Premier League 2018/19: Five Predictions for the New Season 

The Premier League season is nearly upon us, and after a record-breaking season last year, the English top flight looks as though it could be even more exciting this season.

After dominating the division last year, Manchester City will be hoping to retain their trophy this season but will face tough competition from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United, all of whom have had interesting summers.

The division will also welcome Cardiff, Fulham, and Wolves back, and all three sides will be hoping to make an impact after a Summer of big spending.

The Premier League season is one of the most exciting in the world, so let's take a look at five things that might happen in the coming nine months.

1: A much closer title race

Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his Liverpool side can fight for the title this season

Manchester City's performance in the 17/18 season will go down as the greatest in Premier League history.

The Manchester Club, managed by Pep Guardiola, set all sorts of records on the way to their third Premier League title. The club managed to secure a record 100 points, dropping only 14 points all season.

Manchester City's nearest competitors were Manchester United, who finished on 81 points, 19 points behind their city rivals.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side look the most likely to challenge City this season. The five-time Champions League winners have spent very well in the transfer window, and if they can keep Mo Salah firing on all cylinders, then they should be able to really take the title race to the wire.

That being said, City are still likely to win the league again. Guardiola has managed to keep the same side from last season and has boosted his team's attacking options with the addition of Riyad Mahrez.

2: Arsenal will return to fourth place

Unai Emery will help take Arsenal back to the Champions League

Arsenal are entering a Premier League season without Arsene Wenger as their manager for the first time in 22 years. The iconic French manager left the club at the end of last season and has been replaced by former Sevilla manager, Unai Emery.

This season will be one of the most interesting in recent memory for Arsenal and fans will probably have lower expectations as they prepare for what will likely be a transitional season.

The Gunners finished 6th last season, 12 points off the Champions League places and Emery will be keen to get Arsenal back among the big boys in Europe this year.

With Jose Mourinho having a crisis at Manchester United, and Chelsea also having a new manager, Arsenal should be able to take back their usual fourth place finish this campaign.

3: Wolves and Fulham will be in the top half, Cardiff will be relegated

Wolves will be hoping to carry their momentum into the Premier League

For the first time in several years, not all of the teams who have been promoted are being tipped for relegation this season. In fact, two of the three teams, Fulham and Wolves, are among the biggest spenders in the league this season. Cardiff, on the other hand, don't look as though they are going to fare too well.

Wolves' penchant for Portuguese players has seen them sign Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho in two of the most impressive transfers of the Summer, while Fulham have brought in the likes of Mitrovic and Andre Schurrle.

Both team's managers will no doubt insist that survival is their aim, but given the amount of cash both teams have spent, there is a fair chance they could push into the top half. Amazingly, some bookmakers have Wolves down as seventh favourites to win the league this campaign.

Cardiff have not spent anywhere near as well, and they look to have a real battle to stay on their hands to stay in the Premier League. Warnock did an excellent job at getting the Bluebirds into the top flight last year, but like their last visit to the Premier League, this one probably won't last very long.

4: Burnley will be involved in a relegation scrap

Burnley's run in Europe could prove costly

Burnley's seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season was one of the best stories in English football last year.

Hotly tipped for relegation, Sean Dyche's men defied all the odds and will ply their trade in the Europa League this season as a result, if they manage to qualify.

Unfortunately, this may prove to be too much for the Lancashire side, and a fixture overload is likely to see them struggle throughout their domestic campaign.

Dyche is an excellent manager, one of the most underrated in the top flight, but his side will be stretched this season, and while they have made good signings, they could soon find themselves scrapping it out down the wrong end of the table.

5: Jose Mourinho will leave Manchester United

The pressure is starting to mount on Jose Mourinho

You don't have to have a masters in psychology to see that Jose Mourinho is clearly not happy at Manchester United.

The former Chelsea boss has been openly negative about several things at the club during pre-season, and his failure to capture a proven centre-back on the final day of the transfer window will no doubt just add to his woes.

Mourinho looks more and more dishevelled every time he appears in front of a camera, and he is channelling the spirit of his final months at Chelsea right now. His inability to accept blame will no doubt see fans turn against him if the club don't get off to a strong start, and with so much negativity surrounding Old Trafford right now, it seems probable that he will not be in the dugout come the end of the campaign.