By Neil Leverett
- Ahead of the new Premier League, Britwatch Sports name their five players to watch this season
- Manchester City begin as reigning champions, looking to win their third consecutive league crown
- Liverpool open the season on Friday night at Anfield, against newly-promoted Norwich City
PREMIER LEAGUE, UK – With the new season beginning on Friday night at Anfield, who are the five Premier League players to watch during the 2019/20 campaign?
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As the 2019/20 Premier League swings back into gear this weekend, a summer of frenzied transfer activity has seen English football’s riches again take centre stage, as the stars make their way into the English top-flight in the latest wave.
Ahead of what is set to be the most competitive campaign yet, who amongst faces old and new are set to make and impact and who are the five players more than most, who could take the league by storm this season?
Raheem Sterling
Perhaps an obvious choice yes, but this upcoming season could see Sterling reach the peak of his powers and may challenge for the Golden Boot come the end of the season.
In what will be the flying forward’s seventh top flight campaign, the 24-year-old England man has matured beyond his years under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, and with 64 league goals under his belt for both the Citizens and former club Liverpool, Sterling will now be eyeing bettering his best haul of 18 goals two seasons ago.
Sterling played as out-and-out forward against his former club in Sunday’s Community Shield – netting to boot – which could be an indication of how much faith Guardiola has in his man. Whilst Kun Aguero will in all likelihood still be City’s number one striker, Sterling’s goal count may be enhanced by more opportunities as the furthest forward attacker.
With an ownership in Fantasy Premier League second only to Mohamed Salah in the attacking department, Sterling is close to a must-have player this campaign, and with his assist contribution and overall team ethic, the City man could perhaps be in the reckoning for Player of the Season come May.
Sebastien Haller
Having finally parted ways with Marko Arnautovic, West Ham United’s move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s prolific hit-man could just be the signing of the summer transfer window.
With a partnership in tandem with Luka Jovic – now a Real Madrid player – Haller may have been considered the understudy to the prolific Serbian striker, but the Frenchman netted 15 Bundesliga goals last term, despite missing the majority of the final third of the campaign through injury.
The Frenchman also made nine assists and was involved in 24 goals for the Eagles last season, a statistic beaten only by Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.
Already earmarked for spot in leading Les Bleus line in the coming years, Haller’s superior aerial ability and strength will put the 25-year-old in good stead for the trials of the Premier League.
With the Irons ammunition of Andriy Yarmolenko, Manuel Lanzini, Felipe Anderson and new signing Pablo Fornals supplying their number nine, Haller may be amongst the top scorers come the end of the term. Could be a superb signing.
Dani Ceballos
Arsenal’s summer transfer activity had until a month ago been met with short shrift from the Gunners’ fan-base. However, after a July of exciting recruitment, the North London side are now firmly back in the reckoning for the top four battle.
Whilst Nicolas Pepe will inject electric pace into a side desperate for winger with real penetration and both David Luiz and Kieran Tierney are both solid recruitments on deadline day, the loan signing of Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid is something of a coup for Unai Emery.
After impressing for Spain’s U-21 side in the European Championship tournament win this summer, Ceballos was instrumental in his country’s win, scoring twice in the Group stages, but being involved in many of Spain’s 12 other goals.
As Arsenal look to replace Aaron Ramsey after his departure to Juventus, Ceballos should fill the Welshman’s boots with aplomb and playing behind the Gunners’ three-pronged triumvirate attack, the Spaniard is not only likely to be at the forefront of their attack, but also a tenacious presence in midfield.
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Ayoze Perez
As Brendan Rodgers takes charge of the good ship Leicester City for his first full season, the Foxes are fancied by many to be battling for a top-six finish this campaign.
Despite the loss of Harry Maguire for a World record fee, Leicester’s attack could become a feared unit, led by the revitalised Jamie Vardy at head of it. With James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans driving the Foxes forward, it might however be the addition of Ayoze Perez that could become the stand-out figure.
Joining from Newcastle United for £30m in the close season, the Spaniard arrives as one of the Magpies most consistent performers since his switch from CD Tenerife in 2014 and something of a cult figure on Tyneside.
Reaching double figures in the Premier League for the first time last campaign, the 26-year-old is approaching his peak years and thrown in Leicester’s offense, could become an ace in the hole.
Having already shown his best in pre-season on both the wing and behind Vardy – and as a player Rodgers himself has spoken highly of – Perez could just be one of the surprise packages of the coming term.
Giovani Lo Celso
A player Tottenham Hotspur have been pursuing all summer finally arrives in Harringey, as Giovani Lo Celso makes the switch from La Liga to the Premier League with much fanfare.
Whilst Paulo Dybala was the marquee signing all Spurs fans wanted, Mauricio Pochettino‘s other compatriot in Lo Celso arrives on loan from Real Betis, only four months after joining on a permanent deal from PSG in April.
Already a hallmark of Lionel Scaloni‘s Argentina set-up for country, as Christian Eriksen‘s future remains in the balance, with the European window still remaining open, the Argentina number 10 reached double figures last term for the Andalusian outfit.
At 23 year of age, the attacking winger could slot in behind Harry Kane and is known for his bulldog-like style in the centre of the park and will take no prisoners who come his way this season.
Of similar build and style to Eriksen also – though it may take a period of adaptation to life in English football – Lo Celso could make serious waves for Spurs as their latest South American addition.
The 2019/20 Premier League gets under way on Friday 9 August at Anfield, as Liverpool host Norwich City.
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