Way Too Early Predictions for Top 4 of the 2019/2020 Premier League Season

This upcoming Premier League Season will be an interesting one and I think it will be closer competition than it was this past season. The placement of teams and predicted starting XI will go as follows….

Manchester City (90 points)

If Manchester City can retain their current players and avoid injuries they would be in very solid shape to take the Premier League Title once again. For much of the 2018/2019 season Kevin De Bruyne was hurt so if he can stay healthy he will make a significant impact on their title chances.

Sterling was superb for Man City this past season scoring 25 goals in all competitions, so if he can keep up his goal scoring threat and his ability to break with the ball that too should help Man City retain their title. Laporte is a very solid center back having kept 16 clean sheets in the Man City defense in the 2018/2019 Premier League Season.

Pep Guardiola is a fantastic manager and a mastermind who I think is one of, if not the best managers in the world.

Predicted XI: Ederson, Laporte, Walker, Otamendi, Zinchenko, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Felix, Aguero

2. Liverpool (88 points)

Liverpool had an amazing season coming in second in the Premier League and beating Tottenham in the Champions League Final.

Two of Liverpool’s signings prior to the start of the 2018/2019 season were superb. Virgil Van Dijk was a force to be reckoned with in the Liverpool defense. His ability to defend and his accuracy with the long ball helped Liverpool tremendously. Allison, goalie for Liverpool, had a great season for Liverpool as well.

Another huge asset to Liverpool is defender Andrew Robertson. His ability to defend and get up the field and set up chances is great. He had 11 assists, created 15 big chances and put in 135 crosses.

The weakness of Liverpool, in comparison to Man City, is their midfield.

If the front three of Salah, Firmino and Mané can stay healthy and continue to score goals, I think Liverpool will have yet again another successful season. The reason they are not placed at 1 is simply because of the talent and depth Manchester City has.

Predicted XI: Allison, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Lovren, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Henderson, Salah, Firmino, Mané

3. Tottenham (85 points)

When it comes to talent, Tottenham has it but they just can’t figure things out at the moment.

If Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Son Heung-Min can all stay healthy, Tottenham will have a pretty scary attacking group.

What will make or break Tottenham’s season in my opinion will be what they decide to do in the Summer Transfer window.

Predicted XI: Lloris, Rose, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Walker Peters, Winks, Alli, Sissoko, Hueng-Min, Kane, Moura

4. Manchester United (84 points)

Out of all the teams that finished in the top 6, Manchester United had the worst season by far.

The biggest weakness for Man United is their defense. Players like Phil Jones have no business being on the team. He had 3 clean sheets in 18 appearances.

There is also a lot of young talent in the Manchester United squad with players like Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay. These are the players that will have to perform and have great seasons with Man United.

If Man United can hold on to De Gea and Pogba and sign a center back like Koulibaly or De Ligt they will have no problems finishing in the top 4.

Predicted XI: De Gea, Lindelöf, De Ligt, Shaw, Dalot, Pogba, Fred, Lingard, McTominay, Rashford, Martial

Other Teams that have the best chance to make Top 4:

Chelsea:

Predicted XI: Kepa, Emerson, Luiz, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Kante, Barkley, Jorginho, Pulisic, Pedro, Giroud

Wolves:

Predicted XI: Patrício, Doherty, Coady, Bennett, Boly, Jonny, Neves, Jota, Moutinho, Traoré, Jimenez

Arsenal

Predicted XI: Leno, Monreal, Koscielny, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Meunier, Xhaka, Ozil, Torreira, Aubameyang, Lacazette

England vs Netherlands Nation League Semi-Finals

England and Netherlands battled for a spot against Portugal in the Nations League Final earlier today. The match ended 1-1 in regular time. Netherlands won 3-1 in extra time to seal a spot in the Nations League Final against Portugal on Sunday June 9 at 2:45 PM ET.

A first half mistake from De Ligt allowed Rashford to score from the penalty spot to give England a 1-0 lead. Later on in the match, De Ligt made up for his mistake by netting the equalizing goal in the 73′ off a corner set piece. Later on, a beautiful through ball by Ross Barkley set up Jesse Lingard for a goal which was disallowed by VAR due to offsides. In extra time, a horrible mistake by England’s defense led to an own goal by Kyle Walker in the 97′. Netherlands took a 2-1 lead. Another England giveaway led to a Quincy Promes 114′ goal set up by Memphis Depay and Netherlands took a 3-1 lead which sealed the victory for the Netherlands.

From watching the match, Netherlands showed that they were the better side and why they should be feared on the international stage.

Reaction to United States Loss vs Jamaica

Yesterday, June 5th, 2019, the United States Mens National Team took on Jamaica in an international friendly in which they lost 1-0. Jamaica’s goal was scored by Shamar Nicholson which was his first international career goal in his 6th international appearance.

The United States rolled with a young team as they are resting their best players for the upcoming Gold Cup. The US starting XI was Steffen, Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Miazga, Jackson Yueill, Will Trapp, Antonee Robinson, Paul Arriola, Joshua Sargent, Djordje Mihailovic, and Christian Roldan.

As far as United States’ performance goes, I would say it was horrible. US kept giving the ball away by making bad passes. One of these giveaways led to the goal by Nicholson which he blasted from outside the 18 yard box right over Steffen’s head into the top left corner. Will Trapp did not look good at all. He gave away the ball way too much and looked like he had no idea what was going on out on the pitch. All in all, I would say that it was an embarrassing loss for the US team.

Eden Hazard Move to Real Madrid

Chelsea superstar, Eden Hazard, has been linked and has recently agreed to join Real Madrid in the next coming days. According to several sources, Chelsea and Real Madrid have agreed to a 88.5 million Euro (around 130 million with additional add ons) deal for the Belgian player.

Knowing what I know about soccer, I do not understand why a player of his caliber would leave a league like the Premier League. In my opinion, the Premier League is the most competitive league in the world. Is he leaving for money? Is he leaving because he wants to play in Spain? Is he leaving because he wants to play for Zinedine Zidane? Is it because he wants a change of scenery? I may never know why.

During his time with Chelsea, Hazard has scored more than 100 goals and has added over 80 assists. To say that Chelsea will miss Hazard would be an understatement. Chelsea now have to look to players like Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Pedro and Willian to fill his place.

Hazard, with a similar play style to Lionel Messi, will thrive in La Liga. Real Madrid with players like Courtois, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro and now Hazard is a team ready to make a run for the La Liga title next year and possibly go for a Champions League Win.

The question is now… Will Hazard be as successful in Spain as he was in England? I think so.