The new Premier League season finally gets underway on Friday night when Crystal Palace host Arsenal in the opening match of the 2022-23 campaign.
Defending champions Manchester City go in search of their fifth title in six seasons this term but Pep Guardiola's side are likely to face stiff competition from their 'Big Six' rivals. At the other end of the table, newly-promoted Fulham and Bournemouth will be hoping to avoid relegation, while this season also sees the return of Nottingham Forest to the top-flight for the first time since 1999.
Ahead of Friday's curtain-raiser at Selhurst Park, three of our writers – Rory O'Callaghan, Josh Lawless and Daniel Marland – have stuck their heads above the parapet to make some bold predictions for the upcoming campaign.
Premier League Champions
RO – Manchester City
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Yes, it's the boring choice but there's a reason Manchester City are favourites to win their third title in a row. I expect Liverpool to push them all the way again, but Pep Guardiola's side have shown time and again that they know how to get the job done, at least when it comes to the Premier League.
JL – Manchester City
There has been a bit of a refresh at City this summer but with the amount of quality they have, and the massive addition of a goal machine in Erling Haaland, they are good value to win a third straight title. City tend to peak at the business end of the season and they will likely go on an incredibly consistent run again.
DM – Manchester City
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I think this will be a season of City in transition but they should have just about enough to pip Liverpool. It could be as close as last season though, despite the signing of Erling Haaland.
Top Four
RO – Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal
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While I expect the chasing pack to close the gap to City and Liverpool this season, I can't see anyone else finishing in the top two. Tottenham could very well have challenged their dominance last season if Antonio Conte had been appointed head coach in the summer, rather than midway through the campaign. I can see them having another good season under the Italian, while their north London rivals Arsenal have also looked strong in pre-season after making some impressive signings. I fancy the Gunners to narrowly pip Chelsea and Manchester United to fourth.
JL – Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal
Liverpool will always be tussling it with Manchester City but Spurs should bridge that gap between the two big dogs after some smart signings made by Antonio Conte. Arsenal look promising and should finally get back into the top four this term. Manchester United will play much better football under Erik ten Hag but come fifth and Chelsea will be a bit of a mess this term and ultimately finish sixth. Thomas Tuchel to be sacked before Christmas is my prediction.
DM – Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United
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Liverpool are still one of the best teams in the world so will have no issue coming second. A full season under Antonio Conte should see Spurs comfortably come in the top four, even if their transfer business is a tad overrated. Manchester United are better than Arsenal on paper and I think Chelsea, at the time of writing, are majorly underprepared for the new campaign given how many players still want to leave. Erik ten Hag could capitalise in a big way.
Bottom Three
RO - Bournemouth, Fulham, Nottingham Forest
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It is always difficult for teams to make the step up to the Premier League and I expect the three promoted sides to struggle this season. Bournemouth haven't exactly made waves in the transfer market since returning to the top flight, with the £12m signing of Marcus Tavernier their biggest acquisition so far. Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, have already spent close to £100m on a series of big-name signings, but manager Steve Cooper may find it difficult to gel his new-look squad. Meanwhile, archetypal yo-yo club Fulham face a battle to stay up after losing arguably their best player Fabio Carvalho to Liverpool.
JL - Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Fulham
Leeds narrowly avoided the drop last year but the departures of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha are huge blows and I think they will be sent back down under Jesse Marsch. Nottingham Forest will start off well but fade away in my view and Fulham are an absolute certainty to end up back in the Championship and continue their yo-yo spell.
DM - Bournemouth, Fulham, Southampton
Scott Parker recently said his Bournemouth side were "short of where they need to be" and it's hard to argue. Fulham are a perennial yo-yo team and I fear for Southampton. They inch closer and closer to the drop every year and I'm not convinced by their summer business aside from Joe Aribo.
Top Scorer
RO – Mohamed Salah
Salah has looked razor sharp in pre-season after finally committing his long-term future to Liverpool with a new three-year deal. Now indisputably the main man in attack following Sadio Mane's move to Bayern Munich, the three-time Golden Boot winner is likely to have another stellar season in front of goal.
JL – Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian King will have fierce competition from Haaland but after signing his new deal, continues to be look as sharp as ever. He will bang in the goals again for Liverpool and pick up another Golden Boot.
DM – Harry Kane
Again, a full season under Antonio Conte could give us the best Harry Kane we've ever seen. You know he'll be desperate to win it after seeing Son Heung-min do so last time out.
Player of the Season
RO – Son Heung-min
It is hard to fathom how Son was left out of the PFA's Premier League Team of the Year last season despite ending the campaign as the joint-winner of the Golden Boot award with Salah. Both men scored 23 goals but unlike Salah, Son didn't have to rely on scoring from the penalty spot. The South Korean has carried his excellent form into pre-season and there's no reason to suspect he won't have a similarly strong campaign this term.
JL – Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian maestro is the best player in the Premier League and after coming up clutch in the second half of last term, I fancy him to have another stellar season. With Haaland in the box, De Bruyne should get even more assists.
DM – Mohamed Salah
Salah will be motivated after signing his new contract and looked sharp in the Community Shield. With Sadio Mane's summer departure he will have even more pressure on his shoulders and if there's something Salah does, its thrive in big moments.
Best Signing
RO – Erling Haaland
Will Haaland maintain his outstanding goals-to-game ratio this season? Almost certainly. Will he make Manchester City a better team? The jury is still out on that one. But there is no doubting that the Norway international is a fantastic signing, especially when viewed in the long-term. For just £51m, a relatively small amount in today's market, City have bagged one of the biggest talents in world football. Without exaggeration, Haaland could turn out to be one of the best signings in the history of the Premier League.
JL – Gabriel Jesus
The Brazilian is brilliant signing for Arsenal and I'm surprised City let him leave given what he brings to the team. He'll lead the line with distinction and fire the Gunners to the top four.
DM – Erling Haaland
He bags goals for fun doesn't he? Haaland will take time to adjust to English football, but he's still going to be a sensational player.
Biggest Flop
RO – Nayef Aguerd
I hope I'm wrong with this one. West Ham forked out £31.5m, the fourth biggest transfer fee in the club's history, to sign Aguerd from Rennes last month. But the Morocco international has already suffered a nightmare start to his Hammers career, picking up a serious ankle injury in pre-season. He is now set to miss the start of the campaign after undergoing surgery and could find it a struggle to get into the first-team when he returns to full fitness, with Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna also vying for a starting place. Aguerd is expected to feature at the World Cup this winter so may not want to take any unnecessary risks with his recovery, meaning West Ham supporters may not see their new centre-back in competitive action for some time.
JL – Richarlison
Spurs have splashed out £60m for the striker and though he's been brought in as back-up to Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, I don't think he'll play much at all and won't be worth the fee.
DM – Kalvin Phillips
I don't think City will get their money's worth this year. It could be a case of giving it a year before Phillips realises his potential in a sky blue shirt.
Do you agree with their predictions or are they way off? Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton And Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Football, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Premier League, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Spotlight
The SPORTbible Team