The Premier League is back, and after the events of the World Cup, which ended just over five weeks ago, it’s a quick turnaround, and I am sure it’s welcome for club football fans.
With the transfer window still several weeks from closing, we all anticipate more drama in the coming days, and teams could look much different. This could obviously change how the league will look in May.
Despite that, it’s all change in the Premier League with a record nine new managers. This now leaves the defending champion, Mikel Arteta, as the longest-serving manager. Due to this, I can’t see anyone stopping Arsenal making it back-to-back Premier League titles; it seems they have everything going for them as the most settled club.
The Champions League places could be very interesting, and this is where I expect to see the closest battle. I am going with Man Utd to be the best of the rest, taking advantage of the fact that their manager had half of last season to settle.
Not far behind and pushing them all the way, I am going with Man City to finish third. In somewhat of a transition, although they have quality throughout and new manager Maresca is familiar with the squad, it may take a season to get back into their stride.
In fourth, I am going with Chelsea, with new manager Xabi Alonso, who, as per usual, has not spared any expense in the transfer window, and it may even continue in the next few days.
Just like last season, fifth could still qualify for the Champions League. So, just like last season, I am predicting Liverpool and another new manager, Andoni Iraola, to finish in that position, while they still try to find their feet.
I had to think hard about the next two positions before deciding on Aston Villa, despite having Champions League football to finish in sixth, and Tottenham, despite having no European football to finish in seventh.
Everton will continue their positive push, now with a season in their new stadium under their belt. I am going with them to finish a very respectable eighth, just above Brighton in ninth, who will also be playing in Europe this season.
The midtable positions will be occupied by Fulham in tenth, under their new manager, Alvaro Arbeloa. Bournemouth will finish in eleventh, still finding their feet with their new manager.
I could be surprised, but I am going with Brentford to have a difficult second season under Keith Andrews, despite a brilliant last season and finish in twelfth place. Notts Forest and new manager Oliver Glasner, who I predict will take his team to a respectable thirteenth in his first season.
In fourteenth, I am going with Newcastle and Matthias Jaissle, having a difficult first season and may not even finish the season. I am predicting Crystal Palace to have a difficult season, but finish comfortably in fifteenth.
I think Leeds and Danial Farke will use all their knowledge and impact players to be safe and finish in sixteenth place. With Coventry just surviving in their first season back to finish one place above the relegation zone in seventeenth.
This might raise some eyebrows, but despite an excellent first season back in the Premier League, I am predicting that second-season syndrome to kick in and Sunderland to finish in eighteenth and lose their Premier League status, but not without a fight.
The last two places in the league will not surprise many and will be who most will predict to go straight back down. I have predicted Ipswich to end the season in nineteenth, with Hull City, who shocked everyone last season, to go straight back down after finishing bottom of the league.
ARSENAL
MAN UTD
MAN CITY
CHELSEA
LIVERPOOL
ASTON VILLA
TOTTENHAM
EVERTON
BRIGHTON
FULHAM
BOURNEMOUTH
BRENTFORD
NOTTS FOREST
NEWCASTLE
CRYSTAL PALACE
LEEDS UTD
COVENTRY
SUNDERLAND
IPSWICH
HULL CITY
