The English Premier League is back and if you’re anything like us, Friday cannot come soon enough.
New teams, new players, millions of dollars spent, no doubt millions more to be lavished.
Manchester City will aim to defend its title for a third consecutive season, while Champions League winner Liverpool will hope to win its first domestic crown since 1990.
It’s Liverpool that gets the 2019/20 season underway with a home clash against newly-promoted Norwich on Friday night as Jurgen Klopp’s men look to put down an early marker.
But what does this season have in store? Will Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane win the Golden Boot? Can anyone spring a surprise and break into the top four? Could we see another shock such as a Leicester City title triumph? Let’s face it, probably not.
Fortunately, CNN Sport’s football experts have some words of wisdom to offer before it all kicks off once again.
Matias Grez (Charlton Athletic)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
Manchester City. Having strengthened in the one area that needed strengthening, signing Rodri from Atletico Madrid to support and (eventually) replace Fernandinho, it’s hard to see any team halting City’s well-oiled machine. Coupled with Liverpool, its nearest rival from last season, yet to strengthen its first team squad, I expect City to run away with the title this year.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
Alexis Sanchez. Having been pilloried for his performances since leaving Arsenal for Manchester United – and rightly so – this will be the season we see the Alexis of old. It’s hard to believe a player who was world class a mere two seasons ago can seemingly turn into a bad player overnight. His performances for Chile at this year’s Copa America proved that the old Alexis Sanchez is still in there somewhere.
3) Who will win the Golden Boot?
Sergio Aguero. Simply put, he’s one of the best strikers the Premier League has ever seen, still in his prime and playing in the league’s deadliest front line. Harry Kane might run him close purely down to his incredible individual ability, but the Argentine should edge it.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
Leicester. Already boasting an exciting core of young attacking talent, the Foxes finished last season in good form following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers. A manager who favors an entertaining style of football, coupled with the exciting permanent addition of Youri Tielemens and the hard-working Ayoze Perez, it looks to be an ideal match.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
Alexis Sanchez to win the league and Crystal Palace to get relegated, passing Charlton on its way up.
You can follow Matias on Twitter here
Aimee Lewis (Liverpool)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has not any made major signings this summer but the squad, bolstered by the return to fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Gomez and the promising Rhian Brewster after the trio missed substantial spells of the 2018/19 campaign, looks well equipped to end Manchester City’s reign as champion.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
New Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has no Eden Hazard to bamboozle Premier League defenses after the brilliant Belgian was lured to Real Madrid. Christian Pulisic has been signed to fill the void – but keep an eye on England teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi. Currently recovering from an Achilles injury, the talented 18-year-old can make an impact for the Blues this season.
3) Who will win the Golden Boot?
Harry Kane. Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beat Kane to the Golden Boot last season, but the England striker – blighted by injuries in recent campaigns – has enjoyed a full preseason and says he “feels sharp.” Should injuries not hamper his season once again, he should surpass the 27 goals he scored for club and country last season.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
Norwich. My colleague Ben Church supports the Canaries and he may never make me another cup of tea again were I to not at least hope that newly-promoted Norwich will stay up and thus surprise many by avoiding becoming the most relegated team in Premier League history.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
Racism in English football has frequently been in the news this year. Lord Ouseley, Kick It Out chairman, said in February that English football was “dysfunctional” in the way it tackled racism. More needs to be done to deal with the worrying rise in racist incidents.
You can follow Aimee on Twitter here
James Masters (Leyton Orient)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
Manchester City look nigh on impregnable and it’s difficult to see anyone getting as close to it this season as Liverpool did last. Liverpool’s remarkable campaign in which it lost just one game all season and yet still finished second to City shows how tough the task can be. Liverpool aside, it’s difficult to see any other club challenging for the title.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
When a star player leaves a club, it leaves a vacuum for someone else to step into the limelight. For Ross Barkley, this could be the moment. The departure of Eden Hazard means Barkley is likely to be afforded more space to influence Chelsea’s play in the final third. He’s looked excellent in preseason, but whether he can finally fulfill his undoubted potential remains a perennial question.
3) Who will win the Golden Boot?
As a player who scored his first ever goal in professional football for Leyton Orient, I’m not ashamed to say I’ve always had a soft spot for Harry Kane. The forward has finally had some much needed rest, has looked sharp in preseason and will look to hit the ground running. If he can avoid the injuries which affected him last season then there’s no reason why he can’t be top of the charts once again.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
I really like the look of Leicester City going into the new season. The signing of Youri Tielemans is a terrific piece of business, and James Maddison in midfield should benefit from having completed his debut year in the Premier League. Under Brendan Rodgers, Leicester will give some of the big clubs a real fright.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
That football’s governing bodies can finally show they are able to tackle racism efficiently and effectively. There’s no room for racism in football – it’s about time that actions matched words.
You can follow James on Twitter here
Ben Church (Norwich City)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
Liverpool – only because it has to win it again eventually.
Confidence should be soaring through the side after its European triumph and the players certainly have the quality to win it. It almost won it last year and Mohamed Salah wasn’t even in his best form.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
A diminutive Argentine attacker who has the ability to take players on a score wonderful goals – remind you of anyone? Yes, that’s right, it’s Emi Buendia of Norwich City.
The 22-year-old hasn’t played in the EPL before but his ability to produce magic out of nowhere will be a pleasure to watch.
3) Who will win the Golden Boot and what makes him your top choice?
It’s hard to look past Harry Kane. If, and it’s a big if, he stays fit then I can’t see anyone scoring more goals.
He knows exactly where the net is and is, possibly, the best finisher in the league.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
Norwich (and not because they’re my team). The Canaries were promoted last season and many people think they’re going straight back down. These people are wrong.
The entire club has been rejuvenated and it’s on a more stable path. Morale in the team is high and its style of football will grace the EPL.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
Ole Gunnar Solskjær to be a success at Manchester United.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Red side of Manchester (unpopular, I know) and the EPL doesn’t feel right without United challenging for the title. If anyone can wake the sleeping giant, it’s the “baby-faced assassin.”
You can follow Ben on Twitter here
John Sinnott (Liverpool)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
One hundred and ninety eight points over the last two seasons points to why Manchester City will win the Premier League for a third year running. Liverpool pushed Guardiola’s City all the way to the 38th game in the 2018/192 campaign before losing out by a single point but the European champion’s involvement in the Club World Cup in December will make it tough for Jurgen Klopp’s side to replicate last season’s feats.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
Arsenal’s new $87.9 million signing Nicolas Pepe’s 22 goals and 11 assists was key to helping French club Lille qualify for the Champions League last season. No wonder Lille coach Christophe Galtier said of the 24-year-old Ivory Coast international impressive Ligue 1 campaign: “He is exceptional. He is an incredible talent and he has proved this season that he is a world-class player already.”
3) Who will win the Golden Boot?
Sergio Aguero has scored 164 goals in 239 Premier League appearances for City – that’s 0.69 goals per match. It’s not just the goals which makes Aguero the favorite to win the Golden Boot, it’s the teammates he has around him in creating chance after chance and City’s relentlessness in scoring goals – 95 last season and 106 in the one before. At times Aguero must feel he’s like a kid left alone in a sweet shop.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
West Ham finished 10th last season in Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge. The London club has signed striker Sebastien Haller in a club record deal worth up to £45 million ($54 million) and midfielder Pablo Fornals from Villarreal. West Ham host champion Mancester City on the opening day of the season, but Pelligrini’s teams play an exciting brand of football and expect the Hammers to cause the Premier League’s top six teams problems.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be? That VAR decisions aren’t too time consuming …
You can follow John on Twitter here
Patrick Sung Cuadrado (Real Madrid)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
La Liga is the only thing that matters, but probably Liverpool because it will put all its eggs in one basket for the league, while Manchester City (and Pep) worries about the Champions League.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
Dani Ceballos is an incredible talent and should do really well in Unai Emery’s system. He deserved a lot more playing time at Real Madrid and should shine on loan at Arsenal.
3) Who will win the Golden Boot?
*Cough*Messi*Cough* But the EPL Golden Boot, probably Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang since Arsenal’s attack will only get better this year and he’ll have plenty of goal-scoring chances.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
Norwich. Why? I couldn’t tell you, but I like their mascot and my colleague Ben used to be in their academy, so I’ll choose them.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
For Arsenal to be great again so my Gooner friends won’t be so sad this year. But yeah, honestly, my only hope for football this year is Real Madrid not to be terrible anymore.
You can follow Patrick on Twitter here
Massimo Marioni (Arsenal)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
Liverpool. They’ll be hungrier than Man City, who have won back-to-back titles, and riding high from their Champions League win, though injuries could leave them exposed in key areas.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
Callum Hudson-Odoi. The 18-year-old should finally get a sustained run in Chelsea’s first team this season due to their transfer ban, and having impressed in brief glimpses last year, this could be his breakthrough season under new boss Frank Lampard.
3) Who will win the Golden Boot?
Harry Kane. Spurs are playing their first full season in their new stadium and after slipping behind the Premier League’s leading scorers last year – mainly due to injury – the stage is set for the England man to return to the top after an impressive pre-season.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
Leicester. They were resurgent under new manager Brendan Rodgers last season, and have made smart signings in tieing up a permanent deal for Youri Tielemans and picking up Ayoze Perez from Newcastle United. Need to replace Harry Maguire effectively though given his move to Manchester United.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
For Pep Guardiola to realise he’s wasting his time at Manchester City and leave to manage Arsenal – but only after relegating Spurs on the last day of the season.
You can follow Massimo on Twitter here
Dom Rech (Burnley)
1) Who will win the Premier League title?
Before reading anything, please take most of the following with a pinch of salt. If there is one man who can cause an upset this season, it’s Sean Dyche. Leicester City surprised everyone when they lifted the trophy in 2016, so why can’t Burnley do the impossible? Manchester City may have money, Liverpool may have flair, but Burnley have good old-fashioned grit and determination. I am, of course, partially joking. However, If the wheels fall off the wagon for everyone else in the league (perhaps all 19 other outfits) this may be Burnley’s time.
2) Who is your player to watch in this year’s Premier League?
Jay Rodriguez. I’ll try and not make every answer Burnley related but the boy is home and back at Turf Moor. I’m not exaggerating when I say Rodriguez is good and he’s even better with a claret and blue Jersey on. He came through the Burnley academy. He was made in Burnley. He’s returned to Burnley. He’ll do wonders again for Burnley. If the striker doesn’t score more than 10 Premier League goals this season, I will eat a hat. Aside from that, Wolves’ Raul Jimenez is a player who I think will cause a lot of trouble for opponents this year.
3) Who will win the Golden Boot?
It’s a tough one. Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez will make it an interesting three-horse race but I think Arsenal’s Piere-Emerick Aubameyang will pip them all to the top spot. The man is prolific and now that Unai Emery has a season under his belt, this could be the year to get the best out of his number 14 striker. I think Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero will underperform this year.
4) Which team will be the surprise story of the season?
Aston Villa. Unfortunately not the shade of claret and blue, which is closest to my heart. I watched them a little last season in the Championship and thought they were impressive. They now have a wonderful goalkeeper in Tom Heaton (for an absolute bargain too – from Burnley), so I think they will be the surprise team of the season.
5) If you could make one wish for this Premier League season, what would it be?
For Burnley’s Sean Dyche to be knighted. Well, maybe not knighted but perhaps a strong season and a manager of the year award. He was unjustly beaten by Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola a couple of years ago and it still hurts. I hope he is at least given the respect he deserves by all across the Premier League and football. He takes a hard working club and helps them overperform year in, year out. Dyche’s gruff, gravelly tone and slick amber hair is enough alone to deserve respect.
You can follow Dom on Twitter here
Think we’ve got it right? Think we’ve got it hopelessly wrong? Get in touch and tweet us your predictions @CNNSport and over at our Facebook Page.
