New Premier League football season: Can the 'Big Six' monopoly be broken?

[merlin1969]

The 'Big Six' of the Premier League - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - have claimed the top six as their own for the past three seasons.

But with some of those sides facing problems and the clubs below them looking threatening, could their dominance come to an end in 2019-20?

Manchester City and Liverpool are expected to remain a cut above the rest, but which clubs have a realistic chance of breaking the established order at the top of the Premier League, which ones are vulnerable - and why?

Leicester: Turning potential into points

Last season: ninth

The club that not only broke the Big Six but smashed it to smithereensthree years ago, Leicester have arguably the most exciting young squad in the Premier League.

Eight of Brendan Rodgers' first XI since he took charge are aged 26 or younger and are yet to reach their peak, including midfielder Youri Tielemans, who joined for a record £40m fee this summer. Ayoze Perez, Newcastle's top scorer last season who joined the Foxes for £30m, turned 26 last week.

While there's no guarantee that such potential will be realised, it shows how promising this group of players is that the Champions League clubs look so enviously at them, with Ben Chilwell, Harry Maguire, Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison all linked with moves to clubs above them this summer.

In the 10 games following Rodgers' appointment, Leicester took more points and had a better expected goal difference - the goals they were expected to score given their chances, minus those they were expected to concede - than Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal, emphasising their top-six credentials.

• What is 'expected goals'?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49165976

[Nicolo Barella]

Only way i could see this happening was if Chelsea absolutely shat the bed. Arsenal and Utd will be fine. 

[StanSP]

@fuchsntf posted this in another thread so will say the same as I did there.

 

The potential of our squad is positively frightening.

 

Maddison, Chilwell, Tielemans, Choudhury, Barnes, Soyuncu, Benkovic, Ndidi, Pereira. James Justin as well.

All 25 or under.

 

Love it.

[Dan]

This is as good a chance since 2015/16 for sure but we shouldn't be expecting to.

[Meat and 2 veg]

Not with the current wingers we have, the rest out our first team is solid though. 

[SkidsFox]

Can the 'Big Six' monopoly be broken?

Yes it can.

 

[Les-TA-Jon]

If Maguire goes - I'm far less confident - lose our best defender just before the season starts, strengthen a direct rival and then get in a sub-par replacement with no bedding in time...

[UniFox21]

It'll be potentially this year, Chelsea are transitioning, United are weakened and Arsenal have no back line. 

 

I think Wolves stand the best chance if they continue with the form they had last season. Everton and Ourselves have also strengthened well. It's going to be an interesting year.

[CollinsLCFC]

2 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

It'll be potentially this year, Chelsea are transitioning, United are weakened and Arsenal have no back line. 

 

I think Wolves stand the best chance if they continue with the form they had last season. Everton and Ourselves have also strengthened well. It's going to be an interesting year.

West Ham also, they have some very decent players and a good manager. Although I think their defence is their weakness.

[Stevosevic]

Think most people are down playing the top 6 tbh. 

 

Normal service will be resumed imo.

[Fox92]

27 minutes ago, Stevosevic said:

Think most people are down playing the top 6 tbh. 

 

Normal service will be resumed imo.

Agree totally.

 

Lampard hasn't done anything as a manager but he's a legend at Chelsea, adored by the fans and will be respected by the players. Plus he has better players to manage now. They'll finish top 6.

 

I don't think anyone will break into it.

[OntarioFox]

4 hours ago, Les-TA-Jon said:

If Maguire goes - I'm far less confident - lose our best defender just before the season starts, strengthen a direct rival and then get in a sub-par replacement with no bedding in time...

Wait, we're selling Jonny Evans? 

[fuchsntf]

17 hours ago, StanSP said:

@fuchsntf posted this in another thread so will say the same as I did there.

 

The potential of our squad is positively frightening.

 

Maddison, Chilwell, Tielemans, Choudhury, Barnes, Soyuncu, Benkovic, Ndidi, Pereira. James Justin as well.

All 25 or under.

 

Love it.

Thanks...and I agree.

Plus others young players Knocking or Bashing the door down ..Lahabela,etc...I

Thats Why I say trust in our youth...Let the young-guns draw their guns...

Even if Harry goes, Dont spend £50 mill. Not for a CB, or for an expensive 50 mil winger...

 

Use and trust in our squad,we have invested und spent well over 2 seasons...We aint Running a mint,where

Money is there to throw out!!  Slowish and wise building,is now the Play for the rest of the summer,with January in the minds-eye.

 

In pre-season,es have had a Good look at potential 1St Team --bench players, potential-fringe-pool-players,und some decent young talent,ready

to get themselves noticed for first team duties..For a midtable-top 6 potential club,B.Rogers Must be Very Happy & excited what a large group of

Quality players,which at least is giving him a First Team of 16-18,players.  If B.Rodgers,can kickstart Nacho, Gray,ghezzal game.Then reintroduce

Amartey to the First Team group.....We will be sitting pretty , If he can get Mendy und even Silva or Kingy to Kick on,we will be very comfortable..

This squad has the potential und Exciting front,that should See it competing/challenging for those covetted high positions...

Despite all this, we still have to Work hard and earn it.....!!! At present we have

  not achieved anything zilch, nada, rien!!!

But it is exciting......innit...