by Matt Morgan-Rawes

Created on: August 02, 2008

The chances are that if you're reading this article, you will fall in to one of three categories:

1. English Soccer fans who support one of the top four and are taking a half-interested but also half amused look at the so-called "competition" beneath them.

2. English Soccer fans who do not support one of the top four and are rubbing their hands with glee at the thought that maybe, just maybe, there is a team destined to break into English football's highest echelon and begin a miniature footballing revolution in which any given team are not guaranteed to finish where they would normally be expected to.

3. People who have only have minimal knowledge of English soccer and have accidentally stumbled upon this article looking slightly confused and disorientated.

Going on the assumption that there actually will be people who do fall into the latter category, the four teams that comprise the top four are:

Manchester United
Arsenal
Chelsea
Liverpool

These teams are deservedly referred to as English Football's elite. Only four teams have ever won the Premiership since the creation of the leage in 1992 and three of those teams have all become established members of the meta-league that is the top four. (The only team who have also won the Premiership are Blackburn Rovers in the 94/95 season). Manchester United have racked up the most league title victories, winning the league an astonishing ten times. Arsenal have won the league three times and Chelsea have won twice. Liverpool, however, have never won a Premiership title and in fact the last time that they won a top league title was in the 89/90 season.

In order for a team to break in to the top four, one of the current top four must obviously give way. Manchester United are almost guaranteed their place at the top of the heap; keeping Christiano Ronaldo (so far) in one of club football's most unsavoury transfer sagas will be one of Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest off-field victories come their opening fixture against Bolton. Chelsea and Liverpool have both strengthened their respective squads with high-profile signings - Liverpool can now boast a strike force of Fernando Torres and established Robbie Keane, whilst Chelsea have held on to inspirational Frank Lampard and have brought in the ever classy Deco.

It is Arsenal who I imagine being the team that might give way this season. High profile players such as Alexander Hleb have abandoned the club and Wenger's squad has experienced a miniature exodus, although the commitment of

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>