The Premier League is officially back! It’s been a dark and lonely 3 months since we saw City crowned champions and we’ve all had the chance to develop other hobbies. But the greatest TV show in the world has finally returned and our weekends can once again be filled with the drama, anxiety, joy and heartbreak that football brings to us. Nothing signifies the start of a new season like season predictions and today we have a classic – our top 4 predictions. Let’s get straight into it!
Liverpool
Why They Will Make Top 4
Barring a Titanic sized collapse in fortunes, Liverpool are essentially guaranteed a top 4 spot. Arguably one of the two best teams in the world, (and they would surely be cursing their luck that the second happens to play in the same league) Liverpool’s sights will be set firmly on the snatching the title from the grasp of Manchester City. The loss of Mané will hurt, but the hope is Darwin Núñez can replace some of the goals they lost and with Mohammed Salah signing a new contract, Liverpool have ensured they would have at lease one Golden Boot winner marauding the halls of Anfield. Liverpool are set for another seismic clash with City for the title, but their top 4 hopes are secure.
Whey They Won’t Make Top 4
It’s hard to see a situation where this is possible. Even with the aforementioned loss of Mané, Liverpool have more than enough firepower to at least remain in the Champions League places. As long as Jurgen Klopp patrols the sidelines, Liverpool will be a good team at the very worst. Maybe a threatening pandemic that causes the world to halt and football with it for an extended period of time may do the trick…oh wait..
Manchester City
Why They Will Make Top 4
Much like Liverpool, City have their eyes on bigger prizes than Arsenal’s favourite trophy (4th place). Much like Liverpool, they have a squad of international stars coached by one of the games very best. The loss of Sterling will no doubt hurt but something tells me they won’t be shedding too many tears, especially after sealing the signing of arguably the most coveted pure striker in the game today (Erling Haaland) for less than what Manchester United paid for Lisandro Martínez. It’ll be another dominant season for City and the only questions are, can they make it 3 in a row and 5 out of the last 6?
Whey They Won’t Make Top 4
Pep Guardiola’s tendency to overthink plagues him for an entire season and he fields a line-up with 10 number 10s and Ederson in goal. Barring that, or something equally as ridiculous, City are as much of a lock as possible. Not even the threat of Haaland misfiring is enough to crater their chances, we just saw them win a league with no recognised striker. City will definitely be in the top 4.
Tottenham Hotspurs
Why They Will Make Top 4
After a midseason push saw them clinch the final Champions League spot on the last day of the season, Spurs have finally had the summer many have been clamouring for for years. The constant pressure Antonio Conte puts on the board was effective here and Spurs had one of their most impressive windows in a long time. Bolstered with the arguably the third best in the world, and a front 2 of 2 golden boot winners, Tottenham have the firepower to beat anyone on their day. With the way last season ended and the summer they have had, some Spurs fans might be hoping they’re an injury or two away from a serious title challenge, but here we have them predicted as 3rd. Ultimately, Spurs best signing may be the new contract signed by Conte. With the way last season ended and the summer they have had, some Spurs fans might be hoping they’re an injury or two away from a serious title challenge, but here we have them predicted as 3rd.
Why They Won’t Make Top 4
Antonio Conte is notoriously competitive and his aim is always to win the title, not simply to make it into the champions league. Could he possibly lose interest mid-season if he thinks Spurs aren’t mounting a reasonable enough challenge? Unlikely, but for a manager with such a short fuse anything is possible. Could the added pressure of the Champions League take away from their league form? The central of Spurs defence is also still a problem area despite some addressing. Clement Lenglet was brought in to help shore up the hole on the left of the back 3 but there are still question marks around that area given his up and down quality. Harry Kane is almost 30 and has only played over 30 league games twice in the last 4 years. An extended absence could torpedo any chance spurs have but with Richarlison and Heung- Min Son in tow, they have replacements ready and waiting.
Chelsea
Why They Will Make Top 4
Since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea they have grown into an institution that wins. It is now in their culture and that experience may be what helps get them over the line. The signing of Sterling from a major rival is a key one and he’ll finally have the chance to shut up the doubters that say his success was mostly due to playing in that city team. Kalidou Koulibaly is a great signing in an area of need and Chelsea fans may have a different opinion on who exactly is the third best manager in the world. Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja return from loans at Premier League clubs that only enhance their reputations, gaining vital experience. This team is one season removed from winning the Champions League and they will think as long as they play to their potential, a top 4 finish should be assured. We agree with them but only barely.
Why They Won’t Make Top 4
Thomas Tuchel has been very vocal about his unhappiness with Chelsea’s performance in the transfer window. Despite getting rid of Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea have not replaced him and a lot of the goal scoring burden will be put on Timo Werner (the less said the better) and the recently returning Armando Broja. Do they have enough goals to fire themselves into the top 4? It’s also been a very complicated summer at Chelsea. The sale of the club has caused some upheaval and a lot of the institutions at Chelsea, the likes of Pete Cech and Marina Granovskaia, have either left Chelsea or are due to. It remains to be seen how much of those institutional synergies continue. With a recently improved Arsenal squad on the horizon, Chelsea cannot simply rely on their talent advantage to guarantee top 4.
Arsenal
Why They Will Make Top 4
After a heart-breaking end to last season, that saw them bottle the last champions league spot to their noisy neighbours, Mikel Arteta used the summer to further implement his philosophy. Lacazette followed Aubameyang out the door and in came two of his former protégés from Manchester City. For better or worse Arsenal are riding with this manager and after an impressive summer, seem poised to challenge for a top 4 spot. The return of William Saliba from his inexplicable exile bolsters an already strong defence and with one more year of premier league experience, it’s likely to expect the likes of Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard (who is still somehow only 23!) to improve. Gabriel Jesus has been given the platform to be showcase his talents on a weekly basis and for Arsenal to succeed he would have to live up to the potential that saw him bench Aguero when he first arrived at the Etihad.
Why They Won’t Make Top 4
Despite winning an FA cup for arsenal there are still some doubts over the legitimacy around Mikel Arteta. After discarding most of the strong personalities in the Arsenal changing room, Arteta has ensured that he and he alone is the largest personality at the Emirates. Arsenal have put a lot of faith in a relatively unproven manager and if he doesn’t turn out to be the right man for the job they will struggle to succeed. On the pitch there are still doubts about Jesus’ ability to lead the line, but a prolific preseason would’ve gone some way in quieting those fears. But Arsenal will go as far as Arteta takes them and in his third full season, it might be top 4 or bust for the former Arsenal captain.
Manchester United
Why They Will Make Top 4
Almost 10 years and 4 permanent managers after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, United fans will feel like they’ve finally got the high-press, tactical manager they’ve been screaming for ever since THAT Moyes tenure. Pre-season added to that confidence as clear patterns of play were established and encouraging performances were put in by the likes of Sancho and Martial. Any hope of a top 4 position will lay solely on the shoulders of the new United manager and many fans would hope that United have finally found the long-term successor to the GOAT.
Why They Won’t Make Top 4
Despite a summer that saw them sign 3 first team level players, United are still well below the 10 Ragnick declared would be needed. The midfield in particular looks bare and United would be worried they have not managed to sign anyone in a position many think they needed at least 2 new players. The Frenkie De Jong saga has dragged on all preseason and at this point there doesn’t seem to be a resolution that would leave everyone happy. He is either going to join with outsized expectations or United would’ve wasted 13 weeks on a player who eventually did not join them. Last season’s top scorer, the indominable Cristiano Ronaldo, has asked to leave the club and leaving United very very light at the front. United came 6th last year and have watched as all the rivals around them have improved their squads by more. At this point, 3 days before their first game of the season, United are more likely to drop 2 positions as opposed to rising the 2 positions needed to make the Champions League.
FINAL PREDICTIONS
1st – Liverpool
2nd – Manchester City
3rd – Tottenham Hotspurs
4th – Chelsea
5th – Arsenal
6th – Manchester United
