Ahead of the 2015/16 Premier League season, this is the first part of a comprehensive preview of Chelsea’s Premier League rivals, and their goals for the season ahead.
The Blues won their fourth Premier League title with three games to spare last season, their first since 2010, and the third under Jose Mourinho’s leadership.
But after yet another summer of intense transfer business, along with three new teams, we round up the key info and goals of all of the E-M clubs that Chelsea will face in the next campaign:
Everton
Manager: Roberto Martinez – Ground: Goodison Park (221miles to Stamford Bridge) – Position last season: 11th (47 points) – SQUAD RATING: 7
PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL: TOP 10
DOMESTIC CUPS GOAL: QUARTER FINALS
Everton had a somewhat subdued season last year, failing to match their achievements in the 2013-14 season. But, the signing of Gerard Deulofeu, who helped them achieve Europ League football two seasons ago, and the club managing to keep hold of stars such as Romelu Lukaku and Leighton Baines (and, for now at least, John Stones), means they should be able to easily achieve a top 10 finish in the new campaign. With the strength of their squad in mind, a decent cup run is a realistic aim.
Leicester City
Manager: Claudio Ranieri – Ground: King Power Stadium (105 miles to Stamford Bridge) – Position last season: 14th (41 points) – SQUAD RATING: 6
PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL: MID-TABLE
DOMESTIC CUPS GOAL: GET THROUGH THE FIRST FEW ROUNDS
Last Christmas, most people wouldn’t have expected Leicester to be in reviews such as this – but thanks to a near-miraculous run of form the Foxes survived in the top flight for at least another season. But, now Nigel Pearson has gone, it’s hard to predict if former Chelsea boss Ranieri will hit the ground running. His new squad has decent strength, with a couple of noticeable signings, and no ostriches whatsoever. The club will be looking to improve upon last year’s somewhat misleading 14th-placed finish, and with this in mind a cup run may be thrown out of the window as many in a Leicester shirt will be hoping for a smoother season.
LIverpool
Manager: Brendan Rodgers – Ground: Anfield (221 miles to Stamford Bridge) – Position last season: 6th (62 points) – SQUAD RATING: 8
PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL: QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
DOMESTIC CUP GOAL: WIN THE CUP
It was a very, very poor showing from Liverpool last term. The absences of both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge could be seen from the very start, and no European football coming to Anfield this season compounds how miserable the last campaign was for Rodgers’ men. However, with Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling gone, it’s all change on the red half of Merseyside. Some eye-catching signings, such as Christian Benteke, James Milner and Roberto Firminho, will surely help the Reds resurrect themselves, but they aren’t strong enough as a team to lift the title just yet. But, the strength of the squad means that a Champions League place is surely on the horizon, and after falling at the penultimate hurdle last year, cup success must be both high and the agenda and a realistic goal.
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini – Ground: Etihad Stadium (210 miles from Stamford Bridge) – Position last season: 2nd (79 points) – SQUAD RATING: 9
PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL: WIN THE TITLE
DOMESTIC CUP GOALS: WIN THE CUP
EUROPEAN GOALS: SEMI-FINALS
No prizes for guessing this – City want their title back. Despite managing to keep almost neck and neck with Chelsea up until around Christmas, they fell away and lacked the consistency that Champions need. However, that desire to win may give them that extra push this season, with there being no doubts about how much quality that team possesses. Cup success certainly at home and preferably abroad as well are also objectives Pellegrini must fulfil – if he doesn’t, his time at the Etihad will surely come to and end.
Manchester United
Manager: Louis van Gaal – Ground: Old Trafford (208 miles from Stamford Bridge) – Position last season: 4th (70 points) – SQUAD RATING: 9
PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL: WIN THE TITLE
DOMESTIC CUP GOALS: WIN THE CUP
EUROPEAN AIMS: REACH THE FINAL
Any side with Bastian Schweinsteiger in their team must mean business – as well as Memphis Depay and all the other world-class names that United have on their books. Van Gaal didn’t take the league by storm last season, but after the disastrous season of David Moyes, anything would have been better. Now though, trophies are in van Gaal’s sights, and his dealings in the transfer window so far are proof of this. However, they will need to make a much better start than what they did last season (a 5-3 defeat to Leicester springs to mind), and then they may be serious title contenders.