"Why the battle for the top four will be closer then ever" by Matt Harris

At the start of the 2013-14 campaign, the vast majority of Liverpool supporters would have gladly taken a Champions League slot while few would have expected such a close race to earn our first ever Premiership title. Now, the Reds have to regroup following the loss of Luis Suarez in what could prove to be the closest battle for the top four slots ever.

Unsettling factors?

After the early exchanges of the new season, Liverpool are fourth favourites with Betfair to claim a Champions League slot at the end of 2014-15 but most pundits will point to the loss of a main striking threat and suggest that the Reds will finish outside of the qualifying places.

Suarez may have scored 31 times in 37 league matches last time out but it’s easy to forget that strike partner Daniel Sturridge enjoyed a healthy record of his own. Sturridge’s overall stats since arriving at Anfield in 2013 show 32 strikes in 44 Premier League fixtures and as the lone striker in Rodgers’ current formation, he will enjoy even more opportunities in this campaign.

Naturally the potential signing of Mario Balotelli is a fascinating move but will it make Liverpool a more potent threat or could discipline issues disrupt a settled squad?

Perhaps a bigger and somewhat ironic concern from the supporters’ point of view is the return of Champions League football to Anfield. It was obvious that in 2013-14, the team benefitted by not taking part in European competition so could the extra workload have a detrimental effect?

The certainties

Of the remaining sides to have occupied the top four places last season, all have continued to strengthen in the summer. Manchester City have been relatively subdued in the current market but the acquisition of the versatile Eliaquim Mangala will answer a number of issues at the back.

City may continue to have problems up front however where injury has affected Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo over the summer. The side’s opening win over Newcastle wasn’t exactly comfortable but it’s tough to see the reigning Champions finish outside of the top four.

Chelsea should also cement a top four finish after the arrival of Diego Costa. The West London club had some very well documented striking issues last time but two goals in two matches from Costa suggests that Jose Mourinho’s side should enjoy more success up front in the next few months.

Meanwhile, it’s been a fairly subdued start from Arsenal but if new signing Alexis Sanchez can settle in quickly, the Gunners will be confident of yet another top four finish.

The chasing pack

Manchester United’s poor start to the season suggests that it’s going to be another difficult campaign for Louis Van Gaal’s men but there are two factors that could yet yield an improvement on the pitch. The new manager has around a week left to improve his squad while the return to fitness of Robin Van Persie is another important development.

A fit and settled partnership of Rooney and Van Persie should ensure a far better campaign for the team that finished seventh at the end of last season. 

Elsewhere, the early pace setters are Tottenham with two wins in two and while West Ham and QPR haven’t exactly tested the side, it should be a more positive campaign for Mauricio Pochettino’s men. Everton will also argue that the permanent signing of Romelu Lukaku will advance their own claims. 

Liverpool will be confident of Champions League qualification for the second season in succession but summer dealings suggest that at least seven teams have a genuine chance of taking a top four position at the end of 2014-15.