10 Early Predictions For Premier League 2020-21 Season
9. Leeds Will Avoid Relegation
At the start of every Premier League season, the favourites to be relegated are usually the three teams just promoted from the Championship. Generally, if they can stay in the division for another year, it will be a great achievement for them, but often there are teams that defy all odds and expectations.
For much of last season, newly promoted Sheffield United were chasing European football, 20 years ago Sunderland finished 7th, and in 1994, Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United finished third in their Premier League debut. While it's always difficult to predict this kind of success, it's not hard to picture Leeds United staying far away from the drop zone throughout the coming year.
In Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds have a manager who has truly turned their team around and took them back to where they belong. He hasn't relied on money, or one or two particular players to do it; the entire team is working as one unit towards success.
While the team will need to bring in reinforcements to cope with the demands of the Premier League, Bielsa won't be looking to replace the players that earned this promotion. If he can retain the core to his team, and inspire Patrick Bamford to his first truly strong Premier League campaign, there is no reason the team can't finish above the likes of Aston Villa, West Ham, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and West Brom.