Preview

With the new Premier League season kicking off, predictions have been coming in thick and fast, but none as good as ours.

We’ve decided to spice things up a little bit and thought what better way to show how a team will perform than by picking a song that perfectly defines the season.

Sit back, relax and enjoy...or not (depending on who you support).

Last season saw Mohamed Salah crack the 30-goal mark and steer Liverpool to a fourth place finish, as well as the Champions League final. He had already had a taste of Premier League action before as he was on the books at Chelsea but rarely got a proper look in at the club. He landed at Fiorentina and then Roma before making his return to the EPL last season. Boy did he return in some style.

And he’s going to do it all over again.

Manchester United face Leicester City Friday, Aug. 10, at Old Trafford as the English Premier League commences with a Red Devils-Foxes showdown. The matchup will mark the 89th EPL meeting between the two and the 45th contest in United’s territory.

Manchester United finished second in the EPL table with 81 points last season. Leicester, on the other hand, finished ninth with 47. With the table flushed clean, both the Red Devils and Foxes have a shot at vengeance — their last EPL match in Dec. 2017 ended in a 2-2 draw.

The 2018-19 Premier League season promises to be one for the ages. Liverpool looks set to really give Manchester City a run for its money, while the mid-table battle is going to be too close to call.

For some players, this season is their time to shine. Whether it be composure at the back, working hard in the midfield or plundering in the goals, there are going to be players that take the division by storm. Here are our top five picks for the biggest breakout stars of the 2018-19 Premier League season.

Manchester United will not win the Premier League title this season. The Red Devils have grown to be the antithesis of their former "Pride of England" moniker under Jose Mourinho. Not only has the Portuguese "Chosen One" flooded Old Trafford with boredom, the 2017-18 season was also an indicator of false glory despite a second place finish behind Manchester City.

Managers are being scrutinised more than ever, and with good reason. The fans and owners expect results from their teams, no matter who their players are. Whether it’s Huddersfield Town or Manchester City, every manager knows that their owners can pull the plug at any time.

Croatia shocked most of the soccer world with its run to the World Cup final, although we here at The18 saw it coming. In order to prove that was no fluke, I'm doubling down on my bold World Cup predictions, this time four years in advance of the tournament instead of one. If you're wondering who the Croatia of the 2022 World Cup will be, you don't need to look any further than their neighbor (and historical rival) to the east.