PREMIER LEAGUE
Can Manchester City complete a hat-trick? How will Frank Lampard’s Chelsea fare? Might Leicester crash the top six – or better? And what next for Newcastle?
Well, wasn’t that fun? For the first time in years, the 2018-19 Premier League had a proper title race that went down to the wire.
In the end, Pep Guardiola’s charges succeeded in becoming the first team in a decade to retain the Premier League title – but the fact that Manchester City had to win their final 14 matches in order to do so is proof that England’s ‘Big Six’ is now a ‘Big Two’.
Realistically, City and Liverpool have detached themselves from the erstwhile sextet through consistent excellence. The former have strengthened again and in the area they needed to most, making Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri (23) a club-record signing as heir presumptive to Fernandinho (34).
City are title favourites, naturally – this is, after all, the best team in Premier League history – but there’s a suspicion that the Champions League may divert Guardiola’s attention. The Catalan coach last lifted Ol’ Big Ears in 2011 and it has become his nemesis.
If Jurgen Klopp can take advantage, he’ll scratch what will, by next summer, be a 30-year itch for Liverpool. They’ve had to watch seven different clubs become champions of England since they last lifted the trophy – but finally stopping the rot will require Red evolution, not revolution. Cover in two or three positions is all that comprises Klopp’s shopping list, now that Alex Oxlade-chamberlain is fit again at last.
It’s hard to see any other team being capable of sustaining a title challenge in 2019-20, but Spurs do at least look likeliest to finish 3rd. Having settled into their new digs, Tottenham replaced Moussa Dembele’s driving dribbles – such an impressive part of Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield – by buying Tanguy Ndombele for a record fee. Ndombele picked Spurs from a choice of clubs, which speaks volumes for the Poch project.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all have fundamental flaws: too flimsy, too average, and too banned-from-signing-anyone. While Frank Lampard’s return will keep Blues fans onside, sentimentality and the continued development of Chelsea’s myriad hot prospects may not be enough to replace Eden Hazard.
With Brendan Rodgers quietly putting together an excellent young Leicester squad (and no continental complications), the Foxes are genuine contenders for a top-six finish. Wolves will back themselves, too, but Europa League commitments with a small squad may hinder them. Everton and West Ham, meanwhile, lack consistency and belief to back up their playing talent.
Below them, Watford, Bournemouth, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Burnley could all finish anywhere between 11th and 15th, or slightly higher or lower depending on how they start the campaign. Ralph Hasenhuttl will almost certainly take Saints well clear of a relegation battle, while Sean Dyche will be desperate to prove that the first three months of Burnley’s 2018-19 season were an aberration. Watford and Bournemouth are good starters, poor finishers, while the opposite may be the case for Crystal Palace following a summer of uncertainty at Selhurst Park.
It looks like being three from five for the drop, although the terror of relegation could once again engulf half of a nervy division. Of the three promoted sides, Aston Villa seem best equipped for top-flight life, especially with Jack Grealish being a player of genuine Premier League class, as long as they can successfuly integrate so many new faces. Sheffield United are a genuinely fascinating team under Chris Wilder, combining innovation with Sheffield steel. However, many fear that a lack of star quality may catch up with them. Norwich were champions, but
must urgently address a leaky defence that conceded twice as many goals at home as the Blades did.
Brighton’s appointment of Graham Potter, formerly of Swansea and Ostersunds, is an exciting one. The problem will come in having to adapt swiftly to a more progressive style, with players not necessarily suited to the task, while ensuring they have enough points on the board going into a horrific spring schedule.
As for Newcastle... who knows any more? The longer Mike Ashley spends vomiting into pub fireplaces instead of engaging with a club in which he has a controlling interest, the worse it’ll get for miserable Magpies fans. Just remember: your club could be next.