Joy Sports journalists’ predict top six clubs for 2020/21 EPL season

Was it not just a few days ago that Covid-19 forced the stoppage of the Premier League?

And was it not only a few ago Project Restart happened, with Liverpool crowned champions after thirty years of waiting?

Well, the new season is already here! Joy Sports are in the thick of it, and to accompany our coverage, we’ve been looking into crystal balls. The team’s predictions have caused quite a stir since they were revealed on Tuesday night, so we’ve asked them to explain their choices.

Asare Bediako

[I think Manchester City will win the 2020/21 English premier league title. Last season they dropped too many point and I am sure they have learnt their lessons. Every point is important, every game is important and if they have a strong backline, i think they will be very difficult to beat because they are blessed with fantastic attackers. Liverpool will finish second. I don’t think they will be able to replicate their fine form last season. I don’t think they have a very deep squad to challenge for the league. I can’t wait to watch Chelsea. Great signings, Werner, Ziyech, Havertz. I think Chelsea will finish third. They have what it takes, they have a good manager in Frank Lampard. Manchester UTD will finish fourth. They have Van de Beek and Bruno Fernandes. He is the man who is going to pull the strings in midfield. Arsenal, Spurs, I don’t think around good enough to finish in the top four.]

 Bill Eshun

[I don’t have as much confidence for Liverpool as I did last season because they haven’t really dipped into the transfer market to strengthen their squad. They’ve only signed one player, a left-back. With man city, they are still strengthening, they’ve been linked with Koulibaly so I would give them a shout to take the league this time. For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has given the squad belief and strength and I think with some more signings, he can nail that top four. Chelsea, with their signings so far, should be able to get that top-four spot. Manchester United and Spurs still have something to work on especially if United are unable to sign Sancho, that would make it very tough for them to reach the top four]

Haruna Mubarak

[I have a strong conviction Man City will dethrone Liverpool regarding the title because it is a rarity for Pep’s outfit to go two years without a league title since his days at Barca. Liverpool cannot recapture last season’s unthinkable form  and they’ve not strengthened their squad too. The transfer window hasn’t ended yet, I think Man UTD will get the Sancho’s deal over the line plus a defender which I think will see them finish in the top three. Spurs are not signing glamorous players but their signings fit into the style of play of Jose and I back them to finish fourth. Chelsea and Arsenal out of top four. Forget about Chelsea’s signings, we’ve seen teams who sign many players and fail to live up to the hype because they struggled to gel together]

Moses Yeboah

[Pep Guardiola and his Manchester city learnt their lessons the hard way and they will go all guns blazing this time around. Chelsea second will be a surprise to many, but I think that they will be the surprise package despite the fact that Lampard will be under a lot of pressure to deliver. Liverpool, Champions will finish third. I feel they don’t have enough motivation to retain the title. Fourth position for Arsenal because Mikel Arteta seems to be rediscovering the missing spark and if Aubameyang stays, they will be a force to reckon with. Manchester United, fifth, will be out of the top four. Losing three semi-finals last season exposed their mental weakness and Spurs might not have enough quality to finish in the top four]

 Baaba Tandoh

[I think it will be a battle amongst managers more than it will be amongst players because it will be managers’ pedigree that would be at stake mostly and that is why I put Manchester City number 1. Mikel Arteta came in at the dying embers of last season and with the same players and technical bench, he managed to win the FA cup and manage to beat Liverpool to win the Community Shield and so I feel Arteta has a lot especially coming from the camp of Pep Guardiola and that will be a second place for Arsenal. Klopp really has nothing to show, just one signing in the offseason. I really don’t see any new ideas that he will bring on board, the reason why I put them in third. For Chelsea, despite their signings, I’m really not sure what Lampard will bring to the table. I don’t think there is anything we haven’t seen before and I really don’t see Chelsea winning this season but if they do, all the best. Manchester United, Ole Gunner Solskjaer looks like he is out of ideas, same as Jose Mourinho with Spurs. I really don’t see anything they are bringing on the table]

Gary Al-Smith

[Liverpool who I predicted will win the league last season, I think will be second this time because they have not strengthened in key areas thats getting guile in midfield and additional centre back I think they would need to defend the title as they concentrate on the other competitions. Man City have done the business quite well. They got covering in key areas and I think that is what will suit them to win the title. For Chelsea, yes they have spent, yes the team will need time to settle but I think the kind of players they’ve got are good enough to settle really quickly and keep them firing for that third position ahead of Manchester United. Ole Gunner Solskjaer may have to buy more. Arsenal, because of the renewed sense of optimism and the Mikel Arteta factor will finish fifth ahead of Spurs].

Owuraku Ampofo

[The key thing this season is Liverpool’s hunger and whether they are willing to fight and equal their long term rivals Manchester United in terms of winning 20 Premier League trophies. For Man City, it is about how they will bounce back and their hunger to reclaim their throne at the top of English football. I think Liverpool’s hunger might surpass Manchester City’s hunger. Also, I believe Arsenal will finish in the top four. It’s true they haven’t done this in a while but I believe that there is good energy in the camp of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has ended the season strongly and has started strongly as well]

 George Addo Jnr

[I think Liverpool will win the title because they have big motivation. They have 19 titles as compared to their rivals 20. They have a good squad and a motivation to equal their rivals. Chelsea second for me because they’ve got great signings. Every time Chelsea go into the market to buy players, they usually come up on top. So it puts them above Manchester City who I think will be torn whether to focus on the Champions League or the premier league. Manchester United, you don’t know what to expect from there. I think they don’t have the squad to be there as they did last season. Arsenal are resurgent under Mikel Arteta and can do something. Spurs, I don’t think they can do too much. The quality is not as good]

Source: Joy Sports