Big 6 season preview: Liverpool miss out again as Man Utd beat Arsenal to top 4

The worlds most awaited footballing league starts its campaign tonight after its summer break. The seasons start is uniquely poised as it comes after a complete domination of the European club scene last year. With English clubs making up all 4 of the finalist spots of both European finals last season, which did not include the Premier League winner, speaks volumes about the strides made by the English clubs.

Let’s have a look at each of the ‘big 6’ and predict where they’ll finish this season:

Man City

Going into the season Manchester City are the firm favorites, who showed great pedigree in their resilient performance to win the Community Shield last weekend. Vincent Kompany has been a pillar for the club and it will be interesting to see how their defense copes up after he moved to his boyhood club Anderlecht. A new holding midfielder to compete with the aging Fernandinho was their priority going into the transfer window and they did just that in signing Rodri from Atletico Madrid for £63m. Pep Guardiola seems to be a man posed in his quest for perfection and will try and become the manager to win 3 PL titles in a row, a feet which was last achieved by Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2009-10.

Player to shine: Kevin De Bruyne

Major Signing : Rodri

Predicted Table Position: 1st

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp finally broke his European jinx last season by winning the Champions League taking Liverpool’s CL count to 6. Gegenpressing has been an obsession at Liverpool and it has certainly suited their squad who seem to punish oppositions with their quick transitions and counter attacks. There has been very few movement in the transfer window which is exactly what Liverpool wanted after a stellar campaign in both PL and CL. Holding on to their star players will be seen as a success and Klopp will be trying to press Man City till the last day to deliver Liverpool’s first and most coveted Premier League title.

Player to shine: Virgil Van Dijk

Major Signing : None

Predicted Table Position: 2nd

Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino was angling for an exit last season hoping to finish on a high by winning the Champions League with Tottenham. Instead he is continuing as Spurs manager into this season still trying to land his first trophy as manager. Spurs are always unique in the way they operate in the transfer window with Daniel Levy (Spurs Chairman) leading the signings with his shrewd business tactics. Young players are signed with a view to sell them on for profit later and signings aren’t necessarily what the manager wishes for.  Tanguy Ndombele has been a costly acquisition from Lyon for £65m and it will be interesting to see how he fits into Pochettino’s plans. Defensive reinforcements are needed if Spurs have any hope of challenging for silverware after Trippier moved to Atletico.

Player to shine: Son Heung-min

Major Signing : Tanguy Ndombele

Predicted Table Position: 5th

Chelsea

Chelsea finished their season on a high winning the Europa League and securing a Champions League spot after finishing 4th in PL. With a transfer ban prohibiting Chelsea from making new signings for 2 transfer windows, they’ve turned towards their club legend Frank Lampard to lead them into the season. Lampard’s appointment is definitely a gamble considering that he has been a manager only for a year and has zero top flight experience. With their star player Eden Hazard moving to Real Madrid this season it’ll be a tall order for Lampard to steer Chelsea to a top four finish. Christian Pulisic joins the club from Dortmund and will need to fill the void along with Hudson Odoi. Without any fresh reinforcements Frank Lampard has to pull players from the clubs ever expanding loan pool and bring them up to premier league standards.

Player to shine: Christian Pulisic

Major Signing : Christian Pulisic

Predicted Table Position: 4th

Arsenal

Arsenal have stayed afloat in their first season after long term manager Arsene Wenger moved on from the club. Unai Emery has done an incredible job in managing this ship especially after it had been a one man club for more than 2 decades. Major changes were made in their transfer policy which forced them to log away some dead wood before trying to buy new players. The club seems to back Unai Emery and plans to stick with the manager for the foreseeable future who is willing to operate on a smaller wage and transfer budget. Defensive reinforcements are definitely needed but their transfer approach seems to be all attack. Only time will tell as to how Arsenal will cope with the ever increasing competition and wages in the Premier League.

Player to shine: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Major Signing : Nicolas Pepe

Predicted Table Position: 6th

Man Utd

Manchester United start the season with a different full time manager for a 4th time in the last 6 years. The clubs domination of the premier league seems to be a distant memory and the club hierarchy seems content with their off field performances more than their on field performances. Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer was appointed mid way through last season whose reign started off brilliantly but the euphoria tailed away as the season went on. The club finally seems to be have a concrete transfer plan, to invest in core young British players to help bring the club to its old glory. Harry Maguire  (£80m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£50m) cost a whopping £130m together to shore up the leaky defense and help De Gea find some form. Paul Pogba uncertain future isn’t helping and Romelu Lukaku has left for Inter Milan so there are question marks as to how it’ll impact their strategy going into the season. Solskjaer seems to utter all the words which every United fan wants to hear but only time will tell if he will be able to deliver on it.

Player to shine: Marcus Rashford

Major Signing : Harry Maguire

Predicted Table Position: 3rd

Written by @naren_foxy