Premier League Predictions pt.1
Another Premier League season is about to start and this year more than ever it will be competitive for the top 4 Champions League spots, and the 2 Europa League spots. Let’s get straight into it.
First up, Arsenal. In the transfer window, there wasn’t much activity other than acquiring Ben White from Brighton Hove and Albion. They also loaned out Joe Wilcock to Newcastle, and are trying to loan out Rob Holding as well. If they can complete that they need to use their remaining money to get a striker who is sure of goals. Right now, that’s their weakest link. Lacazette had on and off games last year, and Aubamanyeng isn’t somebody you can rely on right now a good option would be getting Tammy Abraham from Chelsea. They are going in the 10th spot.
Aston Villa is next, and what a transfer window they had. Jack Grealish left their club and while that was disappointing they got Danny Ings who can bag goals, and Emiliano Buendia who did great at Norwich and was one of their best players. Letting go of Jack Grealish may be a blessing in disguise and they aren’t done yet. They are also in talks with Southampton to get James Worde-Prowse which would be huge. With all this, I think they will end in 12th place.
Brentford is a bit of a hard one. I haven’t seen much of them since they are coming up from the Championship but their preseason games haven’t exactly impressed me. They have a top player in Ivan Toney who will get them goals but I don’t know if he will do enough. For me, they are getting relegated and are in 20th place. I think with a bit more signings they can back in 2–3 years and stay up.
Brighton Hove and Albion is a team I like a lot. Gary Potter as the gaffer has done a great job with them and towards the end of last season, they were looking like a good team however they are missing one piece and that’s a striker. They have a really creative side with Lenardo Trossard and Yves Bissouma, but they need somebody who can finish their chances and their current striker Neal Maupay hasn’t been doing that. With Tariq Lamptey, their outside back injured for the start of the season it could be a huge blow. I place them at 13th place, but I do think they can finish 1 or 2 places higher if they sign a striker.
Burnley also started to come together at the end of the season which is mainly because Chris Wood started to come into action scoring 5 goals in his last 6 games. With the likes of Dwight McNeil who was on the U-23 England squad and Ashely Westwood, they are both likely to assist Wood in scoring goals. With their goalie Nick Pope back from injury it should boost their defense and grow in confidence as the season goes on. While I want them to do good, I don’t know if all the pieces of the puzzle are going to fall in place so I place them in 16th place, safe from relegation.
Chelsea, wow! They have turned around so much after Thomas Tuchel, the new gaffer, came in. After just signing Lukaku they now have so much depth in their squad and are now a striker who can score a goal every game. Their confidence is soaring after winning the Champions League, and the Super Cup this past weekend and that will continue into this new season. I see them getting in the 2nd spot, but it will be tight.
Crystal Palace is up next and I’m not quite sure how the season is going to go with a new manager, Patrick Evra, who has no real managerial experience it could very well not work out. They didn’t do much in the transfer market bringing players from the championship which could boost their experience but also hurt them. They have some money from selling Andreas Townsend to Everton that if they can use right it will help them. I have them going in 18th and facing relegation.
Everton is a bit of a weird one. They’ve always been upper table and I think they will be this year as well but with a new manager coming in who used to manage Liverpool there is some bad blood within the office. With some weird signings like Andreas Townsend who really doesn’t help their system too much, it is a bit confusing from the outside perspective. However, if James Rodriguez can have more on-games this season rather than off-games, I see them doing very well. Richarlison is coming off an Olympic gold medal and I think his confidence will be high entering the season. I have them sitting in 7th.
Leeds is always a team I love to watch play. With their manager Marcelo Bielsa they always give 100% and with Rodrigo doing amazing towards the end of last season he could get more playing time and make more contributions. In addition, completing the move of Jack Harrison who came in the last year and did well, he will also be adding contributions and even had more contributions than Raphina last year who got injured midway through the season. I think they end up in eighth place, with Patrick Bamford going in double digits for goals.
Leicester City has been sitting at the 5th and 6th place for 2 years now, and I don’t think this year will be any different. Vardy who is 34, is still full of goals, and with his new partner in crime, Kelechi Iheanacho also coming in with goals they could be a big threat. A major concern after 2 preseason games was that Wesley Fofana — their starting center back — got injured and will be out until the next season. However, quickly after that, they signed Jannik Vestergaard from Southampton which could benefit them a lot, and Harvey Barnes coming back from injury will also help them. I see them getting 5th place.
