Who will win the EPL?
by Leanne Prescott
With the Premier League now in full swing and the first international break of the season sending all football fans into a collective boredom, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and assess after the opening four games. Liverpool and Chelsea have taken maximum points while Spurs and Manchester City have also impressed despite minor slip-ups. Then there’s Manchester United and Jose Mourinho, who never seems to be far away from the headlines. But just who will finish in the top-four?
Champions: Manchester City
Although Liverpool currently sit at the top of the table, I think Manchester City will just be a step ahead from the pack yet again this season. They were practically unbeatable last season, achieving a record 100 points and playing tantalising, expansive football in an innovative formation from Pep Guardiola.
Of course, they’ve come unstuck already this season with a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers but the depth they’ve got at their disposal is frightening; Kevin De Bruyne is out for months but Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden all pose additional options for the manager to rotate into the midfield. If they can replicate the sort of form and consistency they hit last season, they’ll be impossible to stop.
Runners-up: Liverpool
Despite not getting out of second gear so far, Liverpool find themselves at the top of the pack with plenty of optimism for the campaign ahead. With an attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino tearing up the Premier League and Europe last season, they have more than enough quality to take Klopp’s side to the top this year. However, the defensive side of the game has been the usual pitfall for the Reds; a susceptibility to make individual errors and succumb positions of strength against so called ‘weaker sides’ has seen Liverpool struggle to pick up the three points despite dominating with ten-fifteen minutes left of a game. Albeit improved since the arrival of Virgil van Dijk, the team look a little thin on the ground at centre-back. Dejan Lovren is set to remain side-lined for another month alongside Joel Matip while Ragnar Klavan has since moved on, leaving just Joe Gomez to feature alongside the Dutchman. Credit must go to the youngster for his performances so far this season, but should he pick up an injury things could become problematic for Liverpool.
Midfield strength and attacking depth has undoubtedly improved and much of Liverpool’s fate this season will come down to whether Man City can replicate the 100 point tally they achieved in 2017/18. If they can continue showing the attacking nous of last year while tightening up at the back, there is little reason why they can’t be in and around the title. I think they might fall a little short, though.
Third place: Chelsea
Maurizio Sarri’s side have made a really positive start to the campaign, showing little signs of undergoing a transitional phase that usually comes about with a managerial change. The players look rejuvenated, the fans look united and the overall atmosphere surrounding the club seems a lot more positive.
Chelsea have had a relatively easy start to the season, facing Huddersfield, Newcastle and Bournemouth alongside Arsenal. Aside from a nervy period against Rafael Benitez’s side, they’ve never really looked out of control and appear to be in good stead for the season ahead.
Few would tip them to really challenge for the title given City and Liverpool are a lot more settled in their systems but you can’t deny their start and the positivity shown. In time, I expect the fact Guardiola and Klopp’s teams are more settled in the philosophy their manager instils compared to Chelsea but a third placed finish would be a great start for Sarri and an indication of the improving picture around the club.
Fourth place: Spurs
Had you asked me at the start of the season, I’d have probably tipped Manchester United to grab fourth spot ahead of Spurs but the opening four games have changed my mind. Jose Mourinho’s weekly meltdowns confirm the negativity and uncertainty surrounding the club and the style of the football on show while Pochettino’s side are a lot more settled given the lack of new faces and the bedding in period that comes along with summer recruits.
They stumbled against Watford before the international break but have shown signs that they’ll kick on from an impressive campaign last year, with the partnership of Harry Kane and Dele Alli key to any hopes of retaining Champions League football. The only concern will be an over-reliance on the England forward; should he suffer a lengthy injury, it’s hard to see a natural replacement within the squad that could have a similar impact from a goal scoring perspective.
Mourinho’s men have the know how in how to grind out results but with a really solid defensive shape, settled midfield and a promising attacking partnership, my money’s on Spurs to beat United to fourth.
