The 2020/2021 English Premier League has already kicked off with many pundits and analysts predicting a more competitive season as opposed to the last one that saw Liverpool as the runaway champions. The majority of the teams have had their squads strengthened with three newbies for the season also available. Football fans and bettors can follow this site to access various EPL markets and betting options to bet on their favourite teams.
Additionally, you can find other popular sports and top leagues that you can bet on, and for a great value of your bets, you can also check out these betting tips. While the quality of bigger teams such as Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea is undoubted, here are some of the teams that may cause upsets this season and provide rivalry to the aforementioned teams;
- Everton
The Merseyside team has every tool at its disposal to terrorize teams this season. A great start of the season with top performances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the first day followed by a 5-2 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion at the Goodison Park were some of the pointers. Carlo Ancelotti is undoubtedly a top manager that has won various titles in the different top clubs he has been in. His style of play is now evident and on the pitch, there is the chemistry between players especially in the middle of the park and with Dominic-Calvert Lewin firing at the front.
The team has also seen additions made including Allan from Napoli and Doucoure from the relegated Watford. However, one major signing they have been able to get over the line speaks of the team’s intent this season. James Rodriguez. After falling from the pecking order in Real Madrid and loan moves to Bayern Munich, the Colombian was reunited with Carlo Ancelotti and in two games, flashes of quality and chemistry can be seen.
Everton is poised to pose some threat to teams this season and this is so much welcome.
- Leeds United
After a 16-year absence from top-flight football, Leeds United are back, and boy, the team looks like one to cause major upsets this season. The team’s opener against Liverpool at Anfield pointed to that fact. Jurgen Klopp’s boys were given a run for the money with Leeds United firing the same intensity and pressing served by Liverpool. The game finished at 4-3 with Liverpool winning but the duel had to be separated by a late penalty. After the game, Jurgen Klopp commended the team saying, ‘What a game, what an opponent, what a performance from both teams that’s football at its best!’
Marcelo Bielsa has been lauded as one of the best tacticians and his blueprint can be seen from what Leeds United are doing. The next game saw them thrash Fulham on the same scoreline as Liverpool’s only that this time they were on the winning end. If they can step up their defence to stop conceding a lot of goals, then we are in for good football this season!
- Arsenal
They might be one of the top teams on paper and history but the past few seasons haven’t seen them perform as one. Last season saw them finish at eighth position which was so underwhelming. The same season saw the team led by three different managers but it is Mikel Arteta who finally took the wheel. The former Arsenal player worked as an Assistant coach to Pep Guardiola and while the Arsenal task seemed big, he has silenced the critics. Arsenal looks like a formidable force once more and since his entry, the team has been on a run of victories with two cups grabbed along the way.
This season presents an opportunity to build on that. Three additions have been made to the squad with one or two more expected by the end of the transfer window. The team has started on a high with two victories and this seems a season they may get back to the UEFA Champions League after years of absence.