5 Premier League teams that can threaten the Top 6 in the 2018/19 season

#1 Everton

Everton v Leicester City - Premier League

Between 2003 and 2013, David Moyes made Everton one of the best teams in the Premier League, as they regularly finished between 5th and 7th- always challenging the traditional Big Four. Moreover, Roberto Martinez and Ronald Koeman also gave them similar finishes in their first seasons.

However, last season was a nightmare for the team as a multitude of signings failed to gel, resulting in the firing of Koeman.

The hiring of Sam Allardyce proved effective in the short-run, as Everton comfortably survived and finished in mid-table. Yet Allardyce’s style of play was clearly not preferred by team management and he was fired and replaced by former Watford manager Marco Silva.

Silva is the ideal man for the job in the sense that he managed to transform the Hornets into an attractive side that was also effective.

Moreover, the Toffees already have an extremely talented squad. Their defence was weak last season, as they conceded more goals than the relegated Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion. However, they have a young core in that area with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, centre-back Michael Keane, right-back Jonjoe Kenny and left-back Cuco Martina.

If their older players (Ashely Williams and Phil Jagielka) can be phased out, the defence will only improve this season (it was already better in the second half of the season).

In midfield, a manager like Silva who believes in creative football may be the best option to unlock that side of Gylfi Sigurdsson (which went missing last season). Meanwhile, Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies provide a reasonable combination of defensive solidity and youthful exuberance respectively.

Furthermore, in terms of attack, Everton have signed one of the most talented young players outside the top six: Richarlison. The Brazilian worked with Silva at Watford and the manager knows how to make full use of his talents.

A duo of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the wings bodes well for their attack. Furthermore, Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse are two decent finishers who can alternate up front.

The return of young English talent Ademola Lookman also bodes well for the Toffees as he impressed in the Bundesliga last season. Like many a season in the past, Everton have the best opportunity to break into the Top Six.