Premier League predictions: The Sporting Life team put together their predictions for the new season including title winners, top four and Golden Boot
The Sporting Life team have made their predictions for the new Premier League season including title winners, top four and Golden Boot fancies.
Paul Higham (Follow @SportsPaulH on Twitter)
Champions: Manchester City
There are questions for City to answer this season, such as can they grab a rare hat-trick of titles without Vincent Kompany's leadership? Still, there are fewer questions than the rest and we know they'll bag 90-odd points and be the team to beat - that's just what they do now! Only Liverpool can catch them but there are enough question marks about the Reds to make it City's title to lose.
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea
I'm going for the same four again this season but only the top three are solid choices with Man Utd and Arsenal easily capable of pinching fourth. There are still enough good players at Stamford Bridge to see Frank Lampard secure relative success in his first season, though.
Relegation: Brighton, Crystal Palace, Norwich
I like Norwich but can't help thinking they're steadying the ship preparing to have another go at promotion in a year's time, preferring to build a solid base for sustained success later down the line. Brighton and Palace will be playing their fierce derby back in the Championship next season as there just doesn't seem enough in either camp to finish above Sheffield United or Aston Villa.
Golden Boot: Harry Kane
I grabbed a share last season by backing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but it's time for Kane to get back to the top of the tree after what has been, for him, a decent rest this summer - meanwhile the likes of Aguero, Salah and Mane have all been on international duty. Kane's penalty taking will also help in this new era of VAR.
Best signing: Youri Tielemans
Everton have done great business with Moise Kean and Andre Gomes, while Man City's capture of Rodri is another great move as they fill the void that will be left when Fernandinho's legs eventually go, but preference is for a sharp piece of work by Leicester in beating off fierce competition for Tielemans - that'll look like a huge coup come May.
Best bet: A goal to be scored in every Arsenal Premier League game at 4/1
This bet came in last season with the Gunners only having one scoreless draw in all competitions and none in the Premier League - and since then they've added a £72m attacker and lost their skipper and best defender. There will be goals in Arsenal games.
Champions: Manchester City
It is hard to look past City. They have collected 198 points over the last two seasons and, although they could miss the leadership of Vincent Kompany, they now have the experience to cope without the Belgian and gradually got used to that with his injuries in recent years. The signing of Rodri looks to have made them even stronger and their depth should give them the edge over Liverpool, who could rue not adding to their squad in the summer.
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Spurs Man Utd
City and Liverpool are the front runners and a little ahead of the other top six sides. The next best has got to be Spurs, who can take confidence from their Champions League run last season. But, like Liverpool, the lack of depth in their squad could cost them when the fixtures pile up. United have been missing a defensive rock and leader and they have got that in Harry Maguire. Providing Paul Pogba is in the right frame of mind and Marcus Rashford leads the line, they can be dangerous on the break and just stronger than Arsenal and Chelsea - although the big if is whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can get the best out of them like when he first came in last term.
Relegation: Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Norwich
Norwich were brilliant under Daniel Farke to get promotion last term, but handing out contract extensions and spending just £1.2m in transfers could come back to bite them when their squad looks short of top-flight experience. Newcastle lost two big forwards in Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon and, while Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Jetro Willems may excite fans, Steve Bruce faces a tough task to keep them up and the atmosphere could soon turn sour with a couple of defeats. Palace have done some late deals, but Roy Hodgson's side could still be over reliant on Wilfried Zaha.
Golden Boot: Harry Kane
The England and Spurs forward missed the back end of last season (and lacked sharpness in the Champions League final) and will be raring to go this time around. Despite this, he still netted 17 goals, just five short of the leading trio. In 2017/18 and 2016/17 he scored 30 and 29 Premier League goals respectively, so he has shown consistency over the years as the division's main man.
Best signing: Fabian Delph
Providing he stays fit, pound for pound the midfielder could be an excellent signing at just £8.5m. A two-time Premier League winner and still only 29, the England international's experience could help Marco Silva's men compete for the top six, adding steel to their midfield to complement their creativity in attack.
Best bet: David Silva PFA Player of the Year at 14/1
The Spanish midfielder is in his last season at City and he will go out in style. He has got better with age since moving to the Etihad in 2010. Although Bernardo Silva has shown the capability to be his long-term replacement, the 33-year-old can still be the standout playmaker as City look to make it three title triumphs in a row.
Champions: Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has assembled the greatest team the Premier League has ever seen and we’re in a period of dominance for Manchester City. They are odds-on for a third successive title and they should win it again. A total of 198 points over the past two seasons is nothing short of exceptional and I’d back them hitting the 95-100 points mark in 2020, which will do the trick.
Top four: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal
There are too many questions surrounding Chelsea and Manchester United this season and that means others can capitalise by making the top four. Manchester City and Liverpool are certainties while Tottenham and Arsenal have spent big this window. After Arsenal signed two defenders on deadline day, they should break back into the Champions League, although their forward line is more than eye-catching.
Relegation: Burnley, Newcastle, Norwich
Burnley have been flirting with it for a while, although they enjoyed a great second half of last season. Their summer transfer business has done little to inspire and it could be a tough season at Turf Moor. Steve Bruce’s appointment at Newcastle is a concern and relegation is a real possibility. Of the three promoted teams, Norwich have spent next to nothing and while they are a talented side, this season could be a learning one for them to come back stronger in the future.
Golden Boot: Neal Maupay
I didn’t put him in as a best bet for Sporting Life’s Golden Boot preview, but that’s only down to the fact I wrote that article prior to his signing and he's well worth adding now. I did mention him as one to watch and I’m excited to see what Brighton can do this season. Maupay netted 25 last term and I love the each-way value in backing him at huge odds of 125/1.
Best signing: Che Adams to Southampton
Adams is an incredibly talented young striker who is coming into the season on the back of a fantastic campaign with Birmingham in the Sky Bet Championship. He possesses fantastic movement with a real eye for goal and will only get better as time goes on. This season may not be a ground-breaking one for him, but when he adjusts to the Premier League he’ll become a prolific forward at the very top level.
Best bet: Chelsea to finish outside the top-six at 11/4
Chelsea have lost Eden Hazard and have the inexperienced Frank Lampard at the helm. The statistics highlight the fact that Derby had luck on their side last season, with a low expected goals tally compared to their rivals – that’s despite some impressive forward players. The likes of Everton and West Ham have spent big and will be targeting European football, so too will Watford and Wolves. There’s a hunting pack for that top six and someone can capitalise at Chelsea’s expense.
Champions: Manchester City
What more can be said about Pep Guardiola's side? They've bagged 198 points in two seasons and show no signs of slowing down - in fact they may be even better with yet more new signings coming in this summer.
Top four: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United
Spurs join the top two in qualifying for the Champions League again, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Harry Maguire getting the job done at Old Trafford and getting Manchester United to join them in fourth.
Relegation: Norwich, Crystal Palace, Brighton
Norwich seem a popular choice after choosing not to go out and spend big to try and stay in the division. It could be that they're happy enough going down and aiming to come back stronger next time around. I like the appointment of Graham Potter at Brighton but it's a tough job, while Crystal Palace have hardly had anything to shout about this summer.
Golden Boot: Raheem Sterling
He'll play more often than not, always scores a lot of goals but also misses a huge amount of chances - see the Community Shield as a prime example. He only needs to convert a few more of those chances to challenge the top scorers in the division and looks good value.
Best signing: Tom Heaton
Aston Villa’s capture of Burnley keeper Tom Heaton looks incredible business, as you can't really put a price on a solid, dependable, experienced Premier League keeper - and if you could it'd be much more than Villa paid Burnley. Everton’s signing of Italian striker Moise Kean also stands out.
Champions: Liverpool
Heart ruling head a little bit here, and it’ll be close again but I genuinely think this is Liverpool’s year. The squad Klopp has built has everything needed with world-class talent all over the park, experience, and an incredible front three – last season we saw a taste of how good they can be and this season they’ll go one better. It may come at the cost of every other piece of silverware they're contesting, but they won’t care a jot.
Top four: Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Wolves
It’ll be another tight contest at the top between Liverpool and Manchester City; no other squad in the Premier League comes close to theirs. Spurs for me are best of the rest – a few talented players in there but always looking a sandwich short of a picnic. Wolves are my wildcard, I know they’re well backed financially and it’s not a ‘romantic’ story but they play some cracking football and I can see them surprising a few this season.
Relegation: Newcastle, Brighton, Norwich
Norwich bossed the Championship last season but I fancy their ‘yo-yo club' tradition to continue. Their squad just isn’t strong enough and I reckon star-man Pukki may struggle against Premier League defences. Brighton, it’s been nice to have them in the Premier League but there are 17 stronger teams in the league. As for Newcastle, their fans don’t deserve to see their club relegated again but the powers that be are doing their best to tear the soul and passion out of one of the nation’s favourite clubs.
Golden Boot: Mohamed Salah
This will be Liverpool’s season and Salah will lead the charge.
Best signing: Moise Kean
The amount of money spent on a player can often cloud judgement on how good they are but at £25m, Moise Kean could look a snip. The 19-year-old has bags of talent and I’m surprised Juve let him go – I think he’ll prove to be a bargain. If he gets the service, Oli McBurnie at Sheffield United could well prove to be a shining light for them this season too.
Best bet: Wolves to finish in the top four at 14/1
You all laughed when you read my ‘Wolves will finish fourth' bit… but get on them at 14/1 to finish top four. Salah top scorer at 11/2 is great value too.
Odds correct as of 1315 BST on 07/08/19
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