Premier League preview: Arsenal primed to loosen Man City stranglehold

PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB-BY-CLUB PREVIEW

2024-2025

▪️ ARSENAL @Arsenal
Last season 2nd FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round Champions League Quarter finals
Last major trophy FA Cup 2020
Ownership Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (USA)
Head coach Mikel Arteta (since December 2019)
New signings David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal head into the campaign as the best-placed challenger to interrupt this period of Manchester City dominance in the Premier League after edging ever closer over the past two seasons. For, while it could be reasonably argued that the Gunners lost their bottle in 2022-23 with dropped points in the closing stages against West Ham United, Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, 2023-24 was nothing like that. Instead, a free-scoring Arsenal outfit took 50 points out of the last 54 available - and the title was effectively decided by a tight tussle at Manchester City which finished 0-0. Mikel Arteta knows his existing squad really is not far away now, so the fact there is only one completely new face this summer so far - highly-rated centre-back Riccardo Calafiori - is no great surprise, and merely just a matter of fine-tuning ahead of another season-long assault on the title. 
▪️ Prediction Champions

▪️ ASTON VILLA @AVFCOfficial
Lamovesason 4th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round Conference League Semi final
Last major trophy League Cup 1996
Ownership Nasser Sawiris (EGY) and Wes Edens (USA)
Head coach Unai Emery (since November 2022)
New signings Lewis Dobbin, Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, Ross Barkley, Enzo Barrenechea, Jaden Philogene, Amadou Onana

Aston Villa achieved their highest Premier League finish since 1995-96 as Unai Emery impressively led the club into the premier European competition for the first time in 42 years in his first full season. Of course, with great achievement comes great responsibility to maintain the same level of performance - and, in anticipation of the extra games, Villa have filled out their squad with no fewer than seven first-team signings. Those arrivals have been funded by the sales of Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby to Juventus and Al-Ittihad for £42.3 million and £50.5 million respectively so the Villans should be in no danger of breaching the farcical profit and sustainability rules. However, the loss of Luiz and Diaby should not be underestimated - and there is huge pressure on main striker Ollie Watkins to avoid injury and remain as prolific as he was last season, despite the inevitable strain which additional games will bring.
▪️ Prediction 8th

▪️ BOURNEMOUTH @afcbournemouth
Last season 12th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy None
Ownership Bill Foley (USA)
Head coach Andoni Iraola (since June 2023)
New signings Enes Unal, Alex Paulsen, Daniel Jebbison, Dean Huijsen, Julian Araujo, Evanilson
Bournemouth comfortably retained their place at the top table for a eighth season out of the last 10, maintaining their role as the embodiment of support size meaning little given that their average attendance of 11,108 suggests there is no great need to extend the measly capacity of Dean Court. It means, though, that the Cherries will always have a much lower ceiling than their competitors - especially in this era where commercial income is vital to comply with profit and sustainability rules. As such, it was no surprise really that their main weapon Dominic Solanke, scorer of 19 league goals in 2023-24, had his head turned by the bright lights of the capital city and moved to Tottenham Hotspur, while talented out-of-contract centre-back Lloyd Kelly has journeyed north to Newcastle United. Last season, though, head coach Andoni Iraola produced a team last season which often played at a level exceeding the sum of its parts - so, while the goals of Solanke will be missed in particular, the south coast club can continue to punch well above its weight under the astute Spaniard.
▪️ Prediction 13th

▪️ BRENTFORD @BrentfordFC
Last season 16th 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 Benjamin Fredrick, Igor Thiago, Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg
Brentford failed to hit 40 points for the first time since their promotion to the Premier League as an unconvincing campaign required late wins over Sheffield United, Luton Town and Bournemouth to secure a fourth successive season in the top flight. The Bees actually coped well with the ban until January of main striker Ivan Toney for betting irregularities - and the 28-year-old responded to his reintroduction into the team with four goals in five games. Thereafter, though, Toney's goals dried up completely amid speculation that he was seeking new pastures, something which as of yet still remains unresolved. This spell is not the first time that there has been speculation surrounding Toney's future in a Brentford shirt - and, having seen his show better form without him in the team during 2022-23, head coach Thomas Frank may consider it is time for the west London club to cut its losses.
▪️ Prediction 17th

▪️ BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION @OfficialBHAFC
Last season 11th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round Europa League Last 16
Last major trophy None
Ownership Tony Bloom (ENG)
Head coach Fabian Huerzeler (since July 2024)
New signings Ibrahim Osman, Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, Brajan Gruda, Georginio Rutter

All change again at Brighton and Hove Albion as the Seagulls begin the season with another new man at the helm. Following in the recent footsteps of Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi, Fabian Huerzeler is the latest left-field appointment on the south coast - and undoubtedly the biggest risk yet. The 31-year-old American-born German arrives in English football without any top-flight experience - and, although he led St Pauli into the Bundesliga in May in his first full season there, it is difficult to tell if he knows exactly what awaits him. For his part, Huerzeler - the youngest manager in Premier League history - has set his sights on producing a "season to remember", but that will be no mean feat considering Brighton have already had plenty of memorable days in recent years. 
▪️ Prediction 9th

▪️ CHELSEA @ChelseaFC
Last season 6th FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Runners-up
Last major trophy Champions League 2021
Ownership Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital (USA)
Head coach Enzo Maresca (since July 2024)
New signings Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Filip Jorgensen, Aaron Anselmino, 

Billion Pound Bottlejobs - it is going to be a difficult tag for Chelsea to shrug off especially after another summer splurge has resulted in the signing of nine new faces at a cost of over £200 million so far. Remarkably, at the time of writing, the Blues have 42 first-team players vying for a squad place - an eye-watering number and a clear result of a revolving door approach to the head coach role. On 1 July, Enzo Maresca became the fourth new man in the role in under three-and-a-half years, excluding caretakers and interim appointments - but there are already doubts over just how long he will last in the Stamford Bridge hot-seat. After all, despite the Championship title win, the Italian's reputation at Leicester City suffered some damage after the Foxes squandered a lead which had stood at 14 points - and yet chairman Todd Boehly still saw fit to bring him in.
▪️ Prediction 7th

▪️ CRYSTAL PALACE @CPFC
Last season 10th 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 Oliver Glasner (since February 2024)
New signings Chadi Riad, Daichi Kamada, Ismaila Sarr, Louie Moulden

Crystal Palace continue to battle to keep their squad together after new head coach Oliver Glasner perhaps revealed too much of his hand during the south London club's fine late recovery last season. Glasner led Palace to six wins out of seven at the back end of 2023-24 as the Eagles eventually soared into a finishing position of 10th, only weeks after being on the fringe of the relegation battle, as the second Roy Hodgson era came to the sad conclusion that the 77-year-old was simply too frail to continue in the role. So far, following the sale of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, Palace owner Steve Parish has rejected no fewer than four bids by Newcastle United for Marc Guehi while Eberechi Eze also has his suitors. At this point, though, it is difficult to see more than one other major player at most leaving Selhurst Park - and, as such, Glasner's men should bounce around midtable all season with little drama.
▪️ Prediction 14th

▪️ EVERTON @Everton

Last season 15th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Quarter finals 

Last major trophy FA Cup 1995 

Ownership Farhad Moshiri (IRN)

Head coach Sean Dyche (since January 2023) 

New signings Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye, Jake O'Brien, Jack Harrison*, Jesper Lindstrom* 

It was a slightly long and winding road - but Sean Dyche restored some stability at Everton last season as the Toffees survived fairly comfortably despite taking deductions of six and two points respectively. Of course, much of that was down to the desperately poor quality of the chasing pack as, for only the second time in the Premier League era, all three promoted sides made an immediate return to the Championship. However, the Merseysiders also deserve credit for their solid defensive record which brought 13 clean sheets including nine at Goodison Park, something which lessened the impact of the goal drought suffered by main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Ideally, Dyche would have liked to have used this summer as a platform to build on - but, ahead of the delayed relocation to the new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock next season, finances remain perilously tight.
▪️ Prediction 15th

▪️ FULHAM @FulhamFC 

Last season 13th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Semi finals 

Last major trophy None 

Ownership Shahid Khan (USA) 

Head coach Marco Silva (since July 2021) 

New signings Ryan Sessegnon, Emile Smith Rowe, Jorge Cuenca, Sander Berge, Joachim Andersen

For Fulham, the first stage of the recovery is close to completion. Having yoyoed wildly between the Premier League and the Championship in five consecutive seasons between 2017-18 and 2021-22, the Cottagers have begun to re-establish themselves in the top flight again with trouble-free finishes of 10th and 13th in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Head coach Marco Silva also appears to have settled down and, having failed to stay for longer than a year in his four previous jobs, the Portuguese moves into a fourth full season at the west London outfit. Fulham struggled in front of goal last season at times, failing to score in 13 of their 38 league games - but if new signing Emile Smith-Rowe can overcome his recent injury woes, Fulham will re-establish themselves as part of the Premier League furniture once again.
▪️ Prediction 10th

▪️ IPSWICH TOWN @IpswichTown

Last season 2nd in the Championship (promoted) FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Fourth round 

Last major trophy UEFA Cup 1981 

Ownership Gamechanger 20 Ltd (USA)

Head coach Kieran McKenna (since December 2021) 

New signings Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, Jacob Greaves, Liam Delap, Arijanet Muric, Conor Townsend, Sam Szmodics, Kalvin Phillips*, Jens Cajuste* 

Too much, too soon? In May, Ipswich Town became the fifth team during the Premier League era to gain successive promotions from the third tier - and two of the previous four (Southampton and rivals Norwich City) stayed up. The Tractor Boys will hope to become the third as top flight football returns to Portman Road for the first time since 2002 after a couple years of missing out in the playoffs turned into years of mediocrity - and then worse with the drop into League One in 2018-19. Kieran McKenna has led a magnificent recovery - and, while those of the Suffolk faithful who expect survival might be a little too drunk on optimism, their Northern Irish head coach has given them plenty of reason to dream.
▪️ Prediction 20th

▪️ LEICESTER CITY @LCFC 

Last season 1st in the Championship (promoted) FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Third round 

Last major trophy FA Cup 2021 

Ownership Srivaddhanaprabha family (THA)

Head coach Steve Cooper (since June 2024)

New signings Abdul Fatawu, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Michael Golding, Caleb Okoli, Oliver Skipp, Facundo Buonanotte*

Out of the 20 clubs in the Premier League, Leicester City have ridden the biggest rollercoaster in the last 20 years, since relegation from the top flight in 2004. There followed a demotion to the third tier for the first time in history in 2008 before promotions in 2009 and 2014, a great escape in 2015, an incredible first English league title in 2016, a first FA Cup triumph in 2021, and a shock relegation in 2023. Even this summer, the soap opera on Filbert Way has not stopped with Championship-winning head coach Enzo Maresca moving to Chelsea. Replacement Steve Cooper looks like a sound choice given his recent experience in the lower reaches of the table at Nottingham Forest - but, just like in his last season at the City Ground, some of Cooper's fate will rest outside of his control if the Foxes receive a points deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules.
▪️ Prediction 19th

▪️ LIVERPOOL @LFC 

Last season 3rd FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Winners Europa League Quarter finals 

Last major trophy League Cup 2024 

Ownership Fenway Sports Group (USA) 

Head coach Arne Slot (since June 2024)

New signings None 

Arne Slot takes on the difficult job of following Jurgen Klopp at Anfield - and the Dutchman has not exactly been able to stamp his own authority yet with Liverpool making precisely zero incoming signings at the time of writing. Now, it is not as if the Reds have a weak squad - but, having finished in the top two in three of the four seasons between 2019 and 2022 and having finally won the Premier League in 2020, the Merseysiders are no longer the closest challengers to Manchester City after finishes of fifth and third in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Slot will want to rectify that - but his first priority will be to win over some sceptical fans with strong early results in a fixture list which features a relatively early-season visit to Manchester United on 1 September.
▪️ Prediction 4th

▪️ MANCHESTER CITY @ManCity 

Last season Champions FA Cup Runners-up League Cup Third round Champions League Quarter finals 

Last major trophy Premier League 2023-24 

Ownership Abu Dhabi United Group (UAE) 

Head coach Pep Guardiola (since July 2016) 

New signings Savinho, Ilkay Gundogan 

The longest shadow continues to loom large over the whole integrity of the Premier League with the investigation into the charges against Manchester City for breaching financial rules expected to reach a conclusion early next year. That might not be the end of the matter as the Blues, who deny all 115 charges, would be likely to appeal any judgement against them - but the whole legal circus is almost certain to cause a noisy distraction for Pep Guardiola's men at some point this season. Moreover, the loss of handy back-up striker Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, albeit for £81.5 million, leaves Man City looking improbably short up front - especially if main man Erling Haaland continues to struggle make much of an impression in games against the best teams in the division. Following an unprecedented four consecutive English league titles, this could be the year in which Man City lose grip on their crown, although it certainly will not be given up easily.
▪️ Prediction 2nd

▪️ MANCHESTER UNITED @ManUtd 

Last season 8th FA Cup Winners League Cup Fourth round Champions League Group stage 

Last major trophy FA Cup 2024 

Ownership Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer (USA) 

Head coach Erik ten Hag (since May 2022) 

New signings Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui

Amid much speculation at the end of last season, Erik Ten Hag was surprisingly given a stay of execution in the Old Trafford hotseat with the decision to retain the services of the Dutchman only coming on 12 June, almost three weeks after the last domestic season ended. Ten Hag can point to trophies in successive years with the FA Cup in May adding to the League Cup won in February 2023 but, having been well backed in the transfer market, the Red Devils' descent to eighth place in the Premier League was undoubtedly a massive step backwards following the promising third-place finish in 2022-23. In truth, though, Man United have not sustained a title challenge in the 11 years since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson - and that seems unlikely to change while Ten Hag remains in charge.
▪️ Prediction 5th

▪️ NEWCASTLE UNITED @NUFC 

Last season 7th FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Quarter finals Champions League Group stage

Last major trophy UEFA (Fairs) Cup 1969 

Ownership Public Investment Fund (KSA) 

Head coach Eddie Howe (since November 2021) 

New signings Odysseas Vlachodimos, Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Hall, John Ruddy, Miodrag Pivas, William Osula 

Much like many reputable bands have difficult second album, the 2022-23 campaign was a difficult second full season for Newcastle United under head coach Eddie Howe. Cup draws were not kind as, in various competitions, the Magpies faced AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea in the League Cup, and a hotly-contested derby against Sunderland, and Man City again in the FA Cup. In total, Howe's men ended up playing 51 matches while trying to cope with a seemingly never-ending injury crisis and an almost year-long ban for Sandro Tonali for breaching betting rules. On that basis, seventh place was no disgrace even if it was not good enough to qualify for any European competition this year due to Man United's surprise FA Cup Final win - although the summer has also been extremely frustrating with a long pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi appearing to have been a wild goose chase. For as long as the likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali all remain on Tyneside, though, Newcastle really should be competing hard for a European spot once again.
▪️ Prediction 6th

▪️ NOTTINGHAM FOREST @NFFC 

Last season 17th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Second round

Last major trophy League Cup 1990

Ownership Evangelos Marinakis (GRE) 

Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo (since December 2023)

New signings Marko Stamenic, Eric da Silva Moreira, Elliot Anderson, Carlos Miguel, Nikola Milenkovic, Jota Silva, Ramon Sosa, Alex Moreno*
Reliant on home form to stay up on their return to the Premier League in 2022-23, Nottingham Forest head into the new season having won just three of their last 17 games in all competitions at the City Ground, with 10 of those matches finishing in defeat. That record simply must improve for Forest to survive this time as the Tricky Trees cannot rely on finding three teams as averse to picking up points regularly as Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United were. In the end, Forest stayed up last season on 32 points, breaking the record for the lowest tally of any surviving team in the Premier League era - and, even accounting for the four-point deduction incurred for a breach of profit and sustainability rules, the 36 points won on the pitch would be touch-and-go normally. A baffling scattergun set of new signings - and a head coach in Nuno Espirito Santo who does not connect to the fans like his predecessor Steve Cooper did - point towards another difficult campaign on the banks of the Trent.
▪️ Prediction 18th

▪️ SOUTHAMPTON @SouthamptonFC

Last season 4th in the Championship (promoted) FA Cup Fifth round League Cup First round 

Last major trophy FA Cup 1976

Ownership Sport Republic (ENG)

Head coach Russell Martin (since June 2023) 

New signings Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Adam Lallana, Charlie Taylor, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Yukinari Sugawara, Flynn Downes, Ben Brereton Diaz, Cameron Archer, Mateus Fernandes, Lesley Ugochukwu* 

Southampton recovered admirably from a devastating relegation season in 2022-23 in which they fell well short of the required standard, winning just six matches and collecting only 25 points. The Saints eventually ensured an immediate return by beating Leeds United 1-0 in the playoff final through an Adam Armstrong goal - an outcome which did not too likely when the south coast club lost four games in a row last September. From then, though, Russell Martin guided his side to a club-record 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions but the Premier League is a completely different beast. Indeed, a defence which leaked 63 goals in the second tier - and which still regularly features the ponderous Polish centre-back Jan Bednarek - will have top-flight strikers licking their lips.
▪️ Prediction 16th

▪️ TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR @SpursOfficial 

Last season 5th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round 

Last major trophy League Cup 2008 

Ownership ENIC International Limited (ENG) 

Head coach Ange Postecoglou (since June 2023) 

New signings Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner*
Tottenham Hotspur defied the prediction of this scribbler, and many others, by finishing in fifth place last season under Australian head coach Ange Postecoglu, as skipper Son Heung-min picked up the slack by filling the Harry Kane-sized hole up front with 17 goals. However, another late-season collapse of five defeats out of six in April and May, precipitated by another battering away at Newcastle United, prevented Spurs from returning to the Champions League fold - and that, as well as early exits in both cup competitions, left Postecoglu feeling rather downcast at the end of the season as he described the foundations of the club as "fragile". The big signing this summer of Dominic Solanke restores a presence in the centre-forward position - but it has come at a cost of £65 million, has been based on the output of a single campaign, and does nothing to address Tottenham's biggest concern, which is at the back.
▪️ Prediction 3rd

▪️ WEST HAM UNITED @WestHam 

Last season 9th FA Cup Third round League Cup Quarter finals Europa League Quarter finals 

Last major trophy Europa Conference League 2023 

Ownership David Sullivan (WAL), Daniel Kretinsky (CZE), Vanessa Gold (ENG) 

Head coach Julen Lopetegui (since July 2024)

New signings Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham, Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fuellkrug, Guido Rodriguez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo*

Sometimes relationships just come to a natural conclusion and that was certainly the case between West Ham United and David Moyes despite the Scotsman having won a first trophy for the east London club since 1980 with the Conference League triumph in June 2023. Last season was much more of a toil, though - with an abrasive Moyes often forced to defend his results over questions about his style of play - and, once results declined into a series of dispiriting defeats and with Moyes out of contract, the statement released prior to final game announcing a parting of the ways came as no surprise. Julen Lopetegui was recruited  after his gap year - and the Spaniard has been backed in the transfer market with, among seven new faces, the arrival of Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defence, as well as forward Niclas Fuellkrug who impressed during Euro 2024 for Germany.
▪️ Prediction 11th

▪️ WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS @Wolves 

Last season 14th FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Third round 

Last major trophy League Cup 1980 

Ownership Fosun International (CHN) 

Head coach Gary O'Neil (since August 2023) 

New signings Tommy Doyle, Rodrigo Gomes, Pedro Lima, Jorgen Strand Larsen*
For the second time already in his short managerial career, Gary O'Neil has jumped in at the deep end - first, O'Neil took charge on Bournemouth less than a month into the 2022-23 season - then, just over a year ago, he was drafted in at Wolverhampton Wanderers as a late replacement for Julen Lopetegui. On both occasions, O'Neil has proven himself to be a quietly effective operator - and, unlike at Bournemouth, the 41-year-old has been given a second season to build upon his work at Molineux - and a first ever full pre-season as a head coach. The summer has seen the departure of injury-prone Pedro Nero to Chelsea but, perhaps far more critically, centre-back Max Kilman to West Ham United - as a former defender who builds his teams from the back, O'Neil likely faces a tough assignment again in the current campaign.
▪️ Prediction 12th

Premier League preview: Manchester City go for four in a row

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.

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. 

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. 

Prediction [12th] 

▪️ EVERTON @Everton

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] 

▪️ FULHAM @FulhamFC 

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]

The Season 2022/23 - Manchester City complete incredible Treble

MANCHESTER CITY completed a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble after beating Internazionale 1-0 in the European Cup Final.

Rodri struck the only goal with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box midway through the second half as Pep Guardiola's men achieved true football greatness at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul.

The lead almost did not last long but somehow Federico Dimarco only managed to hit his own man Romelu Lukaku on the rebound from his own looping header onto the bar.

Then, in a nervy finish, the Blues were indebted to the positioning of their Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson when Lukaku astonishingly failed to convert a header from just six yards. 

Whether by luck or good judgement, the ball hit Ederson on the knee and stayed out of the net - and the keeper was soon called into more conventional action in stoppage time to tip over Alessandro Bastoni's header. 

But, after Inter could make nothing of one last corner, the most raucous ever Manchester City celebrations could finally begin. 

On the previous weekend, Ilkay Gundogan had got Guardiola's side off to an ideal start in the FA Cup Final by scoring the fastest ever goal in the history of the Wembley showpiece with a beautiful volley after just 12 seconds.

Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot for Manchester United but Gundogan struck another volley early in the second half - and even had the ball in the net for a third time, only for it to be ruled offside. 

Man City survived a late scare when goalkeeper Stefan Ortega scrambled Raphael Varane's scrappy effort onto the bar - but overall the blue half of Manchester fully deserved to complete the second part of the trilogy against their bitter cross-city rivals. 

Earlier, a seventh Premier League title - and ninth top division title overall - landed at the Etihad Stadium as Man City overtook long-time leaders Arsenal during the run-in.

The Gunners led the league for 248 days - but the dropped points in draws against West Ham United, Liverpool and Southampton, and in defeats to Man City and Nottingham Forest, meant Mikel Arteta's men had to settle for a runners-up spot.

Erik Ten Haag provided Man United supporters with some encouragement in his debut season at Old Trafford by finishing in third place and winning the Carabao Cup Final.

In both endeavours, the Red Devils got the better of Newcastle United. Nevertheless, the Magpies still enjoyed an excellent first full campaign on Tyneside under Eddie Howe to finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

That meant the late-season seven-match winning run from Liverpool was all in vain and the Reds must make-do with the Europa League in 2023-24.

While that has come across as a disappointment to Jurgen Klopp's men, sixth place for Brighton & Hove Albion represents a first foray into European competition in the club's history.

Not even the disruption of losing Graham Potter to Chelsea in September could derail the Seagulls as his replacement Roberto De Zerbi proved an astute appointment.

Italian De Zerbi actually introduced a more attacking style of play and it paid off as Brighton combined their league form with a run to the FA Cup semi finals.

The last league-based European spot went to seventh-placed Aston Villa who will wonder what might have been if they had started the season under Unai Emery and not Steven Gerrard who struggled for much of his tenure. 

Emery eventually delivered a Europa Conference League spot to the Villains, which will be the first European football at Villa Park for 13 years. 

By contrast, Tottenham Hotspur in eighth missed out altogether for the first time in 15 years after an already abject season completely fell apart in the closing stages.

Spurs reached their nadir when 5-0 down against Newcastle in just 21 minutes in an extraordinary collapse which cost caretaker Cristian Stellini his job.

Stellini himself had replaced Antonio Conte after the multiple champion had delivered a spectacular rant against the club's ownership and "selfish" players - and the season ended with another messy, as of yet unresolved, search for a new head coach. 

Remarkably, Chelsea fared worse still - and, having started the season with Thomas Tuchel, they finished it in 12th with Frank Lampard for their lowest league placing since 1993-94. 

The Blues even fell short of matching fellow west London sides, Brentford and Fulham, who were ninth and 10th respectively - and in fact finished above only one other team from the capital, West Ham.

The Hammers, though, can at least more than console themselves with a first major trophy in 43 years - and their first European silverware since Sir Bobby Moore lifted the Cup Winners Cup in 1965. 

Jarrod Bowen was the hero of the night for David Moyes's men in Prague, striding past the Fiorentina offside trap and keeping his cool in the 90th minute to make it 2-1.

As such, West Ham will also take part in the Europa League next season, meaning that the Premier League boasts an impressive eight teams in UEFA competitions in 2023-24.

At the bottom, season-long strugglers Southampton meekly slumped out of the top flight after an 11-year sojourn, and the south coast club were joined by Leeds United and Leicester City. 

Leeds had turned to Sam Allardyce in a bid to rescue their Premier League status - but, unsurprisingly, the tiresome dinosaur failed to get anywhere near to sorting out the Whites defence and took just one point out of 12. 

The biggest casualties of the season, though, were undoubtedly Leicester City after Dean Smith was unable to get the Foxes out of the terrible funk which they had fallen into under predecessor Brendan Rodgers.

Bizarrely, Smith played for a point away at Newcastle in their penultimate match, a result which took the fate of his side out of their hands - and it ultimately it proved costly as Everton escaped again on the last day by beating Bournemouth at home. 

⚽️

Elsewhere, in English football, this season was the first occurrence of all three of the Football League Playoff Finals needing at least extra time for an outcome.

Two of them, in fact, needed penalties as Luton Town became the 51st club to be represented in the Premier League era by beating Coventry City from 12 yards to return to the top flight after a 32-year absence.

Dan Potts scored the decisive kick for the Hatters - and left them with plenty of work to do over the summer just to ensure their rather ramshackle Kenilworth Road ground meets Premier League standards. 

In League One, Sheffield Wednesday endured perhaps the most torturous post-season adventure ever.

Thrashed 4-0 in the first leg of the semi final by Peterborough United, the Owls' hopes looked over - but the Yorkshire club staged an amazing comeback in the second leg to equalise.

Even then, in extra time in the second leg, Posh regained a 5-4 lead and Wednesday had to equalise again ahead of victory on penalties. 

In the Final, Wednesday held the upper hand for most of the match with south Yorkshire rivals Barnsley reduced to 10 men early in the second half. 

However, it took until the third minute of stoppage time in extra time - and effectively the last touch of the game - for Josh Windass to make the breakthrough with a fantastic diving header. 

Carlisle United also won under the Wembley Arch in League Two as the Cumbrians held their nerve to beat Stockport County on spot-kicks after narrowly getting the better of Bradford City in the semi finals.

Victory means Paul Simpson's side will play in the third tier for the first time in 10 years while Stockport County must try again in the bottom tier having also missed out on automatic promotion on the last day of the regular season. 

Finally, in the National League, Notts County's effort of 107 points in the regular season did not go to waste - but, after Wrexham had taken the only automatic place on 111 points, the Magpies needed to negotiate the playoffs. 

It almost went wrong in the semi finals against against Boreham Wood - but Notts recovered to win 3-2 in extra time before scraping past East Midlands rivals Chesterfield on penalties in the Final.

As a result, Notts County once again can proudly claim ownership of being the oldest club in the Football League. 

⚽️

(1) MANCHESTER CITY W28 D5 L5 F94 A33 +61 Pts 89
Manager Pep Guardiola (since July 2016)
FA Cup Winners League Cup Quarter finals Champions League Winners
Top scorer Erling Haaland (36) Clean sheets 13 Failed to score 3

(2) ARSENAL W26 D6 L6 F88 A3 +45 Pts 84
Manager Mikel Arteta (since December 2019)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round Europa League Last 16
Top scorers Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard (15) Clean sheets 14 Failed to score 4

(3) MANCHESTER UNITED W23 D6 L9 F58 A43 +15 Pts 75
Manager Erik ten Hag (since May 2022)
FA Cup Runners-up League Cup Winners Europa League Quarter finals
Top scorer Marcus Rashford (17) Clean sheets 17 Failed to score 7

(4) NEWCASTLE UNITED W19 D14 L5 F68 A33 +35 Pts 71
Manager Eddie Howe (since November 2021)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Runners-up
Top scorer Callum Wilson (18) Clean sheets 14 Failed to score 11

(5) LIVERPOOL W19 D10 L10 F75 A47 +28 Pts 67
Manager Jürgen Klopp (since October 2015)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Fourth round Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Mohamed Salah (19) Clean sheets 14 Failed to score 8

(6) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION W18 D8 L12 F72 A53 +19 Pts 62
Managers Roberto De Zerbi (since September 2022); Graham Potter (until September 2022)
FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Fourth round
Top scorer Alexis MacAllister (10) Clean sheets 12 Failed to score 5

(7) ASTON VILLA W18 D7 L13 F51 A46 +5 Pts 61
Managers Unai Emery (since November 2022); Steven Gerrard (until October 2022)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Ollie Watkins (15) Clean sheets 12 Failed to score 8

(8) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR W18 D6 L14 F70 A63 +7 Pts 60
Managers Ange Postecoglou (since June 2023); Antonio Conte (until March 2023), Cristian Stellini (interim, until April 2023), Ryan Mason (interim, until May 2023)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Harry Kane (30) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 4

(9) BRENTFORD W15 D14 L9 F58 A46 +12 Pts 59
Manager Thomas Frank (since October 2018)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Ivan Toney (20) Clean sheets 12 Failed to score 9

(10) FULHAM W15 D7 L16 F55 A53 +2 Pts 52
Manager Marco Silva (since July 2021)
FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Second round
Top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic (14) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 9

(11) CRYSTAL PALACE W11 D12 L15 F40 A49 -9 Pts 45
Managers Roy Hodgson (since March 2023); Patrick Vieira (until March 2023)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Eberechi Eze (10) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 16

(12) CHELSEA W11 D11 L16 F38 A47 -9 Pts 44
Managers Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2023); Thomas Tuchel (until September 2022), Graham Potter (until April 2023), Frank Lampard (until May 2023)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round Champions League Quarter finals
Top scorer Kai Havertz (7) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 14

(13) WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS W11 D8 L19 F31 A58 -27 Pts 41
Managers Julen Lopetegui (since November 2022); Bruno Lage (until October 2022)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorers Ruben Neves, Daniel Podence (6) Clean sheets 11 Failed to score 15

(14) WEST HAM UNITED W11 D7 L20 F42 A55 -13 Pts 40
Manager David Moyes (since December 2019)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round Europa Conference Winners
Top scorer Said Benrahma (6) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 13

(15) AFC BOURNEMOUTH W11 D6 L21 F37 A71 -34 Pts 39
Managers Gary O'Neil (since August 2022); Scott Parker (until August 2022)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round
Top scorer Philip Billing (7) Clean sheets 8 Failed to score 18

(16) NOTTINGHAM FOREST W9 D11 L18 F38 A68 -30 Pts 38
Manager Steve Cooper (since September 2021)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Semi finals
Top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi (10) Clean sheets 7 Failed to score 12

(17) EVERTON W8 D12 L18 F34 A57 -23 Pts 36
Managers Sean Dyche (since January 2023); Frank Lampard (until January 2023)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Dwight McNeil (7) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 14

(18) LEICESTER CITY W9 D7 L22 F51 A68 -17 Pts 34
Managers Vacant; Brendan Rodgers (until April 2023), Dean Smith (until May 2023)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorer Harvey Barnes (13) Clean sheets 7 Failed to score 12

(19) LEEDS UNITED W7 D10 L21 F48 A78 -30 Pts 31
Managers Vacant; Jesse Marsch (until February 2023), Javi Gracia (until May 2023), Sam Allardyce (until June 2023)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Rodrigo (13) Clean sheets 5 Failed to score 10

(20) SOUTHAMPTON W6 D7 L25 F36 A73 -37 Pts 25
Managers Vacant; Ralph Hasenhüttl (until November 2022), Nathan Jones (until February 2023), Rubén Sellés (until May 2023)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Semi finals
Top scorers James Ward-Prowse (9) Clean sheets 4 Failed to score 15

⚽️

ROLL OF HONOUR 2022-23

ENGLAND

Premier League

Champions	Manchester City
Runners-up	Arsenal
Champions League	Manchester United (3rd), Newcastle United (4th)
Europa League	Liverpool (5th), Brighton & Hove Albion (6th)
Europa Conference	Aston Villa (7th)
Relegation	Leicester City, Leeds United, Southampton

Championship

Champions	Burnley
Runners-up	Sheffield United
Playoff winners	Luton Town (won 6-5 on penalties against Coventry City following 1-1 aet)
Relegation	Reading, Blackpool, Wigan Athletic

League One

Champions	Plymouth Argyle
Runners-up	Ipswich Town
Playoff winners	Sheffield Wednesday (won 1-0 against Barnsley, after extra time)
Relegation	Milton Keynes Dons, Morecambe, Accrington Stanley, Forest Green Rovers

League Two

Champions	Leyton Orient
Runners-up	Stevenage
Also promoted	Northampton Town
Playoff winners	Carlisle United (won 5-4 on penalties against Stockport County following 1-1 aet)
Relegation	Hartlepool United, Rochdale

National League Premier

Champions	Wrexham
Playoff winners	Notts County (won 4-3 on penalties against Chesterfield following 2-2 aet)
Relegation	Torquay United, Yeovil Town, Scunthorpe United, Maidstone United

National League North

Champions	AFC Fylde
Playoff winners	Kidderminster Harriers (won 2-0 against Brackley Town)
Relegation	Kettering Town, Leamington, Bradford (Park Avenue), AFC Telford United

National League South

Champions	Ebbsfleet United
Playoff winners	Oxford City (won 4-0 against St Albans City)
Relegation	Dulwich Hamlet, Concord Rangers, Cheshunt, Hungerford Town

Domestic Cup Finals

FA Cup Final	Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United
League Cup Final	Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
FA Community Shield	Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City
EFL Trophy	Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Plymouth Argyle
FA Trophy	Halifax Town 1-0 Gateshead
FA Vase	Ascot United 1-0 Newport Pagnell Town

SCOTLAND

Premiership

Champions	Celtic
Runners-up	Rangers
Europa League	Aberdeen (3rd)
Europa Conference	Hearts (4th), Hibernian (5th)
Relegation	Dundee United

Championship

Champions	Dundee
Runners-up	Ayr United (not promoted)
Relegation	Hamilton Academical, Cove Rangers

League One

Champions	Dunfermline Athletic
Runners-up	Falkirk (not promoted)
Playoff winners	Airdrieonians (won 6-5 on penalties, after 2-2 on agg, v Hamilton Academical (1-0h, 1-2a aet))
Relegation	Clyde, Peterhead

League Two

Champions	Stirling Albion
Runners-up	Dumbarton (not promoted)
Playoff winners	Annan Athletic (won 5-2 on aggregate v Clyde (3-1h, 2-1a))
Relegation	Albion Rovers (lost 1-2 on aggregate v The Spartans (1-1h, 1-0a))

Domestic Cup Finals

FA Cup Final	Celtic 3-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
League Cup Final	Celtic 2-1 Rangers
Challenge Cup Final	Hamilton Academical 1-0 Raith Rovers

WALES

Welsh Premier League

Champions	The New Saints
Europa Conference	Connah's Quay Nomads (2nd), Penybont (3rd), Haverfordwest County (playoffs)
Relegation	Flint Town United, Airbus UK Broughton

Welsh Cup Finals

FA Cup Final	The New Saints 6-0 Bala Town
League Cup Final	Bala Town 0-0 Connah's Quay Nomads, after extra time Bala Town won 4-3 on penalties

NORTHERN IRELAND

Irish Premiership

Champions	Larne
Europa Conference	Linfield (2nd), Crusaders (cup winners), Glentoran (playoff winners)
Relegation	Portadown

Irish Cup Finals

IFA Cup Final	Crusaders 4-0 Ballymena United
League Cup Final	Linfield 2-0 Coleraine

EUROPE

UEFA Finals

Champions League	Manchester City (Eng) 1-0 Internazionale (Ita)
Europa League	Sevilla (Spa) 1-1 Roma (Ita), after extra time. Sevilla won 4-1 on penalties.
Europa Conference	West Ham United (Eng) 2-1 Fiorentina (Ita)
Super Cup	Real Madrid (Spa) 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt (Ger)

Major European league champions

Spain	Barcelona
Italy	Napoli
Germany	Bayern Munich
France	Paris Saint-Germain
Portugal	Benfica
Netherlands	Feyenoord
Belgium	Royal Antwerp
Greece	AEK Athens
Turkey	Galatasaray