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After an eventful summer with the FIFA World Cup and all the transfer market drama, the usual business has begun. Manchester United and Leicester City kick-started the 2018/19 Premier League campaign at the Old Trafford in a late kickoff on Friday.
Transfer deadline day has passed and the Premier League clubs will not be allowed to sign any more players following the vote to bring deadline day before the start of the season instead of at the end of August.
Liverpool has enjoyed a successful summer with some world-class reinforcements to their squad. The Gunners, under their new manager, Unai Emery, have made quite a few interesting signings.
The Blues were busy late in the transfer window and have made some quality signings. The u`sually busy Manchester clubs were relatively quiet this summer and Manchester United, in particular, had a really disappointing transfer window.
On that note, let’s take a look at the teams that are expected to finish in the top four this season.
#4 Chelsea
Prediction - Fourth Place
After a hugely successful 2016/17 season under the Italian, Antonio Conte, Chelsea finished fifth last season and failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Maurizio Sarri replaced Antonio Conte during the summer and he had a busy outing in the transfer window, especially during the last week.
The Blues were the second biggest spenders in the Premier League this summer with £128.6 million in player transfers. Thibaut Courtois’s departure to Real Madrid paved way for the arrival of 23-year-old Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao. The Stamford Bridge activated his huge £71 million buyout clause to make him the most expensive goalkeeper ever.
Chelsea’s other major signing this summer was Jorginho from Napoli as the Blues paid a hefty £57 million for one of the best midfielders in Europe last season. Mateo Kovacic’s arrival from Real Madrid on a loan deal completed an impressive summer for Maurizio Sarri and Chelsea.
Chelsea now have a great unit and it is all up to Sarri now to lead them to a top-four finish. Though Tottenham and Arsenal will not make it easy for them, they have enough depth and quality in the squad to overcome their threat. Prediction - Fourth Place.
#3 Manchester United
Prediction - Third Place
Though Manchester United finished second in the 2017/18 Premier League campaign, they were a big disappointment in the UEFA Champions League. Jose Mourinho’s side struggled to match Pep’s Manchester City and finished 19 points behind their arch-rivals in the league last season.
When everyone expected quite a few quality signings at the Old Trafford, it turned out to be a massive letdown for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United fans. The Red Devils’ only big-money signing this summer was the arrival of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of around £52 million.
Mourinho’s search for a center-back and a right winger ended without any success. Jerome Boateng, Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, and Willian were all targeted but none of the deal materialized. Though they have some phenomenal players like Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, and Romelu Lukaku, lack of quality defenders and transfer market failure will cost them a top-two place. A third-place finish is highly likely.
#2 Liverpool
Prediction - Second Place
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool revolution is getting better and better. The Reds are the biggest spenders in the summer transfer market with £170.8 million. Though they finished third in the Premier League last season, they reached the finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool have become an exciting unit under Jurgen Klopp and defeated Manchester City thrice last season. They have made some great signings this summer. Fabinho joined in a £43million deal from Monaco, and the Brazilian goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, arrived in a £65million deal from AS Roma.
Naby Keita, one of Bundesliga’s best midfielders, arrived for a fee of around £52.75 million. Liverpool completed their spending spree with the signing of Xherdan Shaqiri. Jurgen Klopp has one of the strongest squad in Europe and they are a force to reckon with this season. Though they have enough ammunition to challenge Manchester City, City’s consistency will be hard to match.
#1 Manchester City
Prediction - Champions
The defending Champions enter into the 2018/19 season as one of the strong favorites to retain the Premier League title. They finished with 100 points last season, which is a Premier League record.
They were a dominant force last season with 106 goals in 38 league games. They already have one of the most devastating squads in Europe with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane, and Raheem Sterling.
Though Manchester City had a relatively quiet transfer window, they have managed to strengthen their squad with the signing of Riyad Maharez. The Algerian international arrived at the Etihad in a £60 million deal from Leicester City. With a world-class side at his disposal, Pep Guardiola could lead them to their back to back Premier League titles.
