Fight for English Premier League glory

With top-flight English teams spending close to £1bn on new players, Premier League fans are in for one of the most highly contested seasons yet.

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Johannesburg - With top-flight English teams spending close to £1 billion (R17.4bn) on new players, English Premier League fans are in for one of the most highly contested seasons yet.

After Leicester City’s heroics in the past season, neither fans nor pundits are certain who will claim glory at the end of the season.

On Saturday afternoon millions of football fans across South Africa and the globe will be glued to their TVs watching the 2016-17 English Premier League kick-off.

The Saturday Star caught up with some passionate premier league fans to chat about the season ahead and to get their top four predictions.

Ryan Smit, secretary of the Arsenal supporters club in South Africa

This season is going to be difficult, especially because of the managerial changes at other clubs as well as some big signings made by our competitors. Arsenal is almost always the team pundits suggest will drop out of the top four, and for 20 seasons they have been proved wrong. But we do recognise that our squad are probably a few players short of making us feel confident about winning the title.

I believe we will make the top four again and, depending on a few new signings, no major injuries, and the team playing close to its potential, Arsenal could win the title next year.

Key players: Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez

Top four predictions: Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea

Matthew Kretzmer, chairman of the Chelsea Supporters Club in South Africa

I am optimistic this season about getting back to challenging the top four places and the title, especially with the lack of European football this season. Last year’s 10th place was a disastrous effort when we were reigning champions, with José Mourinho losing the dressing room and his job before Christmas. Antonio Conte looks like a fantastic managerial appointment and we got our man confirmed well before the end of last season. I like a lot what he did at Juventus and am quietly expecting good things.

Key players: N’golo Kante, Willian, Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard

Top four predictions: Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal

Robert Moore, chairman of the Manchester City supporters club in Gauteng

I believe City will challenge for the title this year. But winning the title will depend on how quickly the squad adopt Pep Guardiola’s tactics and style of play.

Chelsea and United will be right up there at the end of the season.

Key players: Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Agaero

Top four predictions: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal

Philip Herbert, chairman of the Leicester City supporters club in Cape Town

I think we will finish top six and that is being optimistic, due to the top teams’ strengthening this season in players and top-quality management, as well as that we will be involved in more games, such as the Champions League.

Key players: Danny Drinkwater, Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Ahmed Musa

Top four predictions: Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool

Zaheer Ali, member of the Manchester United supporters club in South Africa

I think a new age has dawned at Manchester United this season. The era of “the Special One”.

However, when you look around and see the strengthening of Pep Guardiola’s citizens, you would think England could find both Manchester clubs chasing the title.

In my opinion, the two clubs from Manchester would go all the way down to the last game - with Manchester United taking the title with a point.

Key players: Jesse Lingard, David De Gea, Anthony Martial

Top four predictions: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea

Kailin Pillay, chairman of the Liverpool supporters club in Gauteng

The English Premier League has become more competitive, with a number of world-class, quality managers joining the league. Being Liverpool, our minimum requirement should be the return of Champions League football to Anfield, a solid performance in all cup competitions - and anything after that would be a bonus.

Key players: Loris Karius, Emre Can, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Marko Grujic and Daniel Sturridge

Top four predictions: No particular order: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United

Brandon Morris, chairman of the Tottenham Hotspurs’ supporters club in Cape Town

I am optimistic about the new season. I am sure it is the goal of Tottenham to cement our place in the top four and definitely to challenge for the title. Coach Mauricio Pochettino has put together a very competitive squad since he joined the club in 2014.

Key players: Whoever wears the crest of our club been trusted with different roles to execute.

Top four predictions: Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool

sameer.naik@inl.co.za

Saturday Star