The 2020/21 Premier League campaign gets underway on September 12 and it promises to be an exciting nine months of domestic action as Liverpool look to defend their crown.
Nobody could have envisaged the events that happened during the 2019/20 season, with the coronavirus outbreak threatening to void the English campaign at one stage before Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions for the first time.
There has been little time for rest with the final game of last season taking place on July 26 and it will be interesting to see how the players cope with fitness levels as the weeks go by, especially with international fixtures thrown into the mix.
After landing the title by a mammoth 18 points, Liverpool are expected to be put under greater pressure by Manchester City, who will be itching to gain revenge, while Manchester United and Chelsea could also close the gap.
There was huge relief around Anfield when the Reds were crowned champions, ending the long wait for a first PL title, but now the real questions will be asked of the Merseysiders and they can’t afford to stay still.
It is crucial that a manager keeps adding to his squad, providing more competition for places, but Jurgen Klopp has only brought in left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas and there is a sense more additions are required.
Liverpool are expected to put in a staunch defence, but there is just the feeling they may fall short, especially with the fact City will have the bit between their teeth to hit back.
Having lost their crown, Pep Guardiola has brought in centre-back Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40million, an area that desperately needed strengthening, while Ferran Torres has arrived from Valencia to provide more in the attacking third.
City may not have Lionel Messi arriving at the Etihad Stadium – what an incredible story that would have been – but they look strong favourites
Both Manchester United and Chelsea managed to finish in the top four last season and there is a sense both clubs are building squads that are at least capable of closing the gap to the top two.
The Blues have been busy in the transfer market, adding the attacking trio Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, while Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell have been brought in to strengthen defence