PREMIER LEAGUE AFTER THE PANDEMIC

Who will be at the Top 10 of Premier League football after the Corona Virus Pandemic???

The world’s best football league is coming back...

The last premier league game that was played in this season was Leicester City playing against Aston Villa on 10th of March 2020. Since then we have not witnessed any football until the Bundesliga resumed in May. Once the Bundesliga has started, the Europe’s top 5 leagues too announced when the season will resume after COVID-19 Pandemic except for Ligue-1 which announced Paris Saint German as the crowned champions. The Premier League will resume on 17th of June with Aston Villa playing against Sheffield United and Manchester City playing against Arsenal. In this article, let’s see which teams will finish in the Top 10 of the points table after 98 days of no Premier League football from my view.

1) LIVERPOOL.

Liverpool is now comfortably sitting at the top of the points table with a lead of 25 points over the second placed Manchester City who has a game in hand. I think the Liverpool fans are the ones who prayed for the league to return soon as they have been waiting for 30 long years for a Premier League title. After a shocking exit from the Champions League and the FA Cup, the full focus for Liverpool will be on the Premier League only. So they will try to finish the Premier League in a grand manner with many records still to follow for them. I think Jurgen Klopp will work the remainder of the season thinking about the next season and the summer transfer window approaching to attract many players.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Everton (A), Manchester City (A), Arsenal (A), Chelsea (H)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Virgil Van Dijk, Alisson, Mohammed Salah, Trent Alexander Arnold, Sadio Mane.

2) MANCHESTER CITY.

The defending champions Manchester City is currently at the second place and will finish the league as runners-up behind Liverpool. As they are facing a potential Champions League ban from next season, I think their primary concern will be towards Champions League only. They will try to hold their players if they face a ban. Already winning the EFL Cup and still in the title race for FA Cup, Pep Guardiola’s team will try to decorate their trophy cabinet with more trophies.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Arsenal (H), Chelsea (A), Liverpool (H)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez.

3) LEICESTER CITY.

Under Brandan Rogers, the Foxes have been performing well this season. Even when Harry Maguire left for Manchester United for a big amount, they have built a very good defense in the form of Jonny Evans and Caslar Soyuncu. They will concentrate on not to lose games cheaply and they will continue performing in a way they are used to perform. They are also in the last 8 of the FA Cup. According to me, Leicester City will finish 3rd in the Premier League points table and will qualify for the Champions League.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Arsenal (A), Sheffield United (H), Tottenham (A), Manchester United (H)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Ben Chilwell, James Maddison, Jamie Vardy, Wilfred Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira

  

4) MANCHESTER UNITED.

Manchester United has been the Robin hoods so for this season… Getting points against the top ranked teams and giving points to the bottom ranked teams. According to me, their primary concern is towards qualifying for the Champions League even if Manchester City’s ban is not imposed. With Europa League still to go and in the quarter finals of the FA Cup, Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer will try to bring back trophies to the Red Devils. The Red Devils will be boosted upon with the return of Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford. Winter signings Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo added fire power to their attack like their summer signings Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan Bissaka and Daniel James. Young talents like Mason Greenwood, James Garner and Brandon Williams are in a great form. According to me, Manchester United will finish 4th in the Premier League.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Tottenham (A), Sheffield United (H), Leicester City (A).

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Harry Maguire, David de Gea, Mason Greenwood, Aaron Wan Bissaka

5) CHELSEA.

     Under Frank Lampard, the Blues performance is full of highs and lows this season. They were not performing at a consistent rate. But their performance has to appreciated as they have had a transfer ban for 1 year and they built a youthful side with Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour etc., Already signing Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner for the next season, they will concentrate more on the European Competition spot. They are also in the last 8 of FA Cup and still in the Champions League also trailing to Bayern Munich by 3 goals. According to me, the Blues will finish 5th in the points table and qualify for the Champions League if Manchester City faces a potential Champions League ban.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Manchester City (H), Sheffield United (A), Liverpool (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Kepa Arrizabalaga, N’Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount.

6) SHEFFIELD UNITED

     The newly promoted Sheffield United is so far the new find of the season. Under Chris Wilder, they have performing so well and they are now becoming the contenders for a European spot. The Blades has been a tough side to beat in their home. With no any big names in the squad, with a 3-5-2 formation, they have been performing beyond their ranks. Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson has been their spotlight so far this season. They are also in the last 8 of the FA Cup. According to me, they will try to continue with the way they perform and they will finish 6th in the points table.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Manchester United (A), Tottenham (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Chelsea (H), Leicester City (A), Everton (H)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: John Fleck, Lys Mousset, Dean Henderson, Billy Sharp

7) WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

    The Wolves are always a nightmare to the Top-6 clubs. After showing a great performance in the previous season, in this season also the Wolves performed well under Nuno Espirito Santo. They are still there in the Europa League. They will continue to perform in the same way they have performed in the past. According to me, the Wolves will finish 7th in the Premier League.  

TRICKY FIXTURES: Arsenal (H), Sheffield United (A), Everton (H), Chelsea (A)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez, Diogo Jota, Adama Traore

8) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

     The Spurs performance has been inconsistent so far this season. After sacking Mauricio Pochettino, under their new manager Jose Mourinho, they have failed to perform at their levels. They have been knocked out of all the other domestic competitions and the Champions League. As Harry Kane is returning back after a long term injury, under his leadership I expect the Spurs to play some quality football. According to me, the Spurs will finish 8th in the points table.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Manchester United (H), Sheffield United (A),Arsenal (H),Leicester City (H)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane, Heung-Son min, Dele Alli, Giovani Lo Calso, Tanguy Ndombele

9) ARSENAL

     This season has been a nightmare for every Arsenal fan. The Gunners are not up to their levels this season. After signing Mikel Arteta as their new permanent manager, the Gunners started to show some promising performances but after that Europa League defeat to Olympiakos, they clearly showed that they lack consistency. They are still in the last 8 of the FA Cup. They would like to end this season without causing any further damages to their performances. According to me, the Gunners will be placed 9th in the Premier League.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Manchester City (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (A), Leicester City (H), Tottenham (A), Liverpool (H)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe, Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka.

10) EVERTON

      Like Arsenal, this season has been a nightmare for an Everton fan. They were at the relegation zone when they sacked Marco Silva. They started playing fearless football under their interim manager Duncan Ferguson and they are back to their own ways when they signed Carlo Ancelotti as their new permanent manager. Their primary concern is to give a tough fight for the Europa League spots next season. According to me they will finish 10th in the points table.

TRICKY FIXTURES: Liverpool (H), Leicester City (H), Tottenham (A), Wolverampton Wanderers (A), Sheffield United (A)

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jordan Pickford, Mason Holgate, Andre Gomes

SOME STATS TO BE REMEMBERED ABOUT 2019/2020 PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON

MOST GOALS:

1) Jamie Vardy (LEI) – 19 goals

2) Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang (ARS) – 17 goals

3) Sergio Aguero (MCI) – 16 goals

     Mohamed Salah (LIV)

MOST ASSISTS:

1) Kevin De Bruyne (MCI) – 16 assists

2) Trent Alexander Arnold (LIV) – 12 assists

3) Riyad Mahrez (MCI) – 8 assists

MOST CLEAN SHEETS:

1) Nick Pope (BUR) – 11 clean sheets

2) Alisson

     Dean Henderson – 10 clean sheets

     Kasper Schmeichel

CONCLUSION:

 According to me, this has been the most thrilling ever Premier League climax .This is because the difference between the 1st placed team and the 2nd placed team is 25 points; the points separating the 4th placed team and the 11th placed team is just 9 points and the points separating the 15th placed team and 20th placed team is just 8 points. Liverpool are going to be the champions for sure this season and we have to wait and watch which teams will take up the Champions League and Europa League spots and which teams will end up getting relegated. Let us all enjoy the best football from 17th of June as it is going to be a treat for all football lovers for sure.