Premier League news: Gary Taphouse on Chelsea ‘gamble’ and new boys Ipswich Town

Sky Sports commentator Gary Taphouse says Chelsea have taken ‘a bit of a gamble’ in appointing Enzo Maresca - and thinks Ipswich will ‘surprise’ some Premier League fans.

Taphouse was the guest on the third Sports News Blitz podcast, which is available on Spotify and Youtube, following in the footsteps of BBC Sport duo John Murray and Charlie Slater.

And he discussed the possibility of Chelsea and Liverpool, who also have a new manager at the helm in Arne Slot, challenging Arsenal and defending champions Manchester City for the 2024/25 Premier League title.

On Liverpool and Chelsea’s title target, he said: “Well, they'll start with that thought and that ambition. Whether or not they're likely to actually challenge is another matter.

“Obviously, Chelsea have made another big change - and I'm sure they've got more business to do as well.

“I think Enzo Maresca is obviously a bit of a gamble, having watched a lot of Leicester City last season because I cover the EFL a lot for Sky.

“If you talk to a lot of Leicester fans, they got quite frustrated towards the sort of second half of last season and particularly towards the end because I think they felt that teams worked them out a little bit - and there wasn't really a plan B.

“Obviously he got the job done, and got Leicester promoted. That was the aim.

“So it's going to be interesting to see how he approaches that Chelsea job, what system he favours, and how flexible he is.

“If he gets that right, then you look at the Chelsea squad and there's not a reason why they shouldn't be challenging.

“But of course they were so far behind last season. It's very difficult to make a case for them being anything other than, you know, challenging for the top four. That'll probably be their aim.”

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Former Feyenoord manager Slot has been chosen as the man to replace charismatic German Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield hot-seat, and Taphouse added: “Liverpool again are a totally unknown quantity with a new manager.

“He's coming with a great reputation for playing brilliant football, which is what Liverpool want, but challenging for the title in your first season? That's a big ask, isn't it?

“So the likelihood is it is likely to be between those same two [Arsenal and Man City] at the moment, but obviously a lot can change in the market.”

Chelsea play hosts to Pep Guardiola’s champions on the opening weekend of the new season, while Premier League new boys Ipswich Town welcome Slot’s Reds to Portman Road in a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday, August 17.

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Town boss Kieran McKenna attracted interest from Manchester United before committing his future to the Tractor Boys, signing a new four-year contract.

And Taphouse feels they will be a good addition to England’s top tier, with McKenna preferring a front-foot attacking style of play.

He said: “I saw a lot of Ipswich last season - and I was very grateful for that because there weren't many boring Ipswich Town games.

“I do have a couple of Ipswich games towards the start of the season actually. They're going to Brighton away and Southampton away and as I'm based on the south coast, I'm doing both of those games.

“I'm really looking forward to it and think they've been quite ambitious. I mean they haven't been shy of adding to what I think is a pretty good squad, but I think it's a better squad than Luton had when they came up.

“The way they played last season was absolutely brilliant. And if I look at the top five games that I covered last season, there certainly would be a couple of Ipswich games in there.

“So I've got really high hopes for them actually. I think they've got a brilliant manager, fantastic coach, he really is and the players love him. They really buy into what he's trying to do.

“But the question is, will they get enough positive results to get over the line?

“I have just got a feeling that Ipswich will, because I think they're going to score goals.

“I like the business they've done so far and I think there will be more. It's remarkable that a lot of the team is the same as it was in League One.

“I've got really high hopes for them and I'm really going to enjoy watching them.

“I think people will be pleasantly surprised by how they play - and the atmosphere at Portman Road is really old school.

“They are on the front foot. They're not going to go out and just try and defend. That's not in Kieran McKenna's nature.

“I think they won't keep many clean sheets, but they'll still get plenty of wins.”

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