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Ian Darke
Squads are taking form quick forward of the Premier League curtain being raised in 9 days’ time, when Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield.
Previews are all the time difficult enterprise. A 12 months in the past, who thought Liverpool could be champions, Manchester City would misfire and Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur would end fifteenth and seventeenth, respectively? However, it is enjoyable to look forward, even with some necessary enterprise to be carried out earlier than the switch window closes on Sept. 1.
– From Real Madrid to Man United, have last season’s issues been fixed?
– How players are using data in contract negotiations
– Breaking down the FC 100: Which clubs were best represented? Who made the list for the 9th straight year?
Listed here are my ideas on every Premier League membership forward of the brand new season.
Arsenal
Final season: 2nd place, 74 factors
After three successive runners-up finishes, the Gunners have a sensible probability to go one higher. Having already boasted the league’s finest protection final season — conceding simply 34 targets — they’ve now considerably strengthened their assault. A lot will rely on whether or not Viktor Gyökeres can carry his spectacular scoring for Sporting CP in Portugal (45 targets in all competitions final season) to the Premier League. Noni Madueke, who joined from Chelsea, might additionally make a huge impact.
Aston Villa
Final season: sixth place, 66 factors
Cash appears somewhat tighter, and most switch hypothesis surrounds striker Ollie Watkins or goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Nonetheless, Villa have reportedly agreed a £30 million cope with Nice for Ivory Coast striker Evann Guessand, who scored 12 targets in Ligue 1 final season. That is nonetheless a robust squad, however success within the Europa League is perhaps extra life like than a top-five end.
Bournemouth
Final season: ninth place, 56 factors
They misplaced heart again Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid and left again Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, whereas heart again Illia Zabarnyi is on Paris Saint-Germain‘s radar, too. How they fill these defensive gaps can be essential, however don’t rule out extra surprises from vivid younger boss Andoni Iraola.
Brentford
Final season: tenth place, 56 factors
This has been an alarming summer time for Bees followers, with the lack of head coach Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, prime scorer Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and midfield anchor Christian Nørgaard to Arsenal. Yoane Wissa, who scored 19 targets within the final marketing campaign, might depart, too. A baptism of fireside awaits new boss Keith Andrews.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Final season: eighth place, 61 factors
João Pedro‘s transfer to Chelsea leaves a gap, however a raft of low-key arrivals, similar to striker Charalambos Kostoulas and left again Maxim De Cuyper, might grow to be future stars within the latest Brighton custom. The Seagulls nonetheless have sufficient expertise for his or her season to go effectively, particularly in midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Burnley
Final season: Promoted from the Championship
That they had the meanest protection within the land — simply 16 targets conceded in 46 video games — as they bounced again up from the Championship beneath Scott Parker. England veteran Kyle Walker headlines 10 new summer time signings as they put together for what ought to be a grueling marketing campaign. They are going to be combating latest historical past, which says promoted golf equipment return down, however this membership has defied the critics earlier than.
Chelsea
Final season: 4th place, 69 factors
Buoyed by successful the Club World Cup, Chelsea are maturing quick and have prime expertise like Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo. João Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato all appear to be good signings. They are going to be title contenders until their summer time exertions take a toll.
0:55
What’s going to Jorrel Hato’s position be at Chelsea?
Steve Nicol reacts to Chelsea’s settlement to signal 19-year-old defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax.
Crystal Palace
Final season: twelfth place, 53 factors
The FA Cup winners have the standard to shock if they will deal with Thursday nights in Europe and hold Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marc Guéhi and Adam Wharton on board. In that regard, they’re praying for the switch window to close.
Everton
Final season: thirteenth place, 48 factors
With the opening of their posh new floor, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, they should rapidly make it really feel like residence. New striker Thierno Barry, signed from Villarreal for £27 million, bought 11 LaLiga targets final season. Supervisor David Moyes wants him to succeed and for different switch targets to be signed. However Moyes has a Midas contact with the Toffees. The temper is upbeat.
Fulham
Final season: eleventh place, 54 factors
5 losses of their previous final seven video games on the finish of the season ended their European hopes, they usually have been quiet in the summertime, solely signing a backup goalkeeper from Ligue 1 (Benjamin Lecomte from Montpellier, who have been relegated). However this stays a helpful squad with a great coach in Marco Silva. With some late additions, they will not be pushovers for anybody.
Leeds United
Final season: Promoted from the Championship
Final season’s Championship title winners (on purpose distinction over Burnley), Leeds have strengthened a squad accustomed to top-flight soccer by including helpful gamers like midfielder Sean Longstaff, robust Serie A defender Jaka Bijol and Brazilian keeper Lucas Perri. Supervisor Daniel Farke is perhaps wiser from earlier struggles at this degree with Norwich Metropolis in 2019. They want prime scorer Joël Piroe (19 league targets final season) and speedy Daniel James to prosper and provides them the firepower to win sufficient video games.
Liverpool
Final season: 1st place, 84 factors
The Premier League champions have been on a £300 million summer time spending spree, and they may not be completed but. The Reds rightly are favorites to retain their crown, with just a few potential points: getting a new-look staff to gel, integrating their star arrivals (particularly Florian Wirtz, Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong), discovering extra defensive cowl and dealing via the incalculable toll on the membership from the tragic dying of Diogo Jota.
Manchester City
Final season: third place, 71 factors
They’re determined to indicate that final season was only a blip. The staff has been refreshed considerably previously two home windows — Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rayan Cherki are just a few of their new arrivals — and crucially, Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is again to anchor the midfield. However there’s a slight suspicion that this staff continues to be in transition.
Manchester United
Final season: fifteenth place, 42 factors
Issues can solely get higher, and now comes the acid take a look at for supervisor Ruben Amorim. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha will carry targets (35 mixed within the league final season) and match completely into Amorim’s beloved 3-4-2-1, and a brand new striker may very well be on the way in which. However United want contemporary legs and vitality in midfield, in addition to a change of tradition. A top-six end is the minimal requirement.
1:40
Hislop: Amorim is doing ‘the very best he can’ at Man United
Shaka Hislop and Craig Burley debate whether or not Manchester United’s optimistic preseason will change their outlook for the upcoming Premier League marketing campaign.
Newcastle United
Final season: fifth place, 66 factors
The Magpies should really feel like a jilted lover with star striker Alexander Isak wanting out amid hyperlinks with Liverpool and rebuffs from switch targets Hugo Ekitike and James Trafford. Winger Anthony Elanga provides Olympian velocity, however supervisor Eddie Howe is in a jam if the membership loses Isak, although a bid has been submitted for RB Leipzig‘s Benjamin Sesko (although there’s competitors from Man United). The squad wants extra depth with a Champions League marketing campaign to barter.
Nottingham Forest
Final season: seventh place, 65 factors
Protecting the superb No. 10 Morgan Gibbs-White out of the clutches of Spurs is the important thing piece of summer time enterprise. Nonetheless, they could wrestle to repeat final season’s heroics, particularly with European matches added to their schedule. Tactical tweaks is perhaps wanted, too, as a result of groups began to determine Forest on the again finish of final season.
Sunderland
Final season: Promoted from the Championship
They pulled off an actual coup in signing vastly skilled midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen to guide a younger squad. Winger Simon Adingra and Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra are different good additions. However the Black Cats are up in opposition to it, as six of the previous 10 Championship playoff winners did not keep away from relegation.
Tottenham Hotspur
Final season: seventeenth place, 38 factors
Can Thomas Frank carry his Brentford magic to an even bigger stage? The likeable Dane is wise and tactically versatile, however the Spurs gig isn’t a straightforward one, and Frank has to instill a successful mentality right into a staff that misplaced 22 top-flight video games final season regardless of successful the Europa League. The departure of membership legend Son Heung-Min and a doubtlessly long-term damage to James Maddison can be an actual problem to navigate.
0:56
The numbers behind Son Heung-min’s legendary Tottenham profession
Check out the numbers behind Son Heung-min’s legendary Tottenham profession after he introduced he is leaving the membership after nearly 10 years.
West Ham United
Final season: 14th place, 43 factors
Hammers followers have been bored and disillusioned with final season’s no-show. The strain is on head coach Graham Potter to show he’s the person to vary the temper. Captain Jarrod Bowen and participant of the 12 months Aaron Wan-Bissaka stood out, however new recruits are wanted elsewhere so as to add tempo and dynamism.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Final season: sixteenth place, 42 factors
Head coach Vitor Pereira’s pub celebrations with the fans have been an indication of the spirit that lifted Wolves away from hassle final season. The protection improved markedly, however they’ve misplaced two key gamers in Cunha (to Man United) and Ait-Nouri (to Man Metropolis) — an actual concern in such a robust division. High quality replacements are wanted.