Manchester City’s 1-4 win at Brighton confirmed Pep Guardiola’s side as Premier League Champions for the second season in succession, though it was anything but easy for the Sky Blues.
In the best title chase in years Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool matched City stride for stride; and with a points total of 97 the Reds would have won the league in any other season than this one or the last. That Manchester City has clocked up 198 points in two seasons is a phenomenal achievement, and Pep’s team is just getting better and better.
The Big Six
Liverpool ended up a massive 25 points above Chelsea, who finished in third place. It has been an up and down time for Maurizio Sarri in his first season at Stamford Bridge. The introduction of ‘Sarriball’ and a fast start to the season had Blues’ fans in dream world. But dogged by inconsistency as the season progressed, Chelsea was out of the hunt soon after Christmas. And there were moments when Sarri’s authority was questioned, not least by goalkeeper Kepa, who refused to be substituted in the Carabao Cup Final only to lose the penalty shootout.
Spurs finished fourth, but the season promised much more for Mauricio Pochettino’s men as they kept pace with the top two into the New Year. A Champions League final to add to a top four place represents a success though. And it will be a pleasing debut campaign for Arsenal head coach Unai Emery if he can add a Europa League final win to his fifth place. Finishing a single point behind Spurs is a measure of Arsenal’s steady progress.
Manchester United hoped to end a disappointing season with a home win against Cardiff City, but the relegated visitors deservedly won 0-2. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a big rebuilding job to do at Old Trafford, but how much time he has is anybody’s guess.
Can we expect any other team to break into the top six next season? Well there is a decent case for each of the clubs finishing in seventh, eight and ninth. Wolves have had a superb first campaign back in the top flight, and powered by the finance of Fosun International with Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm Wolves could kick on. As could ninth placed Leicester City if new boss Brendan Rodgers can keep hold of his prize assets.
The jury is still out on Marco Silva’s Everton. The coach has flair and his team has talent, but the eighth place finish only matched the achievement of Sam Allardyce last season.
Who’s in and who’s out?
Well there were no big surprises at the bottom end of the table, as Huddersfield Town returned to the Championship after pulling off a miraculous escape last season, and they are joined by two of the newly promoted clubs. The Premier League 2019 betting odds had Cardiff City nailed on for relegation from the start but they stayed in the fight until the last, finishing just two points behind Brighton who have, this morning, sacked their coach Chris Hughton, who has worked miracles at the Amex.
It was a disappointing season for big spending Fulham, but there are signs that Scott Parker can turn things around back in the Championship.
Next seasons’ new boys, Norwich City and Sheffield United, will enter the competition with high hopes, but under no illusion. And they will be joined by the play-off winners, likely to be Aston Villa or Leeds.
Golden Boot
It’s a three way split for the Golden Boot this season with last year’s winner Mo Salah joined by his team-mate Sadio Mane and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored a brace at Burnley on the final day to join the leaders on 22.
Sergio Aguero was just one behind, but with another Premier League medal in his locker the Manchester City hit man won’t mind a bit. It was another disappointment in this regard for Harry Kane, who’s injury blighted season took him out of the reckoning.
Player moves
The dust hasn’t yet settled on that epic season but already the rumour mill is starting to grind away. It seems inevitable that Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is on his way to Real Madrid. The Belgian is the league’s top assist maker with 15, and provided one of the best Premier League 2019 highlights with a mazy run and finish against West Ham that Lionel Messi would have been proud of.
There is also a whisper in the Spanish press that Andre Gomes could be on his way from Everton to Spurs.
Plenty more to come between now and August!
And there’s will be more drama over the next three weeks for Premier League fans to enjoy, when Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal play in the Champions League and Europa League finals.
We’ll be right there at SBOBET with all the best previews, tips and reports.
Bring it on!
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