As the 2017-18 EPL season kicks off today, we look at the top contenders for the prestigious title
Chelsea celebrate with the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge in May this year. Pic/Getty Images
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Alvaro Morata
Chelsea
The defending champions are one of the favourites to lift the Premiership crown, and manager Antonio Conte's impressive first season show — Chelsea won by a huge margin of seven points — would have boosted his confidence too. Unlike last season, Chelsea will also have a Champions League run this season and new names like Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger, Ethan Ampadu and Willy Caballero will hold the key to the team's success. However, Nemanja Matic moving to Man United may hurt them too.
Players to watch: Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Ngolo Kante, Alvaro Morata
Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal
If there's any manager who needs results this EPL season, it's Arsene Wenger. Last season was all about whether he would stay or leave given the Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time under him. Alexis Sanchez's uncertainty will be a cause for concern too.Record signing, Chilean striker Alexandre Lacazette could turn things around.
Players to watch: Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck
Romelu Lukaku
Manchester United
United finished a poor sixth last season but manager Jose Mourinho's 100 million-plus buys — Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic — make them strong title contenders. Lukaku has already scored four times for the Red Devils and has proved to be the perfect replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Players to watch: Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba
Harry Kane
Tottenham Hotspur
One of the most dynamic and consistent teams in the EPL, Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham haven't changed much in the transfer window. In fact, they let go of Kyle Walker for 50 million pounds. Spurs let in just 26 goals last season thanks to super 'keeper Hugo Lloris. Up front, star striker Harry Kane carries most of the workload once again as does young sensation Dele Alli who scored 18 times last season.
Players to watch: Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Christian Eriksen
Sergio Aguero
Manchester City
They are Chelsea's biggest rivals this season, and with Pep Guardiola's first season in charge not going according to plan — they finished 15 points off the Blues — the former Barcelona boss will be eager to fight back. City conceded 39 goals last season and it's for that reason that Guardiola has spent a whopping 200 million pounds to bring in solid players like Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Danilo and Douglas Luiz.
Players to watch: Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernando Silva
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