2010-2011 Premier League Season (EPL): Preview & Predictions

The 2010-2011 Premier League season opens August 14 with a flurry of opening matches. The upcoming season is expected to be an interesting one, as the Big Three (Manchester United, Chelsea, & Arsenal) are likely to face a stiff challenge from the likes of Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Manchester City. The intensified competition is likely to further affirm the Premier League as the best football league in the world. In this article, I will preview the 2010-2011 Premier League Season (EPL) and offer predictions.

Manchester United, the Premier League's top club, enters the domestic season hoping to improve upon last year's mediocre season. Not only the 11-time champion lost the league title to bitter rival Chelsea, United also failed to be competitive in both the FA Cup and Champions League. The only title the team was able to secure is the Carling Cup, beating Aston Villa in the final. Fortunately, United appears on track for better results this season. The team is enjoying a fine pre-season, cumulated by a 5-2 beating of the MLS All-Stars in the States.

Although Manchester United did not make any major moves in the off-season, the team did manage to add some key additions to its roster. The most notable addition has been the young Mexican star, Javier Hernandez. The Mexican footballer was one of the stars of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, scoring two spectacular goals and playing a key role in Mexico's advancement past the group stage. The 22-year old player is known for his quickness and natural instinct for goal scoring. Hernandez is a good complement to Wayne Rooney, and is groomed by the club to be his natural successor.

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Defending Premier League champion Chelsea opens the 2010-2011 EPL season under a lot of question marks. The team's chances of repeating last year's feat are being derailed by major injuries to its key players and by poor form. The team's goalie Petr Cech, the recipient of last season's Gold Glove award, will miss at least the start of the season due a tearing of the calf muscle. This is a big blow to Chelsea's title defense, considering the key role Cech played last season in securing the title for the team.

Chelsea's captain John Terry is another huge question mark for the Blues. Terry did not have a particular strong season last year, and his form seems to have taken a hit following the revelation that he had an affair with the wife of a fellow English player. The scandal had plagued him throughout his World Cup campaign, resulting in the removal of his national team's captaincy. Unless Terry can leave the private mess behind him and focus on football, Chelsea (despite its highly talented roster) will have a hard time defending its league title.

Among the Big Three, Arsenal appears to be in the best position to win the Premier League title. Unlike last season, the team's top players are all in good physical shape. Van Persie's ankle injury has largely been healed, and his fitness is much better now than last season. The other players are also relatively fit, though the real test will come when the first game whistle is blown. The key player to watch this season will be Andrei Arshavin. The Russian playmaker was fantastic in his first year at Arsenal. With a full year of English football under his belt, Arshavin is set for perhaps his best season yet.

Other contenders for the league title include Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham. Liverpool will look to bounce back from a disappointing season that saw the Reds finished 7th in the standing, missing out on a chance to play in the Champions League. The 2010-2010 EPL season will be the team's first full season under manager Roy Hodgson. Manchester City and Tottenham will look to improve upon last year's fine league campaigns. Both teams have added several key players to their rosters in the off-season. They are hoping that this will be the year when the league winner is not one of the Big Three.

My predictions for the 2010-2011 EPL Season: Arsenal edges Manchester United for the title; Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool round out the top 5.