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The greatest league in the world is set to kick back of on Friday, with defending champions Arsenal hosting Premier League newbies Coventry City.
With so many new managers and new eras starting at major clubs, this year’s table is arguably one of the hardest to predict in recent years.
So, it’s time to stick the neck out on the line and try and predict this year’s final league table.
20th- Hull City
Back in the top tier for the first time since 2017, Hull City are set to be in for a tough year, and most expect them to return to the Championship promptly.
Their recruitment hasn’t been anything special, with 10 first team players arriving, the most expensive of which being Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano.
Despite so many arrivals, a painful lack of quality still burdens Sergej Jakirović’s side.
19th- Ipswich Town
Gary O’Neill is back in English football, replacing Keiren McKenna after a short stint at Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
The Tractor Boys have recruited well, with Premier League experience joining in Issa Diop, and Sasa Luki, as well some exciting young talent in Julian Enciso and Brazilian striker Emerson.
Despite the second highest net spend of anyone in the league at time of writing, they share the same problem as Hull; a painful lack of quality.
18th- Coventry City
Frank Lampard has rejuvenated his managerial career in the West Midlands, returning the Sky Blues to the Premier League for the first time since 2001.
Their recruitment, while less players have come through the door, is still impressive, making Carl Rushworth’s and Frank Onyeka’s loans permanent and adding some dynamic young talent.
It could certainly be close, but a lack of Premier League experience could prevent Lampard’s side from remaining in the division.
17th- Fulham
Alvaro Arbeloa has replaced Marco Silva as part of a huge summer of change in East London. After being thrown in the deep end at Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal, his managerial talents are still unknown in senior football.
Their recruitment is risky, spending over £70m on Southampton midfielder Shea Charles and Real Madrid duo Gonzalo García and César Palacios.
With major departures like Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez too, Fulham may struggle to stay out of a relegation scrap.
16th- Nottingham Forest
Forest have had the heart of their side ripped out in Elliot Anderson, replacing him with Xaver Schlager from RB Leipzig. They’ve also smartly added to their backline with Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon.
Given how tumultuous Oli Glasner’s relationship with Crystal Palace’s ownership during his time in South London, I can’t see him lasting long under the eratic Evangelos Marinakis.
Expect another season of managerial ambiguity and fan frustration despite a talented squad.
15th- Sunderland
Second season syndrome may linger in the minds of Sunderland fans, which may be worsened by the disappointing lack of recruitment so far.
The Black Cats have decent squad depth nonetheless- enough to stay out of a long-term relegation battle and put up a good showing in the Europa League.
Retaining key players like Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey and Omar Alderete should keep a strong core to the side that astonishingly finished 7th last season.
14th- Newcastle United
Newcastle have had a torrid transfer window, losing many key players with more potentially yet to go and the departure of league cup winning manager Eddie Howe, only to be replaced by 38-year-old Matthias Jaissle.
No European football, though not satisfactory to most fans, will be a positive for the German’s side due to the tough times that await his side.
The unproven nature of the aforementioned key player’s replacements- for example, 20-year-old Bazoumana Touré replacing Anthony Gordon- may mean a push for a European place will be unlikely for the Magpies.
13th- Crystal Palace
Pierre Sage replaces Oli Glasner as Conference League champions Crystal Palace look forward to more Thursday nights under the Selhurt Park lights.
The former Lens manager, who mounted a title challenge against PSG last season, offers continuity to the three at the back system Glasner embedded during his time at Palace. Key players staying at the club so far, like Adam Wharton, Daniel Munoz and Jean-Phillipe Mateta, is also a huge plus as many teams around them lose out on theirs.
Palace have the potential to go deep in the Europa League, so predicting that they do as they did last year, it may prevent them from a top 10 finish.
12th- AFC Bournemouth
Another side looking forward to Thursday nights under the lights, Bournemouth enter European competition for the first time in their history- under Marco Rose, not Andoni Iriola though.
Rose’s side have recruited well, notably with former Benfica captain Antonio Silva, as the former Leipzig and Dortmund boss is set to bring intense, pressing football to the South coast.
He inherits a talented squad from the now-Liverpool boss, but by breaking their European virginity, it may prevent them from finding a place in the top 10, as it may to Crystal Palace too (see above).
11th- Leeds United
Daniel Farke continued in Yorkshire, with some impressive additions to have at his disposal. Welshman Harry Wilson joins on a free transfer after his highest amount of goal involvements in a Premier League season yet, alongside Tarik Muharemović and Nico Elvedi for some needed defensive depth.
The marquee deal is 23-year-oild James Trafford, a player viewed as the future England #1 and a player who most feel could start for almost any side in the league.
Expect the Lilywhites to flirt with a European push, but just lacking the experience and midfield steel to sneak in.
10th- Everton
The Toffees have smartly added to their midfield ranks with Hayden Hackney, Christain Nørgaard and making Merlin Röhl’s loan permanent. Brennan Johnson also joins in a direct swap deal for Dwight McNeil.
David Moyes’ side still desperately need full-back cover, especially following the departure of club legend Seamus Coleman. Relying on Thierno Barry and Beto to lead your line for another season may hold them back once more.
Question marks linger over Moyes’ future- partner that with their poor defensive depth, expect an improvement on their back-to-back 13th place finishes they’ve enjoyed in the past two seasons, but not the European push the fans cry out for.
9th- Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton are set to return to European football in the Conference League, a competition won three times by English sides in the tournament’s five-year history.
With an exciting manager in Fabian Hurzeler and a quality squad- even without key players like Jan Paul Van Hecke, Danny Welbeck and Carlos Baleba- Brighton will want to go deep in the Conference League, perhaps at the expense of a higher league finish.
Fun editions in Luka Vuskovic, Zadok Yohanna and Promise David will keep the Seagulls around the top eight, whilst also marshalling a debut season in UEFA’s newest competition (if they defeat Norwegian side Tromstø over two legs).
8th- Brentford
Many expected Keith Andrews to relegate Brentford in his first senior season in management- instead, he proved the footballing world wrong, guiding them to 9th and missing out on Conference League football on goal difference.
He’s added Premier League experience to his squad with Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson, as well as breaking their transfer record for Mamadou Sangaré and adding defensive depth in Jannik Schuster.
Expecting Igor Thiago to have another high-scoring season is perhaps unrealistic, but with more help around the Brazilian to do so, it may not be hard to see Brentford achieving a place in European football for the first time in their history.
7th- Manchester United
After comfortably bringing Champions League football back to Old Trafford last season, Manchester United have sensibly rebuilt their midfield this summer ahead of their imminent return to Europe’s elite competition.
However, with question marks lingering around how this current squad will be able to adapt to more midweek games- a problem they failed to encounter much last season due to early knockouts ion both cups and no European football- and Michael Carrick’s credentials, it may not be a successful year for the Red Devils.
Marcus Rashford back will certainly boost their frontline options though, as well as Benjamin Sesko who continues to settle in the Premier League. The imminent contract extension of captain Bruno Fernandes will also give fans more reason to be optimistic.
6th– Tottenham Hotspur
Excellent recruitment and a tactically rich Roberto De Zerbi leading the squad will propel them from the lows of 17th back to where Spurs want to be- the coveted European places.
A new midfield led by Sandro Tonali alongside Matheus Fernandes forms an imposing double-pivot. Dutchman Van Hecke and Argentine Marco Senesi add brilliant centre-half depth. Two-time Premier League champion Andy Robertson will add helpful experience.
Mental foundations may prevent Spurs from pushing too hard for Champions League places, but fans at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium are set to be in for much happier times.
5th- Liverpool
Andoni Iraola has become Liverpool’s 24th permanent boss in an attempt to replace Arne Slot’s sluggish, slow-paced football with an intense, high-pressing brand fans have become accustomed to in recent years.
The Spaniard worked wonders at AFC Bournemouth, guiding them to their highest league finish and delivering European Football to Dean Court for the first time in the club’s history. However, his tactical vision will be hard to implement with such a thin squad.
The Reds have only added Osasuna’s Victor Munoz and Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo on loan, an alarming lack of recruitment given how big a squad will have to be under Iraola to compete for in all four competitions they’re in as well as remaining fit and competitive.
4th- Aston Villa
Villa have lost multiple key players this summer from the side that achieved Europa League glory last season, such as Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Ezri Konsa. So far, the Villains have replaced them well, with Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes arriving to replenish their midfield ranks.
The Birmingham-based side have some fascinating young talent coming through as well, with Brian Madjo joining from Metz, winger Alysson joining from Grêmio and George Hemmings rising through their ranks also.
Even with such major losses, betting against Unai Emery to get a tune out of this squad which is yet to conclude its summer business rarely works out. Expect entertaining football, regardless of its conductors, to remain at Villa Park this season.
3rd- Chelsea
After a poor stint at Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso is back in the Premier League with high spenders Chelsea. The Blues have the highest net spend of any side in the window so far, thanks to signings like Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra.
Alonso’s side has deferred from their previous model that focused on young recruitment, this year signing a blend of youth and experience. The former sees players such as Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson join the squad, with both Englishmen set to play second-string roles this season.
Whether its four or three at the back, Alonso’s side will have lots of pace and dynamism that will give any side that faces them headaches. With no European football at the Bridge either, that should play into their favour as a new era begins in West London.
2nd- Arsenal
Retaining the Premier League is no mean feat. Gearing up to try and do so, Arsenal have added immense quality to their squad in Bruno Guimares, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis.
Despite their summer spending, and the offensive depth they possess, the Gunners’ attack still seems blunt in my eyes, and if teams find a way to get around their bullish set-piece habits- and that is a big if- I still feel their options may let them down in huge moments.
After clinching title number 14, Mikel Arteta may now set his sights on the club’s first ever UCL title, which they were only penalty kicks away from achieving last season. Should the Spaniard do this, it isn’t hard to imagine the mentality in the Arsenal squad preventing them from pursuing both as they did last season.
1st- Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has left English football, bringing an end to a historic era in the English game. His replacement is no stranger to City’s culture, and what it takes to manage a huge football club. Alongside his impressive tactics and immense quality at his disposal, Enzo Mareca could be a major success on the blue side of Manchester.
A fascinating midfield rebuild has commenced, with club legend Rodri returning to Spain after Elliot Anderson joined the club, and Ayyoub Bouaddi on the verge of joining from Lille. Rodri isn’t the only midfielder to have departed though, with Dutchman Tijjani Reijnders leaving for Saudi Arabian outfit Al Qadisah.
There may be teething problems for the Italian and his side, as shown in the Community Shield after a poor showing against champions Arsenal, but as the former Chelsea boss gets stuck into this side, seeing them in a title race- and perhaps coming out on top- would be to little surprise.
Thumbnail Credit: Ank Kumar via Wikimedia Commons
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