What a hotly contested top four this Premier League season is going to see.
It’s safe to say Manchester City will claim their third consecutive title race and Liverpool will finish second, but the rest of the table is what’s going to be interesting.
Will Wolverhampton continue their giant-killing ways and sneak in? Will Arsenal or Manchester United return? Will all three London clubs feature? Who knows?
This is my top four prediction.
First – Manchester City
The English football juggernaut keep improving and spending big. Manchester City added the likes of Joao Cancelo and Pedro Porro to their defence plus Rodri Hernandez and Angelino to their midfield, so unlike Liverpool they have only improved on their chances of capturing the title, which would be their third on the trot.
Second – Liverpool
Some may argue Liverpool didn’t need much improvement and only lost one game all season, but they did have seven draws and if they only converted half of those games into wins, they would have finished ahead of Manchester City quite easily.
My footballing mentality is old school and stagnation means death, so there is always room for improvement, no matter how good you are. The fact that Liverpool haven’t embraced this mentality and Manchester City have is why I placed Liverpool second.
Third – Arsenal
While many are still discounting London’s greatest football club despite their brilliant transfer window, Arsenal were only a couple games off finishing third last season.
After a depleted squad bottled it last year and with the club going through a transition period last campaign, this season will be different. This is Arsenal’s chance to return London’s status quo back to normality.
(Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Adding the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Dani Ceballos in attack and midfield, plus David Luiz and Kieran Tierney fixing their defensive woes, and the board promoting an impressive youth academy, the Gooners are only expecting great things this season.
Fourth – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves were contenders last year and they lost some winnable games. If they beat the likes of Brighton and continue to upset the major clubs, anything is possible. However, it was Wolves’ upsets that made football fans turn their heads around the world last year.
Wolverhampton have again impressed during the transfer window, signing the likes of Patrick Cutrone from AC Milan to strengthen their midfield and injecting even more Portuguese flair to their line-up, bringing in Pedro Neto and Bruno Jordao to their midfield and attack. This is impressive business for a newly promoted club.
With the likes of Ruben Neves and Willy Boly still at the club, it will be a joy to watch this team this season. Also, remember these guys finished seventh last season and were knocking on Manchester United’s door.
Honourable mentions
Manchester United
Will signing Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka fix their problems? I don’t think so, but for the money they spent, you would like to think so. Manchester United should make a challenge for fourth.
Chelsea
Despite having a transfer ban, they have a squad of talented players and finished third last season. Chelsea will knock Tottenham out of the top four race, leaving them to fight out fifth and sixth with Watford and Everton or Manchester United if their problems persist this season.
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
Two of those draws were against Man United and Leicester. So, Yes they are still undefeated in EPL and just wone in Europe. Do you think Man United is going to make the top 4, if they can beat Wolves ?
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
That's because Arsenal did bottle it, are you saying they didn't. Cracking under pressure would be the entire premise of ' Bottling it'. They only need to win three of those last games to have secured third last year. Finally Lampard got his first win ;)
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
I'm sure with the recent results, your rethinking this comment ' As a Wolves fan'
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
You're on..... keep in mind Wolves are undefeated in the prem league and just wone in Europe. Soooo, bring it on :O). I might be optimistic about a Top 4 Finish, but, not Top 6. Gunners will finish third.
Kannga2
Roar Rookie
3 draws to start the season for wolves If they are top 4 , they should have won all 3 games probably Genuine question, do you still think they are in line for top 4 ?
odowdchr
Roar Rookie
I'm a Wolves fan. 7th would be a dream with an extra couple of points to the total from last season. There is still a sizeable points gap between the top 6 and everybody else, but you can improve without needing to go from 7th to 6th. Last season Wolves didn't fill the spaces available to make a full squad, which seems crazy, but then they only used about 18 players across the season. As a newly promoted club there are financial restrictions for the first few seasons on how much you can raise your squad's salary bill, so Wolves have only added 3 additional players who seem ready now (Neto, Cutrone, Vallejo) to make a first team squad of 21 players. They have however purchased very quietly from all over Europe a lot of quality U18 and U23 youngsters who don't make the first team squad immediately. When you're looking at clubs like Chelsea with 74 players, Wolves have an awful lot of catching up to do if they want to broaden their base and break into that top-6 over a season's play, and then start promoting players from within. That is the aim, but it's not going to happen in 1 season. As an aside, I think Wolves 1st team is actually better than the current Chelsea first choice team, but Chelsea will still finish above Wolves over 38 games.
New Zealand No.1
Roar Rookie
You continue to say they bottled it towards the end of the season. Arsenal cracked under pressure of the EPL and Europa League meanwhile my Chelsea won the Europa League and finished third. During the night Chelsea took Liverpool the distance in the Super Cup. As experienced players start to get back to full fitness and get rid of injuries Chelsea will be a force this season and can definitely finish top 4.
Johnno
Guest
No, you are talking to a fellow Gooner. I`d take a bet on your prediction all day long, I don't think Wolves will finish anywhere near top 6. I see Chelsea as the most vulnerable of last years top 6 but they`re different class to Wolves in my opinion. I reckon West Ham will finish much closer to Wolves than Wolves will to Chelsea. We`ll find out in 9 months who`s right but fair play to you, I like a man who`ll stick his neck out and give his opinion. Here`s mine. 1st Man City. 2nd Liverpool. 3rd Man Utd. 4th The Arse. 5th. Spuds. 6th Chelsea. 7th Everton. 8th Wolves or West Ham.
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
Clearly didn't watch last season ?
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
Did you see they only fell short last season? WIn those 4 games they bottled and it was thiers.
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry, don't know who they are. Are they in the EPL?
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
At least you address the issues as an Arsenal Fan, this is the first window in like what? 20 years we actually bought what was needed.
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
MIND THE GAP!
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
Mate if they don't finish at least in 6th it will be a worse season for them spending 'more' money. Are you an Everton fan or something lol? Am I being optimistic a tad with top 4, maybe, but they will finish in top 6 for sure.
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
You can only beat what's in front of you. and usually, Leicester has the goods on them. So Yes, it is. As stated they lost some winnable games last season and finished 7th. So winning or drawing them games will be key. That's if they continue their giant-killing ways.
Alexander Lowe
Roar Rookie
I reckon Arsenal making third is a big ask, regardless of them picking up David Luiz and Kieran Tierney to strengthen the defence, the club simply isn’t great at defending. If they can mop up the mess at the back to a certain extent I thing the gunners can squeeze into the fourth, maybe.
Brian
Guest
I honestly thought Arsenal in 3rd was your big call.
Smapingure
Guest
Yeap, totally agree with you. Only champions should participate not teams that finish, 2nd, 3rd, etc
S
Guest
Could have been a resonable article, if you mention Spurs purchases. League will probably bee 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Arsenal 5. Chelsea ..... Man Utd
Albo
Roar Rookie
I'm a ManU fan and have been frustrated that it has taken 5 or 6 seasons to finally address their so obvious weakness in central defence. The addition of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka may finally plug this problem. Now we will see if they have enough attack via Rashford, Martial, Pogba and the youngsters coming through to make a serious bid for top 4. A big 4-0 win over Chelsea is a good start to the season for them, but I need to see more midfield dominance before I will get too excited. For me it is Man City & Liverpool with the usual 4 others fighting for 3rd & 4th. I can't see any interlopers coming from mid table this season.