Diaz can be the Mane man in Klopp’s title charge while Haaland can shoot City to glory in Champions League
AND so the fun and chaos begins again and what better way to celebrate than pretending you know how it will all pan out. This time last year I predicted the Premier League top three in the right order but only called Watford right in the relegation zone (apologies to Brentford and Crystal Palace) and tipped Everton to finish eighth.
For once we can genuinely say that this season will be like no other, as six weeks of it will be lost in Qatar, the effect on players and teams impossible to guess. But fences were not made to be sat on, so here’s my gut instinct about who will finish where and why.
ARSENAL: 4th
Great summer. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus are players they needed and centre-back William Saliba feels like a new signing. The defence looks tight, the midfield full of energy and innovation, and Jesus could finally be the answer to their goal-scoring prayers.
ASTON VILLA: 9th
Five pre-season games without defeat hints Steven Gerrard’s plan is coming together. Leon Bailey is in excellent shape, Diego Carlos will bolster the defence, Philippe Coutinho will kick on and it’s a fair bet Ollie Watkins will bounce back after a mediocre season.
BOURNEMOUTH: 20th
A frustrated Scott Parker said this week his squad is weaker than when it won promotion and is “way short of where we need to be.” Looking at his depleted defence, even if striker Dominic Solanke finally delivers in the top flight, the signs look ominous.
BRENTFORD: 14th
Wonderful first season in the Prem but it will be hard for Thomas Frank’s buccaneers to replicate it. They’ll miss Christian Eriksen but there is still plenty of talent on the pitch, tactical nous in the dugout and passion in the stands to suggest they’ll be fine.
BRIGHTON: 12th
It’s a tough ask to repeat their ninth-placed finish without Yves Bissouma and possibly Marc Cucurella. They need more goals, but their under-the-radar recruitment has been excellent in recent years which suggests a couple of the new signings will be hits.
CHELSEA: 5th
Thomas Tuchel appears frustrated and the noises from wantaway stars hint at an unhappy post-Abramovich ship. Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly are quality signings but losing bodies in the centre of attack and defence could see standards drop. CRYSTAL PALACE: 11th
A weird pre-season makes it hard to judge where they are at. But there’s been clever work in the transfer market, there’s talent coming through, Wilfried Zaha is still there and a revitalised Eberechi Eze could make up for the loss of Conor Gallagher.
EVERTON: 15th
Frank Lampard looked wretched last month but new faces are arriving which may soften the blow of losing Richarlison. James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeill are solid additions but if Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury woes persist where will the goals come from?
FULHAM: 19th
Will they continue to be the great “yo-yo” team and go down again? Will Aleksandar Mitrovic finally show he’s an elite striker, Harry Wilson prove Liverpool wrong and Marco Silva do the same with Everton? My gut says they’ll yo-yo.
LEEDS UNITED: 13th
After the trauma of losing Marcelo Bielsa can Jesse Marsch impose a new, successful tactical vision? Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips have gone, but a host of exciting signings means Leeds go into the season brimming with energy.
LEICESTER: 10th
Brendan Rodgers has had his hands tied behind his back, and losing Kasper Schmeichel and possibly James Maddison, will hurt. When fully fit they’re still a handful. But unless they make decent signings they will go backwards.
LIVERPOOL: 1st
Mo Salah has signed a new deal, Darwin Nunez brings a new attacking dimension, Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott look hungry and the defence has solidity. No Sadio Mane but Luis Diaz can fill his boots. Last season’s final-day agony will drive them on.
MAN CITY: 2nd
Bagging Erling Haaland was a coup, yet this is such a finely-honed machine that he could take time to adjust, with no Jesus or Sterling to call on. But by the time the World Cup is over he’ll be primed to win what he was bought for: the Champions League.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
6th
Erik ten Hag’s aggressive, entertaining style augurs well for the long-term. Lisandro Martinez and Eriksen bring quality but top target Frenkie De Jong isn’t keen on coming, Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t keen on staying and they are light on numbers.
NEWCASTLE:
The fans are full of optimism,
7th
signings will come in before the deadline, Eddie Howe is proving to be the coach we all thought he could be, and their 2022 form is top-three level. And if they don’t start well the oil barons will bail them out in January.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: 17th
The huge summer spending was a bold statement. How quickly, or successfully those players bed in is unknown but Steve Cooper has done a remarkable job and the omens are good. The passion of a fan base back in the big time after 23 years should see them safe.
SOUTHAMPTON: 18th
A shocking collapse towards the end of last season almost dragged them down. There’s little to suggest they’ve addressed that this summer, opting for potential over experience. Keeping James Ward-Prowse was a bonus but the squad is short on proven quality.
SPURS: 3rd
Antonio Conte’s “my way or the highway” revolution continues apace. In the most un-Spursy of summers no star wanted out and chairman Daniel Levy bought early. Bissouma and Ivan Perisic are top additions and Richarlison is the striking back-up they’ve pined for.
WEST HAM UNITED: 8th
They’ve kept hold of Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen, which offers a solid base. Europa League failure led to a flat end to last season but boss David Moyes will get them firing again. And if Gianluca Scamacca brings his Serie A goals they will be right up there.
WOLVES: 16th
Raul Jimenez’s injury means they’re without a recognised centre-forward and Chiquinho’s ACL blow hasn’t helped options in a threadbare, goal-shy squad. A solid defence but little investment elsewhere means that they could struggle.