I am posting 5 very specific predictions for the upcoming season (a little late, but oh well)! This is a bit that I am taking from one of my favorite soccer talk shows, Total Soccer Show, in which I will give five very specific predictions about the upcoming season in the EPL and a few reasons why I think they will happen. I would love for you soccer fans out there to join in, tell me what you agree with and disagree with and why!
Disclaimer: All predictions are strictly about EPL play only, so it will not include the FA cup, Europa, or Champions League play.
So here we go!
1. I predict that Tottenham Hotspur (my favorite team, so this is a little with the heart) will finish in the top 4 this season. Here is why: 1. They have one of the most prolific scoring trios in the league in Kane, Eriksen, and Chadli who all scored in double digits last year so they are capable of putting up points. I also believe that we will see more out of guys like Lamela, Mason, and Alex Pritchard.
2. Their Achilles’ Heal last season was defense, they let in 53 league goals which was 4th most in the EPL. In this off-season they have strengthened that back line with signings like Trippier, Wimmer, and Alderweireld who I think will drastically decrease that number.
2. Raheem Sterling will score less than 5 goals for Manchester City and doesn’t start more than 15 games this season. Here is why: 1. Attack is not what Man City needed help with last season. Aguero led the league in scoring last season with 26 league goals and 4 players scoring 10+ goals in the last campaign. So Sterling already has more competition for playing time and only scored 7 last season with Liverpool.
2. With so many good scoring players on the roster, Man City (who are desperately in need of a strong title chase), won’t mess around with players who are not in good form. This means after a very loud offseason, Sterling will have to get in form very fast and stay there in order to warrant playing time for the Citizens.
3. After fighting off relegation in dramatic style last season, Leicester City can’t repeat the theatrics and are relegated. Here is why: 1. This is actually kind of hard because I have a soft spot for them as underdogs, but with a brutal stretch of games in late Nov. early Dec. facing ManU, Swansea, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, and Man City, unless LCFC can pull off some real upsets and play consistently against the bottom of the table teams, they are in for a season back in the 2nd tier.
2. With a new coach and not a deep pool of talent, (at this moment forward Jaime Vardy is potentially facing suspension for alleged racial slurs in the offseason), I don’t think LCFC have what it takes to keep their heads above water.
4. Christian Benteke will score 20+ goals for Liverpool with at least half of them being with his head. Here is why: 1. Benteke is a superb striker who has been on some really BAD teams. I think with the talent at Liverpool he will not only get far more chances but he will rise to the occasion, literally. Benteke is great in the air, he scored 13 league goals last season and 4 of those were with his head, with service coming off the wings from the likes of Coutinho and Henderson, he will have plenty of chances to win the ball in the air.
2. Benteke is a big and powerful striker and isn’t afraid to muscle around defenders and poach a few goals, I think with a few other scoring options at Liverpool, Benteke could make a great season cleaning up on missed chances from outside shots.
5. Arsenal will win the title but lose at White Hart Lane in the North London Derby. Here is why: 1. Arsenal win the league in what I think will be one of the tightest races in Premier League history. They have all the talent in the world at their disposal and with the addition of Petr Cech in goal they have a formidable defense. That is as long as their center backs stay healthy. Also, with the transfer window still open and rumors of Benzema making a move to Arsenal, they could become even more of a scoring threat. They also beat Chelsea in the Community Shield earlier and despite losing to West Ham this weekend, I believe it is their title to lose.
2. Tottenham, as mentioned earlier, have gotten even better in the off-season and after drawing at Arsenal last year and winning at White Hart Lane I think Spurs have figured out how to slow this Arsenal team down enough to beat them. The Gunners will be coming off a potential winner-take-all game against ManU the week before and Swansea the week before that, so the road to WHL is not an easy one for Arsenal and with both league play, FA Cup, and Champions League play for Arsenal, I believe the squad will be tired and not able to really get up for a crazy game at Tottenham.
