2019-20 Premier League Best Bets to Finish Top 4 and Top 6

• EPL kicks off on Friday, August 9
• Man Utd spending big and pushing for top four
• Everton looking to gatecrash top six after big-spending summer

The start of the English Premier League is almost upon us, with the European Champions, Liverpool, kicking off proceedings on Friday at Anfield against the winners of last season’s Championship, Norwich City on August 9, 2019 at 2:45 pm EST.

Sportsbooks have opened up a couple of interesting markets around who will finish in the top four and the top six, and while on the surface the top six looks like it could be the usual lockout, we think there could be a surprise, and the top four is also looking hard to pick.

2019/20 English Premier League Odds

*Odds taken 08/06/19. 

Man City and Liverpool look all set for another two-horse race for the EPL title, but there is plenty of jockeying for position behind them, first of all to get into the top four – which earns a UEFA Champions League place  – and also the top six, as fifth and sixth spots guarantee Europa League football.

Top Six Lockout?

The odds strongly favor a top-six lockout for the usual suspects but, while it has been like this now for a few seasons, every season sees a challenger emerge from the pack who offers potential value to the punter. We’ll take a look and see if we can identify who this season’s challenger(s) will be.

#CommunityShield defended 🏆

🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/gHSMDEZbXu

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 4, 2019

But first things first, and it has to be said that Man City and Liverpool still look a level above the rest, with Tottenham – on paper their closest challengers – still looking a fraction off the pace in terms of being prospective title winners.

There is of course still a day left in the English transfer window (at the time of writing), so there is still business to be done but it’s difficult to see Spurs bringing in the players who will turn them from a very good team into prospective title winners, even though they are reportedly working on a deal to sign Juventus’ Paulo Dybala.

Spurs Thinking Big, United Spending Big

If the Dybala deal comes to fruition, it will be big money for Spurs – the reported fee is £65 million – but it would be an interesting signing; one that could potentially edge them a little closer to City and Liverpool. What it would also do is cement Tottenham’s place in the top four, leaving just one place up for grabs with, in theory, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal scrapping over it.

https://twitter.com/FootzyScore/status/1159084844208533504

Of the three challengers, United have undoubtedly done the most eye-catching business of the summer to date, with the signings of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, from Leicester and Crystal Palace respectively, for a combined total of £130 million.

And so while United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may see midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Romelu Lukaku depart late in the window, he has strengthened his back-four considerably with those two signings.

Man Utd 'agree terms for £80m Harry Maguire transfer' https://t.co/SdAmYmyxEy pic.twitter.com/siWDJ9VzLj

— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) July 21, 2019

Last season, United’s Achilles heel was their leaky defense –  the 54 goals they conceded was 32 more than Liverpool – and with their new additions, it’s almost certain they will concede fewer this season.

No New Names for Chelsea

Chelsea’s summer has been most un-Chelsea like, in that no new money has been spent due to this being the first of a two-window transfer ban. As a result, new manager Frank Lampard has had to work with the squad he has inherited, which happens to be one filled with talented youngsters acquired from across the globe.

Frank Lampard –

“I don’t want players passing through, using Chelsea as a stop gap. I only want players who feel the club, like the Drogba’s and Terry’s did during my playing period”. pic.twitter.com/akeSQbiw0A

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) July 18, 2019

So, this is a really intriguing one, in that, if Lampard can get these youngsters to ‘click’ then they could surprise a few, not least because there is, for once, little expectation and pressure on the Blues to land a trophy and get top four.

The quality of Chelsea’s young players shouldn’t be underestimated and we have a gut feeling they will fight United hard for fourth-spot.

It has to be said that Man City and Liverpool still look a level above the rest, with Tottenham – on paper their closest challengers – still looking a fraction off the pace

Gunners’ Back Four Needs Surgery

Arsenal, while showing small signs of improvement last season under Unai Emery, have some way to go to close the gap to the top four, with, like United, their biggest problem being the sheer volume of goals they concede. They desperately needed defensive reinforcements this summer but the one they did sign – 18-year-old William Saliba from Saint Etienne –  has been sent back to France on loan for a season, and the experienced Laurent Koscielny has gone to Bordeaux.

Good bye @Arsenal new post —> https://t.co/AvzJ7vPL26 pic.twitter.com/SO3jB4v63F

— Laurent Koscielny (@koscielnylk6) August 6, 2019

So while the Gunners do have plenty of goals in them, in the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubayang and Alexandre Lacazette, we do foresee a continuation of their defensive problems.

Foxes, Wolves or Toffees to Gatecrash Top Six?

With regard to challengers to the top six, we think sportsbooks have it exactly right and it boils down to three – Wolves, Everton and Leicester City.

If Wolves – who are very well-funded by their owners – continue their progression, they could close the gap to sixth but we’re not convinced they have quite enough in the tank to get there; similarly with Leicester who have a good squad and are well managed by Brendan Rodgers, but who now have a Harry Maguire shaped-gap  that needs filling in their back-four, and quickly.

BREAKING: Everton have agreed a deal with Juventus for forward Moise Kean, reports @DiMarzio pic.twitter.com/9sgNVvKKiK

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 30, 2019

Everton’s Time?

The team that interests us most, and who we think may have Arsenal in their sights, is Everton. The Toffees have had a great summer in the transfer market and as well as securing the services of Andre Gomes – who they had on loan last season from Barcelona – they have also spent a further £40 million on Juventus striker Moise Kean and Mainz 05 midfielder Jean Philippe.

If the Merseysiders can hit the ground running, they could have a great season, which could see them sneak into the top six.

Our top four picks: Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Man Utd

Our top six picks: Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Man Utd, Chelsea, Everton