Premier League 2019/20: Predictions for the new season
The Premier League campaign kicks off in just a few short hours with last season’s runner’s up Liverpool welcoming newly-promoted Norwich to Anfield.
Despite a record-breaking campaign for the Reds that saw them lose just one match all season long, Jurgen Klopp’s side couldn’t match the might of Manchester City who won the league for the second year in row.
Pep Guardiola will be looking to make it a hat-trick of league titles this time around but will no doubt be concerned by the threat posed by a Liverpool side looking to go one better than last season.
The battle for the final two top four positions went right down to the penultimate weeks of the season with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur edging out Arsenal and Manchester United.
With all four sides making major changes this summer, the fight for the top four looks set to be just as intense this time around.
Putting aside their league disappointment, Liverpool did manage to conquer Europe, beating follow English side Tottenham to lift the Champions League trophy.
With another exciting campaign to look forward to, Yahoo Sport staff make their predictions ahead of the big kick off.
Raj Mannick
Premier League Winner: Manchester City - No team had retained the title in a decade until Manchester City did so last season, and I see no reason why they can't make it a hat trick. Even without their best player, Pep Guardiola's side smashed every Premier League record, and a fit again Kevin De Bruyne is the equivalent of the best summer signing. While Rodri adds a layer of protection, expect Laporte to kick on as a rock at the back, KDB and Raheem Sterling to ruin defences with creativity and pace, and Sergio Aguero to continue to find goals for fun. The future is frightening for any fans outside of the Etihad.
Top Four: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal - Top four? That used to mean something. A quartet of potential Premier League victors. The reality now, on last season's evidence and a worrying trend of squad strengthening, is it's the top two + two.
With potency and speed up top and the best contribution from defenders in the world, Liverpool will canter to second.
Tottenham Hotspur lost 13 games last season and still finished third; I expect their form and results to improve but the position to stay the same.
Chelsea without Hazard will be interesting to watch, and a Manchester United with the most expensive defender in the world in Harry Maguire should be much improved, but I'm tipping Arsenal to complete the top four. They have a formidable strike force, have bolstered their back line with David Luiz and Kieran Tierney, and having had a season to bed in I expect Unai Emery to light a fire under his team.
Champions League: Barcelona - It's been four years since Barcelona lifted Europe's biggest prize. Two seasons in a row they've squandered huge leads in the knockouts (4-1 up at Roma in 2018, and 3-0 in favour against Liverpool this year). They showed moments of their sublime best last campaign, and surely lightning can't possibly strike thrice...
Golden boot: Mohamed Salah - Mo Salah shared the boot with teammate Sadio Mane and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season. The Egyptian King will re-establish himself this time around as the number one finisher in the Premier League.
Relegated: Newcastle, Norwich, Sheffield United - Newcastle United inexplicably said goodbye to one of the best managers in world football. Relegation will be a fitting consequence for the loss of Rafael Benitez. Norwich travel to Liverpool in the season curtain raiser - I fear the inevitable mauling they receive at Anfield will set the tone for their season. And whilst Billy Sharp is a true legend of the EFL, Sheffield United's reliance on their captain's goals is a danger given the 33-year old will have far fewer opportunities in the top flight.
Tom McGowan
Premier League Winner: Manchester City - Two seasons, two titles and 198 points. Liverpool were near perfect last season and still couldn't get past Pep Guardiola's men. Rodri gives them a viable alternative to Fernandinho, with Kevin de Bruyne injury free and set to play a major role after missing large chunks of last season. Give them the trophy now.
Top Four: Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea - Liverpool haven't added to their squad but why fix what isn't broken? The return of players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana gives them added depth behind an excellent first XI. Tottenham have, at last, brought in reinforcements. Tanguy Ndombele, in particular, is a fantastic player who should help to keep Spurs ahead of the chasing pack. Even though Eden Hazard has gone, I'd expect the calm head of Frank Lampard and a relatively settled squad to be enough to see Chelsea take fourth place.
Champions League: Manchester City - Will this be the year they finally get it done? If their big players stay injury free, especially with an early setback for Leroy Sane, I'd expect so.
Golden boot: Sergio Aguero - The Argentine has only previously finished as the Premier League's top scorer on one occasion. If he can stay fit for the whole campaign, he should repeat the feat he achieved during the 2014-15 season.
Relegated: Newcastle United, Norwich, Burnley - Newcastle doomed themselves the second Steve Bruce was appointed. The losses of Ayoze Perez, Salomon Rondon and Rafael Benitez will prove too much to overcome. Norwich performed miracles to win the Championship last season but a lot of points were gained with late goals and, sadly for the Canaries, I think the magic will run out in the Premier League. Burnley have established themselves in the top flight in recent years but the loss of captain Tom Heaton could prove costly. The experienced goalkeeper helped turn around their 2018/19 season when he returned from injury but there will be no rescue act this time around.
Dimitri Kondonis
Premier League Winner: Manchester City - It’s nigh-on impossible to look past Man City, Rodri should help them once more blow the league away. The style of football they’ve played over the last couple of years makes them the team to beat.
Top Four: Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Man United - Spurs have made some good signings and will almost certainly improve on last season while United have actually made some decent signings in Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Daniel James. Arsenal and Chelsea will both struggle due to the former’s failure to address their defence properly, while Chelsea have a transfer ban.
Champions League: Manchester City - For much the same reason they will win the league, they’ve been one of the best teams in the competition for the past couple of years and at some point they have to push through and actually win the thing.
Golden boot: Harry Kane - With the reinforcements at Spurs, Kane will find himself presented with a lot more chances this season. Chances he’ll need no second invitation to take.
Relegated: Brighton, Newcastle, Sheffield United - Brighton’s gamble on Graham Potter might backfire due to his lack of experience, Newcastle losing Rafael Benitez could be a game-changer, despite signing Joelinton. Sheffield United unfortunately just don’t have a good enough team to stay up.
Tom Homewood
Premier League Winner: Manchester City - With the addition of Rodri and Cancelo, an already incredible squad gets even better under Pep Guardiola. Coupled with a fully fit Kevin de Bruyne, I can't see anyone getting in their way.
Top Four: Man City, Liverpool, Man United, Tottenham - Liverpool are the only team that could possibly threaten City for the top spot, but I don't think the Champions of Europe can run them so close this season. United, having firmed up their defensive structure will pip a Spurs side that I think will have a dip in form/concentration this season. Arsenal haven't done enough in the transfer window and Chelsea couldn't after losing one of the best players in the league.
Champions League: Barcelona - The signings of Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann are going to give the Catalan giants the edge they need to lift the Champions League trophy for the fifth time. De Jong could finally be the missing piece of the puzzle they've been looking for for a couple of seasons.
Golden boot: Sergio Aguero - Still City's main man, playing alongside some of the greatest players the league has ever witnessed, I think this year is going to be another good one for Aguero.
Relegated: Brighton, Newcastle, Sheffield United - Another season where relegation will surely go to the wire, but Brighton and Newcastle both have the wrong men in charge to keep them up. I hope Sheffield United surprise me, but I think they'll be the club to go straight back down.
Lee Jarvis
Premier League winner - Manchester City - Manchester City’s Community Shield win on penalties at Wembley showed just how addicted Pep Guardiola’s men are to winning. After the game the Spaniard said the gap between the two sides is just ‘an inch’ and I think that will be the difference between the two in the Premier League this season.
Top Four - Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham - The top two feel set in stone, but I have a feeling Arsenal will have a better season than most predict. They have finally enjoyed a productive transfer window, and despite a couple of Spurs’ additions, I think they’ll finish exactly where they did in the last campaign.
Champions League: Manchester City - Liverpool were beaten finalists and then winners in the last two seasons, but I can’t see them winning it again this time around. The English clubs did so well in Europe’s elite competition during the last campaign, so I will go for Manchester City to win their first Champions League title.
Golden boot: Harry Kane - After a summer off and having had time to re-energise, I am going to go for Kane. I am tipping the England captain to stay injury free for the entire campaign and claim the golden boot.
Relegated: Norwich, Crystal Palace, Burnley - I’m not sure the Canaries will have the strength to stay up, I think Palace’s 12th place finish last season was a huge success, but I can’t see them repeating it with very few additions to their squad this summer. Burnley finished 15th last year but struggled for much of the campaign, after four successive seasons in the top flight, I think their time is up. I am tipping Sheffield United and Aston Villa to survive on their returns to the Premier League.
Ibrahim Mustapha
Premier League Winner: Liverpool - Yes, yes. City look pretty flawless at the moment but can they maintain the same level of consistency for a third long campaign? Also, after sweeping the board domestically, surely the priority this season is the Champions League? If that takes their focus, Liverpool will be well placed to capitalise.
Top Four: Liverpool, Manchester City, Spurs, Manchester United - Tottenham always look like they are improving and with no stadium issues hanging over their heads this season, they should secure third with ease and even put pressure on the top two. United may well default their way to fourth on account of Arsenal’s continued defensive issues and Chelsea’s three-pronged issues of a transfer ban, new manager and loss of their best player.
Champions League: Juventus - I expect the English sides to make the latter rounds and the top Spanish clubs to go deep again but I have a sneaky suspicion that Juventus will finally get their hands on the top prize. The additions of Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot will compliment Ronaldo, while Matias de Ligt will shore up an already resolute defence. And of course, there’s also the fairytale return of Gianluigi Buffon for one try at glory. Has to happen, right?
Golden boot: Raheem Sterling - Improving year on year under Pep Guardiola. No longer simply hugging the touchline, Sterling has become far more willing to get into the box and find space in dangerous areas. His finishing is getting better too so as long as he is playing, he will find himself in position to put away the many, many chances his teammates create.
Relegated: Newcastle, Sheffield United, Brighton - It feels like Rafa Benitez was the glue that held that team together. They may have finally spent some money but I can’t see Steve Bruce having enough to keep them up. The Blades will surprise people but over 38 games they’ll just miss out on safety unfortunately. Brighton were somewhat fortunate to stay up last season and despite Graham Potter’s decent career so far, the Premier League might be a bridge too far.
