SEASON 2021/22 PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW AND FINAL TABLE PREDICTIONS
Following an unprecedented season, which was played entirely in empty stadiums. Then an exciting and entertaining summer European Championship tournament. I am sure everyone is eager for the new season to start and a return back to some normality with fans finally back in the stadiums.
With the fans back after a 17 month absence, this season promises to be a real exciting one with teams hoping to impress their returning supporters. That said, some things just don’t change and I am again expecting the reigning Premier League champions Manchester City to be the team to beat. They have won three of the last four titles and I think you’ll be hard pressed to not back them this season, especially as they again flashed their financial dominance by forking out £100m for Jack Grealish.
If we are to look at a possible challenger, you can look no further than the reigning Champions League and Super Cup winners Chelsea. Who, not to be outdone, flashed their own financial prowess by bringing Romalu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge for a eye opening £97.5m, to add to their already deep squad. Making it a hat-trick of financial show off’s. Manchester Utd will hope to challenge their city rivals after forking out £73m to bring Sancho back to England, as well as the impending signing of World Cup and four times Champions League winning centre back Raphael Verane.
If there was a team that could make in roads to these three, then it would have to be Liverpool. They still have most of the squad that won the Premier League and it seems almost every player in their squad are coming into the season with something to prove. Whether its an injury return, questions on their ability, trying to break into the first team or having to prove they still got it. To add to that the signing of Kanote seems a solid one. A possible Champions League place is up for grabs for Leicester, although I feel they will again finish fifth. They have finished fifth in the last two seasons but are pushing for more. They have even more fire power with the signing of Daka. The FA Cup winners showed they are not to be taken lightly after claiming a morale boosting Community Shield victory.
Its not that I am expecting big things from Arsenal, but I am certainly expecting them to improve on finishing 8th, in the last two seasons. However, the question has to be is Arteta the man to improve them? After 18 months in charge and an FA Cup win, the excuses have run out. Its now time to deliver and they will hope their reinforcements, namely Ben White can hit the ground running. A fairly torrid summer has caused severe disruption to Tottenham’s season, which could have a real effect on their early form. Also, it’s still yet to be seen where Kane will end up after August 31st. Nevertheless, their season may improve if they complete the signing of another striker, which will be much needed. But the bigger question will be if a new striker will be partnering or replacing the club captain?
Leeds United put in one of the most impressive seasons of a promoted team I have ever seen. I believe they could kick on and improve even further, with their exciting and swashbuckling brand of football. More so, it was a shame their fans wasn’t able to witness their return to the Premier League, but this season they’ll surely make up for it with a twelfth man performance. Everton are another club that had a not so smooth summer with off the field issues, not to mention losing their world class manager. Last season, after a great start, that pressure of expectation really got to them. But they have swapped one top class manager for another, who has history with their rivals, so it could just be groundhog day. Benitez will hope new signing Gray, back in England, will hit the ground running. He will hope for another good start, then use all his managerial experience to get quality from his players to maintain it.
We can all agree that West Ham had a superb and unexpected season finishing 6th, but many may look to the unusual circumstances as a reason. However, they were there on merit, but they will now have to deal with the rigours of European football, where they will soon realise the strain this puts on a squad throughout the season. In other circumstances I would have predicted Aston Villa to finish higher. They really surprised one and all last season, but the departure of their talisman may take some getting used to. That said, they have invested well and the very exciting double signing of Bailey and Ings could soften the blow for the returning fans.
The top section of the bottom half of the table is always hard to call. Newcastle will be pushing hard to improve on their respectable 12th place last season and securing the services of Willock will go a long way to help that cause. Although Burnley finished one place above the relegation zone, I have a funny feeling they will be much better off this season, and I feel their old grit and determination will make it a much more comfortable season this time around.
Last season Brighton finished two places above the relegation zone, however, I saw a lot of positives and plenty of potential to progress. So I feel this season could see that potential come to fruition and I am expected them to have a slightly more comfortable season. In addition, the signing of young potential wonder kid Sarmiento, could be interesting. For me Wolves are going in the opposite direction. Although I am hoping they prove me wrong, losing their manager and some stability with it, may prove to be detrimental, so they will need their new signing Jose Sa to really perform.
I definitely feel Patrick Viera will have a rough birth into Premier League football and Crystal Palace my struggle this season. By no means am I expecting big things, and he will really need the senior players in the team to step up and make the season not as uncomfortable as I think it will be. This I feel will also go for Southampton, who have lost a few key players and although they added Armstrong to help score the goals. I also think they may have a less than comfortable and dare I say, a very long season.
Now to the relegation zone. In all but three of the past 29 Premier League seasons, at least one promoted team has gone back down. Also, on two occasions, all three promoted sides were relegated, and I am predicting this could happen again this season. However, Watford, with a few experienced heads in the squad and no less than 10 new signings, including Danny Rose, could make a real fight of it. Having previously spent five straight seasons in the top flight, they will hope the new boys can gel early.
This is the fifth time Championship winners Norwich have been promoted to the Premier League, and only on one of those four previous occasions, they managed to stay up. They will however, draw on the fact that they have a bonafide goalscorer as well as new signing, goalscoring midfielder Raschica. The fact that many of their players have already played in the Premier League is a positive. But the downside is these players also know the heartache of relegation.
Lastly, but I am hoping not least. Brentford will embark on their very first Premier League campaign. They showed great ability, desire and determination to make it to the top flight, but the Premier League is a tough, unforgiving place and they will really have their work cut out. However, they’ll hope new signing Ajer can help to keep the goals out at the back, while it will be interesting to see if their star striker Toney can continue to impress.
