The biggest Football League in the world is just about to kick off and like during the recent World Cup we have a A Who Cares 2018-2019 EPL Season Preview.
With so many reputable websites doing a 2018-2019 EPL Season Preview, it seems a waste of time for one whose annual readership is less than what Alexis Sanchez earns in four minutes, but like most of the EPL sides who stand next to no chance of winning anything, it doesn’t stop us trying.
Instead of going too in-depth, we offer up a Who Cares 2018-2019 EPL Season Preview. Giving the casual observer just enough information to combat colleagues, family and strangers for the season ahead.
So enjoy the minutes that will take you to read our Who Cares 2018-2019 EPL Season Preview.
SOME BOLD 2018-2019 EPL SEASON PREVIEW PREDICTIONS
May as well start off with a few things that will take months to be proven wrong, and that few people will come back and check. We will, only if we’re right.
- Liverpool to push Manchester City all the way to title.
- Jose Mourinho to moan, and moan, and to be first manager sacked. Followed by Neil Warnock, then Mark Hughes.
- Half of the managers will eventually get sacked.
- No EPL side will make the Champions League semi finals
- Southampton to go down.
- Wolves to fly high, Fulham to Delight
- Sam Allardyce will pop up somewhere at sometime to save a team.
A WHO CARES 2018-2019 EPL SEASON PREVIEW TEAM BY TEAM
Time to go through each team, and try and come up with a reason to care about them all. We’ll put them in our predicted order for ease of boredom.
MANCHESTER CITY
Thoughts: Won the EPL title smashing records all the way last season, strengthened their squad more, only Liverpool looked to have equally strengthened of the top six sides. Another title looks a formality. Now for the elusive Champions League.
Best Off Season Buy: Riyad Mahrez (61Million from Leicester) – just one more for the already stacked midfield.
Player to Care About: Kevin de Bruyne – had a super 2017-2018
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Manchester City winning the Title and Aguero Top Scorer @ $9.50
Reason to Care: Can they improve on last year’s dominance.
LIVERPOOL
Thoughts: Have taken a squad good enough to make the Champions League final and strengthened it. Will hopefully take it to Manchester City all season long.
Best Off Season Buy: Alisson (56million from Roma) – Needed a World Class Keeper – got one.
Player to Care About: Mo Salah – hoping for Mo Magic this season. An artist.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Liverpool being top at Christmas @ $5
Reason to Care: Kept the holy trinity of Salah, Mane, Firmino and have added more midfield firepower – Keita, Shaqiri and may have a fit and in form Sturridge and Lallana. Some team. A team truly worthy of a title challenge to Manchester City.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Thoughts: As ever it will all be about Jose Mourinho. Given he’s dropped the bottom lip early in the pre season, surely the boot will come sometime during the season. Looking through the squad you almost forget that Alexis Sanchez plays for them. Whether they get any more new faces or not, they should still finish top 4 with this team.
Best Off Season Buy: Fred (53million from Sh Donetsk) – linked with plenty maybe they don’t want to ply with Jose – Fred the big name so far.
Player to Care About: Paul Pogba – surely Mourinho can’t waste him this season after his fine work at the World Cup.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Man United to win no trophies this season @ $1.40
Reason to Care: To watch the implosion as Mourinho throws away another big club appointment with another tantrum.
CHELSEA
Thoughts: Conte finally goes for Sarri, and will they get a new manager bounce again? Hanging onto Hazard is key, but they will need more, already being a mile behind Manchester City last season. Will be interesting to see how they go in the Europa League. They may just have to win it to make the Champions League.
Best Off Season Buy: Jorginho (51Million from Napoli) – although their best may yet be to come.
Player to Care About: Eden Hazard – starred at World Cup, Chelsea need that replicated this season.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Top 4 @ $1.67
Reason to Care: New manager Maurizio Sarri is a real character and could be a lot of fun this season. How he fits in his chain-smoking is a question in this age of modern stadiums.
ARSENAL
Thoughts: A new era as Arsene Wenger has moved on, so now one major reason for blame is gone. In comes Unai Emery who won the Europa League three years in a row, and took the candy from the French baby in charge of PSG for a few seasons.
Best Off Season Buy: Lucas Torreira (26million from Sampdoria)
Players to Care About: The reasonably new ones with super potential but haven’t done it consistently yet. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan. And as an Ipswich Town fan, it would be good to see Ainsley Maitland-Niles getting more game time.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Arsenal to win the Europa League @ $10
Reason to Care: To watch the Wenger-less new era at Arsenal.
SPURS
Thoughts: With a brand new fancy stadium to unveil on September 15 against Liverpool, it seems like not a lot else has changed. No new players, no new manager, but with the squad they had what more could you want. Stability is great and often overlooked in football, however it can also be viewed as standing still judged on the changes elsewhere in the top six.
Best Off Season Buy: could be Jack Grealish from Aston Villa
Players to Care About: World Cup top scorer Harry Kane. Will he be a victim of fifth season syndrome or World Cup hangover? The goals will probably start raining in September.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Harry Kane top scorer @ $3.60
Reason to Care: See how they go at their shiny new stadium.
WEST HAM
Thoughts: Maybe this is the season where West Ham put it all together. They have the big newish Stadium, a new manager in Manuel Pellegrini who is used to winning things, and David Moyes is gone. They’ve done some
Best Off Season Buy: Lukasz Fabianski (5Million from Swansea) – two decent goalkeepers now.
Players to Care About: Marko Arnautović or Jack Wilshere
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Marko Arnautović as West Ham top scorer @ $2.80
Reason to Care: Be great to have another London club challenging the big six, and there’s always the enigma that is Andy Carroll. Felipe Anderson is a very interesting signing too. And by interesting it is one of those that looks 50-50 now.
EVERTON
Thoughts: After spending big last off season and ending up needing Big Sam, things have been a little quieter. Marco Silva eventually gets to Everton after having his head turned last year while in charge of Watford, from whom he was eventually fired. Everton will be in the group battling for best of the rest as ever.
Best Off Season Buy: Richarlison (40Million from Watford)
Players to Care About: Jordan Pickford – World Cup hero.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Richarlison Everton Top Scorer @ $4
Reason to Care: Because it is very hard to dislike Everton.
WOLVES
Thoughts: Wolves in their 17-18 Championship form would have finished in the top half given their quality, and the lack of in the EPL below 6th last season. They’ve strengthened too, so a top half finish looks a real possibility this season. They may even be in the top 4 in the first few months for all we know.
Best Off Season Buy: Adama Traoré (20Million from Middlesbrough)
Players to Care About: Rubin Neves, Jota – two of their heroes from last year’s Championship.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Wolves to finish top half @ $2
Reason to Care: Always good to cheer on the new boys in their first year. Plus we know a Wolves fan so that will do. Plus it is a cool badge.
FULHAM
Thoughts: The team from the Championship were most excited about. Although they finished third and came through the playoffs, they don’t look like they will suffer like previous playoff winners, strengthening an already impressive squad. Mitrovic returns,
Best Off Season Buy: Jean Michaël Seri (30Million from Monaco) or Aleksandar Mitrovic (20 Million from Newcastle)
Players to Care About: Ryan Sessegnon, Stefan Johansen, Tom Cairney of Championship and soon to be EPL fame.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on +45 point Handicap to 1st @ $12
Reason to Care: They will hopefully be the team to watch from the Championship, and Ryan Sessegnon is a special for young player of the year @ $18.
LEICESTER
Thoughts: Their surprise title win seems so long ago, and one by one their big players have gone, with only Jamie Vardy left. They should be in the race for Best of the Rest.
Best Off Season Buy: James Maddison (25Million from Norwich)
Players to Care About: Jamie Vardy and James Maddison
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Next Leicester Manager being David Wagner @ $6
Reason to Care: Jamie Vardy and James Maddison
CRYSTAL PALACE
Thoughts: After starting their season off winless, and goalless for seven games it is hard to believe they ended up 11th. Credit to Roy Hodgson and possibly a comment on the lower half of the Premier League. They should get off to a better start this season, and no reason they can’t finish as high s last season. If they hold onto Zaha.
Best Off Season Buy: Max Meyer (Free from Schalke)
Player to Care About: Wilfried Zaha – simply a magician
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on Luka Milivojević to be club’s top goal scorer @ $10
Reason to Care: Always great to see Zaha in full flight.
NEWCASTLE
Thoughts: Somehow Newcastle keep a hold of Rafa Benitez despite the club not matching his ambitions. Everyone involved at the club will be hoping for a fast start, which might accelerate finding a new owner. You could argue they did very well last season with a squad that was essentially of Championship quality. Sad thing is, it barely looks like it has been improved this season. Will be top of the relegation avoiding pack.
Best Off Season Buy: Salomón Rondón (Swap Deal from West Brom)
Players to Care About: Jamaal Lascelles – if he stays
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on finishing between 11th and 17th @ $1.70
Reason to Care: Newcastle is a great club to support for neutrals.
WATFORD
Thoughts: It’s almost impossible to pick where Watford would finish this season, you could argue for relegation, or any position below 10th. Selling Richarlison was good business for both, considering he did nothing in the second half of the season, but did enough in the first half to keep them safe. Starting the season with the same manager as the end of last for the first time in a while.
Best Off Season Buy: Gerard Deulofeu (13 Million from Barcelona)
Players to Care About: hopefully a trio who will stay fit and good – Will Hughes, Nathaniel Chalobah and Andre Gray.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 on scoring less than 38.5 season points @ $2
Reason to Care: Who doesn’t like Elton John. And there’s so promising players there to enjoy. And striker Troy Deeney is usually up to something.
BOURNEMOUTH
Thoughts: Eddie Howe is one of the more promising managers, but how long will he remain loyal at Bournemouth. The Cherries have probably hit their ceiling of achievement ladder wise, but look too good to go down, so do they become the new Stoke – in table position not style of play.
Best Off Season Buy: Jefferson Lerma (28 Million from Levante)
Players to Care About: Callum Wilson and Josh King – two great forwards who will hopefully lead Bournemouth up the table.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 to finish between 11th and 17th @ $1.60
Reason to Care: Bournemouth are still a great story to be still in the Premier League, even if the novelty has worn off.
BURNLEY
Thoughts: Burnley were the ultimate over achievers last season, and who could begrudge them the success, proving a model for yo-yo clubs, and for sticking with a promising manager. But they won’t be under the radar as much this season, and there is also the Europa League matches early in the season which could hamper getting away to a flyer this campaign. I worry it will be a very slow start but they will come good and survive.
Best Off Season Buy: Recent ones Ben Gibson (17 Million from Boro) & Matej Vydra (11 Million from Derby)
Players to Care About: Interesting to see if former England goalkeeper Joe Hart can get a game behind Nick Pope and Tom Heaton.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 to be bottom at Christmas @ $13
Reason to Care: Burnley are a great underdog team to follow, and perhaps they can go on a Europa League run.
BRIGHTON
Thoughts: Brighton did well in their first season, but the worry is about second season syndrome. We think they’ll survive, but only just. Some good reinforcements have been brought in, but is their squad better than two of the promoted sides? (Fulham and Wolves). If you think probably not, then it is hard to see them improving on their 15th place from last season.
Best Off Season Buy: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (19 Million from AZ Alkmaar)
Players to Care About: Mat Ryan for Australians and goalkeeping fans – Pascal Gross to see if he can do it again this season.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 to avoid relegation @ $1.40
Reason to Care: Manager Chris Hughton is a very likeable man, and Brighton a very likeable place.
SOUTHAMPTON
Thoughts: After just surviving last season we will see how Mark Hughes can turn things around at Southampton, having narrowly avoided sending two sides he coached last season down to the Championship. Haven’t sold as many players to Liverpool as usual, but that is probably because they are running out of who they can sell. Need goals from Austin while he’s fit.
Best Off Season Buy: Jannik Vestergaard (25 Million from Borussia Monchengladbach)
Players to Care About: Charlie Austin or Nathan Redmond
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 to be relegated @ $8.00
Reason to Care: x
HUDDERSFIELD
Thoughts: Second years syndrome awaits? It happens a bit for clubs who over achieve in their first season. Australians will follow because of Aaron Mooy and rightly so. We can envisage an early season charge, followed by Wagner getting pinched by another Premier League side, and the Terriers plummeting from there.
Best Off Season Buy: Terence Kongolo (20 Million from Monaco)
Players to Care About: Aaron Mooy
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 to be relegated @ $2.10
Reason to Care: Aaron Mooy
CARDIFF
Thoughts: Despite holding the record for promotions, Neil Warnock doesn’t have much luck once promoted in the EPL. Cardiff were the surprise of the teams promoted last season, and are certainly the least fashionable of the three. They’ll probably be tough to beat for a while, but relegation looks likely. Their owner has calmed down since last time where he tried to turn the team from Bluebirds into Red Dragons.
Best Off Season Buy: Josh Murphy (11Million from Norwich) Bobby Reid (11Million from Bristol City)
Player to Care About: Aron Gunnarsson – part of Iceland’s World Cup team. And the two mentioned above.
If We Had $1 to Bet…… $1 to finish last @ $3.25
Reason to Care: Always good to have a Welsh side in the Premier League for balance.
EPL GAMES ON SBS FOR TIGHT ARSE AUSTRALIANS
Are you an Australian Football fan and can’t be bothered getting Optus just to watch the EPL? Well who could blame you after the grand stuff up that was their attempt at World Cup. But happily SBS come to the party for one game a week, and most of the time they are one of the better fixtures.
Here then are the first few weeks of EPL fixtures on SBS. Enough to get you started anyway.
Sat Aug 11 9:00pm – Newcastle v Spurs
Sat Aug 18 11:30pm – Fulham v Spurs
Sat Aug 25 9:00pm – Wolves v Manchester City
Sat Sep 1 9:00pm – Leicester v Liverpool
Sat Sep 15 9:00pm – Spurs v Liverpool
Sat Sep 22 11:30pm – Manchester Utd v Wolves
Sat Sep 29 9:00pm – West Ham v Manchester Utd
2018-2019 EPL SEASON PREVIEW PREDICTIONS
THE GURGLER’s SUREFIRE PREDICTIONS
Here’s where we combine some data with an arrogant disregard for the rest of it.
Top 4
Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea
Going to Europe
Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham
Followed By
Everton, Wolves, Fulham, Leicester
Just hanging on
Crystal Palace (with Zaha), Newcastle, Watford, Bournemouth, Burnley, Brighton
Relegated
Southampton, Huddersfield, Cardiff
OUR DATA DRIVEN SEASON PREDICTIONS
Here’s our guesses featuring several bits of Football related data…
Features stats from Overall Wins, Home Wins, Goal Difference, Away Goals, Last 6 Form from Previous Season, Post Xmas Points from Previous Season, Clean Sheets, Betting Odds for Win and Relegation, Squad Value Change, Home Crowd %, Manager Stability.
| Team | Points |
| Manchester City | 99 |
| Manchester United | 75 |
| Liverpool | 72 |
| Chelsea | 70 |
| Tottenham | 69 |
| Arsenal | 62 |
| West Ham | 48 |
| Crystal Palace | 48 |
| Wolves | 47 |
| Fulham | 46 |
| Everton | 46 |
| Bournemouth | 45 |
| Leicester | 44 |
| Burnley | 44 |
| Newcastle United | 43 |
| Cardiff | 38 |
| Brighton | 37 |
| Huddersfield | 36 |
| Watford | 36 |
| Southampton | 33 |
2018-2019 EPL SEASON PREVIEW VALUE ADD
Not bored of our rubbish yet? Here’s your reward.
EPL is big business, be it player transfer or watching and betting on the teams. So for a quick distraction is some valuable statistics on the upcoming 2018-2019 EPL Season.
| Team | Last Season | Odds To Win | Relegation Odds | Squad Value $M AUD | Change Value (May) |
| Manchester City | 1 | $1.67 | $2,001 | 1653.6 | 24% |
| Manchester United | 2 | $8 | $1,501 | 1321.3 | 13% |
| Tottenham | 3 | $15 | $1,001 | 1301.8 | 16% |
| Liverpool | 4 | $5.50 | $1,501 | 1415.7 | 66% |
| Chelsea | 5 | $15 | $501 | 1496.0 | 29% |
| Arsenal | 6 | $23 | $501 | 903.2 | 16% |
| Burnley | 7 | $1,001 | $4.50 | 260.1 | 32% |
| Everton | 8 | $251 | $34 | 548.3 | 2% |
| Leicester | 9 | $251 | $11 | 455.5 | 25% |
| Newcastle United | 10 | $751 | $6.00 | 255.4 | 3% |
| Crystal Palace | 11 | $751 | $6.00 | 326.6 | 7% |
| Bournemouth | 12 | $1,001 | $5.00 | 214.1 | 12% |
| West Ham | 13 | $251 | $8.00 | 461.0 | 36% |
| Watford | 14 | $1,001 | $3.00 | 253.1 | -13% |
| Brighton | 15 | $1,001 | $3.25 | 261.5 | 37% |
| Huddersfield | 16 | $1,500 | $2.10 | 168.6 | 21% |
| Southampton | 17 | $501 | $7.00 | 357.0 | -8% |
| Wolves | 1 Champ | $251 | $8.00 | 213.4 | 41% |
| Cardiff | 2 Champ | $2,000 | $1.72 | 88.0 | 0% |
| Fulham | 3 Champ | $1,001 | $2.60 | 250.4 | 50% |
OUR TOP 5 BEST BETS FOR THE 2018-2019 EPL SEASON
SOUTHAMPTON to be relegated @ $8.00
NEWCASTLE finishing between 11th and 17th @ $1.70
MANCHESTER CITY winning the Title and Aguero Top Scorer @ $9.50
FULHAM +45 point Handicap to 1st @ $12
WOLVES to finish top half @ $2
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