Manchester City feeling the love
As the 2017-18 Premier League English soccer season gets set to kick off Friday, there’s an endless supply of story lines to keep fans entertained through May.
Can Chelsea avoid a title hangover? Will Arsenal get back into the top four after missing out for the first time in 20 years? Is this Tottenham’s time to win it all? Can Liverpool see a title challenge all the way through?
We surveyed the USA TODAY Sports team of soccer writers and editors for predictions on how the season will shake out.
Three of the four picked Manchester City to win the league in Pep Guardiola’s second year, while only one thinks Arsenal will finish in a Champions League place.
Martin Rogers
Champion: Manchester City 2-4 finishers: Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) Best young player: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) Relegated teams: Watford, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town
Jesse Yomtov
Champion: Chelsea 2-4 finishers: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United
Golden Boot: Harry Kane
(Tottenham) Best young player: Jordan
Pickford (Everton) Relegated: Burnley, Huddersfield Town, Brighton & Hove
Jim Reineking
Champion: Manchester City 2-4 finishers: Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Golden Boot: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) Best young player: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove, Burnley, Huddersfield Town
Adam Woodard
Champion: Manchester City 2-4 finishers: Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool Golden Boot: Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) Best young player: Gabriel
Jesus (Manchester City)
Relegated: Watford, Brighton & Hove, Huddersfield Town