Soccer fans around the globe will be licking their lips with anticipation because the European football season is back, highlighted by the English Premier League.
The EPL is the most watched sports league in the world, with people from 212 countries tuning in to witness 20 of the UK's best teams fighting it out over 38 rounds to be crowned best in the land.
With most of the world's best players on show, the EPL is spoilt for riches, and undoubtedly a must watch for sports fan around the globe.
Title Contenders
Once "the big four" and now "the big six", there are only a handful of teams that can realistically challenge for the EPL title.
While Leicester City's fairytale win in 2015/6 shows that anything is possible, the title will once again be hoisted by one of the the big six.
Manchester City: Centurions back and ready to resume their dominance
EPL Odds to win title: $1.67
Key Ins: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
Key Outs: Yaya Toure (Released)
For a few seasons now, the city of Manchester has been blue.
This power shift has never been so apparent as the 2017/18 season, where Pep Guardiola's Man City were near unstoppable.
Racking up 100 points in the EPL to set an all-time record, the Citizens dominated the league, finishing 19 points clear at the top of the ladder over cross-town rivals Manchester United.
After such a comfortable winning margin last season, only a catastrophic form dip would see Man City fail to challenge for the title once again.
With the star names of De Bruyne, Silva and Aguero amongst their ranks, as well as younger players like Gabriel Jesus and Ederson who will only continue to improve, another 100 points is possible.
Only complacency looks to stand in City's way. You can bet that serial-winner Guardiola will have drilled into his squad a hunger to go back-to-back with a fierce pre-season Pep talk.
Prediction: 1st
EPL Tip: Man City to win the Title @ $1.67
Liverpool: More quality, more confidence, Mo Salah
The standout performers in the transfer market, Liverpool fans are looking forward to their team's season with more hope than usual.
Both Fabinho and Naby Keita will bolster the Reds' midfield, while the quality goalkeeper that they were so desperately crying out for arrives in the shape of Brazilian national team shot-stopper Alisson.
If Mo Salah can replicate his Golden Boot-winning season from last campaign, Liverpool will be a force to be reckoned with.
A team that made it all the way to the UCL final last season, Liverpool really excelled in the big games, both in Europe but also domestically.
However, where they let themselves down was in games against inferior opposition, and especially teams that sat deep in defence, causing Liverpool's fast men to have little impact.
If the Reds are to break their almost 30 year Premiership drought, picking up maximum points against the league's defensive-minded relegation battlers is essential.
Prediction: 2nd
EPL Tip: Liverpool to finish in the Top 2 @ $1.91
Sadio Mane (Liverpool) Source: AAP
Manchester United: Mourinho to ward off his "third-season curse"?
EPL Odds to win title: $8
Key Ins: Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Outs: Michael Carrick (Retired), Daley Blind (Ajax)
After two months of the 2017/18 EPL season, Manchester United were looking the eventual champions.
However, the Red Devils stalled and stuttered, while their cross-town rivals hit overdrive.
While Man U have all the solidity and defensive certainty to challenge for the title this season, they seem to lack a catalyst who can provide spark and creativity in attacking midfield areas.
Both Alexis Sanchez and new recruit Fred will hope to change that, with the two South Americans key to Manchester United's chances this season.
But first they will hope to help their gaffer overcome his well-documented "third-season curse".
In both his spells with Chelsea, and during his tenure at Real Madrid, Mourinho's teams have spectacularly underperformed in his third season in charge, ultimately leading to his departure.
Missing the aura of seasons past, many are questioning whether "the Special One" is as special as he once was. A poor run of results could see Mourinho bidding an earlier than expected farewell to Manchester.
Prediction: 5th
EPL Tip: Man Utd to finish outside the Top 4 @ $3.30
Chelsea: An Italian Renaissance under Sarri?
EPL Odds to win title: $13
Key Ins: Jorginho (Napoli)
Key Outs: None
As the reigning premiers in the 2017/18 EPL season, everything about Chelsea was just plain weird.
Their sub-standard recruitments, Antonio Conte's growing discontent and then apathy, and a general malaise stifling the West London club.
It's clear that something had to happen, and Conte's sacking and subsequent replacement by countryman and former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri could prove to be a masterstroke.
Sarri brought talented ex-Napoli midfielder Jorginho with him in a great acquisition for Chelsea. However, his main challenge is to keep hold of Eden Hazard, who is strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
With a championship-winning squad at his disposal, Sarri has all the tools at his disposal to take Chelsea far in the 2017/18 season.
Of course, Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich will demand instant success.
Prediction: 4th
EPL Tip: Chelsea to finish in the Top 4 @ $1.67 (wait until Hazard confirms Chelsea stay)
Tottenham Hotspur: New stadium, new era begins
EPL Odds to win title: $17
Key Ins: None
Key Outs: None
Spurs' fans are starting to get jittery after once again failing to secure a piece of silverware in the 2017/18 season.
With their best crop of players in more than a decade, and under the managerial prowess of Mauricio Pochettino, it's time for Tottenham to capitalise on everything that is going for them.
A move into the new "Tottenham Hotspur Stadium" within a stone's throw of the old White Hart Lane will surely be a boost for the North London club, who played all of their home games last season at Wembley Stadium.
Despite being inactive in the transfer market, Spurs have managed to tie down key players to longer contracts.
However, with so many of Tottenham's first team players featuring at the pointy end of the World Cup, there is a sense that once again the Lilywhites will have a slow start to the season due to fatigue (physical and mental), before rocketing home.
Pochettino will need to get the most out of players like Erik Lamela, Victor Wanyama and Lucas who did not feature at the World Cup.
Prediction: 3rd
EPL Tip: Tottenham to finish in the Top 4 @ $1.72
Arsenal: A false dawn looms for Gunners
EPL Odds to win title: $23
Key Ins: Stephen Lichsteiner (Juventus), Bernd Leno (Leverkusen), Sokratis (Dortmund), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria)
Key Outs: Santi Carzola (Released), Jack Wilshere (West Ham), Per Mertesacker (Retired)
The club that has become a joke among rival fans, Arsenal will look to regain a sense of pride as they head into the 2018/19 season under new manager Unai Emery.
After more than twenty years of Arsene Wenger shaping and styling every aspect of the club, the Gunners will look to find a new identity and new success with Emery steering the ship.
What is going for Arsenal is that they have plenty of star players to get the job done.
The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil will be joined by quality pick-ups in the transfer window including defender Sokratis and goalkeeper Leno.
However, the situation at Arsenal feels very much like Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.
After being such a foundational part of the club for so long, once Ferguson was removed, Manchester United crumbled under then coach David Moyes.
While its hard to see Arsenal dipping as much as Man U did in 2013/14, don't expect an immediate surge up the ladder either.
Prediction: 6th
EPL Tip: Arsenal under 71.5 points @ $1.85
Best of the Rest
Everton: Looking to keep up with Liverpool rivals
EPL Odds to win title: $201
Key Ins: Richarlison (Watford), Lucas Digne (Barcelona)
Key Outs: Wayne Rooney (D.C. United), Ramiro Funes Mori (Villareal), Ashley Williams (Stoke)
The Toffees finished 8th last season, after a very mediocre year for the club.
After losing star man Romelu Lukaku to the Red Devils, Everton really struggled for a focal point in attack.
However, Cenk Tosun showed promise in the latter stages of the season. With new recruit Richarlison as well as Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson, Everton have more than enough goals to trouble any opposition.
Stopping goals will be their problem, with the Evertonians placing much of their hopes on England goalie Jordan Pickford.
Prediction: 7th
EPL Tip: Everton over 51.5 points @ $1.87
West Ham: Ambitious Hammers aiming for European football
A cashed-up West Ham have been very busy in the transfer market, securing some excellent recruits for the new season.
However, the biggest acquisition has been that of the EPL-winning manager Manuel Pellegrini.
With plenty of talent at his disposal, the Chilean will be looking to guide West Ham up the ladder, after a disappointing 13th placed finish last season.
The first step will be turning the London Stadium into a fortress to rival their old home ground, Upton Park.
Prediction: 8th
EPL Tip: West Ham to finish in the Top 10 @ $2.25
Wolverhampton Wanderers- A Portuguese flavour at West Midlands club
Newly-promoted Wolverhampton will be looking to make an immediate splash in England's top league.
The Wolves were unstoppable in the Championship last season under Portuguese head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
With countrymen Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota tearing it up in the last campaign, they should have no problems in stepping up to the EPL.
Add Portuguese internationals Rui Patricio and Joao Mountinho, and the Wolves and their Chinese backers will be expecting immediate success this year.
Prediction: 9th
EPL Tip: Wolverhampton to finish in the Top 10 @ $2.10
Relegation Battlers
Cardiff City: Welsh club faces uphill battle
EPL Odds to win title: $1.65
Key Ins: Bobby Reid (Bristol City), Josh Murphy (Norwich)
Key Outs: None
Cardiff City's promotion to the EPL was well deserved after a superb campaign in 2017/18, finishing second.
They will be pleased to see Welsh rivals Swansea F.C. back in the Championship, and will be hoping that they can do enough to stay up in the EPL this season, while the Swans remain a division below.
Anything other than relegation will be viewed as a success for Neil Warnock and his side.
And with a few good players including exciting Canadian winger Junior Hoilett, the Bluebirds aren't without a hope.
However, it certainly will be an uphill battle, especially after failing to impress with any high-quality signings.
With limited EPL experience, Cardiff look to be outclassed in what is a very strong league.
Prediction: 20th
EPL Tip: Cardiff to finish last @ $3.25
Huddersfield Town: Terriers face another tough task
EPL Odds to win title:: $2.10
Key Ins: Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke), Erik Durm (Dortmund), Jonas Lossl (Mainz)
Key Outs: Tom Ince (Stoke)
Huddersfield just did enough to escape relegation last season, in what was their first year in England's top league since 1972.
However, it isn't looking promising for fans of the Terriers this season, as their team really stagnated at the end of the last campaign, only winning 1 of their last 10 matches.
Three impressive signings will definitely help, especially in shoring up Huddersfield's defence.
But Socceroo Aaron Mooy once again looms as the Hudderfield's key man, with a string of superb performances necessary if he wants his club to remain in the EPL.
Prediction: 18th
EPL Tip: Huddersfield to be relegated @ $2.10
Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield) Source: AAP
Fulham: Back and ready for blood against London rivals
EPL Odds to win title: $2.40
Key Ins: Andre Schurrle (Dortmund), Alfie Mawson (Swansea City)
Key Outs: Ryan Fredericks (West Ham), David Button (Brighton)
The winner of the Championship playoff to earn promotion to the EPL, Fulham will be looking to use that momentum as a springboard for a great start in the EPL.
Fans of the Cottagers will be going into the season with confidence, especially with the recruitments of former Chelsea winger Andre Schurrle, and commanding young centre-back Alfie Mawson.
But efforts to retain emerging star Ryan Sessegnon, was Fullham's best work.
The 18-year old is capable of playing as a winger, central attacking midfielder, or full-back, and was Fulham's key man last year, scoring 16 goals.
His combination with Serbian international Aleksandar Mitrovic was particularly fruitful, and the pair will look to back up and spare a quick return to the Championship.
Prediction: 17th
EPL Tip: Fulham to stay up @ $1.40
Brighton and Hove Albion: Seagulls will do well to avoid second flight
EPL Odds to win title: $2.85
Key Ins: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar), Leon Balogun (Mainz)
Key Outs: None
The seagulls finished 15th in the 2017/18 EPL season, in what can be viewed as a successful return to the EPL after playing in as low as the fourth division in the 1990s.
Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan and German midfielder Pascal Gross were superb, and key if the south coast side want to stay up in this campaign.
While two great signings will definitely bolster Brighton's chances, the Seagulls will be really battling this year.
While you can never read too much into pre-season friendlies for a form guide, Brighton have looked anything but impressive in their warm-up matches.
Aug 09, 2018 07:01 PM
AAP
EPL Tip: Man City to win the Title @ $1.67
