The Premier League returns for another season. Will Manchester City retain their title? Will Arsenal finish in the top four? Will Jose Mourinho get sent to the stands over the course of the season? These are all questions that will be answered by the end of May.
This season promises to be one of the best yet, so let’s look at how the teams are shaping up.
Arsenal
Manager: Unai Emery
Key Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Last season’s finish: 6th
Prediction: 6th
It’s a brand-new start for the Gunners this season, with no Arsene Wenger at the helm. Unai Emery has replaced the legendary Frenchman and they’ve bought a number of players to strengthen key positions. There’ll be some fresh energy at the Emirates this season, but they’re a complete unknown under Emery. No one knows quite how good they’ll be, but they do have some dangerous players and will be stronger than they have been in recent years.
Odds to win the league: 22/1
Bournemouth
Manager: Eddie Howe
Key Player: Lewis Cook
Last season’s finish: 12th
Prediction: 16th
I can see Bournemouth struggling this season. On paper, their squad looks a lot weaker than some of their rivals, who’ve all strengthened significantly this summer. Eddie Howe is a fantastic manager who makes the best of what’s available to him. David Brooks is an unproven signing from Sheffield United, but has cost a large sum for someone who’s never played top-flight football. This could be the year where Bournemouth face a real scrap to avoid relegation.
Odds to win the league: 1000/1
Brighton and Hove Albion
Manager: Chris Hughton
Key Player: Pascal Groß
Last season’s finish: 15th
Prediction: 15th
Brighton had a great first year in the Premier League, surviving comfortably by the end of the season, and they’ve strengthened once again this summer. They’ve bought a lot of players, all for middling to low fees, so they’ll be hoping that these pay off like Pascal Groß did last season. Chris Hughton knows how to set his side up to defend and I expect them to once again survive this season.
Odds to win the league: 1000/1
Burnley
Manager: Sean Dyche
Key Player: Chris Wood
Last season’s finish: 7th
Prediction: 12th
Burnley had a terrific season last year, finishing comfortably in seventh and qualifying for the Europa League. What’s more impressive is that they finished seventh despite not winning a game in either January of February this year. It’ll be a lot tougher for them to replicate last year’s campaign again and the loss of Nick Pope is huge, although Tom Heaton is back to replace him.
Odds to win the league: 750/1
Cardiff City
Manager: Neil Warnock
Key Player: Junior Hoilett
Last season’s finish: 2nd in Championship
Prediction: 20th
Cardiff weren’t fancied to get promotion last season, but under veteran manager Neil Warnock, they found a way and they now have another opportunity in the top-flight. They’re a hardened team under Warnock and he’ll likely ruffle some feathers, particularly against some of the bigger teams. However, they don’t have the best squad and they’re going to find it a real struggle. Their signings this season have been mostly Championship players and they’ve struggled to attract some big names. Kenneth Zohore was their top scorer last season, but he scored just 9 in 36 games and they could really struggle to find the back of the net in the Premier League.
Odds to win the league: 1500/1
Chelsea
Manager: Maurizio Sarri
Key Player: Eden Hazard
Last season’s finish: 5th
Prediction: 4th
It’s very difficult to predict where Chelsea will finish this season, particularly as no one quite knows how Maurizio Sarri’s football will work in the Premier League. If it’s anything like their Community Shield performance, then they might struggle. However, they could take to it very quickly and it could prove advantageous. Whatever happens, keeping Eden Hazard is crucial to their chances, particularly as it looks as if Thibaut Courtois will leave.
Odds to win the league: 14/1
Crystal Palace
Manager: Roy Hodgson
Key Player: Wilfried Zaha
Last season’s finish: 11th
Prediction: 11th
Palace pulled out one of the greatest ever Premier League escapes after they went goalless and without a win from their first seven games. Roy Hodgson guided the Eagles to relative safety after their disastrous start and they almost certainly won’t be in the same position again. Hodgson knows how to set up a team for the Premier League and they’ll finish mid-table, with very little chance of being dragged into a relegation battle.
Odds to win the league: 500/1
Everton
Manager: Marco Silva
Key Player: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Last season’s finish: 8th
Prediction: 7th
After a busy transfer window last summer, Everton have been very quiet this time around. Marco Silva is now manager at Goodison Park and he’s got plenty to prove, after spells at Hull and Watford. They’re still not strong enough to challenge the top six, but they should be fighting it out with West Ham for seventh place. European football and a cup run should be the aim this year.
Odds to win the league: 300/1
Fulham
Manager: Slavisa Jokanovic
Key Player: Tom Cairney
Last season’s finish: Championship play-off winners
Prediction: 13th
Fulham announced their return to the Premier League with some marquee signings, after beating off a host of Europe’s top clubs to sign Jean Michael Seri, while Andre Schurrle returns to the Premier League on a two-year loan. Aleksandar Mitrovic is a good signing upfront and performed well for the Cottagers in the second half of last season. Plenty of eyes will be on teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon and midfielder Tom Cairney, with both attracting interest from other clubs. They play great football under Jokanovic and they should stay up.
Odds to win the league: 1000/1
Huddersfield Town
Manager: David Wagner
Key Player: Aaron Mooy
Last season’s finish: 16th
Prediction: 19th
Huddersfield surprised many by surviving in last year’s Premier League, but it’ll be a much tougher test this time around and they face a real battle to stay up. A battle I don’t think they’ll win. Many of their new signings are unproven in England, although they have secured the services of Jonas Lossl and Terence Kongolo on permanent deals, after they impressed on loan last year. David Wagner managed to get the best out of his team last year and he’ll have to do it again this time around, but it promises to be a very tricky season for them.
Odds to win the league: 1000/1
Leicester City
Manager: Claude Puel
Key Player: Jamie Vardy
Last season’s finish: 9th
Prediction: 10th
Leicester have sold Riyad Mahrez, but that shouldn’t affect their team too much and I still expect them to finish somewhere around the mid-table mark. They won’t play exciting football under Puel, but it’ll be effective. The signing of Norwich’s James Maddison is interesting, especially as he’s arrived for a high fee for a player who’s never played in the top-flight. Jonny Evans has arrived too, and it’ll be interesting to see how Harry Maguire reacts after his heroics in Russia.
Odds to win the league: 250/1
Liverpool
Manager: Jurgen Klopp
Key Player: Mohamed Salah
Last season’s finish: 4th
Prediction: 2nd
Expectations at Anfield have never been higher than ahead of this season and they’ll be the likeliest challengers to Manchester City. They beat the Citizens three times in all competitions last season and they’ve spent a lot of money this summer. Naby Keita and Fabinho will fill holes in midfield, while they’ve gone out and addressed the problematic goalkeeper position with the world record signing of Alisson. There’s real hope for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp this season and much will rely on the form and fitness of last year’s hero, Mohamed Salah.
Odds to win the league: 15/4
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Key Player: Kevin de Bruyne
Last season’s finish: Winners
Prediction: 1st
Not much has changed at City over the summer, but their victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield showed the hunger that they have to dominate both English and European football. Guardiola was brought in to win the Champions League, so there’ll be some expectation inside the club that they’re contending right at the end of that tournament. However, they’re odds on to retain their Premier League title this year and it’ll take a brave person to bet against them doing it.
Odds to win the league: 2/3
Manchester United
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Key Player: Paul Pogba
Last season’s finish: 2nd
Prediction: 3rd
It’s been a tumultuous summer for Manchester United and Jose Mourinho isn’t happy, which is of heightened importance as it’s a trend in his third season at every club he’s been at in the past. The first thing that will be of pressing issue is what happens with Paul Pogba. He showed against Croatia in the final what he can do, but will Mourinho allow him to play in the same way? They looked a long way behind City last season, despite finishing second, while their transfer business has been mixed with no real strategy behind it. It could be a long season for the Red Devils, especially if Mourinho doesn’t get his way. It would be a big surprise to see him still at the club come May next year.
Odds to win the league: 8/1
Newcastle United
Manager: Rafa Benitez
Key Player: Jamaal Lascelles
Last season’s finish: 10th
Prediction: 14th
Newcastle’s 10th place finish last season was flattering for a side who at some points looked as if they were destined for relegation. However, with Rafa Benitez at the helm, the Magpies will always stand an excellent chance of survival. Funding remains an issue though and again, they haven’t spent big this summer. It’ll take all of Benitez’ managerial nous to keep them afloat this season, but if there’s one man to do it, then it’s him. If he leaves, they’re as good as doomed.
Odds to win the league: 750/1
Southampton
Manager: Mark Hughes
Key Player: Charlie Austin
Last season’s finish: 17th
Prediction: 17th
There have been a few incomings and outgoings at Southampton this summer after what turned into a real struggle at the end of last season. The Saints narrowly survived under Mark Hughes and looking at their squad, they’ll be in a similar position this time around too. Their squad looks weaker than many of their rivals and scoring goals could still be a problem for them. Angus Gunn is an interesting signing, particularly as it looks as if he’s going to be first choice goalkeeper this season.
Odds to win the league: 500/1
Tottenham Hotspur
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Key Player: Harry Kane
Last season’s finish: 3rd
Prediction: 5th
Spurs are the only team in the Premier League yet to sign a player and things have been very quiet for Mauricio Pochettino’s club this summer. Aside from the English players who all enjoyed a stellar summer in Russia, supporters can look forward to the opening of their new stadium, while the side they support also have Champions League football to look forward to. They’ve got a very strong first team, but there’s still a lack of depth which could harm them if they’re looking to compete on different fronts. A cup victory should also be a priority this season, as they won’t be able to keep hold of their top stars much longer if they continue without winning anything.
Odds to win the league: 16/1
Watford
Manager: Javi Gracia
Key Player: Abdoulaye Doucoure
Last season’s finish: 14th
Prediction: 18th
There’s not much to say about Watford apart from the fact that they’re just happy being in the Premier League. They started off last season very strongly, but their form fell off a cliff as speculation over manager Marco Silva gathered. Once he departed, they were inconsistent, but did enough to survive without ever running into difficulty. That may work for a couple of seasons, but selling key players like Richarlison will eventually catch up with you. This will be a tough season for the Hornets and expect a few managers to come and go at Vicarage Road over the course of the season.
Odds to win the league: 1000/1
West Ham United
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Key Player: Marko Arnautovic
Last season’s finish: 13th
Prediction: 8th
West Ham have made some impressive signings this summer, while the appointment of Mauricio Pellegrini suggests that there’s plenty of ambition in the club. The Hammers have addressed a number of issues, mostly in goal and defence, while there’s plenty of flair in attack with Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson teaming up with Javier Hernandez. All eyes will be on Jack Wilshere too, who’s likely to fill in for Manuel Lanzini who’s out for the season with injury. West Ham could be on for a really good season if they hit the ground running and their signings turn out to be a success.
Odds to win the league: 300/1
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo
Key Player: Joao Moutinho
Last season’s finish: Championship Winners
Prediction: 9th
Wolves were the outstanding team in the Championship last season and they now look set to make a big statement in the Premier League. They had some outstanding players last season, who’ve all remained at the club, while they’ve also bought well. There’s a distinct Portuguese element to their squad, but it works for them and they should have no fears for relegation and a swift return to the Championship. They’re set for a top half finish and to stay in the top-flight for a long period of time.
Odds to win the league: 250/1
@dominictrant
