The Premier League, England’s top soccer league, kicked off on August 11th, so I decided to gaze into my crystal ball and predict how all 20 teams will fare this season.
1) Manchester City: They are just too good for every other team in the league. So good, it’s not even close.
2) Liverpool: The Reds have lost key players in most positions, but have recruited replacements well.
3) Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s side narrowly lost out on the title last season, and have invested heavily into their squad. The Gunners have a strong squad that will challenge for the title.
4) Manchester United: Erik Ten Hag is rebuilding a broken team, but they are still far away from challenging.
5) Chelsea: Mauricio Pochettino arrived at Stamford Bridge and made a lot of personnel changes. All this change can’t be great for squad unity, and with a young squad that will take time to gel.
6) Newcastle United: Eddie Howe continues to take the Magpies from strength to strength but the rigors of Champions League football will be a lot.
7) Aston Villa: Unai Emery added well in the summer to an already high-quality squad with the ability to challenge bigger teams.
8) Brighton and Hove Albion: Roberto De Zerbi has established himself as one of the league’s most exciting managers, with his Seagulls side playing a slick brand of soccer.
9) Tottenham Hotspur: Ange Postecoglu was hired at the end of last season to take Spurs forward, but the sale of Harry Kane will be challenging.
10) Brentford: They haven’t recruited as many players as some other teams around them, but their strong defense and team unity will get them a top-half finish.
11) West Ham United: It’s basically the same Hammers side from last season that finished in fourteenth, but I can see an improvement in fortunes for them this season.
12) Crystal Palace: Only a couple of signings for the Eagles under Roy Hodgson, however, their attack with Micheal Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Matheus Franca is worth watching.
13) Bournemouth: The Cherries made the decision to sack Gary O’Neil and replace him with Spanish manager Andoni Iraola. They have recruited smartly and their squad is much better equipped to survive.
14) Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hiring O’Neil might just be the smartest thing this club has done in years.
15) Burnley: Promoted Burnley scored lots, with 87 goals in 46 games last season. However, their squad is mediocre compared to the rest of the bottom half.
16) Fulham: Despite finishing in tenth last year, star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has been tempted with a move to Saudi Arabia, and the new signings aren’t good enough.
17) Luton Town: The Hatters’ squad is one of the worst in years in terms of individual quality, but that fighter’s mentality will save them.
18) Everton: Stayed up last season by two points, too close for comfort, and haven’t improved.
19) Nottingham Forest: “Second season syndrome” is real and if it starts to go badly for Forest, it will end disastrously.
20) Sheffield United: Having lost their best players from their promotion season this summer, it’s impossible to see the Blades surviving.
