Sport
Premier League Preview – Top 4
Over £375m of prizes across the new football season. 18+
Following on from our preview of the newly promoted sides, we now take a look at the teams looking for those illustrious Champions League spots.
Man City
Last season’s runaway champions will look at a top 4 finish as their minimum expectation. Their swashbuckling approach saw them score an eye-watering 106 league goals last season, as they hit the three figure points total with a 94th minute winner at Southampton in their final game of the 2017/18 season (not the most dramatic 94th minute Man City winner on the final day of the season in recent years though). Under Pep Guardiola, their approach will be precisely the same this season, with a target of a deeper run into the Champions League another priority.
They have only progressed beyond the quarter final stage once and that needs to change soon. They have bolstered their already mouth-watering attacking options with the capture of Riyad Mahrez, a player who has long made his desire to play for the Citizens public. A short price to retain their crown, the rest of the league may be playing catch up from an early stage, and their top 4 place will be secured long before the season ends.
Predicted finish: 1st
Liverpool
Their run to the Champions League final showed that on their day, Liverpool can match up to anyone. Their 4-3 thriller against Man City ended Pep Guardiola’s ‘Invincibles’ dream and they also knocked the Premier League champions out of Europe’s biggest competition, demolishing them 5-1 across the two legs of their quarter final clash. The problem for Jurgen Klopp’s side is their inconsistency. Too many individual errors proved costly last season, as they struggled to maintain a balance between the two competitions. Yet there is a sense that a corner has been turned and this season they mean business.
With ‘keeper Lorius Karius at fault for two of Real Madrid’s three goals in the Champions League final, Klopp has moved swiftly to secure Alisson from Roma for a fee of £65m, a world record for a goalkeeper. Naby Keita joins up after a season back at RB Leipzig and Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri have also put pen to paper with the Merseyside club. With these acquisitions, there is genuine depth to the squad which will stand them in good stead as they compete on several fronts this season. Klopp has stated that the pressure is all on Man City to retain the title. However, the German has now spent in excess of £500m since he took charge of Liverpool and still does not have a trophy to his name. That needs to change next season, or the outlook may look different in 12 months time.
Predicted finish: 2nd
Man Utd
There is a feeling that this is a huge year for Manchester United. Never within a striking blow of their neighbours last season, they were surprisingly knocked out of the Champions League by Sevilla, finished runners-up to Chelsea in the FA Cup and were humiliated by Bristol City in the Carabao Cup which left them without silverware for the first time since the 2014/15 season. Jose Mourinho is coming under increasing scrutiny for his style of play and needs to deliver success this season in order to quell the dissent.
The capture of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for £52m in June was a good starting point, with United at times looking far too ponderous and robotic going forward last season. No other major signings have been announced thus far, but the general consensus is that the Red Devils need some more star names in order to genuinely compete with the blue half of Manchester. With Liverpool also laying down a huge marker this summer with their acquisitions, it may prove to be another tough season for United to significantly challenge for the title, but a top four spot is very realistic and they should secure another season of Champions League football.
Predicted finish: 3rd
Tottenham
Like Man Utd, 2018/19 feels like a crucial season for Spurs. There is only so long they can keep the spine of their superb team together before the European giants come knocking at the door. World Cup golden boot winner Harry Kane will once again spearhead the line but like so many of their closest rivals, Tottenham need to start filling the trophy cabinet or surely he will move on to pastures new. They eventually lifted their ‘Wembley curse’, defeating Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool at the home of English football last season, but they also struggled to compete across domestic and European fronts.
Son Heung Min and Erik Lamela have been tied down to long term contracts but there have been no new faces as of yet. After decades of sitting in Arsenal’s shadow, the past three seasons have seen them finally emerge into the sunshine. A top four spot is once again well within their reach and they should do so at the expense of their North London rivals. However, they need to be careful, as things could turn very sour if significant progress isn’t made.
Predicted finish: 4th
Chelsea
Chelsea’s attempt at retaining the title ended in bitter disappointment, much the same as when they tried to defend it in the 2015/16 season and Jose Mourinho departed. The sense of ‘player power’ still lingers around the club, with most of the first team squad seemingly disinterested at best during the latter stages of Antonio Conte’s reign. Conte became the 12th manager to be axed under Roman Abramovich’s regime and was swiftly replaced with Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri. Alongside Sarri, midfielder Jorginho has also swapped Naples for West London. In terms of outgoings, Chelsea need to ensure Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois do not get their heads turned by the bright lights of Madrid. They are imperative to any top four plans the club harbour.
Hazard was scintillating throughout the World Cup and if he continues his rich vein of form into the new season, the Blues will fancy their chances of returning to the top four. It is assumed that the Europa League will take a backseat role with qualification back into the Champions League a priority. However, with the Premier League looking as competitive as it’s ever been, maybe Chelsea should be treating the European tournament with the upmost respect. It may be their best way of re-entering Europe’s elite.
Predicted finish: 5th
Over £375m of prizes across the new football season. 18+
