The 28th season of the English Premier League 2019-2020 has started from 9th Aug 2019. The top seventeen teams of the previous season along with the three newly promoted teams- Norwich city, Sheffield United and Aston Villa, which replace Cardiff City, Fulham and Huddersfield Town, will compete in the league. The summers were filled with exciting transfers as the teams were busy making new additions and replacements and confirmed their squads. Keeping in mind the team’s performance in the last season the following predictions are made:
- Leicester City lurking near the ‘top six’
Quite an impressive squad is gathered by Leicester City this season. Youri Tielemans, Belgium’s midfielder along with Ayoze Perez from Newcastle United have been introduced into the team. Tielemans has been signed in for a club record fee of £40 million. Under Brendan Rodgers, Leicester City appears to be a balanced and bumper squad judging by quality players like James Maddison, Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel and Ben Chilwell, skilled enough to finish at least in the seventh position if not within the top six.
Last season, scoring first in only 13 of 38 games and leading in only 7 out of 38 games at halftime cost Leicester points. However, the Foxes’ remarkable performance in preseason has boosted expectations even more. They won five out of six games including an extraordinary victory over series A side Atalanta.
The only sore note seems to be Harry Maguire’s departure, but that shouldn’t affect the balance of the team much given the otherwise spotless record of the squad.
- Elimination knocking at the door of one of the promoted teams
It seems highly unlikely that all of the three promoted teams, Aston Villa, Norwich City and Sheffield United will manage to hold on to the ranking. The probability is really less as in only three out of twenty-seven seasons in the history of premier league, all the promoted teams have managed to steer clear of eliminations.
Burnley seems resolute to stay in the league beyond the season. The irrational expenditure of £133.74 million that they have made in acquiring new players makes that clear. Last season Burnley dropped from 7th to 15th and they are intent to make an improvement.
Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon have left Newcastle United rendering the clubs attacking quality weak. Much expectations are pinned on 22 year old Joelinton who is yet to be tested.
- Harry Kane as the leading goal scorer
This season, Harry Kane’s most important purpose seems to be winning the Golden Boot. Although he missed it in the 2017/18 season, he had won it twice before. Last season, he missed 17 games altogether which brought down his goal scoring returns to 17. From 2015 to 2018, he scored a minimum of 25 goals each season and could have managed to hold his records if it wasn’t for the injuries he incurred in the last season.
- Struggles ahead for Liverpool
This season, the conditions do not seem much favourable for Liverpool. In 2018/19 Liverpool allowed only 10 first half goals scoring 97 points. But its nearly impossible to mirror the performance second time in a row which puts them under immense pressure. Also, Salah, Mane, Roberto Firmino, Alisson Becker played a lot of matches during the summer and fatigue might become a serious concern for the team.
- Third time in a row for Manchester City
Even though the team’s performance is not up to the mark and this season they may not even finish more than 95 points, compared to the other teams they are in better position to win the title again. Last season, Manchester City scored the first goal 34 times out of 38 and this phenomenal team seems to have developed a way of winning the league.
It remains to be seen whether Manchester City can dominate the Premier League this time around with Liverpool waiting in the wings. Also, Manchester United will be looking to get back to winning ways and so will Tottenham. Arsenal is another unsung contender while Chelsea will be grappling with their transfer ban. Here’s to some good football!