Glen Johnson believes Chelsea are the only team who can challenge current champions Manchester City for the Premier League title this season and also questioned Liverpool’s lack of squad depth.
Chelsea ended last term in fine fashion, as new boss Thomas Tuchel guided the Blues to the Champions League title and helped them to finish fourth in the league.
The Blues have added Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee from Italian giants Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez on a season-long loan to their already impressive squad this summer.
Johnson believes that Chelsea could go all the way this season, and are the only club who can stop City winning the title for the fourth time in five seasons.
‘Any team that wants to try and take on Manchester City will have to improve from last season. However, if anyone can push Manchester City this year, it will be Chelsea,’ he told BonusCodeBets.
‘Thomas Tuchel has done a tremendous job with a fantastic young squad, and they’ve added a world class striker in Romelu Lukaku. Chelsea will be a real threat this season.’
Fellow title contenders Liverpool finished third last season dspite picking up injuries to several key players including Virgil Van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez.
But Johnson thinks his former club needs better backup options if they want to challenge the top sides again.
‘Liverpool don’t have the squad depth to challenge Manchester City and Chelsea this season. However, they’ve got a strong group of 15 or 16 players that can compete for the league, if they’re able to stay fit,’ he said.
‘Liverpool are two or three injuries away from damaging their team severely, whereas Manchester City’s second team could still make the top six. This kind of strength and depth can make all the difference when it comes to the later months in the season and the many fixtures that these players will have to play.
‘Liverpool have the starting 11 and substitutes to challenge for the title, but they’re squad is quite thin otherwise.’
Only Tottenham, who beat City on the opening day of the season, have started the term with three consecutive wins in the league. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Liverpool have two wins and a draw a piece after playing out a 1-1 draw at Anfield last weekend.
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