The new Premier League season is now well and truly in full swing.
We have already been treated to a host of shock results, high-scoring affairs and tough tackles that can rarely be found outside England’s top-flight.
And with some of the so-called big six already slipping up in these early stages, Squawka has taken a look at the bookmakers’ favourites to challenge that esteemed group.
1. Everton
(Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Manager: Marco Silva
Amount spent during the summer transfer window: £68.73m after departures
Star player: Richarlison
Odds: 4/1
After a season of regression and apathy at Goodison Park last season, the Everton faithful have gone into the 2018/19 campaign full of optimism.
In the last decade, Leicester City’s title win aside, no team has pushed the so-called ‘big six’ more than the Toffees and, with new manager Marco Silva adding genuine quality to the squad in the forms of Richarlison, Bernard, Yerry Mina and Co., it could a big year for the blue half of Merseyside.
A significant feature of their performances so far has seen Gylfi Sigurdsson playing in the number 10 role, orchestrating devastating attacks with Everton’s wide-men, Richarlison and Theo Walcott. Tighten up that defence, and who knows where they could go.
2. Leicester City
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Manager: Claude Puel
Amount spent in the summer transfer window: £26m after departures
Star player: Jamie Vardy
Odds: 8/1
It would be just as easy to back Leicester with a lazy throwback to their 2016 Premier League title win as it would be to write them off based on their loss of Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City.
However, what manager Claude Puel has done is replace the Algerian with some very astute signings – James Maddison was one of the stars of the Championship last season, while the likes of Ricardo Pereira, Rachid Ghezzal and Jonny Evans are astute, international quality signings. This adds to the genuine quality they already have up-front with Jamie Vardy.
Since Jamie Vardy's debut season in the Premier League in 2014/15 he has scored more goals against the Big Six clubs (23) than any other player.
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The Foxes have started well and, if they can combine a winning run with the faltering of some of the sides above them, 2018/19 could be another season to remember in the East Midlands.
3. Wolves
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo
Amount spent in the summer transfer window: £49.9m after departures
Star player: Ruben Neves
Odds: 12/1
After uninspiring performances against Everton and Leicester, yielding just one point, it seemed like we were all sold a lie with Wolves over the summer.
However, a brave 1-1 draw with Manchester City, coupled with a 2-0 win away at Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, has reignited the fire with Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
In Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, they have midfielders with a level of genuine class that few others at their level can boast and, if they can continue to adjust to life in England’s top flight, could still challenge some of the league’s big-hitters.
=5. Crystal Palace
(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Manager: Roy Hodgson
Amount spent in the summer transfer window: £9.68m after departures
Star player: Wilfried Zaha
Odds: 20/1
Roy Hodgson worked something of a minor miracle last season by guiding Crystal Palace to an 11th placed finish – the club sat bottom of the table, four defeats from four and without a single goal to their name when the former England boss took over.
With his reputation now in a much better state than when he left the England job following Euro 2016, Hodgson has set about adding some subtle quality to his Palace squad to allow them to push even higher this season.
Keeping hold of the star man, Wilfried Zaha, has been pivotal while adding the talents of Max Meyer and Cheikhou Kouyate to supplement the Ivorian has made for an impressive summer’s work for the Eagles boss, all on a tight budget. They have been impressive, yet unlucky, in their start but the signs are good.
=5. Bournemouth
(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Manager: Eddie Howe
Amount spent in the summer transfer window: £28.15m after departures
Star player: Josh King
Odds: 20/1
Many may still see them as ‘plucky little Bournemouth’, but the Cherries are now in their fourth consecutive season in England’s top flight and, in Eddie Howe, they have the Premier League’s longest-serving current manager.
With ninth and 12th placed finishes in their last two seasons, Bournemouth have been slowly moving away from relegation battles.
The south coast side have also been splashing the cash this summer, breaking their transfer record with the £25m signing of Colombian Jefferson Lerma, to complement a deadly front three of Josh King, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser – they are unbeaten in their opening games so far.
6. Watford
(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Manager: Javi Gracia
Amount spent in the summer transfer window: -£20.3m after departures
Star player: Roberto Pereyra
Odds: 25/1
After losing Richarlison to Everton early in the window, many expected Watford to go on something of a spending spree. That didn’t happen, with the club instead choosing to make sure they made Gerard Deulofeu’s loan permanent as well as thickening out their squad. However, what they did do was keep hold of their talented attacking midfielder, Roberto Pereyra.
The former Juventus man has enjoyed a stellar start to the new season and, in this kind of form, is just the kind of attacking threat that Javi Gracia can build his Hornets side round.
Many predict that Watford’s strong start will fade away but, if Pereyra can continue to score the goals and veteran Jose Holebas can continue to be the most creative full-back in the league – creating seven chances, providing two assists, putting in 23 crosses and scoring a goal himself – then Watford have an outside chance of shaking up the Premier League big guns.
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The post The six Premier League teams most likely to gatecrash the ‘big six’ this season appeared first on Squawka News.
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