The new Premier League season is here, I can’t say I’ve been paying much attention to the comings and goings amongst the twenty teams so here are some quickfire predictions, based on thirty minutes of trying to remember who even plays in this league.
- Manchester City – can’t see them dropping off enough, or any other team bridging the gap
- Liverpool – Klopp has had an excellent transfer window and the squad now has the depth to compete in all competitions
- Arsenal – Emery will go back to basics, and the inadequacies of their competitors will help them return to the Champions League
- Chelsea – there are already concerns about Sarri’s one-dimensional tactics, and the fact he’s never won a major trophy…
- Manchester United – we won’t get the full Mourinho implosion, just enough of a drop-off to ensure his exit
- Tottenham Hotspur – too stingy in the transfer market, I think this squad has little room to improve
- West Ham United – they finally have a competent manager, although Gold and Sullivan could still ruin things
- Everton – Watford mugged them off with the Richarlison fee, nowhere near good enough to bridge the gap to the top six
- Leicester City – losing Mahrez is a blow, they’ll most likely bumble around in mid-table
- Wolverhampton Wanderers – some outrageous transfer business, this is the best team to come up from the Championship in years
- Bournemouth – Howe’s side will take another step towards mid-table purgatory, should have enough to avoid a relegation scrap
- Burnley – can’t see how they can improve on their last campaign, the Europa League has the potential to be a distraction
- Fulham – they have bought very well and their style of play suits the league, they’ll be refreshing to watch
- Southampton – last season should be a wake-up call, although their summer transfer business has been uninspiring
- Crystal Palace – a lot rests on the shoulders of Zaha, could get dragged into a relegation scrap
- Newcastle United – if Benitez stays they’ll stay up, if he walks out they’ll go down, simple as that
- Brighton and Hove Albion – will be another long, hard slog, a busy summer in the transfer market could disrupt the dressing room
- Watford – spent the last few seasons aimlessly meandering, have no clear long-term plan, they’ll go down at some point soon
- Huddersfield Town – pulled off a near-miracle last season, might be asking too much for them to do it again
- Cardiff City – everyone has written them off so they’ll probably stay up, but how is this squad meant to pick up points in this league?
