2024-25 English Premiership Prediction

 

2024-25 Seasons Predictions

 

1.     Arsenal

2.     Manchester City

3.     Liverpool

4.     Tottenham

5.     Chelsea

6.     Newcastle

7.     West Ham

8.     Aston Villa

9.     Manchester United

10. Brighton

11. Crystal Palace

12. Bournemouth

13. Fulham

14. Wolves

15. Everton

16. Southampton

17. Nottingham Forest

18. Brentford

19. Ipswich

20. Leicester

This is probably more a case of hoping that Manchester City won’t win it again but I’m going for Arsenal for the title this season.

Arsenal have brought in Ricardo Calafiori who will strengthen what was already the leagues strongest defence. He may need time to adapt to the premiership but Arsenal have enough strength in depth in defence, especially with the long awaited return of Jurrien Timber from injury, that Calafiori can be afforded time. Signing another attacking player to provide cover for Saka or an alternative to Havertz would have boosted Arsenals chances, but the squad is already strong enough to mount a serious challenge.

Manchester City winning the charity shield last weekend actually augurs well for Arsenal as the last time City won it was in 2019 which was also the last season City didn’t go on to win the league. Arsenal fans will be clutching at such straws in hope but the City squad also looks a little light for now especially in attack following the sale of Julian Alvarez and the injury to Oscar Bobb. They were expected to sign an attacking player before the end of the transfer window but that didn’t happen. Even so, if City can maintain their usual standards than it will take something extraordinary from their challengers to beat them.

Liverpool are the third strongest on paper but their season will depend on how the squad, which was built to suit Jurgen Klopp, will adapt to new manager Arne Slot. Preseason friendlies showed a very different tactical approach from Klopps and it managed to produce results in preseason, it will be interesting to see how that goes in a competitive season. With Martin Zubimendi being the latest high-profile midfielder to snub a move to Anfield, a lack of signings is a worry. They should still be strong enough for third, but they won’t challenge the top two this season without reinforcements.

Tottenham should have finished fourth last season but missed out after an end of season collapse in form. The signing of Dominic Solanke could be the missing piece that completes the puzzle for Spurs and pushes them over the line. He will add goals to an exciting but sometimes impotent attack. They also desperately need to sort out their defense this season as they cannot continue to concede so many goals if they want to challenge for top four.

Chelsea are a conundrum to predict, they could conceivably finish anywhere between fourth and fourteenth. On paper they have the squad to finish in the top four but new manager Enzo Maresca will need time to settle in and work out his best team. Expect some topsy-turvy results early in the season but if Maresca is given time they should finish the season strongly.

Newcastle had a quiet transfer window but will be helped by the lack of European football this season. If they can avoid the injuries that hampered them last season they should improve and challenge for the European places.

An ambitious transfer window from West Ham and new manager bounce under Julen Lopetegui should see them rise up the table but probably still just short of challenging for champions league places.

Aston Villa wont be able to maintain the momentum of last season. Champions League football is a big step up for a small squad, and while there was plenty of movement in the transfer window, the squad wasn’t significantly strengthened.

Manchester United are treading water under manager Erik Ten Hag who is simply not the man to progress them further. A lot of money was spent by them in the transfer window without making the squad much stronger. There are still obvious gaps in the team at LB, RW and CM while Zirkzee is too similar to Hojlund. And there are reasons why Bayern and Juventus before them were happy to sell DeLigt. They could do well in a weak Europa League tournament but I will be very surprised if Ten Hag is still in charge next season.

Brighton had the highest spending transfer window of any team, using the money made from sales in previous windows. They have made a strong start to the season but that wont last. With such a young, new manager and so many new players it will be interesting to see how they cope when things aren’t going so well. With the quality they have a comfortable mid-table finish should be achievable.

Crystal Palace were the form team towards the end of last season but the summer break has disrupted their momentum. They have bought well in the transfer window though and should be comfortable in mid-table.

Similarly, Bournemouth and Fulham look safe in mid-table and have also bought well to replace key departures.

The remaining seven teams are likely to struggle against relegation.

Wolves have had a quiet transfer window. My predictions last summer of doom and gloom weren’t quite accurate but I haven’t seen any progress being made this summer while teams around them have strengthened.

Everton have made a disastrous start to the season. Their hands have been tied financially while the takeover saga rolls on. They have one of the strongest centre back partnership in the league and they will have to rely on them as much of the rest of the team is desperately weak. The lack of goals upfront is a particular concern. It wont be pretty but manager Sean Dyche should just about manage to grind out enough results to keep them up.

Southampton look the best placed to survive of the newly promoted teams after a strong transfer window. Signing Aaron Ramsdale was a real coup. Manager Russell Martin may have to adjust his playing style for something more pragmatic to get results but they have the players to stay up.

Nottingham Forest’s quiet transfer window could actually help them settle down after the chaos of previous windows. The squad still seems weak though and the season will be a struggle.

I think the bubble is starting to burst for Brentford. Getting promoted to the premiership and staying up was a fantastic achievement for them but we started to see the signs last season that the good times could be over. Ivan Toneys departure was a massive loss, especially with the injury to his replacement.

Ipswich had a very busy transfer window following promotion and have made some excellent signings. Irish viewers will be particularly keen to see Ogbene, Szmodics and O’Shea do well. But overall the squad is probably not at the level required for survival, this seasons Luton, gutsy but ultimately too weak.

Leicester will be heavily reliant on the ageing Jamie Vardy for goals following the departure of Iheanacho and injury to Daka. While they still have many of the players from their last spell in the premiership the league has got stronger in their absence and I don’t think they will have enough to stay up.