We continue our discussion about the prospects of the English Premier League competitors in the upcoming season. In the previous preview, we analyzed the potential success of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, and Brighton.
Today, we will evaluate the prospects of Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, and Ipswich Town. We will assess their summer transfer activities, tactical setups, and potential positions in the final table.
Chelsea
– Last season’s finish: sixth place (63 points, plus 14 goal differential)
– Key ins: CM Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City, €35,4m), GK Filip Jörgensen (Villareal, €24,5m)
– Key outs: Thiago Silva (Fluminense, free)
– My predicted position: 6
Transfers
Despite Chelsea’s extravagant spending of over a billion euros on transfers in recent years, the Londoners still have a weak defensive line and problem positions on the attacking flanks. Moreover, they lack a prolific striker.
This summer, promising players Lewis Hall and Ian Maatsen left the club. While the club is expected to sign Samuel Omorodion for £35 million, this move is another gamble in the transfer market, raising questions about its potential success.
Samuel Omorodion vs Barcelona
Chelsea couldn’t get Osimhen, so they went for Mini Osimhem.
Samuel Omorodion gave Araujo and the entire Barcelona defence something to worry about the whole match 😂 https://t.co/l8Zn9y1F6P pic.twitter.com/Ke5elN7y72
— Blue 📺 (@ACTV_Media) August 5, 2024
So far, only the signings of Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto could be considered the most successful in terms of price and transfer quality.
Key players
Cole Palmer is currently the only footballer capable of consistently delivering high-level performances. Chelsea’s success this season will heavily depend on his creativity and goal-scoring ability.
However, there are doubts about whether Palmer’s talent alone will be enough for the Blues to compete for a top-four spot in the EPL.
Tactical formation
It seems that Enzo Maresca will use a 4-2-3-1 formation at Chelsea. However, the London club has a vulnerable defensive line, which means playing with a two-center-back system can lead to big problems.
“The problem has been defensively” 💬
Enzo Maresca on the problems Chelsea’s high line causes in defence ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/NOOyzvpK1H
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 7, 2024
Switching to a 3-4-3 formation might help Maresca improve control around the penalty area, but he will have to sacrifice one of the numerous central midfielders. Either way, the Italian coach will find it very difficult to find the optimal defensive and attacking balance.
The big question: Can Chelsea improve play in the defensive phase?
Since Thomas Tuchel’s resignation, Chelsea’s main issue has been poor defensive performance. To secure a top-four spot in the EPL, the team must drastically improve their defensive play; otherwise, they risk facing another season of disappointment.
Crystal Palace
– Last season’s finish: tenth place (49 points, minus 1 goal differential)
– Key ins: LW/RW Ismaïla Sarr (Olympique de Marseille, €15m), DC Chadi Riad (Betis, €15m)
– Key outs: LW Michael Olise (FC Bayern München, €53m)
– My predicted position: 12
Transfers
Crystal Palace has sold their main star of the past two seasons, Michael Olise. The Frenchman played a crucial playmaking role in Oliver Glasner’s team, and his departure could seriously weaken Palace’s creative dynamics. It’s difficult to predict how successfully Ismaïla Sarr will be able to adapt, but he is unlikely to fully fill the void left by Olise’s exit.
Key players
Eberechi Eze and Joachim Andersen showed a solid level of play in their positions last season. After the arrival of the new coach Oliver Glasner, they were able to further unlock their potential and will surely be key players for the team in the upcoming season.
🏴✨ Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, now back with the Crystal Palace squad! ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/M7F0NTx4Il
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 7, 2024
Tactical formation
In the 3-4-2-1 formation, Crystal Palace consistently outplayed their opponents tactically in numerous matches.
Under Oliver Glasner’s leadership, the team quickly switched from an attacking 2-3-5 formation to a defensive 5-2-3 / 5-4-1, making it very difficult for the opponents to find space on Palace’s half of the field.
The London club also frequently applied strong pressure on their opponents and executed lightning-fast transitions from defense to attack.
Jeffrey Schlupp, what a header 😳#CPFC pic.twitter.com/fSdfyDRtWD
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 4, 2024
The big question: How will Crystal Palace cope with the departure of Michael Olise?
Under Oliver Glasner’s management, Crystal Palace saw a marked improvement, playing at a level comparable to the top teams in the league. However, it’s still unclear whether Palace will be able to maintain its performance over the long term, especially considering Michael Olise’s departure.
Everton
– Last season’s finish: fifteenth place (40 points, minus 11 goal differential)
– Key ins: DC Jake O’Brien (Olympique Lyonnais, €19.5m), ST
Iliman Ndiaye (Olympique de Marseille, €18.5m)
– Key outs: Amadou Onana (Aston Villa,€59,4m), Ben Godfrey (Atalanta, €9m)
– My predicted position: 14
Transfers
Everton sold one of their most important players, Amadou Onana, to Aston Villa. Last season, the Belgian defensive midfielder performed a huge amount of work in the center of the field, often disrupting opponents’ attacks with his tackles and interceptions. Onana also won an average of 6.0 ground and aerial duels per match.
Finding a replacement for such a player is a tall order, and Everton is not rushing to find a replacement at the moment.
Key players
Onana and James Tarkowski were key players for Everton last season. Additionally, 22-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite performed crucial defensive work in his penalty area, being one of the best center-backs in the Premier League.
If Everton were to sell Branthwaite this summer, it would further weaken a squad already grappling with the loss of key players.
Everton’s centre back partnership are HUGE 😳
Latest signing Jake O’Brien, standing at 6’6, joins the already mega Jarrad Branthwaite (6’5) in the backline.
Good luck winning a header over these two. pic.twitter.com/3SAlaOb8WG
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 4, 2024
Tactical formation
Sean Dyche relied heavily on the 4-4-1-1 formation last season. Despite facing an eight-point deduction due to sanctions, Everton played incredibly organized and intense football, especially at home.
This tactical discipline allowed the team to consistently earn points and maintain their place in the Premier League for the 2024-25 season.
The big question: Can Everton compensate for the loss of Amadou Onana?
Sean Dyche managed to remarkably mask the vulnerabilities of players like Ashley Young, Séamus Coleman, and Idrissa Gueye through excellent game organization. However, Onana was a crucial player in the midfield, and without an adequate replacement for the Belgian, Everton risks getting stuck in the lower part of the league table.
Everton F.C. – from 3v1 to 3v5 transition rondo on 4 goals by Sean Dyche 🔝
Video is made with @11OnceSport Pro Video Analyser#evertonfc #rondo #subscribe #seandyche #everton #evertonfootballclub #oncepro #football #soccer #coach #training #dariograbusic #nogomet #trening pic.twitter.com/9dHnZMwijj
— Dario Grabusic (@dariograbusic) July 28, 2024
Fulham
– Last season’s finish: thirteenth place place (47 points, minus 6 goal differential)
– Key ins: AM Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal, €31,8 m)
– Key outs: DM João Palhinha (FC Bayern München, €51m), Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea, free), Bobby Decordova-Reid (Leicester City, free)
– My predicted position: 18
Transfers
Fulham sold their top scorer Alexandar Mitrović for €52 million last summer, which has impacted their chances of finishing in the top ten. Despite this, Rodrigo Muniz and Raúl Jiménez managed to partly compensate for the departure of the Serbian striker, contributing 16 goals between them.
This summer, the team also parted ways with their main defensive midfielder, João Palhinha, who was sold for over €50 million to Bayern Munich, and their main center-back, Tosin Adarabioyo, who moved to Chelsea on a free transfer.
João Palhinha Debut Vs Tottenhampic.twitter.com/R3bDSM27hN
— Bayern Comps (@CompsBayern) August 3, 2024
Despite these crucial departures, Fulham’s management is currently reluctant to spend big money on acquiring top defensive players, which could potentially place the club near the relegation zone in the upcoming season.
Key players
Rodrigo Muniz emerged as a vital player last season, scoring 9 goals, many of which were crucial in helping the team maintain their position in the middle of the league table in the second part of the season. Meanwhile, Andreas Pereira was the main playmaker for the team and contributed with seven assists.
In turn, João Palhinha played a crucial role in the defensive phase in the center of the field, while Tosin Adarabioyo looked solid in the center of the defense. With both players now departed, there is uncertainty over who will step into these crucial roles.
– ⚠️ irmão é o seguinte, eu posso ser cancelado 🤙
mas eu vi uma postagem hoje sobre o Andreas Pereira naquela final de Libertadores
rapaziada é o seguinte, oque esse cara jogou contra o palmeiras não foi escrito irmão 💪
Andreas Pereira estava sendo o melhor da partida {+} pic.twitter.com/tF4u4d1J5D
— 𝑫𝒊𝒆𝒈𝒐 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒂 ❤️🖤 (@DGcorreiaPeres) February 17, 2024
Tactical formation
Fulham predominantly used a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, with active full-back involvement along the flanks and wingers shifting into half-spaces. This allowed them to overload the opponent’s holding area and create dangerous opportunities in certain matches.
The big question: Could Fulham’s game be a total disaster due to the departure of two key players?
The London club’s leadership still has time to find alternatives to the departed players, but if they fail to do so, Fulham’s prospects for the upcoming season could be bleak, potentially leaving them vulnerable to relegation.
Ipswich Town
– Last season’s finish: second place in the Championship (96 points, plus 29 goal differential)
– Key ins: –
– Key outs: –
– My predicted position: 20
Transfers
Ipswich spent over €70 million on transfers but did not acquire any players with mid-table Premier League experience. This approach is likely to become a significant problem in the new season and could lead to a swift descent to the bottom of the table.
Key players
Left-back Leif Davis was one of the best players for Ipswich last season. He provided an impressive 18 assists in the Championship, but it remains to be seen if he can adapt to the higher level of competition in the Premier League.
Leif Davis has been nominated for the 23/24 Championship PFA Player of the Year award 👏 pic.twitter.com/bSrxTws87a
— TheTractorBoys (@TheTractorBoys_) August 7, 2024
Tactical formation
Kieran McKenna most frequently used a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, which balanced defense and attack. It will be interesting to see if the team’s attacking style will change to a more defensive one and whether this will result in a change in formation.
The big question: Will Ipswich survive in the new season?
Ipswich’s management has decided to retain the core of the squad that secured second place in the Championship last season. This is a bold move that comes with significant risks, as the team may simply lack the individual skill to compete against teams with average-level players in the English Premier League.
