LONDON: The English Premier League (EPL) will return, this Sunday after going through the shortest break with fierce competition expected to continue.

Will the Liverpool champions struggle to defend their championship crown without a major change in the team?

Does Manchester City have the best ability to bring them down or is Chelsea spending more?

LIVERPOOL

Defending champion Jurgen Klopp’s squad went through a calm summer with just one addition to the main squad, Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiacos to give extra support to Andy Robertson on the left back.

The transfer may be based on Liverpool’s interest in Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara. However, the transfer is only expected to happen if Georginio Wijnaldum moves to Barcelona.

Therefore, for the new spirit in the Klopp team, players like Takumi Minamino and Naby Keita are among those who should be given attention.

Minamino has spent time adjusting since the transfer in January from Red Bull Salzburg. However, he seems to have made an impact in the pre-season action and scored a goal when he lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield action.

Meanwhile, Keita has performed well in the two years since his transfer from RB Leizpig. If he can stay fit for a long time, he will definitely add an extra dimension to Liverpool’s midfield.

Many young players will continue to improve – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez are only 21 and 23 years old – while the rest also show that they are at a different level.

Robertson and Fabinho, 26, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, 28, while Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk, 29, expect 2020-21 to be another campaign in their peak.

MANCHESTER CITY

A new face is needed at Manchester City, and it is what may or may not have with their summer will be determined by the players who ‘escape’.

Pep Guardiola’s side were the main ‘fans’ to get Lionel Messi before the Barcelona player had to accept that he would not be able to leave the Nou Camp.

The move would be ‘nuclear’ for City, but Guardiola is still making some significant additions to his team.

A sad defensive performance last season for a club seeking to defend the EPL title until the arrival of Nathan Ake worth 40 million pounds from Bournemouth was the key to the rescue.

MANCHESTER UNITED

This is not the summer transfer expected by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after United were knocked out of the Europa League in the semi-finals, but that was not a disaster.

Solskjaer has strengthened the midfield with Donny van de Beek from Ajax and the prospect of a very interesting partnership with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, in addition to the attacking trio of Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

United have improved under Solskjaer, the target of the title challenge may be too early this season. Solskjaer certainly knows his top 11, but does not seem to trust the players outside the starting line-up.

Getting tactics to overcome Klopp and Guardiola is not an easy task, but Solskjaer put United together on an exciting level and ensured they remained on the defensive line.

CHELSEA

Whatever happens at Chelsea this season, it becomes something fun to witness.

Frank Lampard oversaw the most dramatic transfer window of all the top six teams with Roman Abramovich spending his money after an encouraging campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Judge Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva have all arrived at Stamford Bridge and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is expected to follow.

However, after a remarkable layout, Lampard will carry much higher expectations, both inside and outside the club.

Silva’s arrival with a free transfer after leaving PSG was very exciting. He has a good background, but will reach the age of 36 on September 22.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Jose Mourinho’s first full season at White Hart Lane began with an exciting clash with Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti.

He has already made some interesting additions to the Spurs – Matt Doherty of the Wolves is a good player, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg added strength in the midfield.

Mourinho’s men return to Europe after finishing sixth last season but will face a very tight roster at the start of the season.

They need to qualify for the Europa League group stage and must pass two qualifying rounds in September.

ARSENAL

Just like their challenger in North London, Arsenal are still new with Mikel Arteta and are optimistic there will be an increase around the club.

Arteta led Arsenal to success in the FA Cup after joining the club last December. However, the question mark about the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to remain in the long term is still in question.

Arteta is seen as making a smart move – Willian is an EPL player who proved to be good even at the age of 32.

Gabriel Magalhaes, a 27 million pound player from Lille, will help improve his defense and Dani Ceballos will join the club again on loan from Real Madrid is good news for Arteta.