Premier League 2018-19 - Final Third Review

Arsenal

A decent first season under Unai Emery, in my opinion. Finished fifth, one point off a Champions League spot, and also made the Europa League final where they were beaten by Chelsea. If they can strengthen defensively in the summer they could be a real threat to the top four.

Bournemouth

Will play in the Premier League for the fifth season in a row next campaign after finishing fourteenth this season. Eddie Howe continues to do a great job as manager of the Cherries but faces a tough task in keeping some of his star men this summer... particularly Ryan Fraser.

Brighton

Survived relegation by just a place and two points, which still wasn't enough to keep Chris Hughton in a job. Graham Potter is the man to take over and it will be interesting to see how he fares as a Premier League manager for the first time in 2019-20.

Burnley

Dropped eight league positions from 2017-18 but retained Premier League status by finishing fifteenth. Sean Dyche may be a little disappointed with such a drop but I think it's more than acceptable when you consider their season started all the way back in July 2018 in the Europa League!

Cardiff

Gave it a great shot under Neil Warnock but were relegated after finishing eighteenth. The Bluebirds ended up missing the cut by just two points, but won more games than Brighton and Southampton who survived. If they'd managed to turn three of their twenty-four losses into draws they'd have remained.

Chelsea

A strange season for Chelsea who finished third, lost the Carabao Cup final and won the Europa League. Eden Hazard has already departed for Real Madrid, whilst manager Maurizio Sarri is joining Juventus. I predict we'll be seeing Frank Lampard in the dugout soon, but it won't be plain sailing.

Crystal Palace

Another good season under Roy Hodgson, who guided the Eagles to a twelfth-placed finish. They are more than capable of finishing in the top half next season but that may all be determined by whether or not they can keep hold of starlet Aaron Wan-Bissaka - Manchester United are reportedly keen.

Everton

I was really impressed by how the Toffees finished the campaign. They beat Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in their penultimate three home games which saw them finish a respectable eighth. If they invest again this summer you can expect to see them challenging for the Europa League at least.

Fulham

Spent a lot last summer to prepare for their return to the Premier League, but never really looked like surviving and were relegated after finishing nineteenth. Scott Parker finished the season as manager and looks like he could do a good job at mounting a challenge to bounce straight back.

Huddersfield

By some distance the worst team in the division. Finished rock bottom with just sixteen points (three victories, seven draws, twenty-eight defeats). It will be interesting to see how they react as Jan Siewart has had a while to get to know his charges - but does he know the Championship?

Leicester

Finished the season strongly under new manager Brendan Rodgers, meaning I'm excited to see how he will fare in his first full season as boss in 2019-20. The Foxes finished ninth and are another side who will be looking to challenge for a spot in at least the Europa League.

Liverpool

Pushed Manchester City all the way but finished second by a single point, labelling them as the Premier League's best ever runners up. However, they were still celebrating at the end of the season after beating Premier League rivals Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid to win the club's sixth European Cup!

Manchester City

Champions! And it was thoroughly deserved despite an amazing title challenge by Liverpool. Pep Guardiola's men won their last fourteen games on the spin, which is an incredible feat. Not only that, but they completed a domestic treble by winning both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. Hats off.

Manchester United

The wheels fell off a bit for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after an unbelievable start to life as Manchester United manager, but he got the job on a permanent basis and will look to bring some of his own players in this summer to try and better this season's sixth-placed finish.

Newcastle

Rafa Benitez continues to perform miracles at St James' Park, guiding an average team to thirteenth in the table. However, Mike Ashley's reign as owner may soon be over with a takeover reportedly imminent, and if they decide to back Rafa we could see the Toon break the top half.

Southampton

Finished a bit too close to the relegation zone for comfort, but Ralph Hasenhuttl has definitely made an impact and it will be interesting to see where he looks to strengthen in the summer. He has already added a winger, Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege, and others should follow soon.

Tottenham

Finished in the top four again but ultimately the season ended in disappointment in that Champions League final defeat to Liverpool. Mauricio Pochettino is definitely building something at Spurs though and I don't think the wait for silverware will go on much longer, provided they can keep hold of him!

Watford

Impressive season from the Hornets, who finished eleventh in the league and made the FA Cup final. They ended up losing 6-0 to Manchester City but the fact that they made it, and the manner in which (winning 3-2 from 2-0 down against Wolves in the semi-final) was so impressive.

West Ham

A solid mid-table finish for the Hammers under Manuel Pellegrini. They have already been recruiting, having signed attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals from Villareal, but that's not without interest in their own players; centre-back Issa Diop is the latest name to be linked to Manchester United after a great debut season.

Wolves

I don't think Wolves or manager Nuno Espirito Santo have been given the credit they deserve. In their first season back in the Premier League they finished seventh and will play in the Europa League in 2019-20. They've done well to sign Raul Jimenez permanently - he scored thirteen league goals.

Premier League 2018-19 - Second Third Review

Arsenal

Emery's men enjoyed a decent middle of the season, which sees them sitting fifth at present and just a point off a Champions League spot. Still shaky defensively, as shown in a 5-1 defeat at Anfield in December, but they have enjoyed victories over rivals Tottenham and Chelsea since November.

Bournemouth

Comfortably nine points clear of the drop zone are Eddie Howe's Cherries (eleventh). Have struggled away at the big boys but their home form is always good and they pulled off one of the shock results of the season with a 4-0 win over Chelsea at the Vitality in January.

Brighton

The Seagulls have lost seven of thirteen matches since my last review, which isn't relegation form but isn't far off. Chris Hughton's men will be glancing nervously over their shoulders, as they're just three points clear of the relegation zone in fourteenth with no game this weekend to increase that.

Burnley

Similar as above whereby they aren't quite safe yet. The Clarets are level with Brighton on twenty-seven points and are only a place behind them on goal difference. However, recent form has been very good and Sean Dyche's men are now unbeaten in their last seven fixtures since Boxing Day.

Cardiff

Have done themselves proud since the devastating plane crash that killed new signing Emiliano Sala in January (pilot David Ibbotson is sadly still missing). The Bluebirds have got themselves out of the bottom three and Neil Warnock has to be a contender for Manager of the Season if they remain.

Chelsea

What is going on at Stamford Bridge? It seems as though manager Maurizio Sarri has lost the dressing room and I'd be amazed if he was still in charge at the start of the 2019-20 season. Defeat at home to Spurs in their next game could be the final straw.

Crystal Palace

The Premier League never fails to amaze me. When I think of Palace's second third of the season I think of that stunning 3-2 win at Manchester City in December and their mightily unlucky 4-3 defeat at Liverpool in January. However, Hodgson's men are only three points clear of safety!

Everton

Everton are in the top half (ninth) but four points adrift of Watford in eighth and six off Wolves having played a game more than both of those sides. I'd expect to see Everton in at least seventh as in my opinion they are the 'best of the rest.' Disappointing.

Fulham

Bringing in Claudio Ranieri hasn't helped to turn the Cottagers' fortunes around. They currently lie nineteenth and are eight points off the mark of safety at the time of writing. With just twelve games remaining, including games versus Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, I just don't see how they survive.

Huddersfield

Much like the team above, Huddersfield are staring relegation in the face. Sat bottom of the pile, they have just eleven points from twenty-six games (two wins, five draws). Appointed Jan Siewert in January which for me points to them already starting to plan for next season in the Championship.

Leicester

Leicester are one of those that aren't going down but don't look like getting into Europe, which makes me wonder why Claude Puel didn't go all out for the FA or Carabao Cup this season. He is, however, a solid manager and I think Leicester fans take him for granted.

Liverpool

Have their best chance in years of ending a twenty-nine year wait for the title. Jurgen Klopp's men are second, level on points with Manchester City but with a game in hand (albeit at Old Trafford). They've lost once all season and as a fan myself I'm daring to dream.

Manchester City

Still the bookies' favourite to win the title and looking at their last two results (6-0 win vs Chelsea and 3-1 victory over Arsenal) it's easy to see why. Sergio Aguero scored hat-tricks in both of those wins and his form is crucial if they are to achieve back-to-back titles.

Manchester United

Three words: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Since replacing much-maligned Jose Mourinho as manager in December as caretaker he has led the Red Devils to eight league wins out of nine, drawing the other. Could have a massive say in the title race as Liverpool and City will both visit Old Trafford.

Newcastle

Nervous times for Newcastle as Rafa Benitez's men hover just two places and one point above the danger zone. A ninethy-fifth minute equaliser denied them a win at Wolves last time out but they smashed their transfer record to sign Miguel Almiron and will hope he can help them survive.

Southampton

Given themselves a shot at survival by replacing Mark Hughes with Ralph Hasenhuttl in December. The Austrian has picked up some impressive results so far, including a 3-2 victory over Arsenal, and will hope he can get the Saints out of the bottom three (currently eighteenth, one point behind Cardiff).

Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino has quietly kept Spurs in the title race. They sit comfortably in third, with only five points fewer than leaders Manchester City and Liverpool. It would take something special to win the league, but with trips to Anfield and the Etihad Stadium to come it's certainly not impossible!

Watford

One of the surprises of the season for me are Watford, who currently occupy eighth position and are a remarkable thirteen points clear of safety. Javi Gracia has done a great job at Vicarage Road and will be confident of recording another victory when the Hornets visit Cardiff tomorrow night.

West Ham

The Hammers have picked up in the last few months after a slow start to the campaign. Manuel Pellegrini's men continue impress at home, most recently in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool and with a 1-0 win over Arsenal. Will be confident of victory tomorrow evening when they host Fulham.

Wolves

Like Watford, Wolves' form has been a real surprise in their first season back. Currently the 'best of the rest' outside the top six, holding seventh position and collecting thirty-nine points from twenty-six games. Will be aiming for nine points from their next three: Bournemouth (A), Huddersfield (A), Cardiff (H).