Traditionally a 4 team race, last season’s disappointing showing out of Liverpool FC has teams that are traditionally relegated to the middle of the Premier League pack thinking it could be their time to break through English football’s glass ceiling. Liverpool’s misfortune was of course Tottenham’s gain as the club exceeded expectations with a 4^th place finish. Just two weeks away from the open of Premier League pre-season play, here is a look at what one might expect in the upcoming season.

1. Chelsea (09/10 record: 27-6-5) It’s hard to knock the defending Premier League champions, especially considering they scored a record 103 goals on their way to the title. Boasting a goal differential of 71, 13 goals ahead of the League’s next closest mark, Chelsea showed offensive firepower unmatched in English soccer. Even with key losses in Ballack, Belletti and Cole, the Blues were even more dominant than the final standings would indicate and should look to hold on to their top position. (more…)

The most successful name in the history of English football (with only Manchester United presenting even the semblance of a legitimate protest), the Liverpool Football Club has fallen upon hard times over the past season, both on and off the field. Liverpool’s play failed to qualify for the Champions League, a rarity for the club, while manager Rafa Benitez left the club after six seasons at the helm. Just a season after Benitez signed a new 5 year contract to stay with Liverpool, citing his love for the club, city and fans in the process, the relationship soured as Liverpool limped towards a 7^th place finish. At year’s end, it was mutually agreed upon that the contract would be terminated and the team and long time coach would part ways. Benitez quickly caught on with InterMilan who, ironically, will be defending their Champions League title, where Liverpool will be stuck on the outside looking in. (more…)

Perhaps if the Barclays Premiere League took after your football camps, they would offer a most improved trophy to boost the spirits of clubs who gave outstanding performances that exceeded expectations over the course of the year. Were this the trophy to exist, Fulham FC would most certainly be a deserving candidate for back to back awards, unless of course, having a two-time winner would seem too counterintuitive to the spirit of a “most improved” award. While the club itself will receive no trophy for their efforts, manager Roy Hodgson is walking away with a prize of his own, the high paying highly esteemed position as Liverpool’s new manager.Prior to Hodgson’s arrival, Fulham floundered to consecutive 16^th and 17^th place finishes in the Premier League standings, eligible only for League Cup play and excluded from the higher prestige tournaments better finishing squads would enjoy. (more…)