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  • Writer's pictureElliot Burrow

Premier League Preview - Table toppers to relegation battlers

Updated: Oct 28, 2022

The new Premier League campaign is just around the corner, and it's time to get down to business and get my table predictions in alongside who I think will be top goal scorer and player of the season.


It could go horribly wrong or it could go great but let's give it a go anyways and see how we get on...


Top Six


1st Manchester United


The red side of Manchester have had to sit back and suffer for a long time, watching their neighbours dominate English football alongside old rivals Liverpool, but I think this year could finally be the one that they get back on top again.


Varane and Sancho are two brilliant pieces of business by the club, and fill in the gaps that the team have been missing for the last few seasons, and even though I was torn between United, City and Liverpool with who to put top, I'll edge my bets with United just because I think they finally look the real deal ahead of this campaign.


Star player: Bruno Fernandes

Player to watch: Jadon Sancho


2nd Liverpool


The reason why I think Liverpool will finish above Manchester City for is down to one simple reason, the return of Virgil Van Dijk.


Liverpool missed him massively last season and still did well to finish where they did, the return of the giant at the back will remove some of those errors which they made last season and allow them to push for the title once more.


Star player: Virgil Van Dijk

Player to watch: Diogo Jota


3rd Manchester City


City are sure to give it their all again this season, and with Pep bringing in the talented Jack Grealish from Aston Villa to play alongside his England team-mate Phil Foden, the duo could be a deadly combination that could terrorize defences.


Mix that with the solid defence of John Stones and Ruben Dias and you have the complete package but I think for City to win the league this year they have to get the Harry Kane deal done.


With Aguero gone they don't have that striker like United have in Cavani and Liverpool have in Firmino, and that's why I think they'll finish third this season purely based off that.


Star player: Kevin De Bruyne

Player to watch: Jack Grealish


4th Chelsea


Chelsea did well last season to win the Champions League, however I don't think they are ready to challenge for the title again yet.


Defensively they look vulnerable still and even though the imminent signing of Romelu Lukaku will bolster their attacking threat, I just don't think they are nowhere near the likes of City, Liverpool and United, but I do think they are better than any other team in the league, and that's why I think they'll finish fourth.


Star player: Mason Mount

Player to watch: Hakim Ziyech


5th Arsenal


The signing of Ben White for Arsenal is a good one, because he could help mend what has been a leaky defence for many seasons now.


Kieran Tierney has been a massive plus in that centre half role, and alongside the young attacking threats of Saka, Martinelli and Smith-Rowe they could be a team to look out for if they play to their potential.


They do still lack a centre midfielder however, and unless Xhaka does take a step forward, they will struggle in that department still and that's why I think they'll just on so finish outside the top four.


Star player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Player to watch: Bukayo Saka


6th Tottenham


Tottenham are a club who are in all types of trouble at the minute, with star man Harry Kane looking to leave.


For me Nuno Espirito Santo has a big job on his hands, and I just don't see the side breaking into the top four this season.


Although it wouldn't surprise me to see them sneak into fourth, I think a lot of that depends on where Kane goes and it looks likely he will leave, and that's why I think they will finish sixth.


I'd love to see Dele Alli return to form though and he could be key for his side if they want to be anywhere near successful this season.


Star player: Harry Kane

Player to watch: Dele Alli


Mid-Table


7th Leeds


Leeds really impressed me last season with their style of play, they reminded me a bit of Wolves when they came up in their first season, they had this identity and they didn't change it for any opponent and stuck to it.


Kalvin Phillips was immense in that midfield all season and he even carried that into the Euros, if he keeps that going then there's no reason why Leeds can't either.


The style of football works for them, and I think that if anyone was to break into the top six this season, then it's going to be them.


Star player: Patrick Bamford

Player to watch: Kalvin Phillips


8th Leicester


Leicester have become a solid side under Brendan Rodgers, and I think they'll be in for another one of them seasons.


Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy struck up a great partnership last season there, and they can give the team the goals they need to stay competitive at the top end of the table.


Star player: Jamie Vardy

Player to watch: Kelechi Iheanacho


9th Everton


Rafa Benitez has returned to the Premier League with another big job on his hands.


Carlo Ancelotti couldn't find success with the club and I think Rafa could also find himself clutching at straws this season as nothing jumps out to me that suggests Everton are going to be top six challengers.


Calvert-Lewin will give them the goals, it's just defensively where the problems lie and that will be their undoing still I think.


Star player: Calvert-Lewin

Player to watch: Moise Kean


10th Wolves


My team Wolves had a miserable 2020/2021 season and I think this one should hopefully be slightly better with a mid table finish predicted.


Bruno Lage brings in a more attacking style of football and I think that will play more to the strengths of Traore and Semedo for example, and with Raul Jimenez returning the goal threat for the side is back again and I think we'll end up comfortably in mid table.


Star player: Raul Jimenez

Player to watch: Trincao


11th West Ham


West Ham had an above average campaign last year, and even though they retain plenty of that threat, I think they will finish in a more realistic position this term in mid table.


Michail Antonio is key for his side and he needs to stay fit alongside holding midfielder Declan Rice if they want to challenge higher again, but I just think David Moyes could have his work cut out either way.


Star player: Declan Rice

Player to watch: Michail Antonio


12th Aston Villa


Aston Villa will be rocked by the departure of Jack Grealish, but I still think they could have a good solid season with Watkins and McGinn now leading the line.


They looked good defensively last season as well with Mings leading the line, and Martinez commanding the box.


A lot of people will be thinking that no Grealish means that Villa will struggle, but I think they've got far too many good players for that to happen.


Star player: Ollie Watkins

Player to watch: John McGinn


Lower Mid-Table


13th Newcastle


Steve Bruce has done a good job so far at Newcastle, and I think he'll keep them up again.


Callum Wilson is the real star in this team and if he can get fellow striker Joelinton firing alongside him then the duo could parachute them up the table.


Star player: Callum Wilson

Player to watch: Jamal Lewis


14th Burnley


Sean Dyche is similar to Steve Bruce but he's managed to do it over and over again.


I can't see any reason why Burnley will go down this season, and if they keep hold of James Tarkowski and Nick Pope they won't concede too many goals again and that's vital for a team that don't usually score that many, despite scoring four past Wolves last season.


Star player: Ashley Barnes

Player to watch: Dwight McNeil


15th Watford


Watford are back in the Premier League, and I think they are here to stay this time and they'll finish the highest out of all the promoted sides.


I think they will put their past experiences in the league to good use, and with Troy Deeney still leading the line, his goals could be vital in the side's fight for survival.


Star player: Troy Deeney

Player to watch: Ismaila Sarr


16th Brentford


Brentford and Watford are going to have very similar campaigns this season I feel with their strikers being vital as to where they end up finishing.


Brentford have Ivan Toney though, and if he hits the ground running then he could easily lift his side above a couple of these teams down here.


The only reason I have them down here for is because of their defence and lack of Premier League experience, but they should not be underestimated.


Star player: Ivan Toney

Player to watch: Sergi Canos


17th Brighton


Brighton could really struggle this season but they might just do enough to stay up.


Graham Potter has done a tremendous job with his side, but they just managed to stay up last season, and a repeat of that with far more competitive sides in the league this year would see them in massive trouble.


Star player: Neal Maupay

Player to watch: Tariq Lamptey


Relegation


18th Crystal Palace


Crystal Palace could quite easily stay up this season, I just don't think they have made the right managerial appointment with Viera, and it could cost them their place in the league in the process.


I could be wrong and he could work wonders and get his side playing decent football which cements them a place in lower mid-table, but I just can't see it happening at the moment and I think they will be heading down the Championship.


Star player: Wilfred Zaha

Player to watch: Eberechi Eze


19th Southampton


Southampton will quite simply miss Danny Ings, it doesn't get any simpler, and for that reason they'll get relegated because you just cannot replace someone like that.


Star player: James Ward-Prowse

Player to watch: Adam Armstrong


20th Norwich


Norwich have recruited well in the off-season, but they've had to if they are wanting to be anywhere near competitive in the league.


Their previous records in the league isn't good, and I don't think it will get any better for them this season as I just don't think they are good enough to hold down a Premier League place.


Star player: Teemu Pukki

Players to watch: Billy Gilmour and Todd Cantwell


Player of the season - Bruno Fernandes. He's a massive reason why his side are title challengers again, and if he keeps on going like he did last season, he could bring the Premier League back to the red side of Manchester, and be player of the season in the process.


Young player of the season - Phil Foden. An extremely good talent who will only get better with age, there's no reason why Phil Foden can still be the best young player in the Premier League this season.


Top scorer - Harry Kane. Kane will score goals wherever his future lies, and he should pick up the golden boot once more if he stays fit.










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