5 Premier League teams and the positions they need to fix

The 2018/2019 Premier League season has come and gone with Manchester City crowned as champions. Pep Guardiola’s team were made to work hard this term by the excellence of the re-imagined Liverpool side.

After adding a few brilliant (and very expensive) players to the team, Jurgen Klopp’s team pushed the Cityzens all the way. Despite its many struggles, Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri was able to get a UCL spot in the Italian’s first season at the club.

Tottenham and Arsenal also struggled to keep the pressure on the top two. Despite not buying players, Spurs were able to get 4th place while also making it to their maiden UCL final.

Under a new manager, Unai Emery, Arsenal’s away form was abominable and ultimately cost them a UCL spot. They will look to make it to the showpiece event as Europa League winners when they face Chelsea in the UEL final in Baku.

All these clubs including the top two have certain areas that would need strengthening in the summer transfer window and here's a look at them:

#1 Arsenal (Wingers)

Arsenal's lack of wing play hampered Ozil

Emery's first season as Arsenal boss may end with a Europa League trophy in Baku, Azerbaijan on May 29. However, the very meticulous Spaniard would have been left frustrated by certain aspects of his team's play in the 2018/2019 season. Defensively, the team was a joke especially away from home and the centre-back position will need fixing.

However, the lack of pace and invention down the flanks is a major issue as well. Arsenal under Arsene Wenger always played with wingers who offered speed and the option of stretching defences.

However, the wholesale departure of these wingers over the last two years has left the Gunners bereft of quality in this position. The unavailability of players who could stretch play forced Emery to push his fullbacks; Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac & Maitland-Niles further forward.

Given the relative lack of pace for Monreal, Bellerin's injury issues, Kolasinac's brain farts amongst others, it usually left the defence exposed. Mesut Ozil also failed to thrive as he didn't have options down the flanks, with Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan desperately disappointing.

Names like Nicolas Pepe (Lille OSC), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth) and Leonardo Trossard (RKC Genk) are some of the names that have been linked to the team.

#2 Tottenham Hotspur (Central Midfield)

Andre Gomes is rumoured to be on his way to the club

If Spurs were to win the UEFA Champions League final on June 1, manager Mauricio Pochettino would be deserving of a statue outside the brand new stadium.

This is because that feat has been achieved in what should ordinarily have been a horrendous season for the Lilywhites. Stadium delays, absence of signings and wholesale injuries to players were a common theme for the club.

They barely managed to hold on to 4th spot thanks in part to the incompetence of Arsenal and Manchester United. The club knows that whatever happens in Madrid in the final, money will need to be spent next season.

The team's central midfielders were dropping like flies in the just concluded Premier League campaign. Harry Winks, Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama, Dele Alli were injured for significant swathes of the season. Moussa Sissoko stepped up brilliantly but the position is one that will need reinforcing particularly if Christian Eriksen makes the rumoured move to Real Madrid.

Andre Gomes (Barcelona) and Youri Tielemans (AS Monaco) are two of the names that have been linked to the side.

#3 Chelsea (Striker)

Chelsea will need good strikers to cope with the potential loss of Hazard

It has been a curious season at Stamford Bridge. The initial optimism surrounding the arrival of Sarriball quickly dissipated into restlessness and angst among Chelsea supporters.

Sarri came across as stubborn and unwilling to change as the team looked laboured and incapable of anything spectacular. Thanks to the electric form of Eden Hazard as well as the erratic form of the teams who competed for the UCL spots, the Blues did manage to get 3rd place.

However, the shambolic displays of all the team's strikers mean that there is huge work to be done. Gonzalo Higuain's loan deal has been a failure and will probably not be renewed.

Olivier Giroud has been a joke of a striker in league football but almost Messi-like in the Europa League where he has 10 goals. Alvaro Morata has done relatively well on loan at Atletico Madrid and will most likely be signed permanently by the Spaniards.

The futures of Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham are uncertain as both players do not look likely to play any part under the Italian manager. With the transfer ban looming, the Blues will need to be quick to sign a new striker otherwise next season could be disastrous.

The exit of Hazard to Real Madrid looks almost certain, This has made getting in a reliable goalscorer an even bigger priority. Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt) has been linked but a lot will depend on the ban and Hazard's future.

#4 Liverpool (Playmaker)

Klopp would not want another "nearly" season again

So close and yet so far, this was the story of Liverpool's 2018/2019 Premier League campaign. After strengthening the team in the summer of 2018, the Reds set about quickly establishing their title credentials.

A great goalkeeper, a mean defence and an amazing attack contributed to the team achieving the third-highest points total in a Premier League season. This was not enough to get them that elusive title. They will have to console themselves with the UCL title if they can overcome Spurs.

Fabinho has added steel, defensive nous and a bit of flair to the midfield and Georginio Wijnaldum has grown in leaps and bounds this season. However, in certain tight games, the team has missed incisive passing and creativity from midfield.

The absence of Philippe Coutinho is barely felt any longer but the team will need to adequately replace his skill set if they are to overcome the Cityzens in the 2019/2020 season.

There has been less of the old gegenpressing and a more measured approach to play. However, in the key games where the team dropped points (against Leicester City, West Ham, Everton and Manchester United), a creative midfielder made all the difference.

Naby Keita was expected to add that spark but a true creative player will be needed to play behind the front three of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Nabil Fekir remains the name most heavily linked to the Anfield side while Youri Tielemans (AS Monaco) and Ruben Neves (Wolves) have also been mentioned.

#5 Manchester City (Central Midfielder)

Fernandinho will need to be managed carefully next season

Despite the injury that saw him miss out on the last games of the season, it was another stellar campaign for the 34-year-old Brazilian international. He was near faultless this past season as his tackling, intelligent shielding of the ball and passing were critical to the Sky Blues' title win.

While a lot has been made in the press about his consistent use of tactical fouling to stop opponents from threatening the defence, that takes away from the excellence of Fernandinho who has been the standout defensive midfielder in English football since Guardiola arrived in 2017.

Surely, he cannot be expected to play that many games again next season. Ilkay Gundogan deputized superbly but the donkey work is not something he excels at.

The Manchester City hierarchy will need to add a younger, fitter version who could do the donkey work of a defensive midfielder while being able to recycle possession and start attacks as Guardiola demands of his midfielders.

Douglas Luiz has been decent on loan at Girona in the Spanish La Liga. He could be an in-house option to complement his senior Brazilian colleague. Rodri (Atletico Madrid) and Tanguy Ndombele (Olympique Lyonnais) are two of the outside names that have been mentioned.