We’re just beyond the midway point of the 2019-20 season, with plenty still to play for amongst our most local Premier League clubs in the North West region of England. Following what has been an exciting final year of the decade for our favourite teams, let’s take a look at what’s expected of them as we head into 2020.
Burnley
Image Source: Pixabay
As one of the twelve founding members of the Football League during its inaugural 1888-89 season, Burnley FC is a football club steeped in history and traditions. However, after decades in the doldrums and even a spell in the fourth tier, it’s great to see them back amongst the English elite and holding their own in the Premier League.
Now in their fourth consecutive season back in the top-flight, the aim in 2020 will simply be to maintain their Premier League status. After ending 2019 roughly the same number of points above relegation as they are from the European positions, the Clarets should comfortably avoid the drop and push towards finishing in the top half of the table.
Everton
Image Source: Pixabay
Another of the founding 1888-89 Football League members, Everton FC have spent all but three seasons since amongst the elite of the English game. Following the arrival of British-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri in 2016 as the majority shareholder, he immediately invested heavily with lofty ambitions of making the club genuine Premier League contenders.
While the Toffees have consistently remained in the top half of the table since then, the team made a disappointing start to the 2019-20 campaign, which led to the sacking of Marco Silva as manager. After the appointment of hugely successful Italian Carlo Ancelotti as coach, fans are looking ahead to 2020 with renewed optimism, with Everton at 10/1 on the Premier League betting odds to finish in the top six by the end of the campaign.
Manchester United
Image Source: Pixabay
One of the biggest and most famous clubs in the world, while still boasting more major league and cup titles than any other English team, Manchester United remain the most successful club in the country. However, after dominating the domestic game throughout the nineties and noughties, and starting the decade with two more Premier League titles, the Red Devils have endured a difficult decline in their fortunes.
United haven’t won the league since Alex Ferguson retired and, as the club seeks to rebuild, it’s one of his former players, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is now tasked with steering the club back in the right direction. Nevertheless, there’s a lot of catching up to do and in 2020, finishing within the top four is the minimum objective for the Norwegian coach and his young team, packed with promising young talents from the United academy.
Manchester City
Image Source: Pixabay
Few would doubt that Manchester City have always been a big club, albeit one that hadn’t won much silverware since their heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. That all changed when the Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the club led by Emirati royal family member, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with ambitions of making City one of the most powerful teams in both domestic and continental football.
Following back to back Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola over the last two seasons, Man City were clear favourites for a third, however, the 2019-20 campaign has hit a few bumps in the road during the first half of the season. Guardiola has practically conceded the title race, suggesting the focus of the team will be on winning the Champions League and domestic cup competitions in 2020, while planning ahead for the 2020-21 campaign.
Liverpool
Image Source: Pixabay
Until the resurgence of Manchester United took a firm hold in the 1990s when the Premier League era began, no team had enjoyed more success in English football than Liverpool; with 18 league titles, plus a host of domestic cup and continental triumphs. Indeed, it was precisely during the 1989-90 season when the Merseyside club won their last league title, making for an anxious wait that has now spanned three decades for the next to arrive.
Having become genuine contenders with German coach Jurgen Klopp at the helm, Liverpool won the Champions League last season and finished just one point behind Man City in the Premier League title race. After an amazing start to the 2019-20 campaign, the Reds finished 2019 unbeaten and 13 points clear at the top of the table, which means it’s now almost certain that Anfield will be the home of the first Premier League champions of the new decade.
Leave a reply