Are you having your Premier League withdrawal symptoms yet? The 2017/18 season is done and dusted and now it will be around three months before being able to enjoy action once again. At least this summer there is the World Cup to bring some excitement to the table while we wait for the return of the English top flight.
The odds on the new Premier league season are on offer so even though there is no action for a while, that doesn’t stop you in your teeth into some ante-post Premier league 2018/19 betting.
Manchester City ran away with the league title in 2017/2018 season so will Pep Guardiola’s men be just as powerful in their title defence next term? No doubt that they will be dipping into the transfer market during the summer to bolster their squad even further, primarily with the desire to get their hands on the Champions League title.
Premier League Winner 2018/19 Odds*
Man City 4/6, Liverpool 5/1, Man Utd 6/1, Chelsea 12/1, Tottenham 12/1, Arsenal 25/1, Bar 200/1* (betting odds taken at 9:37 p.m. on May 15th, 2018)
Manchester City are 8/11 odds on favourites* (betting odds taken at 9:37 p.m. on May 15th, 2018) to win the Premier League next season but title defences can be tough to pull off. No doubt opposing managers over the summer will be looking and studying the games where teams had success against City during the season. In the second half of the season Crystal Palace, Burnley and Huddersfield all took draws against the Citizens. Manchester United and Liverpool were the only two sides to take a win against champions.
So what does it take to challenge Manchester city? Well, a committed game plan of not being afraid to press them a little higher pitch. They have to be challenged. Liverpool and Manchester United were able to get at them work through sheer attacking bravery so that is something that other teams will have to figure out how to do a little bit better against the Citizens of next season. Of course still, it’s easier said than done when you are facing such immense side who can tear you apart in the blink of an eye.
So if City were to have a wobble next season, maybe getting distracted by Champions League and FA Cup and League Cup campaigns, who is the most likely to capitalise and push towards the top spot? The bookmakers think Liverpool who are 5/1 second favourite is to win the league title next year. Liverpool look as if they need to make a couple of really big signings over the summer notably to try and improve their depth. A goalkeeper upgrade, a creative player in the middle of the park and an upgrade over Sadio Mane would probably push Liverpool to the next level.
So it could be a big summer for them if they get things right in the transfer market and going based of what happened in the 2017/18 season they look of closest challengers to City. However the real appeal is in Manchester United at 11/2 odds* (betting odds taken at 9:37 p.m. on May 15th, 2018). No, they weren’t pretty to watch during the 2017/18 season but if they can get off to a strong confidence start they will only grow from there. It’s hard to see them making major upgrades in the summer although they can use definite improvement in the centre-half department, back up for Lukaku and the genuine creative force in the middle of the park.
The Red Devils won six of their 10 games against the other top-six finishes this season and generally, they did try to produce a little more positivity in those big challenges. If it were not for the exceptional season that Manchester City produced, United would have been pretty close to getting their hands on the league title and will tweak here and there. Jose Mourinho should be more than able to get them to a place where they can close the gap on their city rivals.
Rest of the Big Six may struggle
As for the rest of the big six, this is will be a difficult period of transition for Arsenal having lost Arsene Wenger and is hard to judge what they will be doing in the summer and even what kind of shape their team is going to be taking next season. Chelsea may have a new manager in charge next season too because Antonio Conte’s position does not look all that safe at Stamford Bridge and they need some heavy investment in the transfer market. But with no Champions League football next season will they be able to pull the big names that they need?
Chelsea are 12 to 1 odds* (betting odds taken at 9:37 p.m. on May 15th, 2018) to win the league next season which is the same price as you can take on Tottenham at the moment. Spurs once again produced plenty of flair and plenty of quality can’t yet still they can’t seem to get their act together when it comes to winning the Premier League. Their chances over the last few seasons really have been missed opportunities, huge missed opportunities for them and it’s only getting harder and harder for them to win the league. Period it will be even tougher if they sell Harry Keane in the summer.
Prediction
Obviously, Manchester City with their deep pockets are going to be the ones to beat next season. There are already rumours about them upgrading next season in terms of adding more strike power and an extra centre-half. We do see though Manchester United being the ones really to mount a big enough consistent challenge to the Citizens next season. While Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool has a great chance of boosting his squad boosting Liverpool’s fortunes next season, the sheer consistency is more likely to come from the pragmatic approach of Jose Mourinho’s troops. Back them for another top-two finish.
