After a long summer of fixtures throughout England, we finally are set to begin the next Premier League season on September 11, 2020. This year sees the return of the historic and legendary Leeds United to the top division of England for the first time since 2005, thanks to the work of world-class manager Marcelo Bielsa in the Championship League. Liverpool hope to protect their place at the top of English football after finally winning the Barclay’s Premier League trophy after 30 years.
The stakes are set for an amazing year of football with teams like Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham, and Everton, looking to leave the unsuccessful spells of previous managers behind them and hope to return to where they belong. Without further ado, my prediction for the final standings of the Barclay’s 2020/21 Premier League Season:
TOP 6
1. Livepool (+225 to finish 1st)
I deem Liverpool more than able to retain the Premier League title after breaking their own points record, which they achieved the year prior with 99 points in 2019/20. Sure to acquire Thiago sometime in September, Liverpool will fill the gaping hole left in the creative part of midfield when Coutinho opted for Barcelona in January 2018. The attacking aspect of Liverpool’s midfield surely being their only weakness, Thiago Alcantara solves the equation as the veteran center-midfielder is tested and proven in treble-winning sides of Barcelona’s past and this year’s Bayern Munich. Even Wayne Rooney claimed that the transfer of Thiago to Liverpool is a better signing than Messi to Manchester City!
Most teams last season have tried to diminish the ever-present threat of the TAA-Robby crossing symphony and fix their tactics accordingly, but to no avail. Now, add Thiago to open up defenses through the middle, and teams will be picking the ball from the back of the net before they readjust their in-game tactics.
The only minutiae that can prevent Liverpool from lifting the title is a possible unfortunate injury to their famous front three with the backup options of Origi, Brewster, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Minamino not yet showing the faithful Kop that they are able of keeping the intensity and creativity that Mane, Salah, and Bobby possess.
2. Manchester City (-120 to finish 1st)
Man City is currently in talks to sign Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of all time, and Kalidou Koulibaly, the Senegalese centre-half powerhouse; two players that will absolutely rejuvenate the team that lost its flow and dynamism due to injuries to their centre halves and backup winger Leroy Sane. With a potential pairing of Koulibaly and Laporte at the back, it’ll be hard to argue what offense can break through City’s defense more times than Messi lands the ball in the back of the net to get a victory. If Guardiola can reduce the woes of an unsuccessful 2019/20 campaign and leave the hurt of the upset to Lyon in Lisbon, Manchester City will most definitely be a candidate to lift the Premier League trophy.
3. Chelsea (+1000 to finish 1st)
The most active team in the transfer market this summer, Chelsea has pulled off the nearly unimaginable. Any Chelsea fan could agree that what held Lampard back last season was a reliable and experienced back line, a proven goal scorer, and game changing wingers. With the signings of Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, they’ve not only filled these gaps respectively, but bolstered them significantly.
Conceding a whopping 54 goals last season, more than any other team in the upper half of the table, Chelsea had to rely on outscoring their opponents to secure points. However, the signing of the established and world-class centre-half, Thiago Silva, there’s no doubt Chelsea’s back-line will look a lot sharper and solid this year.
Although an inexperienced manager, Frank Lampard has been slowly improving his side’s implementation of a high line and heavy pressure game by game and even when they dropped points, they could return to the training ground knowing they dominated regardless. If Chelsea are able to iron out the mistakes in the off-season, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Out of all the other 18 teams not named Liverpool or Manchester City, no team stands closer to giving those two a run for their money than Lampard’s Chelsea.
4. Manchester United
Old Trafford, the home of Bruno Fernandes, the Penalty King. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer outdid himself this season with a top-four finish and a place in the Europa League semi finals. Just last season, Ole was slated for playing the same non-attractive Mourinho football that the Red Devils Board sacked Jose for. Today, he completely changed the course of the club with the signing of Bruno Fernandes, who within a matter of games played football at the caliber worthy of placing him in the PFA Team of the Year despite only playing half a season.
With Danny Van de Beek signed, United added more potential to a side riddled with promise beaming from the goalkeeper to the front line. Only thing holding them back from overtaking Chelsea in this year’s Premier League table is the inconsistency of the front line. Though Martial shows glimpses of his brilliance in games against teams not in the top-six, Rashford tends to shy away from the occasion and disappears to the depths of the football pitch, nowhere to be found. If Ole manages to give De Gea and Rashy the confidence they need to return to their top form, it will be a great season to watch from home for the fans of the Red Devils.
5. Arsenal
It was tough deciding between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur for the highly coveted 5th position, but at the end of the day Arsenal gets the nod because of how Arteta managed to steal points away from top-six opposition (something unheard of for Arsenal over the past five years), and even managed to hold out Liverpool in the Community Shield to win their second trophy this calendar year. Although Arsenal’s squad is definitively weaker than the Spurs’, the philosophy Arteta brought to the club has completely rejuvenated a team left hopeless after the departure of Unai Emery. Arteta was able to implement the philosophies he assimilated from Pep Guardiola and change the tactical complexion of a team riddled with poor defensive errors and unforced blunders in the midfield. Now, with a team filled with youngsters and experienced ones alike, he brought in Willian on a free, and two additional centre-halves to rely on, Gabriel from LOSC Lille and Pablo Mori from Flamengo, to eliminate the ghosts that haunted Arsenal’s past and get back to placing in positions of the North London club’s historic precedent.
6. Tottenham Hotspur
To round out this season’s top six, Mourinho’s Spurs take the cake as Leicester City and Wolves sold skilled players in key areas to make you doubt they can fill the gaps of Ben Chilwell or Matt Doherty before the transfer deadline, respectively. Tottenham, on the other hand, are in their second year training under Mourinho, meaning more time to adjust to the Mourinho style of play. After a less than pleasing beginning last season, Tottenham managed to garner the third-most points in the league since Mourinho’s arrival on November 20th, 2019. Considering the injury blows to Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris, and Davinson Sanchez throughout the season, four of their best players, Mourinho did not disappoint. Although the football may seem lackluster at times, Mourinho is a born winner and with the new transfer of Matt Doherty to take over the defensive liability that was Serge Aurier, there is promise for Tottenham to even over-achieve this season. However, in realistic terms, sixth place looks like where they will end up next June.
7. Leicester City
8. Wolverhampton
9. Everton
10. Burnley
11. Crystal Palace
12. Southampton
13. Sheffield United
14. West Ham
15. Newcastle
16. Leeds
17. Brighton
18. Aston Villa (+170 to be relegated)
Aston Villa had a lot to celebrate this July when the historic English side managed to stay up in the premier league after their draw in the London Stadium got them the points they needed to reach the finish line. However, eight points in their last four games leaves you wondering if it was the quality of the side that saved them, or maybe the pure motivation and fright of dropping to the Championship. Most people will agree with the latter. Aston Villa, aside from Jack Grealish, lack quality. Trezeguet showed glimpses of what he’s capable of last season but his consistency is under par. Dean Smith will really need to plug the holes in the backline and rejuvenate his center of midfield if they are to finish higher than the drop zone this year.
19. West Bromwich (+110 to be relegated)
Slaven Bilic finally returns to the Premier League after a near 3 year absence. The former West Ham manager had moments to remember when Dimitri Payet was running the show for his side in 2015. However, it all came crashing down the next season when Payet picked up a knock and his team lost its step, sadly leading to him being sacked in November. He did a marvelous job getting West Brom back into the Premier League, but with a team whose most experienced player is Hal Robson-Kanu, you really fear for the side. Bilic’s final season as West Ham manager showed the world that he was not suited for the crisis when it arose, and it is possible he may rise to the occasion this year, however I do not see it happening.
20. Fulham (+325 to finish bottom)
Scott Parker’s side really put on a show at Wembley’s Championship playoff final vs. Brentford to secure the last promotion spot to join Leeds and West Brom in the Premier League. Nevertheless, much like West Brom, Fulham does not have the caliber of players to fight for points in the top tier of English football. Despite keeping the majority of the players they purchased last time they were in the English top flight, these same players crashed out back to the Championship in just a year. It will be a tough year for Fulham.
