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Manchester City kick off their title defense when they travel just north to face newly-promoted Burnley on Friday evening. Pep Guardiola’s side came from behind to beat Arsenal to the title last season, their third in a row and fifth in six seasons.
Will Guardiola, after winning the treble last season (Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League), be able to motivate his players to carry on achieving? Perhaps they could do what no other team in the history of European football has done and that is to win back-to-back trebles.
Despite City seeing Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona) and Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) leave the Etihad, they have recruited Mateo Kovatic (Chelsea) and Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) which will see the Sky Blues firm favourites for another title. However, behind them, there will certainly be a dog-fight for the European scraps.
Arsenal, who spent more than 240 days top of the league, only to run out of steam at the end, will most certainly be up there after having spent more than £200m on Declan Rice (West Ham), Jurien Timber (Ajax) and Kai Havertz (Chelsea), to try and build some squad depth.
Manchester United are tired of seeing their neighbours gather all the glory and will most probably end second this term as Erik ten Hag continues on his upward trajectory. The sale of former captain Harry Maguire to West Ham will surely strengthen the squad and their defense, especially after adding Andre Onana in goals.
Ten Hag has also bolstered his midfield with the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea and upfront, Rasmus Hojlund has joined from Atalanta.
Rounding off the top four is Liverpool – don’t be shocked! Jurgen Klopp’s men cannot have a second bad season in a row and the German’s tactical nous will prevail. Despite not landing Brighton’s prolific midfielder, Moises Caicedo, who declined a £110m move to Merseyside in favour of Chelsea.
Liverpool have one of the most prolific front lines in the Premier League with Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez joining Mo Salah upfront. They have also added Brighton’s Alex Mac Allister, with the Argentine World Cup winner bolstering the midfield.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle punched above their weight last season, and finished a brilliant fourth, but with only Sandro Tonali the most notable arrival, from AC Milan, and the departure of Chris Wood and Allan Saint-Maximin, Howe might find it difficult trying to break into the top four this term.
Former Arsenal manager, Unai Emery, has done wonders at Aston Villa and with a few more tactical signings, might turn the men from Birmingham into a real top-four contender. But Villa, Chelsea and Brentford, will round off the top eight.
Brighton will pip Spurs into 9th place despite selling Mac Allister, and Caicedo if Chelsea can raise their offer to Brighton. I am basing this on the fact that England captain Harry Kane is on the verge of departing London for Munich to put on the Bayern shirt. If this is completed, Hue Min Son will not have his partner to play with and Spurs will find life very tough.
Everton will struggle to avoid relegation this season again, unless Sam Allardyce can somehow work a miracle, but expect the Toffees to survive – again – by a point or two.
I do not see any shock relegations this season, compared with Leicester’s departure from the top flight last term as Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town are expected to drop straight back down – but hey, what do I know?
Perhaps Spurs will crumble and join Leicester in the Championship next season – wouldn’t that be a treat!
