Who Can Stop Manchester City: The Contenders

The 2018/19 Premier League season is only two weeks away and you would have to imagine that defending champions, Manchester City are pretty confident that they will be able to make it back-to-back titles. The blue side of Manchester ran away with the league title last year, finishing nineteen points clear of its closest rivals and breaking the 100 point mark for the first time in Premier League history. If City does win the league again in 2019 then the club will make even more history. No team has won the Premier League in two straight seasons since Manchester United did so back in 2009.

Who will be the most likely team to stop City from making history, if any? The best place to start is the aforementioned Manchester United, the team that finished second nine seasons ago. In typical Jose Mourinho style, the United boss has already been quick to say that he hasn't been impressed with his own team this season, even downplaying its chances of winning the league. In reality though, United will always be in the title race and Mourinho knows it. Any team with the Portuguese mastermind at the helm is always in with a chance. He has won the Premier League before and he could do it again.

What United fans won't want to hear is that Liverpool is going into the new season as stronger favorites than them for the first time in a while. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has well and truly gone all or nothing when it comes to his summer spending. The German has spent $230 million during this transfer window and if that massive amount of money doesn't transfer onto the pitch, heads will roll. More specifically, Klopp's head will roll. Liverpool bosses and fans will want them to push City all the way this season. Anything less and the outlook is bleak for Klopp.

Two other teams that have undergone a lot of changes this summer are Chelsea and Arsenal. The London clubs have new managers and a lot of player turnover. It makes a lot of sense too. Both sides finished outside the top four last season which is just not okay for clubs of their stature. The question is, will they see instantaneous results or will these be transitional seasons for the former Premier League winners? When United lost its long-term manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, it took them a while to get back into the swing of things. It's highly likely that the same will happen to Arsenal. Chelsea's new boss, Maurizio Sarri will want to make sure he keeps hold of Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, and Willian. Keep that trio and Chelsea may stand a chance of chasing down City.

Last but not least when it comes to potential title contenders, Tottenham Hotspur. The only team featured in this article so far that is yet to win a Premier League title. The boys from White Hart Lane have come so close on a couple of occasions recently too but just can't seem to seal the deal. There's no questioning that Spurs have an extremely strong squad and a terrific manager to lead them, but what are they missing? It feels as if Mauricio Pochettino's team could do with just one more top-class player. They have Harry Kane but it still feels as if there's a vital piece missing. Spurs fans will be hoping that missing piece is Gareth Bale and that one day he will return from Real Madrid. Until then, Spurs might not have what it takes to dominate a season and win a Premier League title.

Outside of the top six, there isn't really anyone that poses any sort of threat to Manchester City this season. That being said, it was only two years ago that Leicester City came out of nowhere to shock the world and win the league. For the most part, that felt like a once in a lifetime thing but on the other hand, you never know. Leicester has given other teams hope, but they will need a lot more than that if they want to topple the superpower that is Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

NEXT: HOW LIVERPOOL CAN BEAT MANCHESTER CITY DURING THE 2018/19 SEASON