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. 

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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

Premier League preview: Haaland signing sends Man City clear

PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW 2022-23

▪️ ARSENAL @Arsenal

Last season 5th FA Cup Third round League Cup Semi finals

Last major trophy FA Cup 2020

Ownership Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (USA)

Head coach Mikel Arteta (since December 2019)

New signings Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko

Arsenal have reacted to missing out on Champions League football for a sixth season in a row with a splurge of transfer activity this summer. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko arrive from Manchester City while Fabio Vieira, from Porto, and Marquinhos, from Sao Paolo, freshen up the Gunners' attacking options following the departure of Alexandre Lacazette. Certainly, head coach Mikel Arteta cannot complain at the level of investment which, at £119 million, is the highest in the Premier League. At the same time, though, many Arsenal supporters are questioning if the club is backing the right man. Following three defeats on the spin to start last season, Arsenal were always playing catch-up - but, any time it looked as if they might consolidate a place in the top four, they hit another sticky patch such as the four defeats out of five in March and April. Arteta was regularly indebted to his younger players like Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Sako and Emile Smith Rowe - but a lack of consistency comes naturally with youth and further successive away defeats inside four days in May to Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United confirmed the end for the Gunners' top four hopes. The summer signings should relieve some of the pressure on the young Gunners players - but that pressure now lies firmly on Arteta to deliver. 

Prediction [7th]

▪️ ASTON VILLA @AVFCOfficial

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

Last major trophy League Cup 1996

Ownership Nasser Sawiris (EGY) and Wes Edens (USA)

Head coach Steven Gerrard (since November 2021)

New signings Philippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos, Robin Olsen, Boubacar Kamara, Ludwig Augustinsson*

Aston Villa lost exactly half of their Premier League matches last season as early progress following the appointment of Steven Gerrard in November proved to be something of mirage. Gerrard won his first two games in charge of the Villans to lift his side up to 13th - but, in the 25 matches which followed, Villa won eight, drew five and lost 12 to finish in 14th, three places lower than in 2020-21. Home form was particularly poor - there were eight defeats in B6 alone and the Holte End witnessed just two league wins in the whole of the second half of last season. This summer, Diego Carlos - a commanding centre-back - has arrived from Sevilla, Boubacar Kamara will add some steel to the midfield - and, with Philippe Coutinho signing permanently following a successful loan spell since January, there is much to be said for Gerrard's ability to attract top signings to the second city. For the most part, the appeal of working with the 42-year-old no doubt still largely owes itself to his playing days. Nevertheless, Gerrard's record at Rangers looks better with every passing week and he has also stamped his authority on the Villa Park dressing room by deciding to remove the captain's armband from the error-prone Tyrone Mings and hand it instead to John McGinn.

Prediction [8th]

▪️ BOURNEMOUTH @afcbournemouth

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

Last major trophy None

Ownership Maxim Demin (RUS)

Head coach Scott Parker (since June 2021)

New signings Ryan Fredericks, Joe Rothwell, Marcus Tavernier

Bournemouth are back, with the foundations of only their second ever promotion to the top flight laid between August and October when the Cherries enjoyed a club record unbeaten start to a season of 15 matches. Thereafter, though, the campaign became a real slog and three matches without scoring in April, including a woeful defeat to West Bromwich Albion, threatened to land Scott Parker's men in the playoffs. Indeed, it took until the penultimate match to seal the deal with a nervy 1-0 win over fellow-promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest - and Premier League teams simply will not allow a team to get away with such profligacy. Dominic Solanke - once a promising prospect at Chelsea - will lead the line but, just like head coach Parker, he is unproven at the top level. Whatever happens, at least, Parker will no doubt appear sharply-dressed on the touchline in a tailored suit. But, with no real head-turning arrivals to the south coast, the smart money will be on Bournemouth to go down.

Prediction [20th]

▪️ BRENTFORD @BrentfordFC

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

Last major trophy None

Ownership Matthew Benham (ENG)

Head coach Thomas Frank (since October 2018)

New signings Aaron Hickey, Keane Lewis-Potter, Thomas Strakosha, Yehor Yarmolyuk, Ben Mee

Brentford were dropping like a stone when they made the bold decision to bring Christian Eriksen in from the cold, only seven months after the Danish midfielder has suffered a cardiac arrest while playing at Euro 2020+1. True, the Bees had little to lose with that particular roll of the dice - an immediate return to the Championship looked more and more likely as early-season optimism faded in a bleak mid-winter run of 4 points out of 33 between Boxing Day and February. Nevertheless, having sparked a remarkable turnaround in form to secure safety, it feels rather galling that the 30-year-old will now turn out for Manchester United. Instead, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank must head back to the drawing board and attempt to plot a different escape route - but, unfortunately for Frank, his realistic options are extremely limited, perhaps merely just to keeping it tight at the back while hoping Ivan Toney enjoys a purple patch or two in front of goal.

Prediction [19th]

▪️ BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION @OfficialBHAFC

Last season 9th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Fourth round

Last major trophy None

Ownership Tony Bloom (ENG)

Head coach Graham Potter (since May 2019)

New signing Julio Enciso

Brighton & Hove Albion achieved their highest league finish in club history last season as a blinding start and strong finish brought a placing in the top half. The Seagulls took 15 points out of their first 18 and finished by taking 18 points out of their last 24, a run which included a club record top-flight triumph with a stunning 4-0 win over Manchester United. But, in between the autumn and the spring, Graham Potter's outfit reverted to their long-held reputation as draw specialists with eight coming in 10 matches between late-September and early-December. A more worrying sequence of five successive defeats in February and March even threatened to suck Albion into the battle to avoid relegation - so, in other words, Brighton's historic finishing position hardly tells the whole story of their season. As ever, the Seagulls struggled to convert their neat possession into goals - and this campaign promises to be another exercise in frustration.
Prediction [13th]

▪️ CHELSEA @ChelseaFC

Last season 3rd FA Cup Runners-up League Cup Runners-up Champions League Quarter finals

Last major trophy Champions League 2021

Ownership Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital (USA)

Head coach Thomas Tuchel (since January 2021)

New signings Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka

Chelsea were top of the Premier League on 1 December after beating Watford - but the 3-2 defeat to West Ham United three days later hit the Blues hard, and Thomas Tuchel's team never recovered the sort of consistency required to fight for the Premier League title. Losing both domestic Cup finals on penalties to Liverpool ended up adding to the frustration - but, as the season wore on, the football at Stamford Bridge took a back seat. The brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine led to former owner Roman Abramovich having his assets frozen - and left Chelsea unable even to sell a mug in the club shop. Officially at least, Abramovich has now cleared off and the Blues - now under the control of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital - have been able to operate quite normally this summer. Raheem Sterling has made a shock move from Manchester City for £47.5 million while centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly arrives from Napoli for £33 million as Chelsea seek to retain their place in the top four which they have now held for the last four seasons. Perhaps crucially, though, Tuchel lacks an out-and-out goalscorer - Mason Mount finished top of the charts last time at the club with just 11 in the league, and this is an omission which could easily come back to cost the West London club.

Prediction [5th]

▪️ CRYSTAL PALACE @CPFC

Last season 12th FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Second round

Last major trophy None

Ownership Steve Parish (ENG)

Head coach Patrick Vieira (since July 2021)

New signings Sam Johnstone, Cheick Doucoure, Chris Richards

Crystal Palace have given themselves a platform to build on after a 12th-placed finish and a second visit to Wembley in the FA Cup in six years. Most significantly, the Eagles' attacking presence - which was for so long restricted only to Wilfried Zaha - now extends to an array of talent including Zaha, youth talent Eberechi Eze, and French pair Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Patrick Vieira has overseen the transformation as Palace finally tried something new in the Selhurst Park dug-out following a run of managers which - barring five disastrous matches in 2017 under Frank De Boer - reads: Ian Holloway, Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock, Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson. Frustratingly for Vieira, Palace were prone to too many draws, finishing the season with 15 in all, with 11 of those score draws. The Eagles held a lead at some stage in seven of those 11 matches so the area for improvement is fairly obvious. Any such progress will have to come without the effective Conor Gallagher, though, as he has returned to his parent club Chelsea for 2022-23.

Prediction [11th]

▪️ EVERTON @Everton

Last season 16th FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Third round

Last major trophy FA Cup 1995

Ownership Farhad Moshiri (IRN)

Head coach Frank Lampard (since January 2022)

New signings James Tarkowski, Dwight McNeil, Ruben Vinagre*

Frank Lampard may have kept Everton up in May following the ill-starred tenure of former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez - but the 44-year-old will not be sitting comfortably heading into the new season. In fact, Lampard is currently favourite to be the first Premier League boss to leave their post - and it is not difficult to work out why. The Toffees took just 10 points on the road in 2021-22 - and only four of them came in the nine away matches under Lampard. Effectively, Everton retained their top-flight status for a 69th consecutive season on the back of some strong form at Goodison Park from Richarlison and a bit of graft from youngster Anthony Gordon. Richarlison has now left for Tottenham Hotspur with his replacement Dwight McNeil arriving on the back of a terrible campaign at Burnley. In fairness, the goal-threat provided by Dominic Calvert-Lewin should be enough for Everton to survive as usual - but it also seems likely the cash-strapped Merseyside club will reach the finishing line in the spring with yet another new face in the dugout.

Prediction [16th]

▪️ FULHAM @FulhamFC

Last season 1st in Championship (promoted) FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round

Last major trophy None

Ownership Shahid Khan (USA)

Head coach Marco Silva (since July 2021)

New signings Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira, Kevin Mbabu, Bernd Leno, Manor Solomon*

The yo-yo existence for Fulham continues unabated, with the spring bringing a third promotion from the Championship out of their last three seasons at that level. But, while the promotion campaigns of 2018 and 2020 concluded with success in the playoffs, this time the Cottagers return under Marco Silva on the back of a convincing Championship title win in which they tallied 90 points and scored 106 goals. Indeed, Aleksandar Mitrovic helped himself to 43 of them personally to break a record held since 1993 by Guy Whittingham for the highest scoring English league season in the current 46-match format. Now, in his past forays in the top flight, the Serbian has struggled with his discipline - or, in the case of 2020-21, struggled full-stop - but he arrives in the Premier League this time with more confidence than ever. The departure this summer of attacking foil Fabio Carvalho to Liverpool is disappointing, if understandable - but, even without the Portuguese forward, Fulham still now carry enough threat to score when on top during games, something which was sorely lacking in their most recent survival attempt.

Prediction [14th]

▪️ LEEDS UNITED @LUFC

Last season 14th FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round

Last major trophy First Division 1991-92

Ownership Andrea Radrizzani (ITA)

Head coach Jesse Marsch (since February 2022)

New signings Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra, Sonny Perkins

Leeds United should be worried, really worried. Having survived by the skin of their teeth last season on the final day, the Whites have lost two of their better players this summer as Manchester City and Barcelona came sniffing around Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha respectively. Marc Roca - signed from Bayern Munich - covers the loss of Phillips from midfield but Jesse Marsch's men will sorely miss the skill and directness of the talented Brazilian. Following the departure of the enigmatic Argentine Marcelo Bielsa at the end of February, Marsch did pretty well to be fair, taking 15 points from the last 10 games to keep Premier League football in this part of Yorkshire despite a heavy dose of second season syndrome. However, with the squad now still weaker again, the American faces an even tougher survival challenge in his full Premier League campaign.

Prediction [18th]

▪️ LEICESTER CITY @LCFC

Last season 8th FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup Quarter finals Europa League Group stage

Last major trophy FA Cup 2021

Ownership Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (THA)

Head coach Brendan Rodgers (since February 2019)

New signings None

There is a concerned mood around the King Power Stadium ahead of the new season despite the eighth place in May making it five top half finishes out of six since the Foxes' remarkable Premier League title win in 2015-16. The concern is understandable, though - displays throughout last season were far from convincing, particularly from a defensive perspective, as rather neatly demonstrated by the concession of 16 goals from corners alone. The Foxes' set-piece weakness contributed to Brendan Rodgers's men dropping 21 points from winning positions - and, with 34 matches played, Leicester were floundering down in 14th. It was only a late string of good results, in easy fixtures, against Norwich City, Watford and Southampton, which pushed Leicester into the top half - and a lack of as much as a single signing this summer has done nothing to allay the worries in this part of the East Midlands. With Kasper Schmeichel off to Nice, Leicester have spent most of the transfer window warding off interest in members of their team such as Wesley Fofana, Youri Tielemans, and James Maddison. Of those three, the loss of Maddison would serve as an especially critical blow following his efforts towards the back end of last season - and, without his talisman, it would be difficult to see Rodgers avoiding an early exit.

Prediction [12th]

▪️ LIVERPOOL @LFC

Last season 2nd FA Cup Winners League Cup Winners Champions League Runners-up

Last major trophy FA Cup 2022

Ownership Fenway Sports Group (USA)

Head coach Jürgen Klopp (since October 2015)

New signings Darwin Nunez, Calvin Ramsay, Fabio Carvalho

Liverpool drew first blood this season in the glorified friendly that is the Community Shield - but it will not mean much at all if the Reds miss out on the biggest prizes again in 2023. From a possible historic quadruple, the Reds had to settle for success in the two domestic cups only, with both finals decided on penalties after finishing 0-0. Much of the summer break was taken up by the rumour that the prolific Mo Salah was set to move on - and, with Sadio Mane already off to Bayern Munich, Jurgen Klopp will be pleased that contract negotiations with the Egyptian were successful. Even strong teams undergo transformation, of course - and Darwin Nunez has been signed from Benfica for the small matter of £65 million, while January signing Luis Diaz will look to build upon his encouraging start to life at Anfield. At the back, Virgil Van Dijk remains the Reds' most indispensible player - while the full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson will again provide the attacking width. It is a very defined way of playing and extremely effective when done well. However, it can also leave the defence exposed - and fine lines are often the deciding factor in the biggest matches.

Prediction [2nd]

▪️ MANCHESTER CITY @ManCity

Last season Champions FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Fourth round Champions League Semi finals

Last major trophy Premier League 2021-22

Ownership Abu Dhabi United Group (UAE)

Head coach Pep Guardiola (since July 2016)

New signings Erling Haaland, Stefan Ortega, Kalvin Phillips

Much was made last summer of the failure of Manchester City to prise Harry Kane away from Tottenham Hotspur as Pep Guardiola prepared his team for life after Sergio Aguero - then, to add insult to injury, Spurs beat Man City on the opening day. Yet, despite that early setback, the defending champions stormed into a 12-point lead on the back of a run of 43 points out of 45 between November and February. Gradually, though, Liverpool ate into the advantage to the extent that only one point separated the teams heading into the final day. Certainly, it was a nervy run-in - Man City had trailed 2-0 at half time before coming back to draw level against West Ham United in their penultimate match, then fell 2-0 behind again to Aston Villa on the final day. Ilkay Gundogan inspired an amazing five-minute turnaround to make it four Premier League titles in five years at the Etihad Stadium, but the feeling persisted that Guardiola's men would have made life so much easier for themselves if they had signed Kane or another big-name forward. This year, Erling Haaland arrived nice and early - and, despite a difficult debut in the Community Shield at the weekend, the quality of service from Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Premier League player of the season Kevin De Bruyne should help the 22-year-old Norwegian settle in quickly.

Prediction [Champions]

▪️ MANCHESTER UNITED @ManUtd

Last season 6th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round Champions League Last 16

Last major trophy Europa League 2017

Ownership Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer (USA)

Head coach Erik ten Hag (since May 2022)

New signings Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Tom Huddlestone

Manchester United finished last season with a meek 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace for a sixth consecutive away league defeat for the first time since March 1981. This was also the first time the Red Devils failed to end a league campaign with a positive goal difference since 1989-90. New manager Erik ten Hag, who led Ajax Amsterdam to the Dutch title in May, has said the job is not a risk to his reputation - and there are already promising signs that the 52-year-old can succeed where the other five permanent or interim managers appointed since the Sir Alex Ferguson era have failed. The Old Trafford faithful seemingly will only settle for the return of the Premier League - and ten Haag's transfer business appears solid. For example, Christian Eriksen showed at Brentford last season that he has lost none of his magic, while 24-year-old Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez could be a rock at the back for years to come. At the same time, though, the Red Devils have now fallen too far behind their city rivals Manchester City and eternal rivals Liverpool to be considered as serious title challengers in 2022-23.

Prediction [4th]

▪️ NEWCASTLE UNITED @NUFC

Last season 11th FA Cup Third round League Cup Second round

Last major trophy UEFA (Fairs) Cup 1969

Ownership Public Investment Fund (KSA)

Head coach Eddie Howe (since November 2021)

New signings Matt Targett, Nick Pope, Sven Botman

Newcastle United made Premier League history last season by becoming the first top division team since Sheffield United in 1990-91 to fail to win any of their first 14 matches and still stay up. Even as late as January, when the Magpies suffered their latest FA Cup embarrassment at home to Cambridge United, hopes of survival looked slim - especially when Joao Pedro towered over Jamaal Lascelles at the Gallowgate End to head in a stoppage-time equaliser for Watford. But January also brought a first transfer window under new Saudi Arabia-backed ownership. Already action had been taken in October to replace the ruinous Steve Bruce with former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe - and near enough a new defence was next to be sorted. Matt Targett's loan from Aston Villa was followed by the signings of Kieran Trippier and Blyth-born Dan Burn - but it was Bruno Guimaraes, a £33.3 million arrival from Lyon, who really got Tyneside buzzing. Howe's refreshed outfit won 12 times in the second half of the season and took 37 points in 18 matches to find a top-half finish only just beyond them. There have been further defensive reinforcements this summer with the permanent signing of Targett and the arrival of Sven Botman, while Nick Pope will provide competition for Martin Dubravka between the sticks. However, there are also concerns about a lack of depth up front and the continued over-reliance on injury-prone Callum Wilson has somewhat tempered expectations on Tyneside.

Prediction [9th]

▪️ NOTTINGHAM FOREST @NFFC

Last season 4th in Championship (promoted) FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Second round

Last major trophy League Cup 1990

Ownership Evangelos Marinakis (GRE)

Head coach Steve Cooper (since September 2021)

New signings Taiwo Awoniyi, Giulian Biancone, Moussa Niakhate, Omar Richards, Neco Williams, Wayne Hennessey, Brandon Aguilera, Harry Toffolo, Lewis O'Brien, Jesse Lingard, Orel Mangala, Dean Henderson*

A big welcome back to the Premier League for Nottingham Forest who are gearing up for a first season in the top flight in the 21st Century. When Forest were last among the elite, Tony Blair was still Prime Minister and Bill Clinton was US President - and, in the meantime, the twice former European Champions even dropped to the third tier for three seasons between 2005 and 2008. Only last year, another visit to that level looked a distinct possibility with Forest taking just a single point from their first seven games under Chris Hughton. But the arrival of Steve Cooper brought about a massive turnaround as Forest then won 23 and lost only six of the following 39 matches to qualify for the playoffs. All four of the Tricky Trees' previous end-of-season escapades had ended in failure - but Cooper's side defied this record, winning promotion by beating Huddersfield Town at Wembley. Surprisingly, that was the last game for the club for goalkeeper Brice Samba who has moved to Lens in France, while Djed Spence - who was on loan from Middlesbrough - has opted instead to sign for Tottenham Hotspur. Highly-rated keeper Dean Henderson comes in on loan between the sticks and the signing of Jesse Lingard can be considered as something of a coup. The next 10 months will be a struggle at times but, if the City Ground becomes the fortress which it could be, Cooper can defy the odds again.

Prediction [17th]

▪️ SOUTHAMPTON @SouthamptonFC

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

Last major trophy FA Cup 1976

Ownership Sport Republic (SRB)

Head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl (since December 2018)

New signings Gavin Bazunu, Mateusz Lis, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Romeo Lavia, Joe Aribo, Sekou Mara

For just how much longer are Southampton happy to tread water? The Saints' last five Premier League finishes have been 17th, 16th, a relatively creditable 11th, and then two 15th placings. Certainly, it is a long way off from the successive top seven places under Ronald Koeman in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Additionally, in the meantime, there have also been some humiliating results - the two 9-0s, at home to Leicester City in October 2019 and away to Manchester United in February 2021 - and a 6-0 home defeat to Chelsea last season. As such, it basically feels like Southampton are back to where they constantly were during the 1990s when club legend Matt Le Tissier did enough to save his team from the drop year after year. The equivalent contribution now comes from an arguably even more talented player, James Ward-Prowse - but this over-reliance on a single player is not exactly a sustainable approach.

Prediction [15th]

▪️ TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR @SpursOfficial

Last season 4th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Semi finals Conference League Group stage

Last major trophy League Cup 2008

Ownership ENIC International Limited (ENG)

Head coach Antonio Conte (since November 2021)

New signings Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Djed Spence, Clement Lenglet* 

Without ever really threatening actually to win something, Tottenham Hotspur have actually had a pretty good last 52 weeks. Last August, Harry Kane snubbed Manchester City to stay in North London - then, at the start of November, Spurs finally got around to appointing the man who they should have brought in last summer when Antonio Conte's arrival put Nuno Espirito Santo out of his misery. In January, Spurs recruited well, signing Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus and agreeing an 18-month loan for Dejan Kulusevski from the Italian giants - and their influence, along with the goals of Kane and Premier League joint-top scorer Son Heung-min, pushed Conte's men over the line in the race for the fourth Champions League spot. This summer, there have been some more smart signings such as Richarlison, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic who, despite being past his very best, still has much to offer - and, as such, Spurs head into a campaign in their strongest position for quite a few years. Of course, that does not necessarily mean Tottenham are actually going to win anything - after all, the cup defeats to Chelsea and Middlesbrough were, for rather different reasons, both as Spursy as it gets.

Prediction [3rd]

▪️ WEST HAM UNITED @WestHam

Last season 7th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Quarter finals

Last major trophy FA Cup 1980

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

Head coach David Moyes (since December 2019)

New signings Nayef Aguerd, Alphonse Areola, Flynn Downes, Gianluca Scamacca

West Ham United secured a second successive season of European football with a seventh-placed finish last season - but it looked as if it could have been so much better for David Moyes's men. Instead, the Hammers won only one of their last seven matches - against Norwich City - and consequently dropped away from the Champions League race into a Europa Conference spot. The Londoners' final chance of a Champions League place came via their run in the Europa League - but their semi final defeat ended badly with Moyes forced to apologise after his full-pelt volley at a ballboy in Frankfurt. But, despite that lack of discipline - and the lack of nerve shown by his team - the Scotsman has had some decent backing in the transfer market. Indeed, the arrivals of defender Nayef Aguerd from Rennes and the highly-rated striker Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuola should ensure the Moyes's men challenge towards the top end of the table again.

Prediction [6th]

▪️ WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS @Wolves

Last season 10th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round

Last major trophy League Cup 1980

Ownership Fosun International (CHN)

Head coach Bruno Lage (since June 2021)

New signings Hwang Hee-chan, Nathan Collins

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished last season with as many league defeats (17) as relegated Burnley after taking just eight points out of the last 36 - and so a promising first season for Bruno Lage at Molineux can be considered to have badly petered out. The reason behind it was obvious: a lack of goals. Wolves finished the 38-match league campaign with exactly one-per-game - and, sadly, Mexican striker Raul Jiminez has only shown odd glimpses of his previous form since his comeback from a horrific head injury in November 2020. Hwang Hee-chan produced some promising moments - and the Korean forward has now signed permanently from Red Bull Leipzig. Meanwhile, the retention so far of Ruben Neves and Pedro Neto will have the Old Gold safely in the middle of the pack once again.

Prediction [10th]

*refers to loan signing