Arsenal FC legend Martin Keown has predicted that Chelsea FC will retain their Premier League title and earmarked new Liverpool FC forward Christian Benteke as the most exciting signing of the summer.
In his Daily Mail column, Keown shared his views on the new season. Predicting Chelsea FC to retain the title and picking out Liverpool FC signing Benteke as the most exciting one. Keown also went on to warn Manchester City and Manuel Pellegrini that they have to avoid a repeat of the slow start they made last season, if they are to win the league.
Chelsea FC for the title, Benteke the most exciting signing
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Keown picked out Chelsea FC as his bet for the title, while picking out Real Madrid as his bet for the Champions League title.
However, when asked which signing excited him the most, Keown stated that it was the 32.5m GBP man Christian Benteke.
Keown wrote in his column:
Liverpool have always had a big-name striker: Toshack, Keegan, Dalglish, Fowler, Owen, Torres and Suarez. They have been the focal point of the team and Benteke can become that. He bullies defenders, a bit like Diego Costa.
And for brute strength, spring and power, hea s out on his own. He scored 12 goals in the last three months of the season to keep Villa up.
Sturridge and Benteke could be a great combination
There were worries among the Liverpool FC fan base that Benteke will not fit into the side, given his style of play is more suited to balls being crossed from the flanks. However, Keown reckons that the Belgian will nicely fit in alongside Daniel Sturridge.
Keown wrote:
It could be a great combination. Andy Carroll and Christian Benteke are two of the best headers of the ball in the Premier League in the last five years but Carroll didna t fit Brendan Rodgersa style of play.
So, either this is Rodgers admitting hea ll change his style or he believes Benteke has a better all-round game. You need to be direct with Benteke but he will have to fit into Liverpoola s pressing game.
I wonder if they are losing patience with Sturridge and his fitness battle. They cana t rely on him being available enough of the time. But if he is, they could be lethal together.
Van Gaal must show he is worth his hype
Following a fourth place finish last season and a huge spending spree earlier in the summer, Keown believes it’s time for Louis van Gaal to start showing he’s worth all the hype at Old Trafford.
He wrote:
Hea s quite an arrogant man. Hea s spent a lot of money, failed to get the best out of Angel di Maria and Falcao and his judgment is now questionable. Will this yeara s signings fare any better?
Also in need of a good start are Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Martinez and Slaven Bilic. If Bilic gets off to a bad start, West Ham fans might be calling for Big Sam back!
Keown predicted his former side Arsenal FC to finish second in the table, with Liverpool FC missing out on the top four to Manchester United.
Keown also backed Raheem Sterling to succeed at Manchester City.
Chelsea FC, despite not having any significant signing in the summer, remain the team to beat given that they have a fantastic manager in Jose Mourinho and a settled squad which has a lot of quality and won the Premier League by a massive margin last season.
The opinion that Benteke would succeed at Liverpool FC is debatable as it will involve the player adjusting to the style of play. If he does that, and there is no reason he cannot, given that he is no muck with the ball, Benteke will compliment Sturridge nicely.
Also Read: Liverpool Have Unearthed A Real Gem In Christian Benteke