[Jthunder]

Which clubs will challenge Manchester United and Chelsea next year?

[United Pumps]

Sunderland.

Them or none.

[GriffinGunner]

Um, I think all 18 of the other clubs will challenge them. Unless Derby or a couple others decide to just tank, that is.

If you're meaning who will contest for the title, Start with the next 3-4 below them this past season and go from there. Come back when the transfer/off season is done and we'll have an even better idea.

What will be telling is how the middling clubs do at closing the on-field gap between them and the bigger clubs. For example, I can think of a few narrow escapes for Chelsea this past year that might have meant the difference between 2nd and 3rd place. If clubs like Villa, Newcastle and West Ham make some strides then it will be tougher to win the league, and then it'll all be up for grabs.

[Hazzathewazza]

I think Liverpool are the most likely to challange with the new investment.
But as the previous poster has said, you need to wait to see who these teams buy.

[Harry Boulton]

I think Liverpool are the most likely to challange with the new investment

Nah, we hear that every year, but they are well short of challenging for the title I think. They need some strikers (two of them) at least 2 wide players as Garcia, Kewell, Gonzalez etc are not up to scratch and maybe another defender too. Unless they sign some great players in those positions, then I believe they will not be challenging for the title next year....

[Luke Bradley J.]

Spurs have got the potential (don't laugh) they just need to find some consistency.

[Ian Daglers]

Originally Posted by Luke Bradley J.

Spurs have got the potential (don't laugh) they just need to find some consistency.

I think Pompey have more potential at the moment. Spurs are a great attacking team, but they're truly awful at defending (maybe even consistently awful? ). They kept a grand total of 6 clean sheets this season, fewer than anyone else in the league, which seems to me to be the sign of players who just aren't up to the task. I suppose a healthy Ledley King would help some. To catch up with the top two, though, you're talking about catching clubs who not only attack better than Spurs (although maybe Spurs have the potential to compete on that front), but defend at a level that's out of the reach of the players they currently have.

[anewsoccerfan]

Fulham and the Americans.

[Derrida]

Each other.

[MNAFETSC]

I think the majority of the premiership need to worry about challenging for 4th before they can think about 1st.