My early PL Table predictions

Welcome back to my blog, and today I will be predicting the Premier League Table as we are around 1 month away from the start of football’s most exciting league. Ready? Let’s get started.

20. Brentford

Second season syndrome has become a thing in the Prem for new sides, and while it may not have downed Leeds last season, I bet it’s going to bite Brentford and leave a mark on the club this season. Without much signings and with the departure of talisman Christian Eriksen, Thomas Frank will struggle to find a solution, get sacked either just before or after the FIFA World Cup, and will be replaced by someone like Tony Pulis or Sam Allardyce who will inevitably sink the ship. next.

19. Southampton

This seems a bit harsh, but I feel like the Saints have become accustomed to pure mediocrity, and with not much improvement made to the squad so far, it will be too little too late in January when they are hit with the reality of relegation. Sure, JWP has always been the south coast club’s reliable talisman, but how long can he keep the Saints afloat. This squad needs a massive rebuild, and a relegation might finally result in that.

18. Fulham

This Fulham side are the best I’ve seen so far, but many are still tipping the yo-yo club to go straight back down. Honestly, if you ask me, they won’t be totally terrible this season, but i still see them getting relegated. Mitrovic will fail to bag goals consistently despite his electric Championship form, Harry Wilson will be the lone star player at a club inevitably doomed for relegation despite it looking like they stand a chance (again) and coach Marco Silva will be gone by April and replaced by a stop-gap like Sam Allardyce. Next!

17. Nottingham Forest

Yes, I’m predicting both the weaker promoted teams to stay up. This is because their squads have a number of quality players, and they also have done reasonably well in the transfer window, especially Nottingham. Firstly, Nottingham have been quite exceptional in the transfer window. The signings of Awoniyi, Dean Henderson, Biacone, Niakhate, Omar Richards and Neco Williams are pretty solid additions to a squad which needed some quality, and the Premier League experience of shot stopper Dean Henderson will be crucial to avoid conceding too many goals. The Tricky Trees also have an amazing coach in Steve Cooper, who should keep Nottingham Forest up — barely.

16. Bournemouth

The Cherries hold a special place in my footballing heart, which is why I am rooting for them to stay up this season. They have a decent squad, but they probably do need new signings as well to boost them further, but i think the current crop of players should do a decent job as well. Other than at striker, their squad depth is admirable and while I don’t rate Scott Parker highly, I expect him to be gone by December and be replaced by someone like Chris Wilder or Sean Dyche, who will steady the ship and lead them to a 16th place finish.

15.Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace did pretty well last season, but I expect them to slip down the table a bit due to the harder competition this season. They won’t do terribly, and Patrick Viera will keep his job, but i doubt they’ll make any waves this season.

14. Everton

Many expect Everton to bounce back under Frank Lampard this season, but I don’t see them finishing higher than 14th . Their squad is pretty bang average, and despite the signing of James Tarkowski their defence is still weaker than a bowl of squished pudding. Everton will stay up for sure, but they certainly won’t improve drastically as well.

13. Wolves

Sure, Wolves secured a top 10 finish last season, but their top 10 competitors like Aston Villa, Brighton and Leicester all have better squads than them. Wolves did super well defensively last season, but needed much more firepower from star striker Raul Jimenez, who unfortunately looked more like a Mexican Darren Bent than the Raul Jimenez we all marvelled at in 2019. Wolves need to strengthen massively and freshen up their attack if they want to push for Europe, but looking at their current squad, I see them dropping a bit this season.

12.Leeds

Leeds were truly lucky to stay up last season, and this season they should improve just a bit. They’ve signed a new right back and 4 midfielders in the form of Aaronsen, Sinisterra, Roca and Tyler Adams, the latter being a player I’ve rated highly, but Kalvin Phillips has left and none of the signings mentioned are a like for like replacement. Brendan Aaronsen is an attacking midfielder, Marc Roca has hardly impressed in a similar role for Bayern, and that leaves Leeds with no one competent. Leeds’ transfer activity is promising, but it ‘s not quite enough for another top 10 finish. The Whites will get there if they keep up the great transfer activity up though.

11. Leicester City

Leicester are in urgent need of a rebuild, yet they’ve done absolutely nothing all summer. That’s why I predict that Leicester will finish outside of the top 10 for the first time since 2016/17. The Foxes do have a quality squad, but I haven’t seen much consistency from them. James Maddison was excellent towards the end of the season, but before that looked off-colour and burnt out. Youri Tielemans clearly lacks commitment and looks disinterested on the pitch, Jamie Vardy’s age is telling despite having a decent goal tally, new addition Soumare looks like a deer on skates and Patson Daka is not yet ready to replace Vardy. Brendan Rodgers has clearly overstayed his welcome at the King Power stadium, and barring any miracles or a blockbuster signing, should be gone by March. In the end, the Foxes are facing a turbulent season ahead.

10. Brighton

Brighton have done exceptionally well to finish in the top half last season, and this season they will drop off just a bit, due to the extra competition. Their electrifying style of play does help them in the grand scheme of things, which is why they will retain a top half finish but won’t get European football just yet.

9. West Ham United

I predicted a drop in position for West Ham, and while they did not dramatically decline, they did finish lower than the season before. This season, they may finish even slightly lower, especially since they haven’t done much on the recruitment front. They urgently need a striker, as well as a more attacking right-back to challenge Coufal, yet they haven’t signed anyone except centre-back Aguerd, CM Downes and GK Areola on a permanent basis. Therefore, I predict that West Ham will remain in the top half, but will drop down 2 places.

8. Newcastle United

This is a bit of an unconventional pick, but I genuinely see Newcastle in the top half this season. Eddie Howe has done a fantastic job as Newcastle boss, and this season I expect him to further develop the team. The new signings will further boost an already decent Newcastle squad, and you can expect them to almost reach European football. However, I do feel they need just one more marquee signing to genuinely push for Europa league or even the Conference league, which is why I predict a 8th place finish for the Magpies for now.

7. Aston Villa

Last year, I predicted Villa to finish in the top half, yet they finished 14th. This year, however, is different. Steven Gerrard is at the wheel, and while he is still learning his ropes as a PL manager, I expect the Anfield legend to come good this year. He’s got quite an impressive squad, with two top class additions in the form of Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara. This is genuinely one of the best Villa squads I’ve ever seen, and if their stellar recruitment doesn’t pay off this season, I don’t know when it will.

6. Arsenal

This prediction seems pretty harsh, considering Arsenal have signed two top class players (Jesus and Viera), but I still think Arsenal have a long way to go to reach CL football. Mikel Arteta has improved as a manager, but Arsenal are still a shaky team, and their main issue has been consistency. Sure, they have a talented crop of youngsters who have shined this season, but only Saka and Odegaard can truly claim to be week in week out performers for Arsenal. Therefore, I can see Arsenal finishing 6th in a tight top 4 race next season.

5. Tottenham

Spurs have been pretty impressive under Antonio Conte, and despite their impressive squad additions, I still think the next 4 teams have a better squad than the Lilywhites. The firepower from Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane should see them battle for top 4 till the last day, but I think they will unfortunately relinquish 4th place to…

4. Manchester United

the Red Devils. This seems a tad biased, since United is my favourite team, but I genuinely think we will be back in the CL next season. Erik Ten Hag is at the wheel, and from what we saw in the recent friendly against Liverpool, he genuinely has a working style of play and the charisma to implement it effectively. With the signings of Eriksen, Malacia and the potential signings of Martinez, Antony and Frenkie De Jong, United have quite a strong squad, and should clinch at least top 4 next season.

3. Chelsea

Chelsea are pretty much in the same position as last season. Impressive squad on paper, but not quite ready to challenge for the PL yet. Sterling is a massive signing, but he isn’t the solution to Chelsea’s main problem, a sudden lack of centre-backs. Sure, they’re close to the signing of Koulibaly, and are eyeing Nathan Ake as well as Presnel Kimpembe, but it will be hard for all three to click under Tuchel from the word ‘Go’. Therefore, I feel Chelsea might struggle a bit for the first three months, but will clinch a comfortable 3rd place finish with ease at the end of the season.

2. Manchester City

This one seems a bit counter intuitive, especially since City have signed the most prolific as well as in demand striker in the shape of Erling Haaland, but I just think Liverpool want this title win just a bit more than City. City have done it all (except win the CL, something which will always provide solace to us United fans) in recent years, but were knocked off the top spot after a tight two-horse race between themselves and Liverpool in 18/19. I think history is going to repeat itself, with Jurgen Klopp’s mentality monsters redeeming themselves for the painful losses last season with the 22/23 PL trophy.

1. Liverpool

I know, I know. I never imagined this day would come, but I have to back Liverpool to win the Prem next season. It may not be the outcome I want, but it’s probably the one which is going to happen. The Scousers haven’t won a Prem trophy in front of their fans in 30 over years. The 19/20 win was a historic win which took the weight off of many poor Liverpool fans desperate to see their team win the league at least once in their lifetime, but it wasn’t the same without the fans. That’s why I feel Klopp’s men will have the hunger and desire to win it. They need to win it for the fans, and to prove the Klopp era is not done yet. Last season’s CL final loss as well as relinquishing the title to City on the last day was heart-breaking for many Liverpool fans, as well as the Liverpool players themselves, which is why I can see them going all the way this season to finally celebrate a league win at Anfield.

That’s all for this article, and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. My next article on the PL kits will be out very soon (i promise), and till then, adios!