The 2018/19 English Premier League season was one of the most exciting in recent memory. The league saw a tight title race between Manchester City and Liverpool, with City ultimately emerging as champions with 98 points, just one point ahead of Liverpool who finished second with 97 points!
The relegation battle was also intense, with Cardiff City, Fulham, and Huddersfield Town finishing in the bottom three and getting relegated to the Championship.
This Topps set is a small one, only featured 310 stickers in total. Lets see what rookies we can find and determine the top 10 stickers.
The Topps English Premier League 2018-2019 Complete Album
10 – Bobby Decordova-Reid Rookie Sticker – #71
Decordova-Reid is known for his work rate and tenacity, as well as his quick feet and dribbling ability.
During the 2018/19 season with Cardiff City, Decordova-Reid made 27 appearances in the Premier League, scoring five goals. He was a key player for the team but, unfortunately, Cardiff narrowly missed Premier League survival, finishing in 18th place. Decordova-Reid’s work ethic and determination on the pitch have been praised by his teammates and coaches, and he is widely regarded as a talented and hard-working player.
Now (May, 2023) Bobby plays for Fulham and they are having a good Premier League season. Currently in the top half of the table, with Bobby being a regular starter.
A nice unique sticker to get thing started. By no means an expensive rookie sticker, but of value to the right person.
9 – Matt Doherty Rookie Sticker – #305
Matt Doherty plays as a right-back or wing-back. He is known for his attacking abilities and his ability to contribute to his team’s attack.
Doherty’s playing style is characterized by his energetic and aggressive nature, which allows him to provide constant support to his team’s attack. He is a tireless runner who is always looking to get forward and make overlapping runs to support his team’s wingers. He is also an excellent crosser of the ball, which makes him a dangerous threat when he gets into advanced positions.
During the 2018/19 season with Wolves, their first since being promoted, Doherty had an impressive campaign, contributing 4 goals and 5 assists, featuring every single game. He played a vital role in Wolves’ seventh-place finish.
Currently, Doherty finds himself playing in Spain at Atletico Madrid, since transferring from Tottenham, where he moved in the 2020 season.
An interesting rookie sticker, one for the Wolves fans as Doherty has been a great servant of the club.
8 – Conor Coady Rookie Sticker – #304
Conor Coady is known for his leadership abilities on the pitch and his excellent defensive skills.
Coady’s playing style is characterized by his composure on the ball, good passing ability, and his excellent positioning. He is a strong tackler and is not afraid to put his body on the line to block shots or make a vital clearance. In addition to his defensive skills.
During the 2018/19 season with Wolves, Coady played an instrumental role in the team’s success. He featured in all 38 Premier League games, his performances at the back were a major reason for Wolves finishing seventh in the league, which earned them a place in the following season’s Europa League.
Now playing under Sean Dyche at Everton, Coady will look to have a good end to his premier League career.
A nice rookie sticker to have in the collection. Coady has had a good career and its far from finished.
7 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – #30 – Rookie Sticker from Panini Foot 2009/10
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is known for his incredible speed and agility, as well as his clinical finishing in front of goal.
Aubameyang is a versatile player who can operate as a center-forward, as well as on the left or right flank. He has a natural ability to make runs in behind the defence, utilizing his blistering pace to outmaneuver his opponents.
In his 2018/19 season with Arsenal, Aubameyang was one of the standout performers in the team. He finished as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League with 22 goals, sharing the Golden Boot with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. His goals helped Arsenal secure a fifth-place finish in the league and reach the Europa League final, where they were defeated by Chelsea.
Aubameyang has featured a few times in my blogs. I have to keep adding him in because he scores so many damn goals haha!
6 – Sadio Mane – #196 – Rookie Sticker from Panini Österreichische Fußball-Bundesliga 2012-2013
Sadio Mane is known for his incredible pace, technical skills, and ability to get behind defenders. He is also an excellent finisher and has proven to be a prolific goal scorer throughout his career.
Mane is a nightmare for opposing defenders to deal with. He is also adept at dribbling past defenders and has great close control, allowing him to keep possession of the ball even in tight spaces. Mane is an excellent finisher and has a knack for scoring goals from a variety of different positions on the field. He is also a hard worker and is known for his tireless work rate both on and off the ball.
During the 2018/19 season, Mane was one of the standout performers for Liverpool, helping the team win the Champions League title. He scored 22 goals in the Premier League, tied with Aubameyang and Salah for the golden boot. Mane’s contributions helped Liverpool to finish second, just one point behind champions Manchester City.
One of the great many seasons and a good sticker to remember that season!
5 – Mohamed Salah – #197 – Rookie Sticker from Panini UEFA Champions League 2013-2014
Salah is renowned for his incredible goal-scoring abilities and lightning-quick pace. He is often deployed as a right winger or a striker and has the versatility to play on the left as well.
He has quick acceleration and has the ability to get past defenders with ease. He has a keen eye for goal and can finish with both feet. Salah is also an excellent dribbler and can create space for himself and his teammates in the attacking third.
In the 2018/19 season with Liverpool, Salah had another outstanding campaign, scoring 22 goals and registering 8 assists in the Premier League, playing every single league match of the season.
Salah has established himself as a Premier League great. I believe, in the future, all his stickers will be desired by collectors.
4 – Eden Hazard – #83 – Rookie Sticker from Panini Foot 2009/10
Eden Hazard is known for his incredible ball control, dribbling skills, and ability to create chances for himself and his teammates.
Hazard’s playing style is characterised by his low center of gravity, quick feet, and close control of the ball. He is particularly adept at dribbling past defenders, often using feints and changes of direction to create space for himself. He is also a skilled passer and can play in a variety of attacking positions, including as a winger or attacking midfielder.
In his final season with Chelsea, 2018-19, Hazard was one of the standout performers in the Premier League, scoring 16 goals and providing 15 assists in all competitions. He played a key role in Chelsea’s successful Europa League campaign, where they won the competition.
I think this is a great sticker to collect as the last time we saw Hazard firing on all cylinders! A super season in his final season for Chelsea!
3- Aaron Wan-Bissaka Rookie Sticker – #93
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is known for his incredible tackling abilities. He is widely regarded as one of the best one-on-one defenders in the Premier League.
His main strength is his ability to defend. He reads the game very well and is always in the right position to make a tackle or interception. He has been criticised for his game going forward but he is still young.
During his final season with Crystal Palace in 2018/19, Wan-Bissaka was a standout performer for the club. He made 35 appearances in the Premier League and was named the club’s Player of the Year. He also earned a reputation as one of the best young defenders in the league, with several top clubs reportedly interested in signing him, ultimately signing for Manchester United.
He has had mixed reviews at United, but one thing is for sure; he is the best one on one defender in the league.
I think this is a good rookie sticker. If he has a long career at United, it will be a great rookie sticker!
2 – James Maddison Rookie Sticker – #182
James Maddison is an English professional footballer known for his technical ability, vision, and playmaking skills. In the 2018/19 season, he joined Leicester City from Norwich City and made an immediate impact in the Premier League, establishing himself as a key player for the Foxes.
Maddison’s creativity and flair were evident from the start. He quickly became Leicester’s main playmaker, operating primarily as an attacking midfielder. His ability to find space, deliver precise passes, and create scoring opportunities made him a crucial part of the team’s attacking strategy. One of Maddison’s standout traits was his proficiency in set-pieces. His accurate free-kicks and corners added an extra dimension to Leicester’s attack, often leading to dangerous scoring opportunities.
He has since signed for Tottenham Hotspur and has impressed immensely. He is a key player under Ange’s Tottenham, and when he isn’t struggling with injuries, is one of the best players in the league. This is a big rookie sticker and hopefully James can continue to improve his game and leave a legacy at Spurs!
1 – Trent Alexander-Arnold Rookie Sticker – #192
Trent Alexander-Arnold is a modern-day full-back who plays primarily as a right-back. He has incredible vision, passing range, and crossing ability, which make him a constant threat going forward.
Alexander-Arnold’s is known for his long-range passing, which often cuts through opposing defences and opens up space for his teammates. He is also known for his ability to pick out a teammate with a precise cross or set-piece delivery.
In the 2018/19 season, Alexander-Arnold was a key player for Liverpool as they finished runners-up in the Premier League and won the Champions League. He played in 29 Premier League games, registering 12 assists. He was also instrumental in Liverpool’s Champions League title, playing in 12 games.
Alexander-Arnold’s performances during the season earned him a spot in UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season. He was also named the Liverpool Young Player of the Season.
If the opportunity to get this rookie sticker arrives, take it. Trent is a legend in the making!
Summary
Overall, for investments, I think this isn’t a great set. Only really 1 sticker worth chasing, Trent. Collecting on the other hand, its a quite cool set for a historic season. Three players winning the golden boot is quite unique. I will definitely be finding Auba, Mane and Salah for my collection.