How will your club fare? Phil McNulty’s Premier League predictions

Premier League Predictions: Phil McNulty’s Season Overview

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How will your club fare? Phil McNulty’s Premier League predictions

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Can Arsenal retain the Premier League title they won for the first time in 22 years last season?

By Phil McNulty

Chief football writer

Published 3 hours ago

Time to dust off the crystal ball once more and attempt to predict where the 20 Premier League teams will finish this season.

Having confidently announced Liverpool as the Premier League title favourites last season, they then lost it quite spectacularly, resulting in manager Arne Slot’s dismissal.

This season, nine new managers grace the top flight, making this one of the toughest sets of predictions I’ve had to make.

Breakouts & wildcards – 13 surprise stars for new season

Published 1 day ago

1. Arsenal

Last season: Champions

Having finally secured their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal are in prime position to retain the crown—and I believe they will. Mikel Arteta’s side boasts quality across the board and the confidence of being champions. Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis demonstrated their high-quality additions as Arsenal dismantled Manchester City in the Community Shield. The easiest prediction of all.

2. Manchester City

Last season: 2nd

It marks a new era, with Enzo Maresca following in the footsteps of arguably the greatest manager of the modern era, Pep Guardiola. Key players and personalities like Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones have moved on, signalling a period of transition at the Etihad Stadium. The Community Shield loss to Arsenal may have rattled some, but star players remain, and more high-class signings are expected before the season kicks off. Elliot Anderson has already joined for £116m, and Morocco’s teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected from Lille. Most significantly, any side with Erling Haaland as its striker cannot be discounted from any trophy. There will be silverware.

3. Liverpool

Last season: 5th

Andoni Iraola arrives from Bournemouth to restore order after a disappointing title defence last term. The start of the post-Mohamed Salah era will be challenging, and Iraola’s intense style may take time to implement. However, Liverpool retains much quality, with players like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak now accustomed to life at Anfield. If Bradley Barcola joins from Paris St-Germain and Rio Ngumoha continues his rapid progress, Liverpool can have a strong season. Young defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, as well as Spain winger Victor Munoz, will add pace and thrust. Definitely a top-four finish and a serious trophy contender.

4. Chelsea

Last season: 10th

I can foresee raised eyebrows, but Xabi Alonso, a Bundesliga title winner at Bayer Leverkusen, brings intelligence to the role. He must shape a squad like a small commune and resolve issues with disgruntled Enzo Fernandez (if he remains).