Robbie Slater’s guide to the 2019-20 Premier League
With a new Premier League season just around the corner, former Socceroo and EPL winner Robbie Slater runs the rule over every club.
TITLE CHALLENGE
Liverpool
The fact Liverpool didn’t sign anyone of note shows Jurgen Klopp believes in this squad, and with good reason. Last year they ran Manchester City to the wire, and missing out will only make them hungrier. For me the key is Virgil Van Dijk; if Liverpool are defensively strong they should win the league.
Key player: Virgil Van Dyke
Key signing: none
Man City
The retirement of Vincent Kompany signalled the end of an era, and a leader like that is not easily replaced.
Winning the Champions League with City is surely the holy grail for Pep Guardiola, something that could cause his team to lose focus on the EPL.
Key player: Kevin De Bruyne
Key signing: Rodri (Atletico Madrid, $112m)
EUROPEAN PLACE
Tottenham
Spurs have slipped out of the title contenders category for me, simply because their squad remains talented but threadbare. Harry Kane’s injury last year showed their reliance on the England captain, for all the talent of lieutenants like Son Heung-Min, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela.
Key player: Harry Kane
Key signing: Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon, $115.5m)
Man Utd
Ah, the great unknowns of this season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started like a house on fire when he took over from Jose Mourinho but the flames fizzled out as soon as he got a long-term contract. United are full of unknowns; will Paul Pogba stay, will Alexis Sanchez finally fire?
Key player: Paul Pogba
Key signing: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace, $89m)
Arsenal
Could be Unai Emery’s last chance. Had the difficult task of replacing Arsene Wenger and there was a point last season where you thought they might challenge for the title — but the way they fell away was horribly familiar.
Key player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Key signing: Nicholas Pepe (Lille, $128m)
Chelsea
The big question is how much patience will owner Roman Abramovich show the newly appointed Frank Lampard, a club legend but still callow as a manager. With a transfer ban in place and Eden Hazard gone, he will have to grow on the job.
Key player: Ross Barkley
Key signing: Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid, $71m)
MID-TABLE FINISH
Everton
A solid club, a solid team, but lacking the absolute quality — or the money — to challenge the top six. But should continue to play good, attacking football under Marco Silva, though there are concerns over the workload for striker Richarlison.
Key player: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Key signing: Andre Gomes (Barcelona, $39m)
West Ham
The elder statesman of the EPL, Manuel Pellegrini, deserves much credit for his unflappability at a club always one headline from a crisis. Have to avoid a repeat of their awful injury toll last year, and hope young midfielder Declan Rice continues to grow.
Key player: Declan Rice
Key signing: Sebastien Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt, $80m)
Southampton
Another desperate scrap against relegation means that for once they haven’t had players pillaged in the off season. Instead, under Austrian Ralf Hasenhuttl, they should aim for and secure mid-table security, especially if Danny Ings stays fit and in form.
Key man: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Key signing: Danny Ings (Liverpool, $35.5m)
Wolves
What a story. Finishing seventh, and how they did it, was stunning. At times visiting teams brought a packed defence to Molineux, such is Wolves’ attacking prowess. But will Europa League qualification be a distraction?
Key player: Raul Jimenez
Key signing: Patrick Cutrone (AC Milan, $28.5m)
Leicester
After two years in Scotland, Brendan Rodgers looks refreshed and ready to deal with the expectations of fans still stunned they won the EPL three years ago. Rogers has put the spark back into Jamie Vardy, and I love their permanent acquisition of Tielemans.
Key player: Jamie Vardy
Key signing: Youri Tielemans (Monaco, $71m)
Watford
Surprised everyone by steering well clear of relegation and getting to the FA Cup final, but there’s been little investment to allow Javi Garcia to build on that. Still should be strong enough once more.
Key player: Abdoulaye Doucoure
Key signing: Craig Dawson (West Brom, $9.8m)
DROP ZONE BATTLE
Bournemouth
Eddie Howe’s star continues to rise as he oversees a fifth EPL campaign. But to ensure there’s a sixth he has to staunch the flow of 70 goals conceded last season — hence the signing of Kelly, though he will miss the start of the campaign through injury.
Key player: Callum Wilson
Key signing: Lloyd Kelly (Bristol City, $23m)
Sheffield Utd
Back in the EPL for the first time since 2007, and credit goes to unfashionable boss Chris Wilder. But do United have the resources to stay up, with so few signings? I think they’ll struggle.
Key player: Billy Sharp
Key signing: Lys Mousset (Bournemouth, $18m)
Burnley
Always a battling side without any stars, and their longevity in the EPL is due to the shrewdness of boss Sean Dyche. But you feel Burnley need to evolve this year or face a very bleak outlook.
Key player: James Tarkowski
Key signing: Jay Rodriguez (West Brom, $18m)
Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson has certainly rehabilitated himself since the ignominy of leading England to defeat by Iceland, but the imminent loss of Wilfried Zaha removes their key weapon and indicates a season of struggle.
Key man: Christian Benteke
Key signing: Jordan Ayew (Swansea, £$4.5m).
Norwich
With English cooking icon Delia Smith still an active owner, City aim to avoid their return to the EPL collapsing like a bad soufflé. Coach Daniel Farke is a cult hero but can Teemu Pukki come anywhere near last season’s 30 goals?
Key player: Teemu Pukki
Key signing: Sam Byram (West Ham, $1.3m)
Brighton
A new coach heralds a change of style at the Albion, but their reliance on veteran Glenn Murray’s goals remains a concern. Aussie fans will wish them well, with Mat Ryan our only EPL representative.
Key player: Mat Ryan
Key signing: Leandro Trossard (Genk, $32m)
Aston Villa
Dean Smith has signed 12 players for 135m, which smacks of a club with ambition. But it’s also a lot for any head coach to assimilate in the unforgiving spotlight of the EPL. They’ll be happy with survival.
Key player: Jack Grealish
Key signing: Wesley (Club Bruges, $39m)
Newcastle
Sadly the antics of owner Mike Ashley may again prove the biggest story, after the exit of a hugely popular coach in Rafa Benitez and arrival of the hugely unpopular Steve Bruce, a coach with a 28 per cent win record in the EPL.
Key player: Miguel Almiron
Key signing: Joelinton (Hoffenheim, $71m)
Originally published as Robbie Slater’s guide to the 2019-20 Premier League