PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB-BY-CLUB PREVIEW
2023-2024
▪️ ARSENAL @Arsenal
Last season 2nd FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round Europa League Last 16
Last major trophy FA Cup 2020
Ownership Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (USA)
Head coach Mikel Arteta (since December 2019)
New signings Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, David Raya*
Bottlers or simply beaten by a better team? The answer in this case is probably a bit of both. After all, Arsenal led the league for a remarkable 284 days and gained a club-record haul of 84 points last season, 28 more than they gained in 2019-20 during which head coach Mikel Arteta returned to the Emirates in his current role. Refreshingly, the title charge was also led with youthful vigour - but, ultimately, it proved futile in the face of the behemoth that is Manchester City. Disappointingly, though, the Gunners' end-of-season dip began with successive draws against struggling West Ham United and Southampton ahead of a decisive defeat at Nottingham Forest - and even just slightly better performances in these matches might have resulted in Arsenal celebrating a first Premier League title in 19 years. Instead, Arteta hardly helped his young bucks with his incessant stalking of the touchline and haranguing of the the match officials - and he should consider perhaps a cooler approach may pay more dividends in the future. At least, the Spaniard has a decent base now from which to work - and, even at the startling price of £105 million, the addition of Declan Rice to this squad is a smart move. David Raya, meanwhile, will provide some much-needed competition between the sticks for Aaron Ramsdale - but the £65 million outlay on Kai Havertz looks like needless excess when an out-and-out striker to ease the burden on Gabriel Jesus for goals is what really is required.
Prediction [3rd]
▪️ ASTON VILLA @AVFCOfficial
Last season 7th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Last major trophy League Cup 1996
Ownership Nasser Sawiris (EGY) and Wes Edens (USA)
Head coach Unai Emery (since November 2022)
New signings Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby
Aston Villa must still be wondering what might have been. Unai Emery arrived on 1 November, by which time the Villans languished down in 16th with only 12 points from as many games, as the disappointing 11-month Steven Gerrard era badly petered out. Emery transformed Villa, winning 15 of the remaining 26 matches - and, while a top four and even a top six finish was beyond his side, it was still a good enough record to bring back European football to the Second City for the first time since 2010. True, the Europa Conference League is the third-tier UEFA prize, but Holte Enders only need to ask supporters of their claret-and-blue counterparts West Ham United about the value of the competition. Better still, Emery has been something of a European trophy specialist having won the Europa League on four occasions, including three-in-a-row with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016. Villa, though, will also want a better start and therefore less topsy-turvy season in the league - so have reinforced their squad with the signings of centre-back Pau Torres and midfielder Youri Tielemans. More recently, the arrival of winger Moussa Diaby adds yet another element to an attack which again should feature strong contributions from Philippe Coutinho and John McGinn. However, that still leaves a concern about the centre-forward position where the hot-and-cold Ollie Watkins will continue to plough a lone furrow.
Prediction [7th]
▪️ BOURNEMOUTH @afcbournemouth
Last season 15th FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Bill Foley (USA)
Head coach Andoni Iraola (since June 2023)
New signings Justin Kluivert, Hamed Traore, Romain Faivre, Milos Kerkez, Alex Scott, Max Aarons, Ionut Radu*
Sometimes clubs seem intent on self-destruction and Bournemouth made the extremely curious move of dumping manager Gary O'Neil shortly after the end of last season. This was despite O'Neil's fine achievement of keeping the Cherries quite comfortably out of the worst of the relegation scrap when all and sundry - even doom-monger predecessor Scott Parker - had expected the team to finish in the bottom three. Fresh-faced Andoni Iraola has arrived from Rayo Vallecano making him the third Basque coach in the Premier League this season alongside Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery. Notably, though, the others took a bit of time to impress their philosophy on their squads - and, if Bournemouth quickly get dragged into the relegation dogfight, that sort of window will not be likely afforded to Iraola. More happily, this coming season will see the full return on the pitch of silky winger David Brooks following his full recovery from stage two Hodgkin lymphoma which has kept him out since the shock diagnosis in October 2021. Nevertheless, Bournemouth still look short on goals and the loss of midfielder Jefferson Lerma to Crystal Palace also only further exposes an already-leaky defence.
Prediction [18th]
▪️ BRENTFORD @BrentfordFC
Last season 9th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Matthew Benham (ENG)
Head coach Thomas Frank (since October 2018)
New signings Mark Flekken, Ethan Brierley, Kevin Schade, Romeo Beckham, Kim Ji-soo, Nathan Collins, Erion Zabeli, Ethan Laidlaw
Brentford were the best of the west in London last season having spent decades being derided by local rivals Chelsea, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers. The Bees' ninth-placed finish was the first time since the 1937-38 season in which they secured a place in the top half of the top flight and the first time since 1938-39 that they finished above all of their neighbours, having spent the vast majority of the intervening 84 years in the lower two tiers of the English league pyramid. By any measure then, this current Brentford vintage is among the best in the club's history - but replicating that form in the coming campaign will be extremely difficult with top marksman 20-goal Ivan Toney banned until 16 January after admitting to multiple breaches of gambling rules. The additional permanent loss of reliable goalkeeper David Raya to Arsenal is another significant blow - though the likes of Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Christian Norgaard, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo still give coach Thomas Frank plenty with which to work. Frank himself has impressed with a solid tactical framework which brought great rewards in 2022-23: a league double over treble-winners Manchester City, four points off both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and stunning wins against Manchester United and Liverpool at home.
Prediction [13th]
▪️ BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION @OfficialBHAFC
Last season 6th FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Tony Bloom (ENG)
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi (since September 2022)
New signings Joao Pedro, Mahmoud Dahoud, James Milner, Bart Verbruggen, Igor Julio
Brighton and Hove Albion continue to ride the crest of a wave with a sixth-placed finish last season bringing European football to this part of the south coast for the first time ever. The Seagulls have got used to losing their top talent over the years so they adeptly dealt with the shockwaves caused by the departure of head coach Graham Potter to Chelsea last September. If anything, his replacement Roberto De Zerbi released the shackles and enabled an enterprising midfield featuring Alexis MacAllister, Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma to play to their full potential as Brighton also reached the FA Cup semi finals. However, in a really rather irksome summer for Seagulls supporters, the drip-drip of departures has continued with World Cup winner MacAllister leaving for Liverpool, and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and midfielder Moises Caicedo both now at Stamford Bridge. Former head coach Potter can attest that the grass is not always greener in the bright lights of the capital - but eventually the one-way traffic out of the Amex Stadium will also begin to take its toll on Brighton, especially with the demand caused by the extra fixtures in this coming season.
▪️ BOURNEMOUTH @afcbournemouth
Last season 15th FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Bill Foley (USA)
Head coach Andoni Iraola (since June 2023)
New signings Justin Kluivert, Hamed Traore, Romain Faivre, Milos Kerkez, Alex Scott, Max Aarons, Ionut Radu*
Sometimes clubs seem intent on self-destruction and Bournemouth made the extremely curious move of dumping manager Gary O'Neil shortly after the end of last season. This was despite O'Neil's fine achievement of keeping the Cherries quite comfortably out of the worst of the relegation scrap when all and sundry - even doom-monger predecessor Scott Parker - had expected the team to finish in the bottom three. Fresh-faced Andoni Iraola has arrived from Rayo Vallecano making him the third Basque coach in the Premier League this season alongside Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery. Notably, though, the others took a bit of time to impress their philosophy on their squads - and, if Bournemouth quickly get dragged into the relegation dogfight, that sort of window will not be likely afforded to Iraola. More happily, this coming season will see the full return on the pitch of silky winger David Brooks following his full recovery from stage two Hodgkin lymphoma which has kept him out since the shock diagnosis in October 2021. Nevertheless, Bournemouth still look short on goals and the loss of midfielder Jefferson Lerma to Crystal Palace also only further exposes an already-leaky defence.
Prediction [18th]
▪️ BRENTFORD @BrentfordFC
Last season 9th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Matthew Benham (ENG)
Head coach Thomas Frank (since October 2018)
New signings Mark Flekken, Ethan Brierley, Kevin Schade, Romeo Beckham, Kim Ji-soo, Nathan Collins, Erion Zabeli, Ethan Laidlaw
Brentford were the best of the west in London last season having spent decades being derided by local rivals Chelsea, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers. The Bees' ninth-placed finish was the first time since the 1937-38 season in which they secured a place in the top half of the top flight and the first time since 1938-39 that they finished above all of their neighbours, having spent the vast majority of the intervening 84 years in the lower two tiers of the English league pyramid. By any measure then, this current Brentford vintage is among the best in the club's history - but replicating that form in the coming campaign will be extremely difficult with top marksman 20-goal Ivan Toney banned until 16 January after admitting to multiple breaches of gambling rules. The additional permanent loss of reliable goalkeeper David Raya to Arsenal is another significant blow - though the likes of Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Christian Norgaard, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo still give coach Thomas Frank plenty with which to work. Frank himself has impressed with a solid tactical framework which brought great rewards in 2022-23: a league double over treble-winners Manchester City, four points off both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and stunning wins against Manchester United and Liverpool at home.
Prediction [13th]
▪️ BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION @OfficialBHAFC
Last season 6th FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Tony Bloom (ENG)
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi (since September 2022)
New signings Joao Pedro, Mahmoud Dahoud, James Milner, Bart Verbruggen, Igor Julio
Brighton and Hove Albion continue to ride the crest of a wave with a sixth-placed finish last season bringing European football to this part of the south coast for the first time ever. The Seagulls have got used to losing their top talent over the years so they adeptly dealt with the shockwaves caused by the departure of head coach Graham Potter to Chelsea last September. If anything, his replacement Roberto De Zerbi released the shackles and enabled an enterprising midfield featuring Alexis MacAllister, Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma to play to their full potential as Brighton also reached the FA Cup semi finals. However, in a really rather irksome summer for Seagulls supporters, the drip-drip of departures has continued with World Cup winner MacAllister leaving for Liverpool, and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and midfielder Moises Caicedo both now at Stamford Bridge. Former head coach Potter can attest that the grass is not always greener in the bright lights of the capital - but eventually the one-way traffic out of the Amex Stadium will also begin to take its toll on Brighton, especially with the demand caused by the extra fixtures in this coming season.
Prediction [8th]
▪️ BURNLEY @BurnleyOfficial
Last season 1st in Championship (promoted) FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy First Division 1959-60
Ownership Alan Pace (USA)
Head coach Vincent Kompany (since June 2022)
New signings Dara O'Shea, Lawrence Vigouroux, Jordan Beyer, Michael Obafemi, Zeki Amdouni, James Trafford, Nathan Redmond, Luca Koleosho, Sander Berge, Wilson Odobert, Jacob Bruun Larsen*
Burnley are back in the Premier League - and back with a fresh look as head coach Vincent Kompany leads a football revolution in this part of East Lancashire. The Clarets won only one of their first five league games last season to give little indication of their complete dominance of the Championship thereafter. Promoted on Easter Monday after beating second-placed Sheffield United, the title was won a little later at the Ewood Park ground of their great rivals - and Kompany's men ended the season with 101 points and a whole new identity. Gone was the sit-deep tactic of the Sean Dyche era and in came a commitment to a Pep Guardiola-style plan of possession football which was far too good for their Championship opponents. Certainly it will not be anywhere near as easy in the Premier League for Burnley with warning having already been served when they stuck to their principles against Manchester City in an FA Cup quarter final and promptly lost 6-0. It would be no surprise if the Clarets' open style of play brings about a few more thrashings in 2023-24 and Man City is in fact the opening fixture of the whole season. As long as Kompany retains faith in his philosophy and Burnley retain faith in the Belgian, though, there are enough points to be gained at Turf Moor to ensure survival in this coming season.
Prediction [16th]
▪️ CHELSEA @ChelseaFC
Last season 12th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round Champions League Quarter finals
Last major trophy Champions League 2021
Ownership Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital (USA)
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2023)
New signings Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Diego Moreira, Angelo Gabriel, Lesley Ugochukwu, Axel Disasi, Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo
Coming off the back of a train wreck of a season which ended with a first finish in the bottom half since 1995-96, the lowest goals total since the relegation campaign 99 years previously, and the second-lowest ever points total in the three-points era, new head coach Mauricio Pochettino arrived at Stamford Bridge expecting a big rebuild job. Indeed, at one stage, the challenge looked as if it was going to be even tougher with the Blues appearing to be in danger of breaching Premier League Financial Fair Play rules after being fined £8.6 million last month by UEFA for providing incomplete financial information. That risk has not gone away apparently but it has not stopped a remarkable splurge of £284 million on seven players including a British record £115 million on Moses Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion. In fairness, £220 million has been recouped so far in sales, and a summer revolving door is always a true sign of a new coach trying to build a squad to match his own style. But, while Pochettino will surely be a better fit than either of Thomas Tuchel's successors in 2022-23, question marks remain from his tenure across London at Tottenham Hotspur about whether, while on English soil, the Argentinian has any sort of golden touch when it comes to trophies.
▪️ BURNLEY @BurnleyOfficial
Last season 1st in Championship (promoted) FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy First Division 1959-60
Ownership Alan Pace (USA)
Head coach Vincent Kompany (since June 2022)
New signings Dara O'Shea, Lawrence Vigouroux, Jordan Beyer, Michael Obafemi, Zeki Amdouni, James Trafford, Nathan Redmond, Luca Koleosho, Sander Berge, Wilson Odobert, Jacob Bruun Larsen*
Burnley are back in the Premier League - and back with a fresh look as head coach Vincent Kompany leads a football revolution in this part of East Lancashire. The Clarets won only one of their first five league games last season to give little indication of their complete dominance of the Championship thereafter. Promoted on Easter Monday after beating second-placed Sheffield United, the title was won a little later at the Ewood Park ground of their great rivals - and Kompany's men ended the season with 101 points and a whole new identity. Gone was the sit-deep tactic of the Sean Dyche era and in came a commitment to a Pep Guardiola-style plan of possession football which was far too good for their Championship opponents. Certainly it will not be anywhere near as easy in the Premier League for Burnley with warning having already been served when they stuck to their principles against Manchester City in an FA Cup quarter final and promptly lost 6-0. It would be no surprise if the Clarets' open style of play brings about a few more thrashings in 2023-24 and Man City is in fact the opening fixture of the whole season. As long as Kompany retains faith in his philosophy and Burnley retain faith in the Belgian, though, there are enough points to be gained at Turf Moor to ensure survival in this coming season.
Prediction [16th]
▪️ CHELSEA @ChelseaFC
Last season 12th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round Champions League Quarter finals
Last major trophy Champions League 2021
Ownership Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital (USA)
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2023)
New signings Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Diego Moreira, Angelo Gabriel, Lesley Ugochukwu, Axel Disasi, Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo
Coming off the back of a train wreck of a season which ended with a first finish in the bottom half since 1995-96, the lowest goals total since the relegation campaign 99 years previously, and the second-lowest ever points total in the three-points era, new head coach Mauricio Pochettino arrived at Stamford Bridge expecting a big rebuild job. Indeed, at one stage, the challenge looked as if it was going to be even tougher with the Blues appearing to be in danger of breaching Premier League Financial Fair Play rules after being fined £8.6 million last month by UEFA for providing incomplete financial information. That risk has not gone away apparently but it has not stopped a remarkable splurge of £284 million on seven players including a British record £115 million on Moses Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion. In fairness, £220 million has been recouped so far in sales, and a summer revolving door is always a true sign of a new coach trying to build a squad to match his own style. But, while Pochettino will surely be a better fit than either of Thomas Tuchel's successors in 2022-23, question marks remain from his tenure across London at Tottenham Hotspur about whether, while on English soil, the Argentinian has any sort of golden touch when it comes to trophies.
Prediction [6th]
▪️ CRYSTAL PALACE @CPFC
Last season 11th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None
Ownership John Textor (USA), David Blitzer (USA), Josh Harris (USA), Steve Parish (ENG)
Head coach Roy Hodgson (since March 2023)
New signings Jefferson Lerma, Matheus Franca
Roy Hodgson should probably be in a recliner chair, sat back with his feet up enjoying a glass of his favourite tipple instead of taking on another season of high-octane Premier League. Clearly, though, the 76-year-old either gets under his wife's feet too much if he stays at home for too long or he simply cannot give up the game. In fairness, the former England boss steadied a rocking ship on his return to Selhurst Park in March and secured a seventh successive finish for the Eagles between 11th and 14th. The next obvious step would be for these mid-table settlers to break the glass ceiling preventing a top half finish - and this young, committed squad will undoubtedly give it a good try. Several players such as Ebere Ezi, Tyrick Mitchell, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi have been recruited locally and connect well with the fans in the Holmesdale End. But only Christian Benteke in 2016-17 has hit more than 10 league goals in a season for Palace since their promotion in 2013, a fact which should weigh heavily on the shoulders of current forwards Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
▪️ CRYSTAL PALACE @CPFC
Last season 11th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None
Ownership John Textor (USA), David Blitzer (USA), Josh Harris (USA), Steve Parish (ENG)
Head coach Roy Hodgson (since March 2023)
New signings Jefferson Lerma, Matheus Franca
Roy Hodgson should probably be in a recliner chair, sat back with his feet up enjoying a glass of his favourite tipple instead of taking on another season of high-octane Premier League. Clearly, though, the 76-year-old either gets under his wife's feet too much if he stays at home for too long or he simply cannot give up the game. In fairness, the former England boss steadied a rocking ship on his return to Selhurst Park in March and secured a seventh successive finish for the Eagles between 11th and 14th. The next obvious step would be for these mid-table settlers to break the glass ceiling preventing a top half finish - and this young, committed squad will undoubtedly give it a good try. Several players such as Ebere Ezi, Tyrick Mitchell, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi have been recruited locally and connect well with the fans in the Holmesdale End. But only Christian Benteke in 2016-17 has hit more than 10 league goals in a season for Palace since their promotion in 2013, a fact which should weigh heavily on the shoulders of current forwards Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Prediction [12th]
Last season 17th FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1995
Ownership Farhad Moshiri (IRN)
Head coach Sean Dyche (since January 2023)
New signings Ashley Young, Youssef Chermiti, Arnaut Danjuma*, Jack Harrison*
Everton escaped again - just - but the looming presence of the relegation trapdoor drew closer than it has been since their famous comeback against Wimbledon on the last day of the 1993-94 season. Indeed, at the half time whistle on the last day of 2022-23, the Toffees were being held 0-0 by Bournemouth and going down as Leicester City had taken the lead against West Ham United - but, although the Foxes won, Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a precious winner for the Merseysiders to make it 70 consecutive top flight seasons in 2023-24. It was a fourth 1-0 win under Sean Dyche who only replaced the near-disastrous Frank Lampard in January and quickly accepted the attacking limitations of a team spearheaded by the injury-prone Dominic Calvin-Lewin. Those financial restrictions still remain heading into the new campaign with new arrivals limited to a teenage Portuguese striker Youssef Chermiti and a 38-year-old Ashley Young who now belies nominative determinism. Expect then for Dyche again to continue keeping it tight in his tactical set-up and target certain fixtures to achieve more of those single-goal wins at Goodison Park. For sure, it does not exactly sound thrill-a-minute stuff but there is no better battler out there than the gravel-voiced Dyche - and, ahead of the planned move next summer to a new stadium in the Liverpool docks area, the alternative is barely worth thinking about.
Prediction [14th]
Last season 10th FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Second round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Shahid Khan (USA)
Head coach Marco Silva (since July 2021)
New signings Raul Jiminez, Calvin Bassey, Adama Traore
Fulham have found their players in high demand this summer after impressively halting their recent yo-yo existence last season by finishing in a extremely creditable 10th position. So far though, the Cottagers are yet to blink with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic remaining in Marco Silva's squad - and available for selection - despite strong interest being shown in him from a club in the insurgent Saudi Pro League. Talented midfielder Joao Palhinha had also been subject to speculation before he dislocated his shoulder in the opening half of Fulham's first pre-season match - and this injury as well as his steep £90 million valuation will probably keep the Portuguese plying his trade on the banks of the Thames for another campaign at least. Off the pitch, the much-derided neutral section at Craven Cottage has been thankfully abolished while the ambitious four-year development of the Riverside Stand is finally almost completed. It should be pointed out that it is not as if the project has not been subject to spiralling costs, although billionaire owner Shahid Khan has so far seemingly been willing to foot the bill - even to the detriment of his bank balance. For now then, while their benefactor remains as generous as he is, Fulham appear to be fine. However, their forthcoming financial positioning will be just as closely-watched by rival clubs as the on-field performance of any potential purchases.
Prediction [9th]
▪️ LIVERPOOL @LFC
Last season 5th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Fourth round Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy FA Cup 2022
Ownership Fenway Sports Group (USA)
Head coach Jürgen Klopp (since October 2015)
New signings Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai
Runners-up, champions, third, runners-up, and then only fifth and out of the Champions League places for the first time in seven years - for sure, last season was an unexpected bump in the road for Liverpool. Yet, seasoned observers could see it happening - the loss of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich left the link between the midfield and the prodigious talent of Mo Salah in attack broken, with a central midfield of inexperienced Harvey Elliott and already-spent Jordan Henderson unable to help out the still-adapting Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz anywhere near effectively enough. Is it any wonder it took a seven-match winning run towards the close of the season for the Reds to get anywhere near to the top four, an objective in which they still failed? Certainly then, the midfield signings of both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for a combined £95 million are what has been needed for Anfield to find its full voice again, with Hungarian talent Szoboszlai in particular capable of providing the creative spark which has been sorely missing from the Reds attack. Defensively too, though, Liverpool simply must improve on the 47 goals conceded in 2022-23, their worst return on this metric since the 2015-16 season in which they finished in eighth. If not, head coach Jurgen Klopp will not see his legendary status at the club end but could have a contract which runs until 2026 cut short. Klopp knows time is now for Liverpool once again to flex their muscles on the field.
Prediction [5th]
▪️ LUTON TOWN @LutonTown
Last season 3rd in the Championship (promoted) FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup First round
Last major trophy League Cup 1988
Ownership Luton Town Supporters Trust (ENG)
Head coach Rob Edwards (since November 2022)
New signings Chiedozie Ogbene, Mads Andersen, Tahith Chong, Marvelous Nakamba, Ryan Giles, Thomas Kaminski, Ross Barkley, Jacob Brown
In the most dramatic comeback since Lazarus, Luton Town have returned the top flight after an absence of 31 years, thereby becoming the 51st team to have played in the Premier League. Having only just missed out on the inaugural season after relegation from the First Division in 1992, the Bedfordshire outfit have since been to hell and back. A spell of bouncing around the Football League divisions ended in dramatic fashion with three consecutive demotions from the Championship to the Football Conference between 2006-07 and 2008-09, and in both of the latter two seasons, the Hatters were hit with hefty points deductions. It is an achievement in itself then that Luton are back among the elite - although they really should try to enjoy it because, quite frankly, it probably is not going to be a long visit. After all, most of the money earned from the coming campaign will go towards the construction of their new Power Court stadium with the move from the Edwardian-era Kenilworth Road ground expected in 2026. That leaves little money to bring the current squad up to scratch - so, while Luton bring the novelty for away fans of a visit to the rather odd Oak Stand terrace entrance, it would be a major surprise if coach Rob Edwards can also produce a team capable of competing at the top level consistently enough for survival.
Prediction [19th]
▪️ MANCHESTER CITY @ManCity
Last season Champions FA Cup Winners League Cup Quarter finals Champions League Winners
Last major trophy Champions League 2023
Ownership Abu Dhabi United Group (UAE)
Head coach Pep Guardiola (since July 2016)
New signings Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol
Nobody does it better than Pep Guardiola whose Manchester City side last time out produced a season for the ages, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble - a feat achieved only once before, by Manchester United in 1999. It ended an agonising wait for Guardiola who had wanted in particular to get his hands back on the European Cup ever since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in July 2016. But, if anything, it was their third consecutive Premier League crown which was the most impressive feat, given that the Blues at one stage trailed surprise challengers Arsenal by eight points as late as 1 April. By then, though, Manchester City had began a customary late surge of 12 successive league wins to overhaul the Gunners, a sequence which included a 4-1 thumping of Mikel Arteta's men. Of course, much of this was achieved through the stunning strike-rate of Erling Haaland who enjoyed a record-breaking debut season in England, netting 36 times in the league and 52 in all competitions. Rival clubs can only hope the Norwegian suffers a significant drop-off in form - although, even then, the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and World Cup winner Julian Alvarez will invariably chip in. The defence, also already strong, has been further strengthened by the £77 million signing of Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol - and so, for Manchester City, further record-breaking glory awaits: no team has ever won the English league title four times in a row.
Prediction [Champions]
▪️ MANCHESTER UNITED @ManUtd
Last season 3rd FA Cup Runners-up League Cup Winners Europa League Quarter finals
Last major trophy League Cup 2023
Ownership Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer (USA)
Head coach Erik ten Hag (since May 2022)
New signings Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, Jonny Evans
Those nasty Glazers have been at it again, shelling out another £162 million on Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund this summer to bring their total outlay in just 16 months with Erik ten Hag to over £400 million on transfer fees alone. Not that this will stop the most spoiled-acting fans in the Premier League from bringing out their yellow-and-green scarves to wear with the replica shirt newly-bought from the Old Trafford megastore at the first sign of any dropped points. On the field, ten Hag had an encouraging first term at the helm as the Red Devils won the League Cup for a first trophy success for six years, as well as finishing third. But, away at their two main rivals, Manchester United were hit for six by Manchester City and, in an incredible collapse, seven without reply by Liverpool at Anfield. At the other end of the pitch, the Dutchman's team notably scored the least goals of the teams in the top six although Marcus Rashford enjoyed a rich vein of form in the New Year and ended up with a career-best 30 goals in all competitions. New Danish forward Hojlund, even at the tender age of 20, should provide better scoring support for Rashford than Wout Weghorst or Anthony Elanga ever did - while Onana would have to struggle massively to fail to be a safer pair of hands or show better footwork than David De Gea has over the last few years. Mount is a curious signing, though - a Chelsea academy product, the 24-year-old himself must be working on the theory of a change being as good as a rest having seemed to have lost all confidence at Stamford Bridge.
Prediction [2nd]
▪️ NEWCASTLE UNITED @NUFC
Last season 4th FA Cup Third round League Cup Runners-up
Last major trophy UEFA (Fairs) Cup 1969
Ownership Public Investment Fund (KSA)
Head coach Eddie Howe (since November 2021)
New signings Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento
From no-hopers to Champions League dreamers, Newcastle United quickly made up for the time lost during the insipid Mike Ashley reign to finish in the Premier League top four for the first time in 20 years. Certainly then, this project is ahead of schedule and a consequence of head coach Eddie Howe - like his predecessors Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson - astutely harnessing the atmosphere at St James Park. By the end of the season, Howe had restored the place into a fortress with big wins in the run-in against Manchester United (2-0), Brighton & Hove Albion (4-1) and, between those two games, a 6-1 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur in which the Magpies led 5-0 inside 21 minutes. It was a showing which made something of a mockery of the unfair reputation for cynical time-wasting tactics with which Newcastle had been tarnished after a battling 0-0 draw away at league leaders Arsenal in January. While the Magpies were no angels at the Emirates, it was equally no worse than what had been seen many times before - and a fairer assessment would be to acknowledge that Howe is building a team of excitement young talent. Players brought in such as Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, and Anthony Gordon - as well as summer additions Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes - are all 25 or younger and have the potential to get even better. For sure, there has been significant money put into the club by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund - but it was much-needed after Ashley's neglect and still compares favourably with the likes of Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool. Perhaps still more new faces would have been expected by now given the extra fixtures in this campaign, but Newcastle only lost five times in the league last season and so can expect to remain extremely competitive under the intense tutelage of Howe. Indeed, in the words of Sam Fender, who played two sold out gigs at St James during the summer, it feels like on Tyneside as if the Geordies are only getting started.
Prediction [4th]
▪️ NOTTINGHAM FOREST @NFFC
Last season 16th FA Cup Third round League Cup Semi finals
Last major trophy League Cup 1990
Ownership Evangelos Marinakis (GRE)
Head coach Steve Cooper (since September 2021)
New signings Chris Wood, Ola Aina, Anthony Elanga, Matt Turner
Nottingham Forest took an unconventional route to safety in 2022-23, basically opting to throw as many darts as possible in the hope that enough would hit bullseye. The Tricky Trees effectively brought in a whole new squad with 28 first-team signings across the season - and certainly, it proved a risky strategy as the squad struggled to gel with Forest making the slowest of starts to prop up the table in the autumn. Then, just as results had started to pick up after Christmas, a second tranche of arrivals appeared to upset everything again as Steve Cooper's men picked up just three draws from 11 matches between February and April. Ultimately, the faith shown in Cooper by the owner, shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis, helped to keep Forest afloat with the team belatedly responding to the wonderful atmosphere produced by the City Ground crowd throughout the whole campaign to beat Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton and Arsenal in the last three home games. Activity in the transfer market has been far less frantic this summer as Cooper attempts to use survival as a base from which to build a far more settled squad. That does mean, though, that the head coach is arguably under more pressure now with any repeat of those winless runs from last season unlikely to be as easily tolerated by the often ruthless Marinakis this time around. No doubt then, whatever happens over the next 10 months on the banks of the Trent, it will not be a quiet campaign.
Prediction [15th]
▪️ SHEFFIELD UNITED @SheffieldUnited
Last season 2nd in Championship (promoted) FA Cup Semi finals League Cup First round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1925
Ownership Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (KSA)
Head coach Paul Heckingbottom (since November 2021)
New signings Anis Slimane, Benie Traore, Auston Trusty, Vinicius Souza, Gustavo Hamer, Yasser Larouci*
Sheffield United kept their sojourn in the second tier down to just two years as head coach Paul Heckingbottom held off the Championship chasing pack at arms length. This coming campaign looks set to be a far less comfortable ride as the Blades continue to feel the repercussions of spending beyond their means on their last visit to the top flight. Straight-taking Yorkshireman Heckingbottom finds himself with a less than straightforward task ahead and his team's best chance really is to hope to carry through the momentum gained from promotion to put some early points on the board. Even that will not be easy if Sheffield United reprise the ineffective approach of playing Ollie McBurnie on his own up front. Furthermore, the loss of the spectacular Senegalese forward Ilman Ndaiye to his boyhood club Marseille and the versatile Norwegian Sander Berge to rivals Burnley shortly before the start of the season really rather thumps home the reality of the situation in which the Blades find themselves.
Prediction [20th]
▪️ TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR @SpursOfficial
Last season 8th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy League Cup 2008
Ownership ENIC International Limited (ENG)
Head coach Ange Postecoglou (since June 2023)
New signings Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Pedro Porro, Manor Solomon, Ashley Phillips, Micky van de Ven, Alejo Veliz
Tottenham Hotspur find themselves almost at ground zero with new boss Ange Postecoglu ahead of this season. The former Celtic boss needs to build a whole new team structure and philosophy following the pathetic collapse in the run-in of 2022-23 and the long-awaited departure of Harry Kane this summer. True, the Aussie head coach's signing of James Maddison from relegated Leicester City is an impressive move considering the complete absence of European football on offer at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But the loss of Kane will be especially keenly felt when a new-look attack inevitably fails to bail out a still wretched defence like the record England goalscorer has done singlehandedly so many times before. Spurs conceded a mammoth 63 goals last season, six more than 17th-placed Everton and infamously five in the first 21 minutes of the match against Newcastle United at St James Park in April. There is no doubt about it then - with problems at both ends of the pitch, this team actually requires a huge rebuilding job even just to regain a European spot.
Prediction [11th]
▪️ WEST HAM UNITED @WestHam
Last season 14th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round Conference League Winners
Last major trophy Europa Conference League 2023
Ownership David Sullivan (WAL) and Daniel Kretinsky (CZE)
Head coach David Moyes (since December 2019)
New signings Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse
This should have been something akin to a summer of love for West Ham United. After all, the east Londoners won their first major trophy for 43 years and first European honour since the late great Sir Bobby Moore was in his heydey. Instead, the Hammers have lost their best player Declan Rice to Arsenal while the transfer window has turned into a proper power-struggle between head coach David Moyes and the club's new technical coach Tim Steidten. Until Thursday, West Ham had brought in absolutely no first team players and the odds on Moyes being the next manager to leave his job were being cut dramatically. However, in the week running up to the new season, Edson Alvarez has arrived at the London Stadium from Ajax Amsterdam while deals for both of Moyes's favoured signings Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse have been agreed in principle with Manchester United and Southampton respectively. The former Red Devils boss Moyes appears to have now won this particular clash then but the pressure really is on the Scot to improve significantly on last season which, outside of the Europa Conference League run, was pretty poor. West Ham lost more than half their league matches and were officially in relegation trouble as late as 20 May. The subsequent internal tug-of-war has left the Hammers playing catch-up - but, while there is easily enough about the squad to stay out of big trouble, the delay in getting their targets identified will likely lead to another underwhelming campaign.
Prediction [10th]
▪️ WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS @Wolves
Last season 13th FA Cup Third round League Cup Quarter finals
Last major trophy League Cup 1980
Ownership Fosun International (CHN)
Head coach Gary O'Neil (since August 2023)
New signings Matheus Cunha, Boubacar Traore, Tom King, Matt Doherty
Troubled Wolverhampton Wanderers have had an appropriately turbulent summer with head coach Julen Lopetegui leaving the club less than a week before their season kicks off after he publicly expressed frustration at his lack of transfer funds on a podcast. At least, the Spaniard has been swiftly replaced with the former Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil coming in - but the new man joins a club which is heading into the new season having endured their toughest Premier League campaign last year since their return to the top flight in 2018-19. The Old Gold totalled only 41 points and scored a measly 31 goals across the 38 league games - and the Midlanders problems finding the net are nothing new and a secret to no one. Eventually last season, it was not even as if their usually more reliable defence could hold their own with five goals and six goals shipped at Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion without reply during the run-in. Worse still, any sort of prospect of improvement any time soon has been dashed by a lack of money despite the departure of star midfielder Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia for a fee of £47 million. O'Neil, of course, does not have too look far back for experience of proving the doubters wrong having done exactly that at Bournemouth last season - but there is no doubt that this is another really tough assignment for the 40-year-old.
Prediction [17th]
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