10 Early Predictions For Premier League 2020-21 Season
Do the Reds have what it takes to reach the top again?
The 2019-20 Premier League season was like no other in the history of the competition. With the lockdown, uncertainty surrounding the finish, and eventual empty stadium games aside, there were still some truly incredible moments that any football fan could enjoy.
From Liverpool finally capturing the trophy, to Sheffield United's story book first season back in the top flight, and the reality of watching Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Frank Lampard, and Mikel Arteta on the sidelines, last season has given the 2020-21 season a lot to live up to. However, this is the Premier League, and there will always be drama and excitement.
Thanks to the latest ever finish to a Premier League season, there will be a very short gap before the start of next season, with the first set of games set to take place on 12th September. This, however, still gives us plenty of time to speculate over what we will see in the coming year.
Can Liverpool claim the trophy for the second season in a row? Will any of the newly promoted teams survive the drop? Will goal line technology affect the final league standings as much as it did this year? Despite still being weeks away from kick off, it's never too early for a good prediction or ten.
10. Arsenal Will Miss Out On The Top Four
In 2019-20, despite eventually lifting the FA Cup, Arsenal suffered one of the worst seasons in their history. With their lowest league table finish since coming 12th in 1994-95, the Gunners fell far short of their minimum goal of securing Champions League football for the following season.
While things have certainly looked brighter for the team with Mikel Arteta in charge, there is still too much work to be done for them to genuinely challenge the top four. It's hard to see Liverpool and City dropping out, Man United seem to be far stronger than they were at the start of the season, Chelsea have made some big signings, and Leicester will certainly be in with a shout once again.
Arsenal have picked up a good player in Willian from Chelsea, but he's not the kind of signing that can single handedly turn a team around. The Gunners need more help for Aubameyang, but more importantly, they need a far stronger defence. The only top half teams to concede more than the Gunners last season were Chelsea and Burnley.
The back fives from the days when Arsenal were winning leagues left, right, and centre were legendary, yet now, the team appears to be moving forward with David Luiz rather than signing a genuine leader and game changer. They need someone to do for them what van Dijk did for Liverpool, and until then, they will struggle to make any real push into the top four.