(Photo by Sky Sports)
Another summer window is in full swing as the start of the new Premier League season looms on the not-so-distant horizon. Some teams are seemingly fully prepared whilst some have barely got their business started. However, all that matters at the end of it all is that league table. After a very interesting campaign last time out, it will be interesting to see how last season’s antics have affected the teams and their summer plans, all in the search for those magical three points.
We have some familiar faces returning as usual, as well as some faces that we haven't seen in a very long time. Today I am going to be sharing my predictions for the Premier League table at the end of the campaign, as well as going over some top scorers, some underachievers, some overachievers, and some players we could all do with keeping a close eye on (especially for those of us who painstakingly analyse Fantasy Premier League). I will be providing some explanation to my madness, with factors including transfers, managers, some pre-season performances, and many more in deciding my final 20. Without any further ado, let’s have a look at my table and you can let me know whether you agree with me or not in the comments underneath the post. Let’s go!
My Premier League Table Prediction 2022/23
Manchester City
Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal
Chelsea
Manchester United
West Ham
Newcastle
Aston Villa
Leicester
Wolves
Crystal Palace
Brentford
Everton
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Brighton
Leeds
Fulham
Bournemouth
Champions
Unsurprisingly I think again it will come down to red vs blue in the race for the title, with City edging it on the last day of the season last year, and I believe they will do it again this time out. City have performed some admirable business over the last couple years, and this window in particular does not disappoint. Bringing in elite scorer Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund will be a frightening addition to the league (even though he ghosted in the Community Shield game), and they have been signing solid backup players in the form of Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Ortega, with their recruitment showing no signs of stopping just yet. Whilst they have lost a few players in the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, they have made some very nice returns and will undoubtably use that money in order to strengthen some more key areas such as on the wings or at left back. Their squad is already deep enough that these departures aren't going to make much of an impact on their squad depth and overall quality which makes me think they will secure the title again.
Liverpool came close last season, but I don’t think this season is going to be any better for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Losing a world-class player like Sadio Mane is a tough ask for any team, to then spend nearly £100 million on Darwin Nunez after one good season in Portugal is insane in my eyes. Whilst he had some good performances, notably against Liverpool in the Champions League, I think all the eyes are going to be on the young Uruguayan to fill a gap in Liverpool’s scintillating attack that he might not be ready for just yet. Whilst he scored in the Community Shield against City a few days ago, to produce top performances all season is going to be a big ask and it will be interesting to see how he handles that. Otherwise, Liverpool haven't really made any notable additions to their ranks ahead of the new season. Fabio Carvalho looks like he will be a great player, but will he have that immediate impact? The main concern I feel is in their midfield. For a team as strong in attack and defence as Liverpool are, their midfield looks very out of place in order of their team balance and is absolutely overshadowed by the midfield of City and even Chelsea I would argue. Whilst there is still time to address this, the season starts this weekend. I would have thought a raid for Declan Rice or Jude Bellingham would have been Klopp’s number one priority this season and this may end up costing them in their race for the title.
Top Four
The fight for top four last season was an absolute shambles, with teams seemingly unwilling to take the initiative whenever a team around them would slip up. From the off it was pretty certain that Manchester City and Liverpool would be securing those spots, there were a fair few teams circulating around those illusive Champions League spots that struggled to get the job done. This time out I have unsurprisingly decided that City and Liverpool will get these spots again (I know, I am a genius), but I am not as confident with the teams around 3-6. I think Spurs had a very string end to the last campaign and seemed to be the only team that took their opportunities by the scruff of the neck to secure champions league football. They have the best striker in the league in Harry Kane as well as one of, if not, the top performer in my eyes last season in Son Heung-Min. Kulesevski coming in last season was a huge boost to their fire power, as well as the addition of Cristian Romero in defence to marshal a previously leaky defence. They certainly have the manager in charge to take them to those heights again, as well as some very good business in the summer so far such as Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, Djed Spence and Clement Lenglet. The jury is still very much out over the signing or Richarlison who I don’t personally rate that highly, but he will provide decent back up for Kane and Son.
That fourth spot is one that I am still tossing around in my mind. My initial thought is that Chelsea have lost a lot of talent this summer such as Rudiger Lukaku and not really replaced it thanks to Barcelona somehow stealing every single player on Thomas Tuchel’s shopping list, leaving them depleted enough to be out of the top four this season. Manchester United are in a similar position where they haven't strengthened in the areas that they have desperately needed for the last few years, being on that right wing, up top and in holding midfield. Another ‘McFred’ season may cause me to curl up in a corner and cry, whilst an injury to Sancho or Rashford could leave us having to watch Tahith Chong or Elanga play every week, I shudder at the thought. West Ham always seem to make a good start in aiming for top four and then they inevitably drop off due to poor squad depth, especially up top. With Scammacca signing in this window, perhaps their attacking options may be more solid in making a charge for the Champions League places, but I doubt it. By process of elimination that leaves Arsenal in the best position. A decent window adding some quality to the team in the form of Jesus and Zinchenko, a decent manager in Arteta and some very good young players such as Saka, Martinelli, and Smith-Rowe could have the Gunners back on Tuesday or Wednesday nights in Europe as opposed to those grim Thursday nights.
Relegation Fight
Whilst last year the relegation scrap wasn’t particularly close, with Norwich and Watford being doomed to relegation relatively early, that last relegation spot came down to the very last day between Burnley and Leeds, with the Clarets unfortunately losing their spot in England’s top flight. That being said I don’t think Leeds are going to escape the drop this time around. Whilst Jesse Marsch is a very good manager, losing their two best players in Phillips and Raphinha is going to be a devastating blow for Leeds this season. Whilst they have tried to replace them with Tyler Adams and Sinisterra, it is going to be a big ask for them to be able to adapt to the league quickly in time for them to avoid being in a relegation scrap. Bournemouth simply do not have a good enough squad to stay up this time around. Scott Parker has done a very good job with the Cherries in the Championship but they haven’t strengthened enough in order to stake their claim at survival this time around. They have signed three players so far in the form of Ryan Fredericks, Joe Rothwell, and Marcus Tavernier. All of which I deem to be Championship quality players and not enough to keep them afloat in the top flight for this season. Fulham will do the typical Fulham thing when it comes to their stints in the Premier League, they will ‘yo-yo’ between the top flight and Championship. Straight down again. Mitrovic always has a fantastic season in the Championship and then fails to produce when it comes to the top flight. That being said they have had a relatively strong window bringing in international starters such as Portugal’s Palhinha, Switzerland’s Kevin Mbabu, and Israel’s Manor Soloman. Experienced keeper Leno is an upgrade as well but I just can’t see them keeping afloat this time around. Losing Carvalho to Liverpool is a big blow as well but it will be interesting to see where they end up at the end of the season. Southampton and Brighton may hover around those uncomfortable spots, with Brighton in particular losing a star player in Bissouma and bringing in hardly any reinforcements. Their attack is incredibly inconsistent and this could be the time where Graham Potter’s men have to fight to escape the drop.
Overachievers
I think Nottingham Forest have the potential to surprise a few people this season. Many have the returning former European giants as certain to drop right back to the Championship, but I think they’ll at least stay up, if not relatively comfortably. Some clever acquisitions in the summer window could keep them up and cause a couple of giant killings if the big boys aren’t careful when they come to visit. I’m not sure if Newcastle performing well would be classed as overachieving now due to their recent wealth, but I am predicting a much better season for the Magpies. January signing Bruno Guimaraes has hit the ground running on Tyneside and will be one of their many creative outlets this season, especially if Saint-Maximin stays fit as well. Sven Botman will strengthen that defence whilst England’s Nick Pope is a very good acquisition in goal. Whether or not they will be able to challenge for European football is in the air right now, with Europe Conference football being a strong possibility.
Underachievers
The more I look at Southampton over the years the more disappointed I feel. A team that was once a potential giant killer producing incredible talent is now seen more as an easy 3 points on the road for a lot of teams. They still have potential to cause upset but more times than not they look defeated before they even set foot on the pitch. A lengthy injury to Livramento keeps a quality player out of the side, whilst Ward-Prowse can only do so much on his own. Joe Aribo has the potential to be a breath of fresh air for the Saints but in my eyes, it’s looking like a troubling season for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men. I could also add Chelsea to this list with the multitude of reasons I gave before.
Top Scorers
A couple of new additions may worm their way into the top scorers charts this time around, with all the hype being around Erling Haaland’s move to Manchester City in order to challenge the typical competition between Mo Salah and Harry Kane. Son will always put up some solid numbers, whilst Gabriel Jesus may have a chance to get on the board when given regular starts at Arsenal. The elephant in the room is whether Ronaldo is going to stay and play at Manchester United, with his eyes seemingly set on elsewhere (even if seemingly nobody else wants him right now). If Ronaldo stays and plays week in and week out then of course he is going to challenge. I think Salah will take it outright this season but I wouldn’t sleep on Son or Kane. I have question marks over Darwin Nunez but it will be interesting to see a full season for the new Liverpool signing, he could be up there but I don’t think to the degree of Salah, Kane, Son, Haaland, or Jesus.
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