English Premier League Predictions (2020/2021)
With the 2020-2021 Premier League season now underway, it is time for us to take a look at the entire table. Every year there are teams that are contenders for the title, and then we have the pretenders. Today I will show you where I believe every team in the 2020-2021 Premier League season will finish as we will go from bottom to top on this one. Don’t forget to listen to the Yellow Card Podcast on Sound Cloud, and go catch us out on Youtube as well (Yellow Card). With that being said here are my predictions on how the table will look at the end of the 2020-2021 Premier League season.
Bottom Of The Table (Relegation):
20.) Aston Villa
So we start at the bottom and this is the three teams that I see will get relegated at the end of the year. Let’s start with the team that I think will finish at the bottom of the table which is Aston Villa. Villa got some help on the last day of the season last year to stay away from relegation. I don’t think it will be too nice to them this season. With the bottom three from a season ago out I see this team struggling the entire year. Even with Jack Grealish and Matty Cash and company I just see Villa finishing at the bottom of the table this year.
19.) Fulham
For the second relegation spot I have Fulham who promoted this past year to get into the Premier League. There is always one team that gets promoted that ends up going back down the next season. Unfortunately, I believe it will be Fulham this year. Fulham finished third last season in the EFL Championship and I think they will go back down next season to try and regroup. Fulham finishes 19th in my predictions this year.
18.) Crystal Palace
Now for the team I see just missing staying a float in the EPL table is Crystal Palace. Palace struggled during the restart after they came back. They did not look good and only won the first game and did not win one after that. Palace right now has a huge hole in their defense, as everybody is hurt at the moment. Also you need to be on the lookout for Zaha as he could easily be on the move, which would hurt Palace in the long run for the season. I think they will steal a couple this season, but I see Crystal Palace finishing 18th.
Still Alive For 2021-2022 (Avoiding Relegation):
17.) West Bromwich
West Bromwich finished in second place in the EFL Championship league a season ago, and are back in the premier league where they belong. They do get Callum Robinson from Sheffield United which is a good get for them. West Brom is another young team in my opinion, but they are not ready to be considered in the middle of the pack for the table yet. They have to prove to me that they are worth a spot there. I have them just avoiding relegation by finishing 17th in the table.
16.) Newcastle United
New Castle did get some big signings from Bournemouth to help their attacking up front. Adding Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson is huge for Newcastle United. A team who finished in the middle of the table at 13th a season ago. They have started the 2020 campaign off with a 2-0 win against West Ham which did see Callum Wilson scoring his first goal with his new club. I just don’t see them being in the middle of the pack again this season, as I see them finishing worse than they did a season ago. Newcastle United is going to finish 16th in the table, and avoid relegation.
15.) Southampton
Southampton is going to take a big hit this season. Last season they finished 11th and this year I have them finishing 15th in the table. They did bring in Kyle Walker-Peters which helps that defense, but they lost Hojbjerg which is a loss to their midfield. I do love their attacking duo of Danny Ings and Che Adams, but I am not in love with this team as a whole. As their midfield as well as their defense are young for the most part. This team is going to finish 15th as they avoid relegation, but they haven’t made any significant improvements from a season ago in my opinion.
Middle Of The Pack:
14.) Brighton
There really isn’t much that I can say about Brighton to be honest. They are still relatively young as they have Neal Maupay (24), and Leandro Trossard leading the way up front. While you have Ben White (22) and Bernardo (25) running the back end as well. Brighton did add Adam Lallana which will help their midfield out, but they really don’t stick out to me. I have them finishing 14th in the table, because I don’t think they are going to be relegated, but I do have them finishing a spot ahead of where they did last year.
13.) Burnley
Burnley finished in the middle of the pack a season ago (10th), but this year I have them finishing in the middle of the pack again (just at 13th) this time. They are a great defensive team, as Nick Pope was second in the league in clean sheets a season ago. That was Burnley’s issue though it was either they won by not allowing their opponents to score, or they lost. In all fifteen wins that Burnley had a season ago it was because of a Nick Pope clean sheet. Pope is very good, but I don’t see him getting as many clean sheets as he did a year ago. With that being said this is why I have Burnley down at number 13 on the table.
12.) West Ham
I am really high on West Ham in 2020-2021, and I know what you are thinking. If you are high on them why do you only have them finishing 12th in the table. Well they are labeled as a potential relegation team, and avoided it a season ago. I think this core of Felipe Anderson, Antonio, and Yarmolenko will help this team go to the middle of the pack this season. They played well at times during the restart, and looked like a team that could be in the middle of the pack. They drew with Manchester United and beat Chelsea during the restart. It gives me hope to see West Ham in the middle of the pack as I have them finishing 12th this year.
11.) Sheffield United
Sheffield United finished ninth in the table a season ago, and they were a great defensive team. They don’t have a big name per say, but they play as a solid unit and that is why they gave teams trouble last year. I think we see more of the same from them this season, great defensively and lackluster offensively. Sheffield is no where no relegation, but they will be in the middle of the pack this year. I have them finishing 11th in the table this year.
10.) Leeds
Leeds showed us that they are the real deal in their first game in the Premier League since 2004. They went toe to toe with the reigning champions Liverpool, and lost their opener because of a Rodrigo penalty which led to Salah getting a penalty shot. Leeds United is a team to watch out for as they are going to be the team that got promoted that is going to take the EPL by storm. This young core is the real deal and are on the verge of being labeled as challengers. I see them finishing tenth in the table as they will lead the middle of the pack.
The Challengers:
9.) Leicester City
Leicester City played above their level last season, as they finished in fifth place. In order for them to keep up their pace of being at the top of the table, they needed to make a splash in the transfer market. They lost Ben Chilwell which is a big loss for them, and only added Timothy Castagne from Atalanta. That doesn’t scream improvement in my eyes. Jamie Vardy is a great goal scorer, but if he isn’t scoring they aren’t winning. Leicester City is taking a step down this year as I see them finishing ninth in the table.
8.) Tottenham
Tottenham finished sixth a season ago, but this year I think they are going to struggle which isn’t going to be good for them. If they aren’t competing in the UEFA Champions League by next season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kane asks to be transferred. Tottenham added Hojberg to a midfield that didn’t really need a big name like this to add. Then they spent money on Matt Doherty to help buff up that defense (don’t know if he’ll help the way they would like). Finally they spent money on Joe Hart who barely played at Burnley last season. You have Lloris who is a top goaltender in my opinion, and a alright backup in Gazzaniga. Why would you spend money on Joe Hart? Tottenham is still very talented up front with Harry Kane, Son, Moura, Alli, Bergwijn, and company is a talented bunch. I just see them disappointing this season and I see them finishing eighth, which will make the summer transfer quite interesting to watch out for.
7.) Everton
Everton finished 12th last season in the EPL, but they have made some moves to become a challenger to potentially be in the top six. They added three quality midfielders during the transfer window. Allan from Napoli, Abdoulaye Doucoure from Watford, and James Rodriguez from Real Madrid. Rodriguez who is 29 years old is looking to redeem himself and show that he can still play at the level he did during the 2014 Fifa World Cup for Colombia. He didn’t have a great stint with Real Madrid, but he can thrive with Everton. Add those three solid midfielders to go with the young forwards of Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin. smells trouble for the rest of the EPL. I have Everton finishing seventh which is five places higher then they did a season ago.
Europa League Bound:
6.) Wolverhampton
The Wolves finished seventh a season ago, as they were a tough team to play against the entire year. This core of Jimenez, Traore, and Neves is a solid core to have in the EPL. Wolverhampton could use some help on their defense, but they play very well together as a team. The Wolves added Marcal from Lyon, but they could use a center back to help out that back end. Obviously the rumors are swirling about Jimenez and Traore being sought after by a plethora of teams. I don’t see them going anywhere this season. With the Wolves keeping their team intact, and maybe adding a piece on the back end; Wolverhampton will finish sixth in the table.
5.) Arsenal
Arsenal finished the end of last season on fire, as they finished by winning the Emirates FA Cup over Chelsea. With that going for them they added Willian in the transfer window, and Arsenal is a force to be reckoned with this year. They have started the 2020-2021 season by winning the FA Community Shield over Liverpool and beat Fulham in their first EPL game of the season. Arsenal is still looking to add to their midfield and will be active this winter. They are heading in the right direction, and I see them finishing fifth in the table this year. That will get them right to the group stage of the Europa League next season.
Top Four:
4.) Manchester United
I have Manchester United rounding up my top four and here is my logic on why I believe that. Manchester United was a completely different team in the restart of the EPL, then they were at the beginning of last season. United’s young core of Greenwood, Martial, Rashford to go along with Pogba and Fernandes is a solid core. The addition of Donny van de Beek is also huge for United. They also didn’t lose much as well and have also been trying to make big splashes all summer long. Could they make one in the winter? They absolutely could, but you have to wait and see on that so that is why I think United finishes in fourth place.
3.) Liverpool
The defending champs have one of the most challenging tasks in the world. That is repeating as EPL Champions which is tougher said than done. Liverpool didn’t bring anything worth of significance in as they are running with their same core from a season ago. They lost a couple rotational pieces in Lallana and Lovren this summer, and could very well be in the transfer market come the winter. Liverpool in their first game of the title defense, were a call away from being upset by Leeds United. The hill is going to be a tough one to climb for Liverpool. I still see them finishing in the top four, but will finish in the third spot this year.
2.) Chelsea
Chelsea was the more aggresive team during the summer transfer window, as they got tremendously better. They lost Willian and Batshuayi as their big losses. Chelsea replaced them with young striker Timo Werner, young midfielder Kai Havertez, and Hakim Ziyech from Ajax. Also they added Ben Chilwell from Leicester and Thiago Silva from PSG. Plethora of upgrades for Chelsea to build around Christian Pulisic. This team is going to be very good this season, although it might look rough early they will finish second in the table this season.
1.) Manchester City
Here are my EPL champions for the 2020-2021 season. Manchester City is the favorite in my opinion, and will show everybody that they are ready to go to take back the crown of the EPL. Even though they lost Leroy Sane and David Silva, they brought in Nathan Ake from Bournemouth to help solidfy their defense. Up front they are already stacked with Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Bernado Silva, Riyad Mahrez and company. City was a force last year and will be the on top of the table when it is all said and done this year.
Make sure to check out the Yellow Card Podcast brought to you by Couch Guy Sports. Follow them on Twitter @Podcastcard as episode 2 is out now.