2020/2021 Premier League predictions (Opinion)

Opinion: 2020/2021 Premier League predictions - Through the eyes of the gods

Youri Tielemans surrounded by Leicester players as he scores against Manchester city in the premier league

Manchester City 2-5 Leicester City: Youri Tielemans is surrounded by his team-mates after
firing Leicester City's fifth goal at Etihad Stadium (Photo credit: premierleague.com)

Three rounds in already and two cup rounds winding up, few early casualties in terms of upsets and cup eliminations.

In all fairness, it’s way too early to tell the gender of a child on the first day of conception, but it is what it is, we have to do what we have to do.

And that means we have to stick our necks out to predict where the log of premier league wood will fall in the thick forest of twenty competing teams.

Regardless of the ongoing pandemic and shortage of funds as forced by COVID-19 and fans’ inability to attend games, clubs have found ways to invest in their squads to stay competitive.

Manchester City and Chelsea have shattered the ceiling, Liverpool added grit in the middle and trickery upfront in Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota respectively.

But none of them is anywhere near the top four as we speak…

Leeds United is back and with a bang too, Wolves still have the element of fear as shown last season and their intentions are very clear with their acquisitions.

Not sure Sheffield United didn’t lose their magic wand somewhere along the long harsh lockdown road but they can’t be underrated.

And Crystal Palace is looking too strong to overlook.

Everton is calling on the big guns and daring them with reckless abandon.

Leicester City with their ageing yet, talismanic forward, Jamie Vardy still have the world at their feet.

Honorable mention for Manchester United because of who they were, not what we currently see of them but with few days to the end of the transfer window, it’s now or never for them.

Mikel Arteta has a very robust plan but he doesn’t have the funds to help his cours.

So he has to make do with Elneny and Maitland Niles until they can find deals for want-away players and get in the coveted duo of Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar.

Frank Lampard has lots of money to spend but he clearly doesn’t know what to do with it.

Maybe he needs time to get his perfect line up, until then, the pressure continues.

Tottenham Hotspur will be distracted by too many off-field issues, Jose Mourinho doesn’t look like he still has the magic in him.

It’s his second season, no miracle is expected.

Down the ladder, West Ham blew Wolves away in such a demeaning manner, no one saw that coming.

But does that mean they will be safe so early?

Not sure but they are in a better state than Fulham, West Brom and Burnley who all have failed every time they have played this season.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint but relegation mud gets too sticky to dust off at some points, they must avoid that.

On the evidence of what we’ve seen so far, what might likely happen in the transfer window that closes in four days and squad depth in quality.

It’s time to stick our necks out to determine where certain teams will finish, and should you want to lock it down for the season? No problems but remember to gamble responsibly.

Premier League champions:

This will be a very tight one, Brendan Rodgers will look at the table and feel hopeful with blue butterflies but Leicester won’t win the league.

Leicester City won’t make the top four and here’s why; the squad is average at best.

Jamie Vardy is amazing at 33 but age is beginning to tell, injuries will weaken their chances especially with no one contributing double figures goals outside last season’s golden boot winner.

Their midfield is fine but not the best in the league, 2015 isn’t happening this time.

Chelsea really need to fix up, they won’t win the league and their place in the top four is under threat with their very slow start.

A win, a draw, and a loss in three games is a mid-table form.

Loads of new signings and one will ask how long it will take them to gel.

Lampard is a part of the family, but Abrahamovic isn’t a patient family man, time will tell.

Manchester United won’t win the league, the manner of approach to life at Old Trafford especially since Sir Alex Ferguson left the big scene has left too much to be desired.

Like an orphanage without structure, and it’s been poor, to say the least.

The United squad is at a state of gross imbalance, they do have safe pairs of hands in David De Gea and Dean Henderson.

But in front of them are sets of calamitous personnel waiting to wreak havoc and to be honest, united has the weakest attack among contenders.

Arsenal isn’t a title contender, at least not yet, but they will compete.

Especially if they get the names on fans’ lips at the moment to complement what they currently have.

Likewise, Everton, they are amazing at the moment with a very strong midfield of intelligence and power, but they aren’t title contenders.

Maybe they will push till the very end, but this isn’t the season, they need time, they need consistency.

It will once again be a two-horse race, Liverpool and Manchester City.

if the Citizens don’t get a striker in the current window, they will struggle for goals.

Gabriel Jesus isn’t a worthy deputy for Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling as false nine will always have off days.

Liverpool have all the advantage and it’s looking like theirs to throw away, nine out of nine available points already, alongside Everton and Leicester, it will be a very interesting season

Top four predictions:

Champions: Liverpool

Second place: Manchester City

Third place: Arsenal

Fourth place: Chelsea

Fifth place: Manchester United

Sixth place: Everton

Relegation dogfight

Whichever way you look at it, nothing is stopping the duo of West Brom and Fulham from down into the championship, but who follows them?

West Bromwich Albion 3-3 Chelsea: The West Brom players look deflated having surrendered
a three-goal lead (Photo credit: premierleague.com)

Southampton will fight relegation this season again but will survive, Danny Ings should get them over the line.

Crystal Palace won’t stress too much this term but Sheffield United will.

Newcastle are blowing hot and cold, Brighton isn’t left out, but the Burnley squad is thin and injury-prone.

If James Tarkowski gets sold as they try to raise funds, they will ship goals and that will point to danger, not sure Sean Dyches will be here next term.