It feels like just yesterday that Liverpool was hoisting the Premier League trophy after the longest season we’ve ever had, one that was paused for months due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. But, after a short off-season — one that was shorter than the mid-season break — we’re ready to kick off a new campaign.
Manchester City
2019-20: 2nd place, 81 points.
The skinny: Despite scoring 17 more goals than any other team and finishing with the second-best defensive record, the Sky Blues were well off Liverpool’s pace atop the table. Too many stunning upsets and some key injuries weighed down a team that should be right back in contention.
Big question: Can City keep its focus with the potential arrival of Lionel Messi looming next summer?
Prediction: First place
Liverpool
2019-20: 1st place, 99 points.
The skinny: The Reds earned their first title in 30 years in spectacular fashion, running away with things and nearly clinching first before the pandemic even hit. Now, they’ll have to defend their crown. All the key pieces are back and should be ready to go for another season at or near the top of the table.
Big question: Can the Reds keep up their near-record points pace for a third season in a row?
Prediction: Second place
Chelsea
2019-20: 4th place, 66 points.
The skinny: After a season of developing some youngsters and still finishing in a Champions League spot, Frank Lampard will have a lot of shiny new toys to play with after Chelsea broke the bank this summer. Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech among others bring some world-class quality to team that was already on the rise.
Big question: How will all the new pieces fit together and how long will it take them to jel?
Prediction: Third place
Manchester United
2019-20: 3rd place, 66 points.
The skinny: The arrival of Bruno Fernandes in January and the return of Paul Pogba after the break unlocked United’s stalled offence and propelled it back to the Champions League. The Red Devils could be even better if David De Gea gives them something more than the average play he produced last season.
Big question: Can United keep up its excellent offensive form from the end of the 2019-20 season?
Prediction: Fourth place
Tottenham Hotspur
2019-20: 6th place, 59 points.
The skinny: Last season at Tottenham was a turbulent one to say the least. Mauricio Pochettino was replaced by Jose Mourinho midway through and that didn’t exactly bring stability. With more time to mould the squad, though, we should see the North London club have a better season.
Big question: Can the attacking trio of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Heung-min Son stay on the field?
Prediction: Fifth place
Leicester City
2019-20: 5th place, 62 points.
The skinny: Led by Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy, the Foxes were sitting in a Champions League spot for most of the season. While the former champs have sold some players for big money, they’ve been great at spotting bargains and developing young talent, keeping the club in European contention.
Big question: How high can Brendan Rodgers take the Foxes while being a seller in the transfer market?
Prediction: Sixth place
Arsenal
2019-20: 8th place, 56 points.
The skinny: Former player Mikel Arteta took over as manager in December and has a rocky start before eventually bringing home some silverware in the FA Cup. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains a world-class striker and should be the talisman of this growing Gunners side with potential.
Big question: Can the Gunners regain their North London bragging rights and finish above Spurs for the first time since 2016?
Prediction: Seventh place
Wolverhampton Wanderers
2019-20: 7th place, 59 points.
The skinny: For the second season in a row after their promotion to the Premier League, Wolves finished seventh. They also improved in goals for and against, while losing four fewer games. Mexico’s Raul Jimenez is their star up front, bagging 27 goals in all competitions last season.
Big question: Will not having Europa League fixtures to contend with help Wolves improve in the table?
Prediction: Eighth place
Everton
2019-20: 12th place, 49 points.
The skinny: Once again, the Toffees fell well short of their Merseyside rivals, Liverpool. Once manager Carlo Ancelotti was brought on board in December, the team started to show some flashes of greatness, going on a run with just one loss in 11 games and easily climbed out of the relegation zone.
Big question: Can Ancellotti get the most out new star signing James Rodriguez?
Prediction: Ninth place
Southampton
2019-20: 11th place, 52 points.
The skinny: Nearly midway through the season, the Saints were sitting in the relegation zone and had suffered a 9-0 loss at home to Leicester. But instead of rash changes, Southampton stood behind manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and reversed course, going unbeaten in its final seven games and moving up to 11th in the table.
Big question: Can Danny Ings repeat his stunning scoring record after potting 22 goals last season?
Prediction: 10th place
Burnley
2019-20: 10th place, 54 points.
The skinny: The Clarets were one of the hottest clubs in the league from mid-January on, losing just two of 16 games. The problem is that Sean Dyche’s side had lost 10 of the previous 14 matches. Burnley had a solid defensive record once again, with keeper Nick Pope finishing as runner-up for the Golden Gloves with 15 clean sheets.
Big question: Can the Clarets improve against the bigger clubs, who routinely ate their lunch last season?
Prediction: 11th place
Newcastle United
2019-20: 13th place, 44 points.
The skinny: The biggest news out of St. James in the past few months was actually something that didn’t happen: The supposed Saudi-financed takeover which fell through. On the field, Newcastle has been scuttling about for a few seasons since returning from a season in the second tier.
Big question: Can former Bournemouth attackers Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser boost this oft-toothless unit?
Prediction: 12th place
West Ham United
2019-20: 16th place, 39 points.
The skinny: Despite splashing some big cash in the transfer market, the Irons were closer to the relegation zone than the top half of the table for most of the season. Their defensive record was ghastly, allowing the fifth-most goals in the league.
Big question: Can Michail Antonio continue his stunning run of form he was on after the league resumed play?
Prediction: 13th place
Leeds United
2019-20: 1st place in Championship, 93 points.
The skinny: After 16 seasons, historic Leeds United has returned to the Premier League, being guided by vaunted manager Marcelo Bielsa. The Whites ran away with the Championship by 10 points and have already started adding quality players for the challenge of the Premier League, like Rodrigo Moreno from Valencia.
Big question: How will Bielsa’s unique 3-3-3-1 style work against the biggest clubs in England?
Prediction: 14th place
Sheffield United
2019-20: 9th place, 54 points.
The skinny: Manager Chris Wilder’s side rode a stellar defensive effort to surprising finish in the top half of the table, even flirting with a Europa League spot for a while. Dean Henderson’s loan from Man U has ended, though, and the Blades will be relying on former Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Big question: Can Wilder get more out of his attack without sacrificing his side’s solid backbone?
Prediction: 15th place
Brighton & Hove Albion
2019-20: 15th place, 41 points.
The skinny: The Seagulls spent the majority of last season fighting to stay out of the relegation zone, ultimately getting by thanks to picking up enough points on draws along the way. After a relatively quiet off-season, it should be another campaign near the bottom for Brighton.
Big question: Will Liverpool castoff Adam Lallana bring some quality to the attack?
Prediction: 16th place
Crystal Palace
2019-20: 14th place, 43 points.
The skinny: With just 31 goals scored last season, the Eagles had the second-worst attack in the Premier League, besting only last-place Norwich City. Palace lost seven of its final eight games and failed to score in six of them. Manager Roy Hodgson has his work cut out for him to correct the team’s problems.
Big question: Can talisman Wilfried Zaha bounce back after a rough season on and off the field?
Prediction: 17th place
Fulham
2019-20: 4th place in Championship, 81 points.
The skinny: Secured promotion through the “richest game in football,†besting a Brentford side that had a better goal differential by 26. The Cottagers are still looking to bring in some reinforcements, with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola already joining on loan from PSG.
Big question: Can Slavan Bilic’s side grab a foothold in the EPL, or is destined to be a yo-yo club?
Prediction: 18th place
Aston Villa
2019-20: 17th place, 35 points.
The skinny: In their first season back in the Premier League, the Villans survived relegation by the skin of their teeth – a single point. Captain Jack Grealish is to thank, helping to lead the club on a four-game unbeaten run to finish the season and earning a callup to the English national team.
Big question: Will this overmatched club be able to pull another remarkable feat and avoid the drop?
Prediction: 19th place
West Bromwich Albion
2019-20: 2nd place in Championship, 83 points.
The skinny: The Baggies are back in the Premier League after a two-year sojourn in the Championship. After failing in the playoffs the previous year, WBA sat in an automatic promotion spot from October until the end of the season. Matheus Pereira was brought in on a permanent deal to lead the attack once again.
Big question: How much better is this side than the one that finished dead last in 2018?
Prediction: 20th place