Premier League Prediction Time: Man City to edge Liverpool again
In just a few hours, the Premier League season 2019-20 gets underway, as we finally return to the exciting days of English football after three months of deprivation. Liverpool host newly promoted Norwich City in the season opener, as they aim to wrestle the title away from champions Manchester City, who have won the title in the last two seasons.
City won the title in the 17-18 season with a record 100 points and retained the trophy last season by bettering Liverpool's 97 points with a minimum. Pep Guardiola's men will be keen on a hattrick, and on pen and paper it looks it will be a two-horse race.
Last time I correctly predicted that City will be the champions, Liverpool will come second and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will win the Golden Boot (although he had to share it with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane) while Ederson, my favourite to win the Golden Glove, came second just behind Alisson Becker.
With a new season starting today, it is my solemn duty to make predictions for the new season now.
Champions: Manchester City
The champions' acquisition of defender Joao Cancelo and midfielder Rodri have strengthened the squad that will no longer be led by long-serving captain Vincent Kompany. Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva have been in sensational form of late and if Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne stay fit, it will be difficult to stop them from sealing a hattrick of league titles, despite the fact that they will miss Leroy Sane, who was set to leave for Bayern Munich. This can be the season City fans see the brighter side of Riyad Mahrez.
Runners-up: Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp's team are probably the only side that can challenge City for the title. We expect the trio of Salah, Mane and Firmino to deliver goals as they have always done. Their defence, thanks to Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk, conceded only 22 goals last season and I see no reason for that to change. I reckon it will be very close like the last season, but City have a better squad to edge the All Reds, who might end up regretting not buying one or two players.
Third: Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino's side did excellent business in the transfer window, bringing in the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and young Ryan Sessegnon. Although Christian Eriksen wanted a move away after serving The Lilywhites for five years, he stays and fans can only hope he does not leave in the winter. And it's a shame they could not bring in Paulo Dybala. I do not see them finish in the top two, but they will be there soon, may be next year, if they can hold on to the squad, and the coach.
Fourth: Arsenal
Even the most optimistic Arsenal fans did not expect the club to spend so much this summer. It will be a delight to see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette be joined by Nicolas Pepe in the attack. Although they brought in defenders David Luiz and Kieran Tierney, I personally think they should have done better as far as their defence is concerned. They need to bring in big defenders if they want to bring back the trophy home, which right at this moment, looks very unlikely. Worse, they will probably have to finish below archrivals Spurs yet again.
Golden Boot: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The Arsenal front-man wasted chances after chances and yet was the joint top scorer last term. His partnership with Lacazette should get better and with the arrival of Pepe, there should be more goals for the Gabon striker. I will again pick him as my favourite.
Golden Gloves: Ederson
It will again be between the Brazilians -- Ederson of City and Liverpool's Alisson. Although Alisson edged his fellow countryman to the award last time (21 to 20), I will again pick Ederson to master the highest number of clean sheets this season.