The 2020-2021 Premier League season is almost here and every fan is anxious for what await there team.
This 2020-2021 season will be the toughest season so far in premier league history with the top clubs having the top coaches in world football. Manchester City have Pep Guardiola, Liverpool have UCL winning coach Jürgen Klopp, Everton have Carlo Ancelotti, Arsenal have Mikel Arteta who has won two trophies already in 2020. Manchester united have Solskjaer who is hoping to win something with his star-studded squad, Chelsea have Frank Lampard, Leicester have former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, with newcomers boasting of 2019 FIFA fair play award winner Marco Bielsa.
The stage is set for the managers to steer their team to success. There are atleast 6 solid teams vying for the top four position. Every manager want to prove a point and see their team to a better position.
This post will predict how the top four will look like at the end of game week 38.
Manchester united first
Manchester united last won the league 7 years ago in 2012-13 season under Alex Ferguson and I think they are ripe for it again. They currently have the most complete squad in the league and a coach that’s ready to prove a point. Dean Henderson is back from Sheffield meaning De Gea must be at his best to continue as the first choice. They are one of the strongest in the midfield position with adequate quality players in every midfield department. Donny Van de Beek signing is a boost to an already solid midfield. He will provide energy to the midfield and support Pogba there with Fred, Mctomminay, and Matic likely to fight for first team opportunities. That’s a healthy competition there.
The emergence of Greenwood on the right has relegated Daniel James to the bench. The attack line in the forthcoming season will be Rashford, Martial, and Greenwood which will be devastating considering their mobility. The trio scored 44 goals in the 2019-20 premier league season with 50 plus goals expected from them this season.
The defense is their only weakness especially in the center back position. The first choice Central defenders is Maguire and Lindelof with Bailly the other option. Rojo is not in Solskjaer plan and Smalling us to be sold to Roma. It is likely Solskjaer signs another center back to bolster the defense line.
They have no problem in the full back position with Bissaka proving solid and Luke Shaw putting his injuries in the past. Daniel James may end up turning to a full back just to get playing chances similar to what Alex Ferguson did with Antonio Valencia. It’s a bright season for Manchester united who is still in pursuit of Jadon Sancho. I see them winning the 2020-21 Premier League.
Chelsea second
Chelsea in second position at the end of the 2020-21 season will be a good result for Frank Lampard. Chelsea have been splashing the cash and have already signed Havertz, Chilwell, Ziyech, Timo Werner, and Thiago Silva. They don’t look like stopping yet with talks of another keeper not yet concluded.
They have signed top players at their peak but Chelsea problem this season will be their style of playing. Chelsea is noted for putting defense first but that changed under Sarri who brought Sarriball. The Italian changed their style of play and that affected Chelsea last season. They created chances and scored loads of goals but conceded on almost every shot on target. Many blamed Kepa for the goals conceded but the truth lies in the midfield and defense. Rudiger and Zouma pairing won’t work, they are both erratic and need someone calm like Fikayo Tomori. The Anglo-Nigerian shines in the first half of the season where Chelsea racked up cleansheets but injury problem cost him first team opportunities. Azpilicueta is out of sorts and lacks the leadership spirit to Marshall the backline. Thiago Silva acquisition looks like a success on paper but the question is how many matches will he play? Chelsea in 2020-21 season will be like Serie A Atalanta. They will score goals and concede a lot.
The midfield relies on only Kante as the defensive midfielder which shouldn’t be so. The French man has been nursing an injury that may keep him yet again for some key matches this coming season.
Chelsea need to sign someone to help Kante if they want to win the league. It’s not all about Kepa but the struggling defense and defensively porous midfield.
Second position is the best they can achieve in the 2020-21 season.
Manchester City third
Pep Guardiola side will finish the season on a disappointing note again. I see them coming third in the 2020-21 season. The citizens survived a UCL ban and haven’t been convincing in the transfer market.
Leroy Sane has joined Bayern Munich with no real replacement so far. The German international provides atleast 25 goals plus assists in a season only to be replaced by Ferran Torres. David Silva has left the club too and Foden is expected to replace him. There is Aguero who has been injury prone and may not finish the season. Gabriel Jesus have shown to be a ghost in top matches which might cost Manchester city valuable points this season.
Most teams will seat deep to neutralise Manchester city which will be a major problem for Pep Guardiola. The likes of Everton, Wolves, Leicester, and Tottenham will likely spoil the citizens show. Their over-dependence on Sterling and Aguero for goals will backfire this season.
Pep Guardiola will likely leave after falling to third position.
Arsenal fourth
The gunners look to be back again. They have endured years of no Champions League and no trophy. Arteta is changing that having given them two trophies in 2020. They have won the community shield and the FA cup all in 2020. Arteta is building a team that put the defense first. The gunners defense have been in shambles in recent times especially under former manager Unai Emery.
Arsenal have gotten Gabriel, Luiz, Saliba, Mari, Holding, Chambers and Mustafi as their center back options as Arteta look to favour the 3 man at the back formation. This will enable Tierney and Bellerin to act as wing backs. The gunners have Aubameyang who has proven to be the best forward in the premier league and sealed a good signing in Willian. The Brazilian will provide competition for Pepe and is likely to add 15 goals contribution in the new season. There is Bukayo Saka and Nketiah who will hope to make a statement this season.
The gunners are thin in the central midfield position but will talks of Partey, that could be solved. They still have Torreira who endured a poor second half of the season and wantaway midfielder Guendouzi.
The FA cup and Community shield boost will catapult Arsenal to fourth place.
Liverpool fifth
It’s unfortunate seeing the reigning champions in fifth place. Liverpool have been uninspiring even in their epic title win. That showed in the UCL loss against Atletico Madrid. Liverpool are passive in the transfer market and that may cost them this season.
Their main assist providers are the duo of Robertson and Trent Arnold who don’t have any solid replacement. Aubameyang turned Neco Williams inside out in the community shield which should serve as a warning for Klopp. If Arnold should get injured, then there is a big problem for Liverpool. Gengenpressing relies on good pair of wing backs who can bombard the wings relentlessly. Injury to one of Robertson or Arnold will damage Liverpool chances this season.
Lovren left for Zenit with no replacement. Joe Gomez and Matip can’t be relied upon throughout the season.
There is cracks in the Liverpool midfield that need to be rectified. They are in the race to sign Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich but it’s not enough to seal the cracks. Wijnaldum is leaving meaning Naby Keita must step up and fill the box to box role. That hasn’t been so as the Guinean hasn’t find his foot in the premier league.
Unless Jürgen Klopp find a way to rectify the faults in his team, they are already burned out and may miss the 2020-21 top four race.
Who do you think should make the list? Let us know.
