Arsenal and Man City are expected to duke it out for the title for the third season in a row (Image: GETTY)
The Premier League returns this weekend. Manchester United host Fulham in the first match of the 2024-25 campaign at Old Trafford tonight and ahead of kick-off, members of the Express Sport team have had their say on how the season will pan out. Will Arsenal end Manchester City’s imperious title-winning streak for their first triumph since 2004? How will Man United fare after FA Cup glory saved Erik ten Hag? Here’s what we think…
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Charlie Gordon
Title winner: Arsenal
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Tottenham
Relegated: Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Leicester
Player of the season: Martin Odegaard
Young player of the season: Evan Ferguson
Hottest take: No Chelsea player will reach double figures in the league
This has to be Arsenal’s year. Once again they’re strengthening in the transfer market while Manchester City are standing still, they’re hungrier, and they’ve come painfully close in the past two seasons. I can see Martin Odegaard inspiring them to a title win. Expect to see a big improvement from Manchester United this season if their key men remain fit, while I wouldn’t be surprised to see Liverpool struggle under new management – top-six would be a decent result for them. As for Chelsea, Cole Palmer is a joy to watch but replicating last season will be a big ask, and if Christopher Nkunku continues to struggle for fitness, I don’t see an attacker capable of taking the bull by the horns at Stamford Bridge.
Archie Griggs
Title winner: Man City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham
Relegated: Southampton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City
Player of the season: Bukayo Saka
Young player of the season: Kobbie Mainoo
Hottest take: Enzo Maresca to be gone by Christmas
Man City winning the league – it’s inevitable, isn’t it? I can see Arsenal falling just short once again. I see Liverpool having a tricky start to the campaign as Arne Slot adjusts to his new role but they should have enough to secure Champions League football. Maresca nearly threw away a huge lead at the top of the Championship table last season and was never the right appointment for Chelsea to begin with. He is out of his depth and I can see his spell at Stamford Bridge ending in disaster if the Blues fail to get off to a strong start. Given that Chelsea were more than happy to sack Mauricio Pochettino despite qualifying for Europe last season, I expect Maresca will be out of a job by Christmas with Todd Boehly not exactly known for taking a patient approach.
Martin Odegaard is being backed for a big season for Arsenal (Image: GETTY)
Charlie Malam
Title winner: Arsenal
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham, Man Utd
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Leicester
Player of the season: Martin Odegaard
Young player of the season: Harvey Elliott
Hottest take: Wolves challenge for Europe
Everything within me says not to go against Man City – but surely their standards slip, a little bit, at some point? Right? Right?! Maybe this year is Arsenal’s year. If it is, the brilliant Martin Odegaard will be pivotal. City do have a great run-in so though it’ll be mightily close – maybe even within a point or two. I think third and fourth are wide open because of Liverpool’s dire summer window so far – I’m backing Tottenham and right now, Man Utd, to pip the Reds. Newcastle are also a major threat without European football to play though, especially if Alexander Isak stays fit and they get Marc Guehi. I’m a big fan of Gary O’Neil and have a weird feeling Wolves could make amends for all those disastrous refereeing decisions against them. I’m intrigued by Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Sam Smith
Title winner: Arsenal
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham
Relegated: Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Southampton
Player of the season: Martin Odegaard
Young player of the season: Alejandro Garnacho
Hottest take: Erik ten Hag sacked pre-Christmas
There is a foreboding feeling around Man City this summer. They haven’t truly strengthened while Arsenal have enhanced Mikel Arteta’s squad. Off-field noise surrounding the 115 charges and Pep Guardiola’s future could prove a distraction. Liverpool and Tottenham will benefit from a lack of real competition for the top four. Meanwhile at Man Utd, 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 make it beyond Christmas, at the very latest.
Joe Krishnan
Title winner: Arsenal
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd
Relegated: Everton, Ipswich Town, Southampton
Player of the season: Bukayo Saka
Young player of the season: Alejandro Garnacho
Hottest take: Chelsea to be top in October, Enzo Maresca sacked by February
I was one of the few to back Mikel Arteta’s side last season and it went down to the final day, so I wasn’t far off. This time, it’s going to happen not because Arsenal are better than the 2023-24 campaign, but because Man City won’t be as good. As for Everton, it’s just a shambles at the top and when that happens, it trickles down to the pitch. They’ve flirted with relegation for a couple of years now – this will be the year it happens. Aside from their opener against Manchester City, Chelsea have probably the most favourable run out of the top teams in the first seven or eight games. Enzo Maresca’s style of play has been easy on the eye in the attacking sense and some teams may 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 also shipped 13 goals in six pre-season games, so those two problems will combine for a winter disaster at Stamford Bridge and Maresca getting the axe.
Man Utd’s Alejandro Garnacho has already scored this season – in the Community Shield (Image: GETTY)
Amos Murphy
Title winner: Arsenal
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Tottenham
Relegated: Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City
Player of the season: Rodri
Young player of the season: Bukayo Saka
Hottest take: Aston Villa don’t finish inside the top eight
Be that through a points deduction or a drop off in quality, I’m calling an end to City’s run of dominance. Still expecting it to be close though, with Rodri taking the POTS award. Wouldn’t be shocked to see Nottingham Forest’s shortcomings catch up with them this season either. While Aston Villa finishing outside of the top eight is my hot take. For an added bit of spice, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them bottom half.
Tom Parsons
Title winner: Arsenal
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea
Relegated: Ipswich, Southampton, Nottingham Forest
Player of the season: Erling Haaland
Young player of the season: Cole Palmer
Hottest take: Man Utd to finish above Liverpool
With Manchester City set for their Premier League hearing, the Citizens could finally take their eye off the ball this season. And that would leave Arsenal in prime position to topple the eight-time Premier League champions. Erling Haaland will still bang in more than 30 Premier League goals for the second time in his City career to win the player of the season award, while Cole Palmer will fire Chelsea back into the Champions League on his way to landing the young player of the season award for the second consecutive campaign. Manchester United will have a much better season and finish in the top four, with Liverpool enduring a tough campaign under new manager Arne Slot.
