Could we see a new Premier League winner for 2020/21 season?

The Premier League is sadly over for another season, and we can probably all agree, this last one will go down in history. Unfortunately, it will go down in history largely for the wrong reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption in every sport we love to watch throughout the world, and of course, this included the Premier League. The season only finished in July, which is usually when all of the teams are involved in pre-season training and the transfer window is going crazy.

However, the season also brought about many exciting developments. Some teams have started looking promising again, and we might just see someone new at the top for the 2020/2021 season. This is what we will be looking at in this article, so let’s jump right to it.

Leeds United

Leeds United will be competing in the Premier League next season, after dominating The Championship this season. Headed by Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United have shown amazing form all season long, and the club seems to have that sparkle back. It’s been a long time since Leeds United packed out a stadium for a Premier League game, yet this reality is now just a few months away.

There is an awful lot of hype surrounding Leeds right now, although it is mainly down to the budget and how it is spent on how the club shapes its Premier League chances. There are already rumors surrounding potential signings for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, and other European superstars who are running towards the twilight of their careers.

Of course, it would be unusual for a recently promoted side to win the Premier League, but you could get some pretty huge sports odds by backing this market.

Sheffield United

Here we have another side that is a bit of a stranger to Premier League soccer. Sheffield United have just finished their first season since getting promoted to the league back in 2019, and they certainly announced themselves pretty well. Sheffield United finished 9th in the Premier League, which isn’t bad at all for a recently promoted team. They also managed to show that they can contend with the big boys of the league, having beaten teams like Chelsea and Wolves.

They might not have contended in a major way with the likes of Manchester City or Liverpool, but who knows what the transfer market might bring in the following months. One thing is for sure – Sheffield United is a passionate club, and the players they have right now all gel well together.

Arsenal

Some say that Arsenal hasn’t been the same since the departure of Arsene Wenger, and to be perfectly honest, we agree. The club has gone from a powerhouse of Premier League soccer into a club that now struggles to make Europe (top 5 finish). Even for the 2019/2020 season, Arsenal has only managed an 8th place finish. This is still a bit of a mystery considering the talented squad that they have. Players like Aubameyang, Ozil, Lacazette, and so many others can make real differences for Arsenal, yet they still aren’t performing as they should.

With that being said, there have been glimpses of hope during the past season. Most notably, Arsenal managed to grab wins against the champions Liverpool and Manchester City, and they did this back to back. They also have the FA Cup final to play, so it’s not like Arsenal has had a poor season by any means.

If some smart transfers are made over the next few weeks and months, we might just see a rise back to Premier League glory for The Gunners.

Conclusion

Given that the 2020/21 season is still not starting for a while, you can grab some unreal sporting odds for an outright winner outside of the big names. This is always worth a shot, and to make things even better, the Premier League is always more exciting when you have an invested interest in the games each week.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the teams we have listed will win by any means, and a large portion of it will depend on what transfers are made between now and the commencement of the season. We will definitely be watching this space closely!

Pellegrini makes massive mistake as West Ham’s season is almost over

West Ham were shocked and gave a shocking performance in the Carabao Cup to lose 4-0 to League one side Oxford United in midweek, and one wonders how long this negative effect will last with the Londoners.

The cup competitions can often serve a surprise as the so called giant killing teams of the lower leagues play their best games and up their performance.. Losing to one of the lower league teams happens to most of the big clubs, particularly those who rest their star players.

However, it is the manner in which West Ham disintegrated which is of most concern. A 4-0 loss is more than poor and 3 of Oxford’s goals were scored in 29 minutes in the second half as the Hammers simply collapsed. For Fantasy Football managers, cup competition can be tricky. For those who look to place bets on cup competitions, you should look no further than Amazing Bet which allows you to take advantage of offers from bookmakers as well as guide you to better betting odds. Amazing Bet also provides you with information on where and how you can place Free Bets.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini did make changes to his side that beat Manchester United in the league just a few days before, 9 changes in all, but there was still plenty of quality on the field including new signing Pablo Fornals who has been very underwhelming since joining the club on a coat tail of hype from Villarreal.

Pellegrini was forced to bring on regulars early in the 2nd half such as Mark Noble and Sebastian Haller but the irony was that when more experience and quality came on the Hammers lost the plot and Oxford United actually improved.

It is bizarre to think that the Hammers have started the season well and just beat Manchester United but this cup defeat was a stark reminder that worse things could be round he corner for the club.

There has to be criticism pointed at Pellegrini though- for example why make so many changes? Yes games come thick and fast and he rightly pointed out that you need to utilise your squad. But what justification did he seek in making those changes? For example had this been a midweek Champions League game he wouldn’t have made the changes which leads us on to suggesting that Pellegrini in actual fact disrespected the competition and it has widely back fired onto him and the club.

The irony is West Ham are one of those well known clubs alongside Everton for example who have not won a major trophy for a long time. Next year will mark 25 years for Everton and 40 for West Ham. Again did Pellegrini rest players just so West Ham could finish in the top 10? What are their aspirations in a very difficult league? Shouldn’t the club really be chasing a cup and giving it a go?

With this cup gone, West Ham’s season already looks exposed. They aren’t ready for a top 4 place and don’t look up for a Europa League one either. That leaves the FA Cup then which doesn’t start for them until January.

The shock remains with Pellegrini, for such an experienced coach to get this so painfully wrong is mind boggling.

Manchester United to seal Torino defender Izzo’s Signing?

With Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Lindelof, and Eric Bailly on the squad, Manchester United’s major problem last season appeared to be on the defensive end. Thus, it is not surprising to see the Red Devils linked with the signing of a few defenders.

This time, the media are linking the Red Devils to the signing of Torino’s Armando Izzo who has also been linked with a move to Arsenal in the last two weeks. Thanks to football live stream sites such as today’s football live stream, we could tell from the many Torino matches we were able to watch last season that Izzo is better than all of United’s centre-backs.

He would likely be a shrewd signing for the Red Devils. Obviously, Many Manchester United fans would prefer if the club signs someone like Matthijs De Ligt but that deal is not happening. Izzo, 27, was named in Serie A team of the year and has also been linked with a move to Arsenal.

Manchester United could however be set to hijack the move after missing out on the signing of Matthijs De Ligt who appears to be on his way to Juventus and Mats Hummels who has since returned to his former German club Borussia Dortmund. The player has also been linked with Everton in recent times but all indications point to the real battle for his signature being between Arsenal and Manchester United and not
Everton.

The Gunners on their part have reportedly sent in a 25m euros bid for the player and it remains to be seen if Torino will accept the bid. However, if United really want him, they have all it takes to win the race for his signature. Arsenal reportedly have only £45m before sales while United reportedly have £100 million before sales. Aside having more money to spend than Arsenal, United is able to pay more wages then the Gunners who appear to be suffering from sort of a cash crunch at the moment.

According to Italian media outlet Tuttosport, Torino have slapped a prize tag of €30m on the player. Should United win the race for the signature of the 6 foot tall Italian, it will be a massive coup for the club but will his signing be enough?

It’s time for Ashley Young to go while a proper defender must be brought in to replace him. The future of Paul Pogba needs to be sorted out immediately, so additional funds can be made available from his selling fee. Critical time ahead for United.

Is it Safe to go without Mohamed Salah in the Premier League Run-in?

After 33 games played, Mohamed Salah was the highest scoring player in the official
Fantasy Premier League game with 216 points. The closest rival to the Liverpool man
was Raheem Sterling on 201. Despite this impressive tally and dominance of the game,
a lot of fantasy managers still see this season as a let-down compared to Salah’s debut
campaign at Anfield. Now, some players are questioning whether it might make more
sense to go without Salah for the remaining fixtures and use the spare funds to
strengthen in other areas. Is this a risky option, or could it make the difference
between winning and losing a mini-league?

There is no Denying the Egyptian’s Explosive Potential

Liverpool still have it all to play for in a title race which is going to go right down to the wire. The Reds need to win all of their remaining games and hope that quadruple-chasing Manchester City slip up at some point. As of the 7th of April, Jürgen Klopp’s men can be backed at 6/4 with Betway, while the Champions can be found at 8/15. For this reason, the Egyptian star is likely to be selected by Klopp in every single game despite the fact that the Merseyside outfit are also competing in the Champions League. Salah managed to bag himself 32 goals and 12 assists in the 2017-18 campaign, which has made his 18 goals and ten assists after 33 games seem like slim pickings this time out. Those figures, however, are still exceptional and are superior to Eden Hazard’s returns in each of his seven seasons at Chelsea.

The main problem with ditching Salah is the player’s potential for explosive returns. He has registered more than ten points in seven matches this season, and scored a hat-trick on one occasion. With Salah still being in 36 percent of all teams, a huge haul could represent major drops in rank for those who don’t have the player in their sides. And for people who still have the triple captain chip in hand, there is the temptation to deploy the tactic for Liverpool’s home game against already relegated Huddersfield Town on the 26th of April. If the tricky speedster hits form before then, a lot of fantasy managers without the player are likely to be hiding behind sofas during that match.

The other side of the Salah argument is the fact that those who hold him have tied up a significant amount of funds in the player. The £13.2 million outlay for the 26-year-old could maybe be put to better use if redistributed in other areas of fantasy teams.

Sadio Mane Represents a Cheaper Alternative

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Because Sadio Mane is a whopping £3.1 million cheaper than his attack partner, a large portion of managers have chosen to opt for the Senegal international instead of Salah in recent weeks. Those who signed the player before gameweek 23 reaped the rewards, as he hit top form and bagged nine goals and one assist in the nine games that followed. This red hot streak makes Mane look like an even better option in the Liverpool attack than Salah at present, but the one downside is the fact that he also has a history of going on dry spells. Between gameweek five and twenty, the player who can be purchased for £10.1 million only registered attacking returns in three games.

Another major option in midfield is Salah’s title rival Raheem Sterling. The England international is already in a high proportion of squads and on current form represents a more attractive asset than the Egyptian. The only problem is City manager Pep Guardiola’s penchant for rotation. Sterling has missed four games this season to rest for important games, and with the Champions League in its final stages he is likely to sit out some of the easier top flight matches to stay fresh for Europe.

With all things considered, those managers who still have Salah should probably hold on to him in case he brings in a big haul. But for people without him, Mane could be the better choice in the Liverpool attack and signing him can free up funds to be used elsewhere.

Time for Coutinho to return to Liverpool?

Philippe Coutinho Barcelona to Liverpool

By the time the summer transfer window opens, Philippe Coutinho will have been at Barcelona for 19 months. That period has not been a happy one for him at the Nou Camp.

Coutinho’s dream move to Barcelona turned sour quickly, and he has struggled to pick up from that point. The midfielder has never looked at home in Spain. Nor has he looked like he could live up to the expectations placed upon him.

He arrived at the club as a potential long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta, but that was an unrealistic expectation in the first place. Coutinho is not happy nor capable of playing as part of a central three. He has he been a productive player out wide, either.

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Predicted lineups for this weekend’s EPL action

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The English Premier League returns after the final international break of the season this weekend.

Starting around noon (local time) on Saturday, all 20 teams will be in action with some great games on offer.

The biggest game is Liverpool’s meeting with Spurs at Anfield on Sunday in what could be a huge fixture in deciding where this season’s Premier League title goes. It is a must-win for the hosts. A slip by Liverpool may offer Manchester City a big advantage- psychologically – provided City can win their match. Check out the promotional offer for new registrants as well as for existing ones at William Hill.

While injuries and a manager’s last-minute changes may affect the starting lineups, here’s a look at the expected XI for each team for this weekend’s EPL action. On a side note, check out the current promotional offers by DraftKings.

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EPL title race and top 4 positions down to the wire

We are down to the final eight games of this seasons, and the fight has never been closer for the all-important top four spots. It is one of the most closely contested Premier League fights for many years, and there are currently two battles in progress with
www.bonusbets.com looking at the current state of play and discussing which teams
are likely to finish in the final four.

Firstly we have the race for the top, and while there are other teams with the ability to score enough points the reality is that this has become a two-horse race with Manchester City and Liverpool locked into a battle for the top spot. First place is changing hands weekly between the blues and the reds, and at this stage, it is
impossible to say whether the current title holders Manchester City will lift the trophy for a second time, or whether Liverpool can triumph for the first time in a very long time.

There are some that feel Pep Guardiola will be more interested in securing the
Champion’s League and his team might take their eye off the ball so to speak, with a sense of been there and done that. Klopp, on the other hand, will be keen to ensure his team push hard no matter what trophy is at stake.

The battle for third and fourth is a much more messy affair as there are four teams all within striking distance and no one wants to back down but frankly, four into two does not go, and sadly there are going to be two disappointed teams when the season ends in May. At the moment we have Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, sat in third, fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively with just  a few points separating them meaning with every win the table could change.

Underdogs Manchester United have had a fairytale second half of the season, following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and the appointment of caretaker manager Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer, and they have a large fan base willing them to win. As a parting shot Mourinho said it would take a miracle to see the team reach fourth, and well, they did. It might have been taken for now but they achieved the unachievable, and many would love to see Solskjaer lead his team to a top-four finish and be made permanent at the club. However this will not stop the other teams from trying to snatch victory, and it is hard to say at this stage who can succeed and who will have to settle for places 5 and 6, which frankly is not what anyone would want.

One thing we are going to have to see is plenty of bottle, and while the pundits hate the term it is fair to say the teams are going to need to hold it, show it and not bottle it in
these last few games to secure the places they all hope to reach.

Ownership: Wolves believe they are the best of the rest in the Premier League

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As the Premier League reaches week 31 all eyes are on the battle between Manchester City and Liverpool as just one point separates the two teams for the league title. Then there is the chase for the top 4, with just three points the difference between three teams. There is a lot to play for. And then we have 7th place and Wolverhampton Wanderers. and this is the club we will focus on this week.

Wolves have really punched above their weight this season with some excellent results and once we take out the top 6 ‘elite’ teams we seem to have another league within a league. And if we believe that then we can see that Wolves are leading it- and not many pundits or fans could have predicted that at the beginning of the season.

What has made Wolves progress this season even more remarkable is that they are newly promoted from the Championship and this is their first season in the top flight since 2012.

A lot of the praise has gone to the owners who recruited the Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The 45 year old guided the team to first place in the Championship but he hasn’t stopped there. With the help of chairman Jeff Shi Wolves are breaking all expectations and there is a feeling that England could well get 7th place as a Europa League qualifying as long as one of the big teams can win the FA Cup.

Shi and Santo realised quickly that the club would need to completely reshape after promotion to arguably the most competitive league in the world, certainly Europe and brought in 20 players to the squad even though they had done so well in the Championship the need to do better was recognised and adopted.

Santo also used his connections to being in loans, which has paid dividends. One such player who has come in and lit the place up is Raul Jimenez who was brought in from Benfica.  Nine players were sold on, with most being for undisclosed fees and to lighten the squad up another 30 players were loaned out, Wolves potentially had the biggest overall squad in the league and it was clear that Santo needed to work with a group that he believed could achieve what he set out to do in the Premier League.

There have been some inspired buys from the club. Notably Diogo Jota who first arrived in the Championship on loan from Atletico Madrid, he was bought for proper last summer and he has scored 23 times for the club in under two seasons. Joao Moutinho has been able to shore up defence and comes with bags of experience and Rui Patrico a club legend at Sporting in Portugal has guarded between the sticks as clubs regular goalkeeper.

The result has been quite incredible as the team have won 12 games this season and at home they have lost just 35% of their games claiming 24 points from 45. It hasn’t always been plain sailing for Wolves, but it was never going to be. But if the club can finish in 7th place it would be a fantastic achievement for a club that many thought might finish 10 places below that at the beginning of the season.

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The battle for Premier League safety

As you would expect, a lot of the focus on the English Premier League is directed to the top of the table. Even more so this season, as we have a title race that looks like it could go right down to the wire. The fight at the other end, the one to retain premier league status should definitely not be ignored though. It is every bit as fierce and close, and involves several teams that know the very future of their clubs hinge on what happens over the next 8 or so games.

Those that have gone

With apologies to Huddersfield and Fulham fans, I am going to assume you are already down. Fulham have been hamstrung from day one by a raft of signings that were bought with little or no knowledge of what it would take for a fight in the world’s most competitive division. As for Huddersfield, if they have achieved nothing else this season, they have made life easy for punters around the globe as a shoe-in for their for their weekly football accumulators. On the plus side, The Terriers at least will look like they will be well equipped for a challenge next season for a quick return.

Those that are relatively safe

Several teams that have flirted with the drop zone appear to have pulled themselves out in recent weeks. Newcastle are a case in point. They have had far from a vintage season, but they have picked up some crucial wins of late and have done enough for another season in the top flight. It is a reverse situation for Bournemouth. Their form and points picked up in the first half of the season should be enough to see them safe despite a worrying drop in form in recent weeks.

Those very much in the fight  

Crystal Palace

I was very tempted to put these in the preceding category. Though they have not got the points on the board to guarantee safety, they have been playing well – especially away from home – and have a team that should have enough to see them over the line. A win against rivals Brighton would have all but seen them safe, but it wasn’t to be, their poor home form coming back to haunt them. Their run in is not the easiest but they should be able to pick up the 3 or 4 points they need.

Brighton

Back to back wins, including that one at Selhurst have breathed new life into the Seagull’s fight for survival, and it has come at just the right time. They play Arsenal and Man City on the last two games of the season. They do however have home games against Cardiff, Southampton and Bournemouth, and you would think in those games alone they would be able to secure the points required.

Southampton

Sticking or twisting regarding the manager is always a tricky decision, but bringing in a new man in the shape of Ralph Hasenhüttl looks like it may be the difference to the Saints’ survival. They are playing with a belief and freedom that just was not there before, and crucially they are scoring goals. Their last three games are against Bournemouth, West Ham and Huddersfield, all who are unlikely to be playing for anything other than pride. They should be safe, and it will be interesting to see how they push on next season.

Burnley

Sean Dyche’s team payed heavily for their European run, one which meant their season started when most of their rivals were still on the beach. Since the turn of the year they appeared to have turned a corner, going on a run and picking up crucial points. Suddenly however their form has deserted them, just when they had safety in their grasp. Their run in is tricky to say the least. They face Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City as well as Wolves and Everton. It is doubtful how many points they will amass from that, and their fate will more than likely depend on how the one remaining team fare:

Cardiff

The Welsh outfit were all but down at the end of the year, but they have shown a fight and crucially a nose for goal, that has seen them still in with a sniff of safety. It comes down to a head to head with Burnley. Like The Clarets, Neil Warnock’s team have not been handed a comfortable run in, with games against Man U, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea to come. They will need to pick up points against Brighton, Palace and Fulham. There is however one game that could decide it all. Saturday 13th April sees the ultimate relegation 6 pointer when Cardiff go to Turf Moor. The winner of that match, as well as the 3 points could well also be taking home EPL survival.

Where now for Claudio Ranieri after Fulham sack him due to dismal run?

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It may well come as very little surprise that Fulham have sacked Claudio Ranieri after just 17 games in charge. The Italian was brought in to keep the club up, but ended up losing 11 of his games.

Fulham look certainties to be relegated now as they are as much as 10 points from safety and Scott Parker has been drafted into the hot seat, where he is in a win-win situation as the club will now prepare for Championship football next season.

But what of Ranieri who will always be remembered for leading Leicester City to a stunning league title in 2016? The truth is Ranieri isn’t the kind of manager known for keeping teams up from relegation. But at 67 he must be nearing the end of a long managerial career which has seen him manage 16 different teams, the national team of Greece over 33 years.

Ranieri of course will always have that special relationship with the Premier League but the league has possibly seen the end of him. As he nears 70 he may be looking for one more big pay day in the Middle East or perhaps with a Russian side, somehow one cannot really begrudge him of it, or perhaps he will go back to his beloved Italy and coach one final time.

What he does come away with is that he was one of the good guys of the coaches and even though his resume is not brimming with trophies like some current managers, he will be keeping good company and of course will always have a lot of respect. That was evident when Fulham’s owner Shahid Khan released a statement about the Italian.

“Claudio Ranieri agreed to my decision that a change was in the best interest of everyone. No surprise to me, Claudio was a perfect gentleman, as always. Be assured he is not solely to blame for the position we are in today. Claudio walked into a difficult situation, inheriting a side that gained only one point in its prior eight matches, and he provided an immediate boost by leading our club to nine points in his first eight matches. Though we were unable to maintain that pace thereafter, I am grateful for his effort.”

In many ways then everything is mutual with Ranieri now walking off into the sunset, his name etched into Premier League history and it will be very interesting to see where the so called Tinkerman ends up at next.