City to retain title, a cup for Klopp and Juve to rule Europe
IAN LADYMAN
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: LIVERPOOL, MAN UNITED, CHELSEA
RELEGATED: CARDIFF, HUDDERSFIELD, LEICESTER FA CUP: MAN CITY LEAGUE CUP: LIVERPOOL PROMOTED: STOKE SWANSEA, MIDDLESBROUGH
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS
PEP GUARDIOLA said his team can’t match last season’s phenomenal effort but why not? City have added Riyad Mahrez and their players will be better for last year. Europe may distract them but their rivals have too much ground to make up. Liverpool will improve on the back of summer business but not enough. I’ve put Jurgen Klopp down for the League Cup because he has to win a trophy some time. Hasn’t he?
United will not be as bad as people have suggested simply because they never are while Tottenham will be this season’s big surprise and not in a good way. They have not invested properly and could suffer because of it.
It’s a shock to include Leicester to go down but they have lost their best player and will they keep Harry Maguire and Kasper Schmeichel?
IAN HERBERT
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: LIVERPOOL, MAN UTD CHELSEA
RELEGATED: HUDDERSFIELD, BRIGHTON, CARDIFF FA CUP: MAN UNITED LEAGUE CUP: LIVERPOOL PROMOTED: ASTON VILLA, STOKE, MIDDLESBROUGH
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS
CITy will dominate again because it is a season of transition for Chelsea and Arsenal while United, consumed by Jose Mourinho’s negativity, are flatlining and better off without him. Liverpool will be stronger but their defence is still a weakness. At the other end of the table, Huddersfield and Brighton both looked vulnerable last season.
SAMI MOKBEL
CHAMPIONS: LIVERPOOL TOP 4: MAN CITY, MAN UNITED, TOTTENHAM
RELEGATED: CARDIFF, HUDDERSFIELD, NEWCASTLE FA CUP: TOTTENHAM LEAGUE CUP: ARSENAL PROMOTED: STOKE, MIDDLESBROUGH, DERBY
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS
LIVERPOOL’S squad is significantly stronger for their summer signings. If goalkeeper Alisson can live up to his billing, Klopp’s men can overcome City. If Chelsea strengthen, they could push Spurs for the top four. I expect Mauricio OUR EXPERTS HAVE THEIR SAY Pochettino to finally lift a trophy while any silverware will be satisfactory for Unai Emery at Arsenal. Newcastle’s lack of investment may catch up with them.
DOMINIC KING
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: LIVERPOOL, MAN UNITED, TOTTENHAM
RELEGATED: BOURNEMOUTH, HUDDERSFIELD, CARDIFF FA CUP: LIVERPOOL LEAGUE CUP: MAN UNITED PROMOTED: STOKE, MIDDLESBROUGH, ASTON VILLA
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS
CITy set an incredible standard last year and history says Guardiola’s teams improve with each year. They are the team to beat. There’s an idea that Spurs are vulnerable and could miss the top four but Chelsea and Arsenal have the Europa League to contend with and that Thursday-Sunday schedule in the first half of the season will be crucial. I hope I’m wrong about Huddersfield but it is going to be a struggle for them.
MATT BARLOW
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: MAN UNITED, LIVERPOOL, TOTTENHAM
RELEGATED: CARDIFF, HUDDERSFIELD, BOURNEMOUTH FA CUP: CHELSEA LEAGUE CUP: MAN UNITED PROMOTED: STOKE, MIDDLESBROUGH, ASTON VILLA
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS
NO team has defended the title since United in 2009 but City are settled with scope to improve and Guardiola has form for stacking titles once his team is the way he likes it. It is hard to see them collapsing, while those in pursuit have differing degrees of disruption to work through.
RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: LIVERPOOL, TOTTENHAM, CHELSEA
RELEGATED: CARDIFF, HUDDERSFIELD, BRIGHTON FA CUP: TOTTENHAM LEAGUE CUP: EVERTON PROMOTED: STOKE, WEST BROM, LEEDS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS
CITy haven’t added much but what they have brought in — Mahrez — has strengthened an already exceptional squad. There’s no place for United in my top four — Mourinho has already sucked the life out of them. Arsenal will need time to adjust to regime change and Liverpool will excel now they have a top goalkeeper. Pochettino badly needs a trophy and ought to go all out for the FA Cup.
CRAIG HOPE
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: TOTTENHAM, LIVERPOOL, MAN UNITED
RELEGATED: CARDIFF, HUDDERSFIELD, SOUTHAMPTON FA CUP: TOTTENHAM LEAGUE CUP: MAN UNITED PROMOTED: STOKE, MIDDLESBROUGH, LEEDS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS
THE gap to City is too great to reverse in one season, but I expect Liverpool and Spurs to be the nearest challengers. United may well take fourth and a League Cup, but I fear another miserable season of listening to Mourinho sully what should be a brilliant and exciting football club to follow.
LAURIE WHITWELL
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: LIVERPOOL, CHELSEA, TOTTENHAM
RELEGATED: CARDIFF, HUDDERSFIELD, BRIGHTON FA CUP: TOTTENHAM LEAGUE CUP: LIVERPOOL PROMOTED: STOKE, WEST BROM, LEEDS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: MAN CITY
THIS has all the hallmarks of a Mourinho meltdown season, while Maurizio Sarri should bring the fun back to Chelsea. This is the season Pochettino and Klopp are rewarded with silverware while Guardiola might just get it right in Europe.
SIMON JONES
CHAMPIONS: MAN CITY TOP 4: LIVERPOOL, CHELSEA, TOTTENHAM
RELEGATED: CARDIFF, BOURNEMOUTH, FULHAM FA CUP: MAN UTD LEAGUE CUP: LIVERPOOL PROMOTED: STOKE, WEST BROM, MIDDLESBROUGH
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: MAN CITY
LIVERPOOL and Chelsea will provide a greater challenge but the addition of Mahrez and the growing experience of their younger players will keep City ahead and capable of going all the way in Europe.