The Premier League’s back in less than two weeks, and we will be watching closely all season long. Three fresh teams join the party and are looking to make their mark, the mid-table battles have some serious drama potential, and the race for Premier League glory will be tightly contested.
Before the opening weekend kicks off, let’s check out all 20 teams for the 33rd rendition of the Premier League — see how they’ve been shaping up over the summer and rank them accordingly… Let’s get started.
20. Southampton:
Southampton are back in the Premier League and they are in for one of their toughest goes at it. If they want to avoid a repeat of their last Premier League campaign, which ended in relegation they are going to need to strengthen their squad at both ends of the park.
Patience, possession, and passing are key features of manager Russell Martin’s approach. They have their core players with the likes of Flynn Downes and Adam Armstrong who are going to need to carry through the momentum of last season, be brave, and take risks this year if they want to see any success.
A lack of shot-stopping is a concern, however, Martin has addressed the issue as five of their eight summer signings have been defenders.
Key addition(s): Adam Lallana, Flynn Downes, Ben Brereton Diaz
Key departure(s): Stuart Armstrong, Che Adams
Key question: How can they bounce back from disappointment?
There will be disappointment as there is with every Premier League season, how they respond to the adversity will play a huge role in how their season unfolds.
19. Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town has secured back-to-back promotions seeing them jump from League 1 straight to the top tier of English football, the Premier League in just two seasons.
After running the show in the Championship, Kieran McKenna’s style promises some fun and exciting football this season. It’ll be interesting to see how his system and tactics fare against the heavyweights of the Premier League.
They’ve done some smart business in the transfer window, grabbing some of the top talents from the Championship. By keeping McKenna in charge they’ve boosted their chances of staying up in the top flight.
Key addition(s): Conor Townsend, Arijanet Muric, Jacob Greaves, Omari Hutchinson
Key departure(s): N/A
Key question: Can they keep more clean sheets?
They will score plenty of goals, but if the Tractor Boys want to stay competitive they’re going to need to tighten up on the defensive end.
18. Nottingham Forest:
Nottingham Forest showed some potential at various stages of last season, and in the final push for survival, they won three out of their final six to stay up. Forest are no strangers to tough times after battling it out in the Championship and two challenging seasons back in the topflight. They know another rough season lies ahead.
Arguably a more challenging league this season, and manager Nuno Espirito Santo knows his squad will need to step it up to survive. With most of his key pieces returning, Santo will be relying on midfielder Ryan Yates and new signing Elliot Anderson to orchestrate the team this year.
Key addition(s): Elliot Anderson, Jota Silva, Nikola Milenkovic
Key departure(s): Orel Mangala, Noussa Niakhate, Odysseas Vlachodimos
Key question: Can they tighten up on the defensive end?
Scoring goals wasn’t an issue last year, it was the defence that let them down. Starting three different keepers last year didn’t help. Forest needs to find some consistency in their shot-stopping department and hope they can improve on last year.
17. Leicester:
They lost their status after being relegated in the 22/23 season, but after earning a spot back in the Premier League, they’ll be looking to re-establish themselves as a mid-table side. Ex-Forest manager Steve Cooper joins Leicester, bringing a new style and tactics to the club.
Cooper will look to impose his counterattacking style on what was largely a slow and possession-based team last year under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. This style of play should suit high-flying wingers Stephy Madivi and Abdul Fatawu, who will be aiming to assist Jamie Vardy in keeping their team in the top division of English football.
The Foxes will be hopeful this season to see their team climb the ladder, and it seems like they may have the players – and the manager to do it.
Key addition(s): Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Abdul Fatawu
Key departure(s): Kieran Dewsbury-Hall
Key question: Can they fill the creative hole in the mid-field left by Kieran Drewsbury-Hall?
Some more attacking signings will help make a case for Leicester to reach the status of being a mid-table team. Without Drewsbury-Hall they need someone who can fill that void and propel Leicester into being a competitive team.
16. Everton:
Manager Sean Dyche worked wonders steadying the ship last season when you consider the roadblocks in his way. But he’s got another tough task ahead in 2024/25, he will need to try and keep Everton in the Premier League as they bid farewell to Goodison Park.
Losing Amadou Onana is a big blow for Everton despite struggling to make the first team towards the end of last season. The 22-year-old was a key player at Goodison Park over the last two seasons and established himself as a commanding figure at the base of Everton’s midfield.
The Toffees have flirted with relegation for years, but if you factor in last season’s point deductions, they would have finished with 48 points, comfortably mid-table. They will want to wave goodbye to Goodison Park on a high and re-establish themselves as a mid-table side.
Key addition(s): Jake O’Brien, Jack Harrison
Key departure(s): Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey
Key question: Will waving goodbye to Goodison Park give the team that extra motivation they need?
With special requests being thrown around and a farewell tour in place this season, the players should find some extra motivation to leave Goodison Park on a high. If not, Everton may find themselves in the drop zone come the end of the year.
15. Fulham:
Fulham have been busy this summer and seem to be on the up. Marco Silva, despite losing his anchor in the midfield, Joao Palhihna, has responded positively by signing Emile Smith Rowe who could potentially be the most talented player to grace Craven Cottage since Dimitar Berbatov. If he can stay fit Smith Rowe could have a huge impact on their season. If they can add Scott McTominay to their midfield, it proves that they are indeed a club on the up rather than down.
Silva’s game plan is straightforward: get the ball out wide and whip it in for the target man. Their new signings like Smith Rowe can add some creativity in the middle, helping to move the ball wide, while McTominay — if signed — can make up for what Fulham are missing up front.
Key addition(s): Emile Smith Rowe, Jorge Cuenca
Key departure(s): Joao Palhihna, Tosin Adarabioyo
Key question: Can Smith Rowe stay healthy?
It’s easy to forget the surging runs, his intelligence, and the swagger that Smith Rowe had before being frustrated by injury. Smith Rowe is a very good fit for Silva’s system and can play a vital role in helping them push for a top-half finish.
14. Wolves:
Wolves have finished in the top 10 only once in the last four seasons, so that has to be their target for this season. Wolves have a big hole to fill after losing their captain and centre-back Maximilian Kilman. He was just one of two outfield players to play every minute last season.
On the bright side, they’ve had a solid summer, by locking in the permanent signing of 22-year-old midfielder Tommy Doyle and adding exciting Portuguese winger Rodrigo Gomes.
To improve on last season’s 14th-place finish, Wolves need to build momentum early. Having Pedro Neto fit and firing from the start should boost their chances.
Key addition(s): Tommy Doyle, Rodrigo Gomes, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Pedro Lima
Key departure(s): Maximilian Kilman, Pedro Neto
Key question: Can they get out of the gates quickly?
Wolves face a tough start with four of their first five games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Aston Villa — teams aiming to set the pace at the top. If they can grab a few points early, it’ll boost their confidence and set them up nicely for the season.
13. Brentford:
Brentford had a rough 2023/24, finishing 16th with just 39 points, largely due to missing their star striker, Ivan Toney, who was suspended for over half the season and only contributed 4 goals, a far cry from his impressive tally 20 the year before.
Manager Thomas Frank, known for his data-driven approach, has caught the eye of big clubs like Chelsea, Man United, and Spurs, showing his stock in the industry.
Brentford’s aiming for a bounce-back season, hoping smart recruitment and internal growth can get them back into the top half like they were in 22/23 under Frank.
Key addition(s): Fábio Carvalho, Igor Thiago
Key departure(s): David Raya (loan made permanent)
Key question: Will Ivan Toney prove that his 20-goal season wasn’t a fluke?
It’s not only crucial for Brentford and Frank to have the 28-year-old Ivan Toney to be available all season but can he return to the 22/23 form that announced him onto the scene as a needle-moving talent in the Premier League? If so, this could lead to a successful season for The Bees.
12. Brighton:
Brighton had a taste of European football last season, but the extra games took a toll on their league form.
They’ve become the blueprint for midtable teams, with owner Tony Bloom scouting gems like Caicedo, Cucurella, and Mac Allister. Now, with new boss Fabian Hürzeler, they’re looking to keep that talent pipeline flowing, spotlighting young guns like 19-year-old Evan Ferguson and Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba.
The goal? Another shot at Europe in the 25/26 season. But with questions around their squad and new manager, it’s a tough ask.
Key addition(s): Ibrahim Osman, Yankuba Minteh, Amario Cozier-Duberry
Key departure(s): Adam Lallana, Steven Alzate, Pascal Gross
Key question: Without the extra load of European football, can they break back into the top 10 and compete with the heavyweights once again?
They have had a taste of success before so they know what it takes to compete. Without the extra workload this season Brighton could break away from the middle of the pack and once again compete for a spot in the top 6.
11. Bournemouth:
Matching last season’s 48 points and 12th-place finish will be tough, but manager Andoni Iraola has his sights set higher. A top-10 finish is possible with last summer’s signings now fit and fully integrated after a solid preseason.
If Iraola can blend Alex Scott, Tyler Adams, Hamed Traore, and Romain Faivre into his squad, Bournemouth could avoid damaging losing streaks and make a real push for the top 10. And if they keep Dominic Solanke, a shot at European qualification, while unlikely, isn’t completely out of reach.
Kiwis have extra reasons to watch Bournemouth this year. With ties to Auckland FC under owner Bill Foley and ex-Wellington Phoenix keeper Alex Paulsen joining over the summer, there’s a Kiwi connection to keep an eye on.
Key addition(s): Luis Sinisterra, Enes Unal (both made permanent), Alex Paulsen
Key departure(s): Kieffer Moore
Key question: Will Andoni Iraola pull off another miracle?
Iraola firmly believes his team can go further than they did last season. For Bournemouth to be a top 10 team this year they need their key players fit and ready to go and take their chances through their counter-attacking play.
10. Crystal Palace:
It’s a new era in South London with Austrian manager Oliver Glasner taking the reins for his first full season at Palace. After pulling off a miracle last season — taking a team near relegation to 10th, including big wins over Liverpool, United, and Villa, there’s some serious buzz around the club.
With key players like Jean-Philippe Mateta returning and the growth of English stars Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze, there’s plenty of optimism. But how will they fill the gap left by Michael Olise, who’s now playing for Kompany’s Bayern Munich?
How Glasner carries last season’s momentum into the new campaign will determine if Europe is a real possibility or if Palace will settle for mid-table again.
Key addition(s): Chadi Riad, Daichi Kamada, Ismaila Sarr
Key departure(s): Michael Olise
Key question: Can Adam Wharton live up to the hype?
The unassuming 20-year-old who was bought mid-season last year took the topflight by storm earning himself an England call-up for the Euros. If Wharton can live up to expectations, there is no reason why Palace can’t be in the top 8 next season.
9. West Ham:
Fans are excited as a new era begins for the Hammers this season, but it’s hard to see why. They have a talented squad but with newly appointed manager, Julen Lopetegui I’m expecting them to be just as conservative and as dry as they were under David Moyes.
Bringing in the likes of Maximilian Kilman, Niclas Fullkrug, and Crysencio Summerville headline what has been a very good summer transfer window for the Hammers.
With the squad that they have it’s hard not to see them making the top 10 but they should be aiming for more and have their eyes set on playing European football. If this is their goal they can’t settle for being conservative, expect to see a more flamboyant and entertaining style of play.
Key addition(s): Maximilian Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug
Key departure(s): Said Benrahma, Flynn Downes
Key question: Will fans expect more from Lopetegui?
Although Moyes was an excellent manager for West Ham, fans have been craving a more exciting head coach that matches the club’s history, and he just wasn’t cutting it. Once Lopetegui implements his style will fans get behind his conservative style or will they still be after more?
8. Newcastle:
Newcastle’s summer has been a bit of a rollercoaster. With changes in the boardroom, losing guys like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, and ongoing chatter about Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, it hasn’t been the most thrilling time to be a Toon fan.
But hang tight — manager Eddie Howe still has some cash to splash before the transfer deadline. If Newcastle can pull off deals for Barcelona’s Raphinha and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, things might start looking up. Keep those star players and add a few fresh faces, and suddenly the season could be a lot more exciting for the Magpies.
Key addition(s): Lewis Hall, Lloyd Kelly, Odysseas Vlachodimos
Key departure(s): Elliot Anderson, Yankuba Minteh
Key question: Will Newcastle take advantage of a lighter schedule?
If Howe can land some big names while retaining his stars, plus no European football this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Newcastle be very competitive in the top half of the table. It’s all up in the air until the transfer deadline wraps up.
7. Manchester United:
Even after finishing 8th last season, United and their new backers, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have decided to stick with Erik Ten Hag as manager. The fanbase is split—some feel Ten Hag would’ve been shown the door under any other circumstances, but others still back him after the FA Cup win. To support him, the new ownership has brought in a familiar face: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
United will also be hoping for a less injury-riddled season. Their last campaign was a nightmare with 55 injuries, and losing key players like Lisandro Martinez was a huge blow. It’s not off to a great start, though, with centre-back Lene Yoro out for 3 months and last year’s big signing, Rasmus Hojland, sidelined for 6 weeks.
Fans will be keeping an eye on young midfielder Kobbie Manioo, hoping he’ll step up and become one of the top young talents in the league by the 24/25 season.
Key addition(s): Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro
Key departure(s): Anthony Martial, Raphael Varane, Donny van de Beek, Mason Greenwood
Key question: Can Ten Hag turn it around?
With Ten Hag hanging on to his role at Old Trafford by a thread, everyone’s watching to see if he can turn things around. It’s clear he needs to nail down a style of play that works for his squad, something he’s struggled with as his time at the club has dragged on.
6. Spurs:
Spurs are rolling into the new season with a squad that looks a lot like last year’s, led by captain Son Heung-Min, who, as always, will be ready to dazzle again. Players like Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, and Richarlison are all expected to step up and help push Spurs into the top four. There are still question marks surrounding their squad, especially if those key players fail to take that next step.
Aussie manager Ange Postecoglou brought a fast-paced, high-flying style that had Tottenham top of the table early on, but they ended up in a familiar 5th place. This year, they’re aiming to finally crack the top four and secure that Champions League spot for the first time since the 21/22 season.
Key addition(s): Archie Gray, Timo Werner, Lucas Bergvall, Dominik Solanke
Key departure(s): Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, Tanguy Ndombele
Key question: Will Ange become more adaptable?
For Spurs to secure top four, they need to avoid dropping points in a random midweek game in February. Ange will have to adapt his game plan instead of always going all-out and learn to grind out results.
5. Chelsea:
Chelsea’s coming off two rough seasons and aiming to get back into the Champions League for the first time since 2021/22. After Mauricio Pochettino guided them to a top-six finish last season, they’ve tapped into their Italian roots, bringing in ex-Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca.
Maresca’s got a loaded squad, with last season’s Young Player of the Year, Cole Palmer, leading the charge alongside talents like Christopher Nkunku and Reece James. Talent-wise wise this Chelsea side has the potential to be higher in these power rankings, however, they are still somewhat unproven so we will have to wait and see.
The challenge for Maresca will be trying to get his players to gel and adapt to his possession-heavy style which he adopted under Pep Guardiola during their famous treble-winning season.
Key addition(s): Enzo Maresca (Manager), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga, Samu Omorodion, Pedro Neto
Key departure(s): Thiago Silva, Conor Gallagher
Key question: Can these stars gel under Maresca’s possession-heavy style?
How quickly can the squad adopt such a system that is different from how they set up under Pochettino? If they can gel, they could be a force to be reckoned with.
4. Aston Villa:
Perhaps the best team pound for pound last year with Unai Emery and his men produced a standout season, snagging 4th place and a Champions League spot. But was it a fluke, or are they really that good? To stay in the top 6, Emery will have to remain on his trajectory of being one of the best Managers in Europe.
Up front, Ollie Watkins has to deliver again. He will need to put in a season that challenges Kane as England’s number 9. But the real game-changer could be new record signing Amadou Onana from Everton. He’s the key piece that could keep Villa’s momentum rolling into the 24/25 season.
Key addition(s): Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley
Key departure(s): Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz
Key question: How will playing midweek in Europe affect the squad?
The big question for Villa is how they’ll handle the intense schedule that comes with European competition. Can Emery keep the momentum, or will Villa struggle like Brighton did last season?
3. Liverpool:
Liverpool is stepping into a new era without Jurgen Klopp, following a third-place finish that felt underwhelming. Now, the spotlight’s on 45-year-old Dutch manager Arne Slot to fill the massive void left by Klopp.
With a quiet transfer window, Liverpool’s squad remains largely unchanged, adding pressure on Slot to deliver with a team that couldn’t crack it under one of the best managers ever.
Liverpool do look to be a step ahead of other clubs such as Chelsea, Man United, and Tottenham, however, it remains to be seen if this new system in place will be able to allow them to compete at the top of the table.
Key addition(s): N/A
Key departure(s): Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, Dominik Solanke, Fábio Carvalho
Key question: Can Slot maintain the high standards set by Klopp while imprinting his own style of play on the team?
Slot will be hoping for a smooth transition as he implements his own style to a squad full of talent and experience. The foundations are already there, it will come down to how well the manager and squad gel.
2. Arsenal:
Arsenal could make a case to be the top team in the Premier League this year, but for now, Man City is still the team to beat. As Mikel Arteta goes into the last year of his contract, he is focused on putting together the last pieces of his puzzle rather than extending his contract. Arsenal needs to set the pace this year and make some bold moves.
Competing with City isn’t enough — if they want to dethrone City, they are going to need an out-and-out striker. Alexander Isak might be the answer, but are they ready to pull the trigger and bring in the goal machine they need? After falling short two seasons in a row, this might be the final piece Arsenal needs to take down the City juggernaut.
Key addition(s): Riccardo Calafiori, David Raya (loan made permanent)
Key departure(s): Emile Smith Rowe
Key question: Do they have the firepower to overcome the hump?
Arsenal at the moment doesn’t have enough firepower in front of goal to get over the line and win their first Premier League in over 20 years. If they can get their guy, they then become a real threat to ending Man City’s four-year winning streak.
1. Manchester City:
It’s tough to bet against Manchester City after four straight titles. They’ve dominated Europe for nearly a decade. They did look vulnerable at times last season, but when it mattered most, they delivered.
This year it feels a little bit different with rumours swirling that this could be Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge, with Kevin De Bruyne potentially following him out the door. Going into the season, everyone expects Man City to be the best team once again led by goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland, Belgian winger Jeremy Doku and De Bruyne who will continue to pull the strings.
The only way that I can see Man City being dethroned as the kings of English football is if Mikel Arteta and Arsenal get out to a flying start and hold that pace for the rest of the season. But there is no doubt that Man City will also be as well-oiled as usual under Guardiola.
Key addition(s): Savinho
Key departure(s): Julian Alvarez, Sergio Gomez
Key question: Will the pressure of what could potentially be Pep Guardiola’s last season cause Man City to crack?
Ever since Pep first stepped foot in the Etihad, all Man City has ever done is win. Conversations will certainly be had in the media throughout the season, but I expect Man City will go about their business like the champions that they are.