 | | | Football’s greatest prizeCan Manchester United top the football table again and beat the likes of Liverpool FC and their arch rivals Manchester City? Or perhaps this year it could be one of the underdogs like Portsmouth FC or Stoke City? Unlikely, yes, but with the English Premier League you just never know!
Manchester United have undoubtedly been the most successful football club since the Premier League was created in 1992. They were League champions last season and completed the Premiere League and Champions League double in the 2007-08 season. This, of course, will ensure that they are chomping at the bit to get to the top this year, bolstered even more so by the fact that they and are currently just behind Chelsea on the League table. Yet it must not be forgotten that it is only the beginning of the season and there are some other strong contenders that could take the Cup this year.
One of these is, of course, Manchester’s arch rivals Liverpool FC, whose record for the most League titles was equalled by Manchester United in the 2008-09 season. Amazingly, Liverpool FC has only been out of the Premier League for 11 seasons since they entered the football league in 1892. Currently sitting at 5th on the League table, there is a long way to go and they are eager to continue with their top form of last season and go ever further. Who knows, perhaps now that Manchester United doesn’t have Ronaldo, Liverpool FC will be able to do just that!
If there is one other team that hates Manchester United more than Liverpool FC, it is Manchester City, and they are actually sitting above Liverpool FC on the League table at this early stage of the season. Manchester City FC have had a turbulent past and have often lived in the shadow of their arch rivals, though in the 2009-10 season they are showing some impressive form and may actually be able to give Manchester United, and many other teams in the Premier League a real run for their money. Having finished in the middle of the table at the end of last season their ever loyal fans certainly think that they can!
One team that may not yet be able to match up to the likes of Liverpool FC and Manchester United, but who nevertheless are proving that they have got a bit of spring in their step is Stoke City FC, who are currently sitting in the top half of the table. In 2008 they were promoted to the Premier League for the first time since 1984 under current manager Tony Pulis and are hoping to rise to great heights in the 2009-10 season. Reportedly Stoke City’s greatest achievement to date is surviving their first season in the top league, so they are hoping this season to do much more than just survive!
Though they are currently sitting at the bottom of the League table, Portsmouth FC have enjoyed being part of the Premier League since 2003 after winning Division One the previous season providing them the promotion they definitely deserved. They are now eager to impress in 2009-10 and despite the fact that the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool FC are a little out of their reach at the moment, it is still early days. Portsmouth FC will be mindful of the fact that they faced a real relegation threat at the close of the 2005-06 season and will be eager this season to ensure there is no repeat of this.
Manchester United have got a lot to play for this season, coming off the back of last seasons efforts, but can one of the other 19 teams pry the Cup from their grasp? | | | |
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