A strong start is everything… Premier league predictions

Motivational talks always set in from the end of February, teams at the red zone use the “finishing strong” tagline and it often end in tears, those chasing the leaders tend to accept reality and hustle to finish in European places while the rest covet the top ten consolations, whichever way, starting the best way possible will do more good than harm, ask Bournemouth last season.

Welcome back to the predictions table, who else couldn’t wait to have good football back on our TVs? Good people of the world wherever you are, raise your glasses in a happy toast to the start of what gives us joy, the English Premier League. The transfer window is behind us now and a certain North London side did best of magical businesses with a much advertised £45m bucks budget, how? Left to be packaged and sold on Amazon with the title: How to deceive to deliver 101. Welcome to the predictions table, oh we welcomed you before? Doesn’t matter, welcome again and it feels awesome to be right back, in your face and ready to see you through the thirty eight round affair; Tottenham Hotspur did quality business too, fixed their problems and finally handed Ryan Sessegnon, the move a lot expected him to make long ago, the Giovani Lo Celso acquisition would rank among hits of the season and with Tanguy Ndombele in the team, be very afraid of Spurs this season

Let’s talk about Liverpool, no real additions as they file out against Norwich on day one, same line up except for Sadio Mane that might not be ready for match fitness after his involvement in Senegal’s AFCON journey and you’d wonder if they’re helping Chelsea to serve their transfer ban; Speaking of Chelsea, The Blues have absolutely nothing to report, they do have club legend, Frank Lampard as manager and with Eden Hazard gone, Christian Pulisic will have so much weight on his shoulders trying to lift Chelsea the way the departed Belgian did, a lot lies in the hands of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ross Barkley and Tammy Abraham… Long season ahead for Chelsea, without doubt.

Manchester United are a laughing stock right now, a joke of a club, knew Ander Herrera was leaving and they out rightly sold Marouane Fellaini, no adequate replacement for either, United sold Romelu Lukaku, no replacement as they put their trust in Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, they did get Harry Maguire, top signing considering the options they had before he arrived, but with a weak midfield, United will suffer this season and that will heap pressure on Ole Gunnar Solksjaer; given he didn’t sign a single player in January and could be excused, he and the entire United board members must answer questions if the season doesn’t bring joy, inevitably.

Let’s talk about the wild animals, OMG! Leicester and Wolves did massive sensational businesses, the former may have lost Harry Maguire to United but they signed quality players to help their cause, from the permanent signing of Youri Tielemans, to Ayoze Perez, Dennis Praet and the fact they’re able to hold on to James Maddison speaks volume of their readiness for the new season; Wolves signed Patrick Cutrone, got Raul Jimenez on a long term, sealed move for a Portuguese duo and will compete in the league if their Europa campaign doesn’t derail them, be very afraid of them and plan for their visit.

Then, Everton, another small club making big statements, given that Crystal Palace won’t sell Wilfred Zaha to them despite all efforts, they got Moise Kean and Jean Philippe-Gbamin, they haven’t lost any major player, safe for Phil Jagielka that returned to boyhood club, Sheffield, be wary of Everton too.

Arsenal look very much like the biggest winners in the just concluded window with at least a body in their empty holes, they lacked a leader in defense, they let Laurent Koscielny go and brought in David Luiz, huge surprise but many report he’s been on the cards for long; the loan signing of Dani Ceballos makes sense in the absence of the departed Aaron Ramsey, lack of wide intelligence last season has been fixed with the signing of Pepe from Lille and they do have William Saliba joining next season after being loaned back to St Etiene. Long term target, Kieran Tierney joined from Celtic, though injured but will be ready soon to lift the Gunners, such an exciting time for the fans of Arsenal especially after hearing their two front men just signed contract extensions.

Well, it’s the first predictions of the season and here we go “in Fabrizio Romano’s voice”

Welcome to the new season again and remember, it’s strictly the writer’s opinion