FourFourTwo UK – September 2019

2 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwo

PREMIER

LEAGUE

Well, wasn’t that fun? For the first time in years,

the 2018-19 Premier League had a proper title

race that went down to the wire.

In the end, Pep Guardiola’s charges succeeded in

becoming the first team in a decade to retain the

Premier League title – but the fact that Manchester

City had to win their final 14 matches in order to do

so is proof that England’s ‘Big Six’ is now a ‘Big Two’.

Realistically, City and Liverpool have detached

themselves from the erstwhile sextet through

consistent excellence. The former have strengthened

again and in the area they needed to most, making

Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri (23) a club-record

signing as heir presumptive to Fernandinho (34).

City are title favourites, naturally – this is, after all,

the best team in Premier League history – but there’s

a suspicion that the Champions League may divert

Guardiola’s attention. The Catalan coach last lifted

Ol’ Big Ears in 2011 and it has become his nemesis.

If Jurgen Klopp can take advantage, he’ll scratch

what will, by next summer, be a 30-year itch for

Liverpool. They’ve had to watch seven different clubs

become champions of England since they last lifted

the trophy – but finally stopping the rot will require

Red evolution, not revolution. Cover in two or three

positions is all that comprises Klopp’s shopping list,

now that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is fit again at last.

It’s hard to see any other team being capable of

sustaining a title challenge in 2019-20, but Spurs do

at least look likeliest to finish 3rd. Having settled into

their new digs, Tottenham replaced Moussa Dembele’s

driving dribbles – such an impressive part of Mauricio

Pochettino’s midfield – by buying Tanguy Ndombele

for a record fee. Ndombele picked Spurs from a choice

of clubs, which speaks volumes for the Poch project.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all have

fundamental flaws: too flimsy, too average, and too

banned-from-signing-anyone. While Frank Lampard’s

return will keep Blues fans onside, sentimentality and

the continued development of Chelsea’s myriad hot

prospects may not be enough to replace Eden Hazard.

With Brendan Rodgers quietly putting together an

excellent young Leicester squad (and no continental

complications), the Foxes are genuine contenders for

a top-six finish. Wolves will back themselves, too, but

Europa League commitments with a small squad may

hinder them. Everton and West Ham, meanwhile, lack

consistency and belief to back up their playing talent.

Below them, Watford, Bournemouth, Southampton,

Crystal Palace and Burnley could all finish anywhere

between 11th and 15th, or slightly higher or lower

depending on how they start the campaign. Ralph

Hasenhuttl will almost certainly take Saints well

clear of a relegation battle, while Sean Dyche will be

desperate to prove that the first three months of

Burnley’s 2018-19 season were an aberration. Watford

and Bournemouth are good starters, poor finishers,

while the opposite may be the case for Crystal Palace

following a summer of uncertainty at Selhurst Park.

It looks like being three from five for the drop,

although the terror of relegation could once again

engulf half of a nervy division. Of the three promoted

sides, Aston Villa seem best equipped for top-flight

life, especially with Jack Grealish being a player of

genuine Premier League class, as long as they can

successfuly integrate so many new faces. Sheffield

United are a genuinely fascinating team under Chris

Wilder, combining innovation with Sheffield steel.

However, many fear that a lack of star quality may

catch up with them. Norwich were champions, but

Can Manchester City complete a hat-trick? How will

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea fare? Might Leicester crash

the top six – or better? And what next for Newcastle?

P REMIER LEAGUE

It’stheendofthetopsixasweknow

it,butKloppandGuardiolafeelfine

CHAMPIOn SHIP

Luton,CharltonandtheSouthWales

Derbymaketheirsecond-tierreturns

LEAGUEOn E

Eyesdownfora fullhouseofcrisis

clubshavinga racetothebottom

LEAGUETWO

OurfanfilesinsistSalfordcanexpect

a warmFootballLeaguewelcome

n O n -LEAGUE

NottsCountyhita newlowwhile(Tim)

FlowerscanbloomonSolihullMoors

SCOTTISHPREMIERSHIP

WillSteveClarke’sKilmarnockexitbring

usbacktotheusualtopthree?Probably!

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