As the 2018/19 Premier League season is about to get underway – I go through each team and give my thoughts on where I think they will finish in the league this season.
20th – Cardiff City
The team who finished second in the Championship last season, I think will last just one season in the top flight before they go straight back down. They will not go down without a fight, as is the norm with all Neil Warnock teams, but will go down nonetheless.
19th – Huddersfield Town
David Wagner’s team had a great season last time out, their first in the Premier League, and at times played some hugely entertaining football. They had some brilliant results at The John Smith’s Stadium, and will be looking to build on that this time around. Unfortunately, I think they will end up dropping back down into the Championship.
18th – Watford
With the departure of Richarlison, and not much else coming into the football club, I think Watford are going to struggle this season, and with the board liking management changes, who knows who will be in charge come the end of the Season, and in my opinion, into the Championship next season.
17th – Fulham
I believe Fulham have strengthened significantly to stay up this season, they’ve made some fantastic additions to the squad with Mitrovic and Schurrle coming in. I feel they will just have enough to stay up… Just.
16th – Newcastle United
Depending on whether Rafa Benitez gets the players he is after in the remainder of this window in my opinion will determine Newcastle’s season. The squad is largely unchanged from last season, but I feel that turmoil off the pitch will have some consequences on it, and the team will suffer as a result. It could be a rocky road for Newcastle this season, they may flirt with relegation, but will be fine.
15th – Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton had a decent first season in the Premier League, and I feel that Chris Houghton’s astute business in the transfer market has been enough for Brighton to be save again this season.
14th – Crystal Palace
Some brilliant signings from Roy Hodgson, and a great team togetherness along with a manager with a wealth of experience, I can see a decent season for Palace, with some big results and a decent finish between the bottom and mid table.
13th – Bournemouth
Eddie Howe’s men have so far given a great account of themselves in the first two seasons in the Premier League. This season I see no different, If they can turn The Vitality into a fortress, and keep the likes of Defoe, Ibe and Wilson banging in goals, they will be just fine.
12th – Southampton
Mark Hughes has not done a great deal of business in the transfer window so far, but the addition of Jannick Vestergaard to the back line will help to fill some of the void left by Virgil Van Dijk. I think a mid-table finish will be a pretty good season for The Saints.
11th – Leicester City
Premier League Champions two seasons ago, Leicester haven’t looked the same team since, but with some of the quality they have they will have a good mid table finish, if as expected, Harry Maguire is to join Man United, then Leicester will need to bring in another Centre-Half to replace him, I feel this uncertainty will mean they fall to 11th.
10th – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Some fantastic business from Wolves, bringing in the likes of Portugal internationals Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho. The way they strolled to the Championship Title last season was frightening, and there is no reason why they can’t build on that and have a fantastic season by finishing Halfway up the table come May.
9th – Burnley
The Europa League could hamper Burnley, and as they don’t have the biggest of squads, this could come back to bite Burnley, I don’t think they will be anywhere near the bottom of the table, but I also don’t think they will be as high as they finished last season, I feel that the further they go in Europe, the further they will fall down the league, however the signings of Joe Hart and Ben Gibson looks like some good business from Sean Dyche.
8th – West Ham United
Wow! What a transfer window, some absolutely superb additions to the West Ham team from Manuel Pellegrini, building on the squad that Slaven Bilic, and then David Moyes had assembled, he will get the best out of the players he already had there and has added a sprinkling of quality in the form of Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmelenko, West Ham could be set for one of their best seasons in a long time, possibly a good Cup run, they could well sneak into Europe via that route, and I believe will just miss out on league position.
7th – Everton
Marco Silva has picked up the scraps left by Sam Allardyce and Ronald Koeman/David Unsworth before him. He has added to the squad bringing Richarlison in from Watford and Lucas Digne to provide competition at Full-Back. I believe that Everton will have enough quality to have a fantastic season, and with a very ambitious manager, I don’t think this will be a short term project, a solid seventh place finish will be a great start.
6th – Tottenham
The only London team in the Champions League also have a new home to get used to. Pochettino has not yet added to his squad, and there are more linked with leaving the club than arriving. Tottenham could struggle, but I think they’re too good to finish below 6th.
5th – Chelsea
Once shoo-ins to win the league every season, it’s my opinion that Chelsea will struggle this season, as it brings another new manager, another new set of tactics, and another few additions to the squad. Keeping Eden Hazard is important for them to finish fifth, without him, they may struggle massively. There is also the goalkeeping situation with Courtois going AWOL, leaving only Willy Caballero and veteran Rob Green as the recognised senior keepers. Don’t be surprised for another to join them.
4th – Arsenal
New manager, same story, Unai Emery’s first season at Arsenal I think will end in a fourth place finish, and once again dine at Europe’s top table next season. The additions to the backline looks to have solidified their defence somewhat. I think, with the addition of Europa League football this season, Fourth and a good European campaign, will be seen as a great season
3rd – Man United
The current United squad have enough quality to challenge for a Champions League spot, but I think will finish a fair way behind their two biggest rivals. I can see Mourinho being a managerial casualty before the January window, and the new man could well propel United up the table and into third.
2nd – Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp did his business early, and with no nonsence, he pinpointed his targets, and he got his men! He just needs to get them to gel on the pitch, with a fantastic depth to his squad, there is no reason that Liverpool cannot finish as the closest challengers to Man City, and even go on a good FA Cup run. But I still think they will end the season with just the eighteen league titles to their name.
CHAMPIONS – Man City
I can’t see anyone getting close to City, they haven’t done much to the squad since last season, the addition of new record signing Riyad Mahrez from Leicester will only benefit the rest of their squad. Don’t be surprised to see City breaking more records this season.
Keep checking back at the halfway point in the season to see how my predictions are going.
You can find more football content on RebNoise.com and on our YouTube channel so don’t forget to subscribe! Don’t forget to check out the Talk and Beans World Cup podcast specials and check out more from Rebellious Noise on all of our Social outlets.