers to coach Mikel Arteta, will have been good.
And if the old recruits (Pépé, Soares, Ceballos) and the new ones (Wilian from Chelsea and Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille) manage to convince.
Arsenal (in the Europa League this year), winner of the FA Cup and the Community Shield in 2020, has kept their captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
What to find the podium?
The task promises to be difficult in the face of strong competition.
Mourinho's Spurs, meanwhile, have not changed much but they still have the workforce to rectify the situation this year after the failure of last season.
It will be interesting to see if the “Special One” manages to raise the bar.
Who are the French players to follow?
The goalkeeper of the Blues and Tottenham Hugo Lloris will want to make up for his mistakes (two blunders that led to "cap goals") during the previous season and find his highest level before the Euro.
Paul Pogba, finally fully recovered from his injury, will want to achieve a full season with Manchester United, who expects a lot from him.
Just like Anthony Martial, often battered by injuries.
The Red Devils need their French in top form to aim for the title.
Former PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, just arrived at the promoted Fulham, on loan, hopes to win in the Premier League.
Digne (Everton) and Laporte (ManCity) will have the ambition to confirm.
After this particular season, N'Golo Kanté and Olivier Giroud will try to get off on the right foot with Chelsea.
Can Ancelotti's leg bring Everton into the big 6?
Arrived at the end of December 2019, Carlo Ancelotti's mission is to put Everton back on the right track and climb into the first part of the standings.
12th in the 2019-2020 season, the Italian technician clearly wants to aim higher and why not the big 6. The former PSG coach permeates his paw both psychologically and tactically and recruits good people: James Rodriguez, Allan, Doucouré… Enough to sign the renewal of Everton and try to play Europe next year.
Movement among coaches?
Well no.
No bad surprise with Marcelo Bielsa, who extended Friday well in Leeds, for a season.
“I will work next season at Leeds United.
Everything has been settled.
It is certain that I will be here next season ”, revealed the Argentine coach Thursday to the media.
Bielsa and his men start their Championship on Saturday against defending champion Liverpool (6.30 p.m.).
No change of coach at other Premier League clubs.
Everyone stays in place.
✍️ #LUFC are pleased to confirm Marcelo Bielsa has signed a new one-year deal with the club
- Leeds United (@LUFC) September 11, 2020
Who will fight for its maintenance?
The race for maintenance promises to be tough.
The promoted (Leeds, Fulham and West Bromwich) will have to adapt quickly if they want to stay in the Premier League.
It will be crucial for them to start as well as possible to give themselves more luck.
Otherwise, West Ham (16th last season), Aston Villa (17th), Brighton (15th) will also certainly fight for their maintenance.
For his second year in the Premier League, Sheffield United (9th) will have to be careful not to slack off because the second season is often more difficult.
Newcastle (13th) and Crystal Palace (14th) will also have to hang on.
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