WhoScored Predicts: Champions, Europe and relegation
After running through the predicitions for top rated new signing, top scorer, young player of the year and player of the year, the WhoScored team turn their attention to the teams, assessing who they believe will win the title, miss out on the top six, who will take that spot and the three relegated teams...
Martin Laurence - @martinlaurence7
Winners - Manchester City
While it took City until the final to secure the title I don’t see there being such a tight race this season. Pep Guardiola has strengthened an what was arguably already the strongest squad in Europe, let alone the Premier League, while Liverpool have failed to do so. Rodri, Angelino and Joao Cancelo will all enable even greater squad rotation, while a fit again Kevin De Bruyne takes the side to a level above their competitors.
Most likely to miss out on the top six - Manchester United
From the ‘big six’ of the last three seasons I think it’s possible two could see their place in that bracket come under threat but feel Manchester United are most at risk. Harry Maguire and Aaron-Wan Bissaka certainly strengthen their back line but a lack of new recruits in an uninspiring midfield put pressure on Paul Pogba to perform and that hasn’t bode well in the past. Nemanja Matic is regressing quickly and failure to replace Ander Herrera leaves a hole.
Most likely to break the top six - Leicester
Brendan Rodgers is building a very exciting side at Leicester and while the loss of Maguire is a considerable blow the Foxes have good options in all positions elsewhere. A midfield of Wilfred Ndidi, Youri Tielemans and James Maddison has real energy and a combination of creativity and steel, while there’s pace and delivery from wide areas. Ayoze Perez should provide support to Jamie Vardy as well as sharing some of the responsibility in front of goal, so the 2016 champions should be a force again.
Relegation - Brighton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle
Any combination of around eight or nine teams could feasibly face the drop this season but I feel the newly promoted teams are all in with a great chance of survival. Aston Villa have been busiest, necessarily so, and look to have added enough quality to put up a real fight while both Norwich and Sheffield United both enter the season with stability and clear identity in the way that they play. Brighton have made some decent signings but will take time to adapt to a new style of play, while Palace and Newcastle’s dealings over the summer would concern me.
Manchester City
Liverpool
Tottenham
Arsenal
Leicester
Chelsea
Manchester United
West Ham
Wolves
Everton
Bournemouth
Southampton
Watford
Aston Villa
Sheffield United
Burnley
Norwich
Brighton
Crystal Palace
Newcastle
Ben McAleer - @BenMcAleer1
Winners - Manchester City
It may have taken until the final day of the season for Manchester City to be crowned champions, but their title defence was all the more impressive as Liverpool ran them to the wire. Now having improved in problem areas, notably in bringing in a new midfielder in Rodri to succeed Fernandinho, they’ve become stronger still. Keep Kevin De Bruyne fit for the campaign and they’ll finish top of the pile once more come May.
Most likely to miss out on the top six - Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment brought the initial new manager bounce following a dreary end to Jose Mourinho’s stay at Old Trafford, but it quickly turned sour in Manchester again. The season ended direly for United and a summer of promised moves have failed to come to fruition. The arrivals of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire improves the defence, but the team looks disjointed going forward. If they carry their end of season form into the new campaign, then an English giant will fall further.
Most likely to break the top six - Wolves
Wolves finished the best of the rest in the Premier League last season after an impressive return to the top-flight and with no significant outgoings, they should be aiming to break the top six this season. They’ve been shrewd in the market, too, improving in a couple of areas that boost the squad. Jesus Vallejo is an upgrade on Bennett at the back, while Patrick Cutrone is a fine addition to the frontline. A settled team with a quality manager at the helm, Wolves will have ambitions to finish in the top six and they are perhaps the best placed to do so.
Relegation - Sheffield United, Norwich and Crystal Palace
Norwich and Sheffield United worked wonders to finish first and second, respectively, in the Championship last season, yet their summer movements haven’t instilled confidence that safety will be assured. The Canaries and the Blades will both play exciting football in the coming campaign, yet having lured fringe Premier League and Championship quality players to their respective grounds, it doesn’t look promising for either side at this stage. For Crystal Palace, too, a failure to sufficiently replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a blow, while the uncertainty surrounding Wilfried Zaha won’t have helped a side that may have ended the campaign strongly, but another slow start could prove costly.
Manchester City
Liverpool
Tottenham
Arsenal
Chelsea
Wolves
Manchester United
Leicester
Everton
West Ham
Southampton
Bournemouth
Aston Villa
Watford
Burnley
Brighton
Newcastle
Crystal Palace
Norwich
Sheffield United
Josh Wright - @_WrightJosh
Winners - Manchester City
Manchester City will bid to become the first side to win the Premier League three years running since Manchester United did so between 2006 and 2009. City edged Liverpool to the title by one point last season and have since added Rodrigo and Joao Cancelo to their squad to improve their options. Liverpool, meanwhile, haven’t made any signings to their first-team set-up and they are expected to be City’s closest challengers. It’s difficult to look beyond another City title triumph in 2019/20.
Most likely to miss out on top six - Chelsea
Things were looking bleak for Arsenal until deadline day when they managed to address their glaring issues at the back with the double signing of David Luiz and Kieran Tierney. Prising Luiz away from London rivals Chelsea came as a real shock, particularly as the Brazilian only signed a new two-year deal with the Blues in May. Luiz's departure now leaves Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard with even fewer senior options at the back and any injuries will leave him stretched. At the opposite end of the pitch, Eden Hazard's departure has left Chelsea without a world class attacker, while Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham are not of the calibre required to lead the line for the Europa League champions.
Most likely to break top six - Everton
There is not much to separate between the likes of Wolves, West Ham, Leicester and Everton in this regard, though I favour the latter slightly. Leicester were leading this category until they sold Harry Maguire without replacing him. West Ham have an excellent attack but question marks remain about their defence, while Wolves’ Europa League commitments could impact their assault on the top six. Everton bolstered all departments of their squad in the summer, even if they did shell out an eye-watering fee to sign Alex Iwobi from Arsenal on deadline day.
Relegation - Burnley, Crystal Palace and Newcastle
Burnley endured a extremely difficult season in 2018/19 and their dealings in the summer transfer window suggest nothing will change for the upcoming campaign. They have made a number of uninspiring signings and can expect to be battling towards the bottom of the table all season. Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has lamented the club’s approach in the transfer window this summer and he will now be tasked with getting the best out of an unhappy Wilfried Zaha, forced to stay against his will. Steve Bruce is going to have a tough task on his hands to replace Rafa Benitez and the fans are already opposed to him before a ball has been kicked. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has since dipped into his pockets and backed Bruce but it’s going to be another long season for the Magpies.
Manchester City
Tottenham
Liverpool
Arsenal
Manchester United
Everton
Chelsea
Leicester
Wolves
West Ham
Watford
Bournemouth
Southampton
Aston Villa
Brighton
Sheffield United
Norwich
Newcastle
Crystal Palace
Burnley
