Maverick

Can Manchester City become the first team in English football history to win four consecutive titles? Who will make the top four? Will any of the newly-promoted sides avoid the drop?

The Premier League’s 2022-23 season came to its conclusion, and time has passed allowing nerves to settle, and a collective sigh from every single supporter. But hey, August comes and that’s it: we go again.

So what will City, Arsenal, Manchester United and their 17 closest friends do for another drama-filled season?

Manchester City are the champions, Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town have been promoted, and Erling Haaland broke countless records to end up as the division's top scorer with 36 goals. But what about next season?

Predictions Some Wild, Some Simple… You Decide

It’s clear that Manchester City will be favoured to win the Premier League again (1.74), but all it takes is a look back at last season to see how quickly things can go oh-so-wrong for even the best teams.

Liverpool (8.26) were supposed to be City’s biggest rival for the 2022-23 Premier League season, but it was Arsenal (5.97) who led the table for much of the season and Manchester United who briefly joined in on the fun before they fell away.

Tottenham (40.63) and Chelsea (13.05) fell off dramatically, while Newcastle United (17.01) surged into the top four and several teams - Brighton, Aston Villa and Brentford definitely have shaken off their underdog status and are becoming Premier League high flyers under some highly ambitious managers.

Erling Haaland will go back-to-back with the Golden Boot Award

Yeah okay okay, that’s not a mad and far-out prediction, but it’s difficult to believe that Haaland won’t find another level given that most players look more comfortable after their first season in Pep’s system. In fact, if Man City wins the Champions League this season, maybe Haaland’s focus will lead to 40 goals!

One thing City did have to worry about last season was Erling’s fitness at such a young age as well he needs to rest him when he can but do they really have the ideal substitute in the squad? or does Pep need a Plan B big-name striker? Maybe he feels has he got enough firepower from midfield and Julian Alvarez playing more of a role than a substitute or just having the big man Haaland on his lonesome up front again?

The top-four and top-six races will be as unpredictable as ever

It might be tempting to project drop-offs for Newcastle (2.55), Brighton (7.00), Brentford (41.00) and even Aston Villa (9.00) given the potential for transfer madness and the challenges of competing in Europe for all of those but the Bees, but at least two of the bunch will be alive in the top-six picture provided health and a wise transfer or two. Newcastle will need to strengthen, but Brighton needs to start hanging onto their plethora of talent that comes from their lower ranks and youth system.

And now think about this: Chelsea (2.30) and Tottenham (4.25) will only have the Premier League (and domestic cups) for their focus, while Liverpool (1.52) will be able to prioritise the Premier League at least until they see how they feel about the Europa League.

Cash Kings Chelsea will adapt quickly under Mauricio Pochettino

Todd Boehly needs Mauricio Pochettino to work out and Poch needs it to work out for his own name and reputation. Chelsea’s massive and expensive depth of talent should almost all be inspired for their chances at the club. But, the main thing they are missing is that 20-30 goal-a-season striker. Step forward Romelu Lukaku… oh hang on! Maybe Nicolas Jackson will be the saviour?

Chelsea just need to score more goals and Pochettino will find the killer instinct in his men. Will it be enough to challenge for the league? No, it’s unlikely, but the Blues should look a lot better with their focus on the league. My thoughts are they’ll aim to claim one of the cups! Their over/under points total currently sits at 67.5 (1.869 either side), so food for thought.

Sure, there are questions regarding the atmosphere at the club, but Poch is going to have to impose himself from the first moment of preseason and he’ll have had lots of time to anticipate squad needs.

The relegation picture will be a bit more predictable

That’s not saying a lot given the Premier League’s bottom half was absolutely bonkers last season, but hear me out. West Ham, Wolves, Everton... the list of clubs that were surprisingly in or near the bottom three was long. It’s natural, usually a bit too much so to predict that promoted teams will struggle but there are reasons to think all three sides will take some time to adjust to the level.

Burnley’s star of the season was Southampton loanee Nathan Tella and the Clarets will have several big questions to answer when it comes to loan players and how they throw themselves into the transfer market, especially focusing on their learnings financially from the past. Luton Town has to make a huge adjustment quickly. That’s not to say some or all of the new clubs won’t stay up, but it’s difficult to project a Fulham-like quickstart for any... at least right now.

Declan Rice and Harry Kane to be Player of the Year Contenders

Yes, not Erling Haaland!

With Declan Rice’s transfer being the worst kept secret the fact he was leaving West Ham United for Arsenal was never going to shock the Premier League world—but the midfielder will not take too long to adapt to Mikel’s system. That’s because he is very versatile and what he does best is the simple stuff. Rice will get a lot of love from the Arsenal faithful because he’s the type of player who makes everyone else’s job easier.

As for Harry Kane, the 30-goal man is on a mission to chase down Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal-scoring record. Whether that continues at Tottenham or if it happens in a leading role at Manchester United or another English club, it’s safe to say we’re going to see the best out of Kane assuming he stays healthy (what is it with high-scoring strikers and injuries). Hey, he might not even be around by the time the window closes if a certain German side can lure him away from London.

Luton to stay up might not be as mad as a ‘hatter’ as you may think!

Luton Town's promotion to the Premier League is a genuine football fairy tale considering they were in the fifth-tier National League just nine years ago. Their home at Kenilworth Road, built in 1905, will be a culture shock for rival players and supporters, but the builders are hoping Luton Town's tiny Kenilworth Road will be ready so the 10,356-capacity ground is ready for the big kickoff.

Will Rob Edwards' team of hungry players, many of whom have earned their shot at the big time by carving out careers in the lower leagues? One of them, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, has been on every step of Luton's journey from non-league to Premier League, so don't underestimate the spirit and determination within the squad to grab their chance in the top flight.

Luton will have to scrap for every point they earn, but they will make the most of their desire, organisation and the unique surroundings of Kenilworth Road to write another incredible chapter in their story by avoiding relegation.

New owners or bust at Manchester United

Everyone at Manchester United (11.01) wants the long-running takeover saga to be resolved as quickly as possible, but there is no sign yet of the Glazer family accepting the bids that are on the table to buy the club. Without new owners and a change of approach at Old Trafford, United can only go so far under manager Erik ten Hag.

The former Ajax coach has done exceptionally well to get them into the top four in his first season in charge, especially as a lack of finances led to him adding striker fairly unknown Burnley forward Wout Weghorst to his squad on loan in January to cover for the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. He just simply wasn't good enough for one of the biggest teams in the world and failed to score a single Premier League goal in 17 appearances, but his signing was an odd one but was made because the Glazers didn’t have the finances to take United back to the top, or refused to spend big! Will others' pockets be deeper and fuller?

If the Glazers remain in charge, it will be more of the same - patching up and hoping for the best. So if United are to compete for the Premier League and dare I say Champions League, they need new owners to arrive and quickly. Neymar and Mbappe to Old Trafford? Wouldn’t be shocked!

Arsenal gunning for the top

Last season was Arsenal's best hope of winning the Premier League title (5.97), and they will find it much tougher in the new season. Arteta's team have lost the element of being a surprise package, so opponents now know what to expect from players and their style of play. Also, the Arsenal players must overcome the psychological blow of wastefully throwing the title away in the closing weeks of the campaign.

But, added to that is the additional demand of playing in the Champions League next season. Arsenal will have to be at their best in midweek and weekend matches all the way until Christmas, and that is a tough ask of a team that is still young and needing to strengthen this summer. With City unlikely to fade away and Liverpool and Chelsea both having the players to bounce back after miserable seasons, Arsenal face a challenge to avoid being dragged back into the pack next season or will the additions of Rice, Havertz and Timber take them to the pinnacle?

Kane to rival Haaland for the Golden Boot

Erling Haaland has deservedly claimed the headlines for his record goal-scoring prowess at Manchester City last season. His goals set a new record for most scored in a Premier League season and he has hit more than 50 in all competitions. But it has slipped under the radar that Tottenham's Harry Kane pushed Haaland close by scoring 30 goals himself, in a team that has struggled all season and failed to qualify for Europe. Will Ange Postecoglou be the key to seeing Harry lift a trophy?

Kane's consistency for Spurs has been incredible. He has hit 20 or more Premier League goals in six of the past nine seasons. Last season was the second time he has broken the 30-goal barrier. If Kane stays at Spurs he won’t have a point to prove, it is a safe bet to assume he will break the 20-goal mark again, but if he moves to a bigger club easily capable of winning major honours in England or Europe, he could see his goal output accelerate just as Haaland's has done at City.

A 10-team battle for the top four?

The days of the so-called "Big Six" are coming to an end. In fact, they may already be over. Just ask Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, two members of that group who have each failed to even qualify for Europe next season. Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal make up the rest of that sextet, and they usually scrap it out for the four Champions League spots. Are we now looking at more of a “Big Top Half” of the table?

However, Newcastle United broke into the top four last season, and they are unlikely to disappear off the radar now that they are well-backed financially. Aston Villa are a team on the rise under Unai Emery and could challenge for the top four next season, having achieved a seventh-place finish this term. And every season throws up a surprise team chasing the top six. It was Brighton and Brentford in 2022-23 and both teams could be back next season.

But if you want an outside bet for a team capable of breaking into the top four, keep an eye on West Ham United's summer business with Europa League football and over 100m to spend from Rice’s transfer. West Ham have a huge fan base, a big stadium and stability. Having won their first trophy since 1980 back in May, the club could take off.

Liverpool to push Man City all the way

Liverpool (8.26) finished in fifth place, 22 points behind champions Manchester City, so Jurgen Klopp's side have a lot of catching up to do next season. They must somehow find a way to bridge the gap. Liverpool simply need to rediscover the consistency that has made them City's closest rivals in recent years, but the good news is that everyone starts from scratch in August, so that 22-point gap will be reset to zero.

Hopefully the additions of attacking midfielders Argentinian World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and the big-money transfer of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig will make all the difference. It’s all change in the middle of the park (wipe that tear away you won't see James Milner in red this season Liverpool fans).

Achieving four in a row will be City's challenge next season and another potential piece of history for Guardiola's players to create. They will be favourites to finish top of the pile again, but if Liverpool can do their business quickly and efficiently this summer, they will be the team most likely to beat City to the title. They have a forward line as good as any in Europe, so if they can tweak the midfield and defence, Liverpool will be back.

Pep really hasn’t had much to worry about recently, but it does seem with İlkay Gündoğan leaving for Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Arabia, as well as the potential transfer of the midfield trio Kalvin Phillips, Bernardo Silva and Cole Palmer, Guardiola will have to look at a mini rebuild.

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 11:00 UTC Thursday 3rd August**

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