Stickied Liverpool Not Pre-Season Favourites for Successful Premier League Defence

[TractorBoys]

It took Liverpool 30 years to win another league title and, despite ending three decades of disappointment, bookmakers expect the Anfield outfit to be knocked off their perch.


Winning the Premier League is one thing, but mounting a successful defence of it is another entirely. Manchester City found that out first-hand last season with virtually the same squad, apart from Vincent Kompany, that won the domestic treble in 2018-19.


Unlike Bayern Munich in Germany, Juventus in Italy and (closer to home) Celtic in Scotland, sustained success in the Premier League is more difficult to come by. Red boss Jurgen Klopp has said all the right things since ending the long wait to bring the title back to Merseyside.


Pledging to attack rather than defend the Premier League on one hand, he has also been guarded over whether Liverpool will make big splashes in the transfer market. After all, if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.

Adam Lallana had become a peripheral figure at Anfield as injuries saw his influence wane and opportunities limited as Klopp favoured a more workmanlike engine room. The Kop will hardly notice his departure on a free transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion.


Joining the ex-England midfielder on his way out of Merseyside this summer is Croatia defender Dejan Lovren, who played just 23 Premier League games in his last couple of seasons there. Harsh as it sounds, these are players who won’t be missed.


Standing still is a dangerous game. Man City, learning that lesson the hard way after finishing 18 points adrift of Liverpool, have made signings in the shape of Netherlands defender Nathan Ake, who often partners Reds centre back Virgil van Dijk on international duty, and Valencia’s Spain youth winger Ferran Torres.


Off the back of such transfers, they are 21/20 favourites on the 888sport bet site to regain the Premier League title with Liverpool second best in the market at 37/20. It would be naïve to think purely in terms of a two-horse race either.

Manchester United have shown improved league form in 2020 following the inspired signing of creative Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes in the winter window. They are next best in the outright Premier League betting at 13/2.


FA Cup finalists Chelsea, meanwhile, secured the services of Morocco international Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, and Germany striker Timo Werner from RB Leipzig for next season very early. This has bolstered the attacking options at Stamford Bridge available to Frank Lampard.


While both United and Chelsea have defensive issues surrounding their goalkeepers to sort out, it’s not a stretch to imagine either or both clubs laying down stronger challenges than they mounted this past term going forward. Liverpool may not find it so easy to run roughshod over the Premier League in the 2020-21 campaign.


Cover for Scotland skipper Andy Robertson is needed at left back. The ageing and versatile James Milner has been a fine servant, but turns 35 in the New Year and fewer games lie ahead than behind him. Time will tell if the bookies are right in their assessment of Liverpool; but one thing is certain that punters will be looking to take advantage of free bets uk from the bookies to get a favourable price on Liverpool retaining the title in 20/21.
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[BzzzzBrentfordBee]

It took Liverpool 30 years to win another league title and, despite ending three decades of disappointment, bookmakers expect the Anfield outfit to be knocked off their perch.


Winning the Premier League is one thing, but mounting a successful defence of it is another entirely. Manchester City found that out first-hand last season with virtually the same squad, apart from Vincent Kompany, that won the domestic treble in 2018-19.


Unlike Bayern Munich in Germany, Juventus in Italy and (closer to home) Celtic in Scotland, sustained success in the Premier League is more difficult to come by. Red boss Jurgen Klopp has said all the right things since ending the long wait to bring the title back to Merseyside.


Pledging to attack rather than defend the Premier League on one hand, he has also been guarded over whether Liverpool will make big splashes in the transfer market. After all, if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.


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Adam Lallana had become a peripheral figure at Anfield as injuries saw his influence wane and opportunities limited as Klopp favoured a more workmanlike engine room. The Kop will hardly notice his departure on a free transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion.


Joining the ex-England midfielder on his way out of Merseyside this summer is Croatia defender Dejan Lovren, who played just 23 Premier League games in his last couple of seasons there. Harsh as it sounds, these are players who won’t be missed.


Standing still is a dangerous game. Man City, learning that lesson the hard way after finishing 18 points adrift of Liverpool, have made signings in the shape of Netherlands defender Nathan Ake, who often partners Reds centre back Virgil van Dijk on international duty, and Valencia’s Spain youth winger Ferran Torres.


Off the back of such transfers, they are 21/20 favourites on the 888sport bet site to regain the Premier League title with Liverpool second best in the market at 37/20. It would be naïve to think purely in terms of a two-horse race either.




Manchester United have shown improved league form in 2020 following the inspired signing of creative Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes in the winter window. They are next best in the outright Premier League betting at 13/2.


FA Cup finalists Chelsea, meanwhile, secured the services of Morocco international Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, and Germany striker Timo Werner from RB Leipzig for next season very early. This has bolstered the attacking options at Stamford Bridge available to Frank Lampard.


While both United and Chelsea have defensive issues surrounding their goalkeepers to sort out, it’s not a stretch to imagine either or both clubs laying down stronger challenges than they mounted this past term going forward. Liverpool may not find it so easy to run roughshod over the Premier League in the 2020-21 campaign.


Cover for Scotland skipper Andy Robertson is needed at left back. The ageing and versatile James Milner has been a fine servant, but turns 35 in the New Year and fewer games lie ahead than behind him. Time will tell if the bookies are right in their assessment of Liverpool.
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Man U and Arsenal are title favorites, who is Klopp going to play at the back? Adrian and Alisson are jokes. Man U has Henderson back from loan. Arsenal are definitly challengers. Milner will probably ride the bench, If Matip, Robertson, Van Dijk or TAA gets injured they are screwed.