So far in 2019, Crystal Palace have taken more points than Chelsea. Only Manchester City and Liverpool finished the season in better form.
Yet if that could have been a platform to kick on, for the second successive summer, Palace have been smaller spenders who have instead concentrated on trying to keep Wilfried Zaha.
They have, however, lost Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with the outstanding right-back yet to be replaced, and there is the question if this will be Roy Hodgson’s final year in management.
Whether or not it is, he could do with more goals from the strikers, with the penalty-taking defensive midfielder Luka Milivojevic top-scoring last season.
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Who finishes where in 2019-20?
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20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo -
19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty -
18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty -
17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty -
16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty -
15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters -
14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty -
13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters -
12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo -
11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo -
10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty -
9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty -
8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty -
7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters -
6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA -
5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters -
4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty -
3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty -
2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP -
1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty
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Key player: Wilfried Zaha
As a symbol of the club and the pivotal player in the style of play, Zaha is far more important than last season's tally of 10 goals suggests, even if it was a career-best total. Palace have rebuffed offers from Arsenal and Everton and assuming he stays, it is imperative Zaha remains as motivated.
Signing to watch: Jordan Ayew
Feels an underwhelming signing after his loan spell at Selhurst Park last season produced a solitary league goal. However, Swansea’s need to get Ayew off the wage bill made him cheap and his pace and movement suits Palace’s style of play. But, with the £45m from Wan-Bissaka available, further additions feel necessary.
Talking point: Can Palace improve their home form?
Brilliant counter-attackers got as many away wins as Chelsea and Manchester United but, while Selhurst Park has a reputation as an intimidating venue, they only scored 14 goals in their first 18 home games last season.
That wretched return reflected on the failure of the strikers, Christian Benteke in particular, to capitalise on the wingers’ capacity to beat and baffle defenders; only five teams averaged more shots per home match, so Palace need to be more clinical.
Only Huddersfield Town won fewer home matches last season, but only three of the big six visit Selhurst Park before April so, in theory, Palace have winnable fixtures.
