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Following one of the closest Premier League races in recent history, the English top-flight is set to return for a new season this Friday as Liverpool will kick off the fixtures by hosting Norwich City.
Members of England's Big Six are scrambling for signings as the summer transfer window nears its end in the hopes of putting genuine challenges for the top four spots and ultimately, the league title.
In this article, we attempt to predict how six of the country's top sides will fare in the upcoming campaign. Will Manchester City make it a three-peat under Pep Guardiola? Will Liverpool end their decades-long drought to win the league? Who will qualify for Champions League football? Let's dive right in...
#6 Chelsea
Chelsea will head into the new season with a new manager following the departure of Maurizio Sarri. Prior to his exit, the Italian manager ensured Champions League football for the Blues with a third-place finish in the Premier League and a Europa League title.
The Blues brigade aren't too disappointed with the departure as they never truly bonded with the former Napoli manager and the appointment of club legend, Frank Lampard, has done much to ease any panic.
Unfortunately, Lampard will be walking into a Chelsea that is facing a two-window transfer ban from FIFA, with the only signing being Christian Pulisic, who signed a deal from Borussia Dortmund back in January. The American winger will likely require more time to not only adapt to the tactics employed by Lampard but also the physical intensity of the Premier League.
This means the English manager will be highly dependent on the club's youth players, with the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount expected to play a bigger role in the squad this season.
The time that it will take for the squad to adapt to Lampard's ways, together with the departure of Chelsea's best player, Eden Hazard, who left for Real Madrid this summer, will further dampen their chances of finishing in the top four this season.
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#5 Manchester United
Manchester United endured a horrendous campaign last term as Jose Mourinho failed to deliver his winning ways with a team that was growing disillusioned with his tactics. The controversial Portuguese manager was sacked in December making way for Ole Gunnar Solskjær to take over.
The Norwegian may have orchestrated a domestic winning streak that put the Red Devils on the cusp of Champions League football, but a late collapse saw them finish at sixth place.
The Red Devils have made a few key signings this summer, with winger Daniel James, centre-back Harry Maguire and right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka undoubtedly set to influence games this season.
However, the club's relationship with its current players could prove to be fatal for them in the long run. Paul Pogba has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid and is reported to be very keen on an Old Trafford exit. The transfer fee that United are asking for the midfielder's services is, however, too high for the Spanish giants and this disagreement will prove to be a complication in the long run.
Romelu Lukaku is another player who has been routinely linked with a move away from the club. There is a proposed swap deal in place involving Lukaku and Juventus' Paulo Dybala but it remains to be seen how the saga will pan out especially since the latter is not keen on leaving Italy.
If Solskjær proves to be worthy of the managerial role in his first full season as United boss, the club could slither their way back into the top four but as things stand with the transitional Red Devils, it is looking unlikely.
#4 Arsenal
Arsenal ushered in a new era last term as legendary manager Arsene Wenger stepped down from his role at the club and made way for Unai Emery to take his place.
The Gunners initially looked like the favorites to qualify for Champions League football last season but their routine collapse in April, which saw them lose three consecutive games at a time when their rivals were losing points, saw them finishing at fifth place at the end of the campaign. They further lost the Europa League final to London rivals Chelsea to finish their season empty-handed.
The reverse can be said of their summer transfer window as the club spent over £100 million despite earlier reports suggesting Emery had a restricted budget of £45 million.
The Gunners have made some impressive signings having procured the services of Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli for £6 million, centre-half William Saliba for £27 million, Real Madrid's midfielder Dani Ceballos on loan for £15 million and right-winger Nicolas Pépé for a record £73 million.
However, the team's defence, which has been in shambles for years, is yet to be strengthened as Saliba has been loaned out to his former club St. Etienne for the season. If Emery does not improve his backline before the window closes, the club might risk losing crucial points before the return of injured Hector Bellerin.
It is to be noted that the Gunners finished a single point away from rivals Tottenham Hotspur despite their collapse in the later stages of the previous season. Should they manage to avoid a similar collapse, they could finally find themselves in the top four and bid goodbye to the Europa League.
#3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a great 2018-19 season despite starting the campaign with players exhausted from their FIFA World Cup responsibilities. Mauricio Pochettino's men finished at fourth place in the Premier League and were surprise finalists in the Champions League, where they were defeated by eventual winners, Liverpool.
The loss of right-back Kieran Trippier, who left for Atletico Madrid this summer, will undoubtedly have an adverse effect on the Spurs defence but it remains to be seen how Pochettino will choose to replace the English regular.
Following a series of quiet summer transfer windows, the addition of Tanguy Ndombele, for a club-record £65 million, will surely strengthen the squad, particularly in the midfield which already boasts of the likes of Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko, Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier.
Furthermore, the impressive attacking options within the squad will likely help the Spurs to secure a top-four finish as they work to improve their standings in the league.
#2 Liverpool
Liverpool enjoyed a scintillating campaign under Jurgen Klopp last season and helped make the Premier League race one of the closest and most intense in recent history.
The Reds may have finished a single point behind winners, Manchester City, but they could bask in the fact that they hauled a staggering 97 points in the process.
The Merseyside outfit made up for their 'loss' by winning the UEFA Champions League with a win over Tottenham Hotspur in the finals at Madrid. They are, however, likely to be most remembered for their spectacular comeback against Barcelona during the semi-finals, where they overturned their three-goal deficit against the Catalan giants to progress to the final.
Liverpool witnessed a quiet summer transfer window which could backfire much later in the season. The club, however, still boasts of having one of the most well-rounded squads in Europe with FIFA Best Men's Player nominees Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk mixing in with the likes of Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson, and Roberto Firmino.
It would be unreasonable to expect the same kind of brilliance from the Reds this season but the fact remains that they look like the only club that could overthrow Manchester City. Liverpool's desire for the Premier League title may be higher than ever, but Pep Guardiola's City looks set to stay at the top.
#1 Manchester City
Manchester City remain the heavy favorites to make it a three-peat in the Premier League owing to the phenomenal squad Pep Guardiola possesses.
Belgian maestro Kevin de Bruyne is set to return to the team after missing more than half of the 2018-19 campaign. He will join the likes of Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane in another effort to continue their reign of dominance in England.
The addition of highly-rated Rodri for a club-record transfer fee of £64m will further bolster their midfield while the signing of young left-back Angelino will provide them with more options at defence.
It is to be noted that Manchester City managed to win the Premier League title even with their fiercest competitors, Liverpool, breathing down their necks by accumulating a massive 97 points.
Guardiola's team is simply immense and will likely finish the season as English champions for the third consecutive time, while they chase the elusive UEFA Champions League trophy.
