Arsenal and Manchester City set to battle for title for third consecutive season (Image: GETTY)
The Premier League returns this weekend. Manchester United host Fulham in the first game of the 2024-25 campaign at Old Trafford tonight and ahead of kick-off, the Express Sport team have given their thoughts on how the season will unfold. Will Arsenal end Manchester City's imperious title streak for their first triumph since 2004? How will Manchester United fare after FA Cup glory saved Erik ten Hag? Here's what we think…
Charlie Gordon
Title winner: Arsenal
The first four: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham
Relegated: Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Leicester
Player of the season: Martin Odegaard
Young player of the season: Evan Ferguson
The hottest take: No Chelsea player will reach double figures in the league
Arsenal must have a go this year. Once again, they are strengthening in the transfer market while Manchester City are stagnating, they are hungrier and have come very close to the title in the last two seasons. I see Martin Odegaard inspiring them to win the title. Expect to see a big improvement from Manchester United this season if their key players stay fit, while I wouldn't be surprised to see Liverpool struggle under new management – a top six finish would be a good result for them. As for Chelsea, Cole Palmer is a joy to watch but replicating last season will be a big challenge, and if Christopher Nkunku continues to struggle physically, I don't see a striker capable of taking the bull by the horns at Stamford Bridge.
Archie Griggs
Title winner: Manchester City
The first four: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham
Relegated: Southampton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City
Player of the season: Bukayo Saka
Young player of the season: Kobbie Mainoo
The hottest take: Enzo Maresca will be gone by Christmas
Manchester City will win the league, it's inevitable, right? I can see Arsenal failing once again. I can see Liverpool having a difficult start to the season as Arne Slot settles into his new role, but they should have the makings of a Champions League spot. Maresca nearly squandered a huge lead at the top of the league table last season and has never been the right choice for Chelsea. He's not up to the task and I can see his time at Stamford Bridge ending in disaster if the Blues don't get off to a good start. Given that Chelsea were more than happy to sack Mauricio Pochettino despite qualifying for Europe last season, I expect Maresca to be out of a job by Christmas, with Todd Boehly not exactly known for taking a patient approach.
Martin Odegaard tipped for big season with Arsenal (Image: GETTY)
Charlie Malam
Title winner: Arsenal
The first four: Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Leicester
Player of the season: Martin Odegaard
Young player of the season: Harvey Elliott
The hottest take: Wolves, a challenge for Europe
Everything in me tells me not to fight Manchester City, but surely their level will drop a little at some point? Right? Right?! Maybe this year will be Arsenal's year. If so, the brilliant Martin Odegaard will be key. City are having a great season, but it will be very close, maybe even a point or two. I think third and fourth are wide open due to Liverpool's poor summer window so far. I'm backing Tottenham, and for now Manchester United, to leapfrog the Reds. Newcastle are also a major threat with no European football to play for, especially if Alexander Isak stays fit and they get Marc Guehi. I'm a big fan of Gary O'Neil and I have a strange feeling that Wolves could redeem themselves from all those disastrous refereeing decisions against them. I'm intrigued by Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Sam Smith
Title winner: Arsenal
The first four: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham
Relegated: Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Southampton
Player of the season: Martin Odegaard
Young player of the season: Alejandro Garnacho
The hottest take: Erik ten Hag sacked before Christmas
The mood for Manchester City this summer is rather worrying. The Citizens have not really strengthened, while Arsenal have strengthened Mikel Arteta's squad. The off-pitch rumours about the 115-man squad and Pep Guardiola's future could prove troublesome. Liverpool and Tottenham will benefit from the lack of real competition for the top four. Meanwhile, at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag's tactical limitations will be exposed without the excuses of a weak squad and an injury crisis. The Dutchman will struggle to survive beyond Christmas, at the latest.
Joe Krishnan
Title winner: Arsenal
The first four: Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United
Relegated: Everton, Ipswich Town, Southampton
Player of the season: Bukayo Saka
Young player of the season: Alejandro Garnacho
The hottest take: Chelsea to lead in October, Enzo Maresca to be sacked by February
I was one of the few backing Mikel Arteta's team last season and it was a game-changing win, so I wasn't far off the mark. This time it won't be because Arsenal are better than they will be in 2023-24, but because Manchester City won't be as good. As for Everton, they're just a disaster at the top and when that happens, it shows on the pitch. They've been flirting with relegation for a few years now – this will be the year it happens. Aside from their first game against Manchester City, Chelsea probably have the best run of the top teams through the first seven or eight games. Enzo Maresca's style of play is fun to watch in attack and some teams might struggle to cope with it. But as we saw with Leicester last year, the Italian's tactics become predictable and easy to stifle. Chelsea's defence has also conceded 13 goals in six pre-season games, so those two issues will combine to cause a winter disaster at Stamford Bridge and the dismissal of Maresca.
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho has already scored this season – in the Community Shield (Image: GETTY)
Amos Murphy
Title winner: Arsenal
The first four: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham
Relegated: Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City
Player of the season: Rodri
Young player of the season: Bukayo Saka
The hottest take: Aston Villa fails to finish in top 8
Whether it's a points deduction or a drop in quality, I'm calling it a day for City's dominance. I expect it to be a close one though, with Rodri taking home the POTS award. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nottingham Forest make up for their shortcomings this season. With Aston Villa finishing outside the top 8, that's my guess. For a little extra spice, I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the bottom half.
Tom Parsons
Title winner: Arsenal
The first four: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea
Relegated: Ipswich, Southampton, Nottingham Forest
Player of the season: Erling Haaland
Young player of the season: Cole Palmer
The hottest take: Man Utd to finish ahead of Liverpool
With Manchester City on the verge of promotion to the Premier League, the Citizens could finally turn their backs on the ball this season. And that would leave Arsenal in a perfect position to topple the eight-time Premier League champions. Erling Haaland will score 30+ Premier League goals for the second time in his City career to win the Player of the Season award, while Cole Palmer will lead Chelsea back into the Champions League on his way to winning Young Player of the Season for the second consecutive campaign. Manchester United will have a much better season and finish in the top four, while Liverpool will endure a difficult campaign under new manager Arne Slot.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1936740/seven-premier-league-predictions-arsenal