Liverpool looks unstoppable. Man City seems to be losing momentum and Arsenal are having the worst season in decades. Speaking of poor runs, Norwich looks relegation bound despite defeating Man City earlier on and holding second-placed Leicester to a draw mid-December.
If you’ve been watching and making money off the premier league for years, however, you probably know anything can happen before the season is over. Case and point, Watford is back to winning ways after weeks of getting thrashed.
Against that backdrop, below is a prediction of which team is likely to win the EPL, the top four, the mid-table and clubs we should expect in the championship next season.
EPL Winners: Liverpool
Having won eighteen games of the nineteen they’ve played so far, Liverpool sits comfortably at the top of the EPL table with 55 points. They still have one game in hand meaning they could extend their point difference to 16 points when they face West Ham in game week 24.
But even without a smaller point difference, Liverpool appears to be the only team doing what’s needed to win the EPL. They win consistently. Their defence has been shaky at times, but they have one of the best striking trios throughout Europe.
Of course, they still need to pick maximum points in the remaining games to avoid the mishaps that cost them the trophy last season. But judging by their consistency and the inconsistency displayed by Leicester, City and Chelsea, Liverpool look very much likely to lift the EPL table this season.
For betting fans, Liverpool is the best team to back for the EPL trophy this season according to bookmakers. They have the best odds. And judging by their performance, backing any other side looks risky.
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Top Four
Although Leicester and Man City appears to be the likely contenders for position two and three, the fourth position is open to all teams in the upper half of the table. Chelsea might be ranked fourth after twenty game weeks, but they could easily lose the position by the end of the season.
Man United pretty much to get back to the Champions League next season. Jose Mourinho certainly wants to make an impression with his new team Tottenham. No one expects Wolves, Sheffield and Crystal Palace to play in the UCL next season. But with only eight points separating ninth-placed Palace from fourth-placed Chelsea, anything could happen.
Based on December’s performances, however, the fourth position will likely go to Man United or Chelsea. Spurs have been surprisingly inconsistent despite Jose’s presence. Wolves don’t appear ready for the UCL while Sheffield and Crystal Palace appears to but have abandoned their bids for European football.
The Winter Transfer Effect
Historically, the January transfer window has had significant effects on how EPL teams perform for the remainder of the season. And sure enough, most teams have positions they need to strengthen in the 2020 January transfer window.
Arsenal, for example, needs new defenders, better midfielders and a couple of wingers to fight for European football next season. New head coach Mikel Arteta says the defence will be his main focus. Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, on the other end, wants a striker with Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud both leaving.
Leicester’s strong defence began to crack in late November. And unless they find a top-level centre back in January, they could lose their second position. Luckily, Man City also needs defenders to add back up to their injury-prone centre-halves. So, should they strengthen their defence and City fails to do so, the foxes will be okay.
Man United, whose strikers have been impressive since mid-December, still need more players to add depth to their squad. From defenders to midfielders, wings to the front attack, Man United could benefit from an extra player in nearly all positions.
Mid-Table Woes
There’s a common assumption that mid-table teams have nothing to play for in the EPL. Ending the season tenth won’t earn Arsenal European football next season. Completing the season in the upper half might be a big achievement for Sheffield but it will mean nothing to Wolves if they don’t qualify for the Europa League next season.
Despite that, most teams in the middle of the EPL table are fighting for different missions. Arsenal have a slender chance at the top four. And even if they don’t get it, they could at least fight to get back to European football.
For some reason, Crystal Palace and Sheffield have been slowing down the momentum that got them into the upper half of the table. But with eighteen games before the season ends, they could fight for a place in European football now that they have decent chances to do it.
Championship Bound
If you asked most people which team was bound for relegation in mid-season, they would have pointed at Watford. They’ve been awful for weeks. But after a series of changing managers, they are back to winning ways.
They comfortably defeated Man United and Aston Villa in the last days of December. And that means they have the confidence to fight their way out of relegation zone. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of Norwich.
With only 13 points after twenty games, the Canaries look relegation bound. Aston Villa and West Ham aren’t safe either. But after the latter fired manager Manuel Pellegrini, they could turn around their fortunes.
Surprisingly, 16th placed Bournemouth are two points off relegation danger. So, if West ham and Watford improves in the next twenty fixtures and they continue to falter, they could end up in the championship next season.
To Conclude
The EPL is as competitive as ever. Virtually all teams in the top half have a chance to play European football next season. Unfortunately, the last five teams aren’t safe from relegation. The mid-table also looks different from any other season now that Arsenal can’t seem to find a way back to winning.
