Liverpool may have won the Premier League by miles last season but talkSPORT.com’s group of writers generally aren’t confident about their chances of retaining their title.
Jurgen Klopp’s side wrapped it all up with seven games to spare in 2019/20 and finished a huge 18 points ahead of runners-up Manchester City.
They get their title defence under way with a potentially tricky test at home to Leeds on Saturday, a match you can listen to LIVE on talkSPORT, kick-off 5:30pm.
Like we did last season, we’ll bring you LIVE commentary of Premier League games across all three time slots on Saturday.
You can hear games at 12.30pm, 5.30pm, and 8pm as we deliver award-winning coverage to more GameDay listeners than ever.
But before a ball is kicked, talkSPORT.com‘s writers were put on the spot to make their predictions about who’s going to win it and who will get the all-important European spots.
Jackson Cole, Sports Writer
Top six – 1. Manchester City (winner), 2. Liverpool (CL), 3. Manchester United (CL), 4. Arsenal (CL), 5. Chelsea (EL), 6. Tottenham (EL)
Liverpool got away with not making any major signings last summer, but doing it two years running is too big a risk.
With the greatest of respect to Kostas Tsimikas, the Reds have not done enough during this window.
Manchester City have got in Nathan Ake, who along with a fit Aymeric Laporte, should iron out the defensive cracks from last season. Liverpool may have bad luck with injuries this season and with a not very deep squad, that will lead to problems.
Man United have a formidable midfield now so they should get into the top four easily but they’re still lacking in world-class centre-backs. I have a feeling the unreliable David de Gea will remain their first choice goalkeeper which will hold them back too.
And in fourth I’ve gone for Arsenal to pip Chelsea. The Gunners have recruited well and the feeling’s good at the club.
Although Chelsea have made many eye-catching signings, they still haven’t properly addressed their main issues – centre-back and goalkeeper.
Thiago Silva has signed but he turns 36 this month, I expect him to get found out now he’s not in a farmer’s league. They’re about to sign Edouard Mendy but is he world-class? Time will tell.
I think Tottenham will improve but will still be some way off the top four. They’ll excel in the cup competitions with the great Jose Mourinho at the helm.
Oliver Dawnay, Sports Writer
Top six – 1. Chelsea (winner), 2. Manchester City (CL), 3. Liverpool (CL), 4. Manchester United (CL), 5. Everton (EL), 6. Tottenham (EL)
Frank Lampard has had a world-class transfer market and the Blues will be hungrier than ever to reclaim the Premier League title having last won it in 2016/17.
Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech are dynamite and their attack will propel them to glory in the English top-flight.
Imagine the scenes at Stamford Bridge if Lampard won the Premier League as a manager tooLiverpool haven’t added the necessary reinforcements to win back-to-back titles and they will pay the price for their shyness in the market.
It’s Carlo Ancelotti’s time to shine. He’s been backed in the transfer market and now boasts one of the best midfields in the division. Everton will finish above Spurs, but Jose Mourinho’s men have enough quality to get a Europa League spot.
Josh Fordham, Sports Writer
Top six – 1. Liverpool (winner), 2. Manchester City (CL), 3. Chelsea (CL), 4. Manchester United (CL), 5. Arsenal (EL), 6. Tottenham (EL)
No one has done enough this summer to close the gap on Jurgen Klopp’s side even though they’ve been quiet in the transfer window. The top four are the best by some distance and then there is a gap to the rest.
Chelsea have made some strong additions this summer but it may take some time for them to settle in and I don’t see them challenging for the title.
Man United will pick up where they left off last season and clinch the final Champions League spot. Leicester have lost Ben Chilwell and will slip further down the table this season and finish outside the top six.
Arsenal have had a slightly better summer in the transfer market than Tottenham with their signings of Willian, Gabriel and Dani Ceballos and will pip their north London rivals into fifth place.
Jake Bacon, Sports Writer
Top six – 1. Manchester City (winner), 2. Liverpool (CL), 3. Chelsea (CL), 4. Manchester United (CL), 5. Tottenham (EL), 6. Arsenal (EL)
I’m going for the traditional top six to make a comeback this season. Leicester did well to finish fifth, even if they should have secured a top four finish last season.
However, with Jamie Vardy getting older and the club failing, so far, to bring in sufficient cover, I can see Leicester falling away. This will pave the way for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to return to the top six.
Man City will pip Liverpool to the title, with the behind closed doors matches likely to favour Pep Guardiola’s side.
Meanwhile, big spenders Chelsea could push City and Liverpool and finish third with Manchester United having just a bit more than Tottenham and Arsenal to take the final Champions League spot.
Anton Stanley, Features Editor
Top six – 1. Manchester City (winner), 2. Liverpool (CL), 3. Chelsea (CL), 4. Manchester United (CL), 5. Arsenal (EL), 6. Tottenham (EL)
Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t think Liverpool will fall away dramatically but there might well be a decline.
Let’s face it, if they can carry on at the same pace for a third season it’s truly astonishing. The potential loss of Georginio Wijnaldum could be a bigger blow than many anticipate.
City’s signings should be the boost they need to get them back to No.1 but something doesn’t quite sit right about the defence just yet either.
Chelsea will be better than they were last season but only if Lampard gets his tactics spot on – there’s every chance they could be as chaotic as often as they are brilliant.
Man United should see some regression in terms of penalties this season so expect a few tighter matches not to go their way but overall the talent in the attacking third is undeniable and should be enough for them to cross the finish line fourth.
Tottenham and Arsenal miss out, but the Gunners are likely to end the campaign ahead of their rivals with too many questions out on Spurs players right now and limited transfer action. Arteta has clearly seen the potential of a top four finish and recruited well.
Billy Hawkins, News Editor
Top six – 1. Manchester City (winner), 2. Liverpool (CL), 3. Chelsea (CL), 4. Tottenham (CL), 5. Manchester United (EL), 6. Arsenal (EL)
It may be dull, but they are called the ‘Big Six’ for a reason.
Manchester City and Liverpool are shoo-ins; Chelsea have bought well so are better than they were last season; Tottenham have Jose Mourinho for a full campaign; Manchester United just keep getting results regardless of the doubts over them; and Arsenal have Mikel Arteta, whose impact has been clear for all to see.
Sorry, Premier League fans, there will be NO top six gatecrashing this season.
Sam Gilbert, Social Media Manager
Top six – 1. Arsenal (winner), 2. Manchester City (CL), 3. Liverpool (CL), 4. Chelsea (CL), 5. Manchester United (EL), 6. Tottenham (EL)
What have you got in life if you haven’t got faith? Arsenal fans have seen enough from Arteta to be encouraged by the progress that they’re making. Why can’t they go all the way and win it this season?
The Gunners are the in-form team ahead of the new season and have won their last two games against Liverpool (yes, the Community Shield counts), and beaten both Chelsea and Man City in recent weeks. Stranger things have happened in football…
Pep will bow out at Man City having led a valiant charge to win the league, but I just love the narrative of Arteta, his old apprentice, beating him to the top prize.
Every dog has its day and I’m afraid to say that Liverpool have well and truly had theirs. With Fenway Sports Group reluctant to splash the cash on new signings, I can see Liverpool’s complacency in the transfer window coming back to haunt them quite spectacularly this season.
The fairly substantial caveat to predicting that Chelsea will finish in the top four is that their 68 new signings hit the ground running and gel together. For Lampard’s sake, he better hope that they do…
Ole’s Gunnar Solskjaer’s plan to field as many midfielders as possible won’t be enough to get Manchester United into the top four. Even if a marquee signing like Jadon Sancho or Jack Grealish arrives at Old Trafford, I still don’t think the Red Devils have enough to build on their finish from last season.
In typical Jose Mourinho fashion, he’ll be sacked halfway through the season and his replacement (a return for Mauricio Pochettino) will steady the Spurs ship just enough to get them into the top six.
No comments:
Post a Comment