So we are literally just 48 hours away from the new Premier League season, and I trust you’ve already read my bottom-half-of-the-table predictions by now. Which means you’re ready for the second part of this series, and it’s time for us to get stuck into the meat and potatoes of the league to see where the big boys will finish the season. So settle in, because we’re about to get into the weeds of why I have this pool of teams in my top ten heading into the new campaign.
10th | Brighton
Key Additions:
ST: Charalampos Kostoulas €35.00m
LB: Maxim De Cuyper €20.00m
LW: Tom Watson €12.00m
CB: Diego Coppola €11.00m
Key Departures:
ST/AM: João Pedro €63.70m
LW: Simon Adingra €24.40m
LB: Pervis Estupiñán €17.00m
CM: Valentín Barco €10.00m
Preview:
The Seagulls have been a pesky side in the Premier League for about half a decade now and are coming off another reasonable season under Fabian Hürzeler, who guided his side to 8th place while collecting a very solid 61 points. They were a well-rounded team, sitting in the middle of the pack for both expected goals and expected goals conceded. They were led by names like Carlos Baleba and Joao Pedro, who were part of their next batch of unearthed talents.
When it comes to the new season, I wanted to start with the names that have left the Seagulls, as it sets the stage for why I have them dropping. Their mercurial attacker Joao Pedro has signed for Chelsea. They also lost some of their more valuable role players, including Simon Adingra, a player many were excited about heading into last season but who didn’t quite live up to the hype. Another key departure is their ever-reliable left back, Pervis Estupiñán, who has made the move to AC Milan. The last point I want to touch on is the potential exit of their current midfield gem, Carlos Baleba, who has been strongly linked with a move to revolutionize Manchester United’s midfield.
What’s left for Fabian Hürzeler from last season’s squad includes the exciting winger duo of Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh, who will no doubt cause problems out wide. At the heart of the defence, they have Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, who should be key in anchoring a back line that has been volatile in recent years.
When I look at their additions, nothing really jumps off the page. They’ve invested in younger players like Charalampos Kostoulas and Tom Watson, who, at least on the surface, might struggle to fill the voids left by those who have departed. But the reason I still have them finishing in the top 10 is that, even if the new signings are unproven, Brighton might have the best scouting department in the Premier League. They always seem capable of uncovering another gem.
9th | Crystal Palace
Key Additions:
Nothing right now
Key Departures:
AM: Eberechi Eze (Maybe)
CB: Marc Guéhi (Maybe)
Preview:
Under manager Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have become one of the better stories in British football. They have now tasted silverware for the first time in a long while, not once but twice, winning the FA Cup and then beating Liverpool on penalties just a few days ago. The culture around the club seems special and united, and that is starting to show on the pitch with their success. However, in the Premier League, they weren’t at their best, finishing 12th. Still, if they can keep their team together, I could see a big jump for them this season.
After losing their budding star Michael Olise around this time last year, the Eagles have been able to keep the rest of their core intact (for now). Names like Eberechi Eze, Marc Guéhi, Adam Wharton, and Jean-Philippe Mateta are legitimate needle movers for most sides in the country and form a spine that is clearly good enough for a top-10 team in the league. They also have strong supporting players behind that core, including one of the better attacking wingbacks in the league in Daniel Muñoz, as well as Dean Henderson, who could be England’s No. 1 goalkeeper at the next World Cup.
The biggest concern for me is whether they can hold on to both Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi, who have both been strongly linked with moves away. Eze is rumoured to be heading to North London to play under Mikel Arteta, while Guéhi has been tipped to become Liverpool’s next great centre back. If those two were to leave, I doubt Palace would be able to bring in any players capable of filling those voids, even though they have kept their powder dry by not spending any money this offseason.
However, if they can keep this group together, this could be a season where they challenge for European qualification through league position rather than relying on another FA Cup run.
8th | Manchester United
Key Additions:
ST: Benjamin Sesko €76.50m
RW: Bryan Mbeumo €75.00m
LW/ST: Matheus Cunha €74.20m
DM: Carlos Beleba (Maybe)
Key Departures:
LW: Marcus Rashford Loan
LW: Alejandro Garnacho (Maybe)
Preview:
United have just endured what might be their worst season in club history, finishing 15th in the league and ending without any silverware. Under manager Rúben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag, the team went on one of the worst runs in their Premier League history. There is no doubt he’ll be under serious pressure to deliver in his second year, especially now that he’s had a full preseason at Old Trafford.
Despite missing out on European football and being widely believed to be in financial hardship, United have splashed the cash. They kicked off the window by essentially triggering Wolves’ wildcard Matheus Cunha, who is expected to play a key role in jumpstarting United’s attack. Joining him in the other wide 10 role is Brentford’s star Bryan Mbeumo, who is coming off a breakout Premier League campaign. After striking out on several number nine targets, United secured the signature of high-risk, high-reward striker Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig, a player with some of the most outrageous athletic tools in world football.
Outside of names Amorim clearly hasn’t fancied since his arrival, such as Marcus Rashford and the ongoing uncertainty around a Jadon Sancho return, the biggest departure will be Alejandro Garnacho, who now seems destined to play for Chelsea this upcoming season.
The biggest worry for me, aside from their disastrous goalkeeping situation, is the midfield defensively. Any combination of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, or Manuel Ugarte does not inspire much confidence when it comes to protecting the back line. That is why I currently have them finishing 8th. If they are able to land Carlos Baleba from Brighton, a move that could mirror the value Moisés Caicedo provided two years ago, I could see them fighting their way back into the top six.
There is huge pressure on Amorim this season. He is absolutely fighting for his job.
7th | Tottenham
Key Additions:
RW: Mohammed Kudus €63.80m
ST: Mathys Tel €35.00m
CB: Kevin Danso €25.00m
DM: João Palhinha Loan
LW: Savinho (Maybe)
Manager: Thomas Frank
Key Departures:
LW: Heung-min Son €22.00m
DM: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg €13.50m
Preview:
Like their top-six rivals Manchester United, Tottenham also had one of their worst seasons in terms of Premier League table position. I think that had less to do with the quality of players and everything to do with the man calling the shots in North London. Not wanting to kick him on his way out the door, but Ange dropped 29 points from winning positions last season. His style of football ran every key player into the ground, causing an injury crisis, while also playing several names out of position. The saving grace of the season, which kind of makes it a wash, was winning the Europa League. It was a huge piece of silverware and also secured Champions League qualification.
Heading into the new season, it’s a clean slate for the club in the billion-dollar stadium. They’ve made what I believe is the perfect appointment to lead this retooling of the squad. Thomas Frank might be one of the most functional managers in world football and clearly understands how to win in the Premier League, as proven by his time at Brentford. He now has no limits on the talent available to him, with solid, proven attacking outlets like Mohammed Kudus coming in from West Ham. There’s also talk of them prying Savinho away, which would completely overhaul their front line.
An exciting addition is João Palhinha, who joins on a season-long loan from Bayern. He should provide Spurs with a reliable presence at the base of midfield. Another key signing is Kevin Danso, who should offer quality depth behind Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in central defence.
The only notable departure is a big one in terms of name value. Heung-min Son has now finished his chapter as a Spurs legend and will close out his career in MLS. Outside of that, Spurs have managed to hold on to key players like Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro, and Brennan Johnson, who will bring both continuity and quality to Thomas Frank’s maiden voyage as a top-six manager.
All of this leads me to believe Spurs could be in line for a major jump up the table.
6th | Aston Villa
Key Additions:
ST: Evann Guessand €30.00m
Key Departures:
Nothing right now
Preview:
Villa sputtered on the final day of the season, which restricted their campaign to no trophies and only a Champions League qualification spot. Many expected more from Unai Emery and his men. However, it was still another season of solid, if not great, football by historic Aston Villa standards. Looking back, not many fans can scoff at the idea of having seriously competing for Europa League glory in 2025.
Villa have been heavily restricted from a financial standpoint this window due to Financial Fair Play and the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. That led to real concerns that they might have to sell some key names. Players like Morgan Rogers, who broke out on the Premier League stage and earned an England call-up, were rumored to be on the move. Their star striker, Ollie Watkins, was also reportedly tempted by a potential transfer. Fortunately for Villa, it seems those financial concerns have eased, and they’ve managed to hold on to their key players.
That said, they haven’t made any major transactions this offseason that would elevate their level going into the new year. That’s why I don’t have them progressing beyond what they achieved last season. Still, I like the continuity they bring into the campaign, and I believe Unai Emery is a spectacular manager who will have them competing for domestic trophies, chasing European success, and fighting for Champions League football once again.
Best Bet: Aston Villa Top 6 Finish @ $2.38
5th | Newcastle
Key Additions:
RW: Anthony Elanga €61.40m
CB: Malick Thiaw €40.00m
GK: Aaron Ramsdale Loan
ST: Nicolas Jackson (Maybe)
Key Departures:
ST: Alexander Isak (Maybe)
Preview:
Moving into the top five, I think it will mirror the same pool of teams we saw last year, beginning with Newcastle, who I have finishing 5th for the second straight season. Many believe that should be enough to secure Champions League football again. After their strong 2024 campaign, Eddie Howe and his team have built a solid foundation for the future, which bodes well. However, there is one massive, lingering cloud that could truly shift their fortunes this season.
Before diving into that, I want to touch on their summer window. It has not lacked ambition, but the execution has been poor. They completely struck out on targets like Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitiké, Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo, James Trafford, and Liam Delap, all of whom opted to join other teams. Even though they’ve been told no plenty of times, they’ve managed to secure the signings of Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, and Sunderland and England keeper Aaron Ramsdale. None of these are groundbreaking additions, but they should contribute at a solid level for Newcastle this season.
The cloud hanging over them is the Alexander Isak situation. As he has been flirting with a move to Liverpool all offseason and has reportedly refused to sign a new contract with Newcastle. Rumors suggest he won’t suit up for the Magpies again and will do whatever it takes to force a move to the defending champions. If that scenario plays out, it would be a huge blow to Eddie Howe and his squad’s chances of finishing in the top five again.
If Isak were to be sold, the next big question is who replaces him. In my mind, they’d have to look outside the club. One possible option could be Nicolas Jackson, whose time at Chelsea appears to be coming to an end.
4th | Manchester City
Key Additions:
CM: Tijjani Reijnders €55.00m
LB: Rayan Aït-Nouri €36.80m
AM: Rayan Cherki €36.50m
GK: James Trafford €31.20m
LW: Rodrygo (Maybe)
Key Departures:
CM: Kevin De Bruyne Free
RB: Kyle Walker Free
Preview:
I think most people will agree with me on the teams that will make up the top four this year. That’s because there is a clear gap in both quality and depth between them and the next group of teams. It’s tough to decide exactly who will finish where, since there are strong arguments for each, but for me, I have Manchester City finishing fourth.
Even though I’m not in the business of doubting all-time greats like Pep Guardiola, I think there’s a real chance his hold on English football may have slipped a bit after the treble season. They finished third last year and have made some good signings, but they just don’t feel like the same juggernaut they once were. This version of City feels more uncertain, especially with key players leaving and questions around the squad’s makeup, most notably after losing someone like Kevin De Bruyne.
As far as additions go, they’ve brought in their De Bruyne replacements in Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki. Together, they can help fill the massive void left by one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Reijnders is a functional box-to-box midfielder who can operate all over the pitch, break lines, and provide defensive cover. Cherki, on the other hand, is one of the most dangerous players in Europe with incredible dribbling and playmaking ability. On top of that, they’ve brought in proven Premier League talent in Rayan Aït-Nouri, who should offer stability along the back line.
On the way out are two legends of the club, players who have been the heart and soul of City alongside Guardiola for years, in Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker. With the lader making a surprise move to newly promoted Burnley. Outside of that, City have managed to hold on to most of their core players.
Now, my pick of City in fourth is fluid and could shift depending on a couple of key questions. First, how healthy will Rodri be? If he’s fully fit and firing, he has the ability to transform this team and push them higher. Second, do they get Rodrygo over the line? If they do, he would provide a dynamic threat down the left and likely become the best left winger in the league.
3rd | Chelsea
Key Additions:
ST: João Pedro €63.70m
LW: Jamie Gittens €56.00m
LB: Jorrel Hato €44.18m
ST: Liam Delap €35.50m
RW: Estêvão €34.00m
AM: Xavi Simons (Maybe)
LW: Alejandro Garnacho (Maybe)
Key Departures:
RW: Noni Madueke €56.00m
AM: João Félix €30.00m
GK: Djordje Petrovic €28.90m
CM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall €28.65m
AM: Christopher Nkunku (Maybe)
ST Nicolas Jackson (Maybe)
Preview:
Chelsea are the wildcard in this group. They could finish anywhere in the top four because their ceiling is so high, but in my mind, they also have the lowest floor. In his debut season, Enzo Maresca guided the Blues back into the top four, won the Conference League, and capped it off by becoming world champions in July after demolishing PSG 3–0 in the final. They were the youngest Premier League side of all time and seemed to find something that clicked down the stretch last year, which can only mean good things for their future.
In classic Chelsea fashion, they have brought in plenty of new names to round out their squad, and reports suggest they aren’t done yet. They kicked off the summer by signing promising Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who joined in time for the Club World Cup. They then added Joao Pedro, who scored three goals across the semi-final and final of that tournament and helped earn the team their world title. After that, they brought in young talents Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato, who add more high-upside depth to an already youthful squad. The final confirmed signing so far is future superstar Estêvão, who made his move from Palmeiras after drawing early comparisons to Neymar.
There could still be more names added, like Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons, but right now, the biggest concern is the loss of their number one center-back, Levi Colwill, who is likely out for the entire season with a torn ACL suffered during preseason training. Replacing him won’t be easy, considering the quality he was beginning to show, and it seems likely Chelsea will need to turn to the market to fill that void.
Alongside Colwill’s injury absence, Chelsea will also be without a few players sold from last year’s squad, including Noni Madueke and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. They could be followed out the door by the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, depending on how the market plays out.
All in all, Chelsea have a squad that looks capable of competing for major honors. They’ve already shown that through their Club World Cup campaign. I expect a huge season from Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, who will once again be central to any success the Blues have.
2nd | Arsenal
Key Additions:
DM: Martín Zubimendi €70.00m
ST: Viktor Gyökeres €65.80m
RW: Noni Madueke €56.00m
CB: Cristhian Mosquera €15.00m
Key Departures:
Nothing right now
Preview:
The Gunners come off another trophyless season in phase five of Mikel Arteta’s reign at the historic North London club. They made most of their noise in the Champions League, where they reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by PSG, who would go on to win the tournament. In the league, they were the best of the rest, but it wasn’t particularly close, with Liverpool running away with the title. For me, this has to be the year for Arsenal, but under Arteta, they seem to have this baked-in identity of being the “almost” and “should have” side of English football.
The biggest difference this season is that Arteta finally has an out-and-out number nine with the addition of Viktor Gyökeres, who has been nothing short of a goal-scoring machine during his time at Sporting. The 27-year-old will need to become a prolific scorer for the Gunners this year, and based on his profile, I think it would be crazy to doubt his ability to do so.
The other marquee signing is Martín Zubimendi, who will slot in alongside Declan Rice and allow the England international to play in his more natural number eight role. Zubimendi brings control and protection at the base of midfield and should help Arsenal dictate play with more authority. Lastly, I want to mention Noni Madueke, who is one of the most underrated wingers in the Premier League. He’s direct, creates chaos, and can be dangerous on both flanks. That versatility means he can not only cover for Saka but also complement him.
Importantly, Arsenal haven’t lost any key contributors in this window, which means Arteta has a squad built on continuity and cohesion. The biggest question remains whether Arteta himself is good enough to get Arsenal over the hump. Everything we’ve seen so far suggests otherwise, which is why I have them falling just short once again.
1st | Liverpool
Key Additions:
AM: Florian Wirtz €125.00m
ST: Hugo Ekitiké €80.00m
LB: Milos Kerkez €46.90m
RB: Jeremie Frimpong €40.00m
ST: Alexander Isak (Maybe)
Key Departures:
LW: Luis Díaz €70.00m
ST: Darwin Núñez €53.00m
CB: Jarell Quansah €35.00m
GK: Caoimhín Kelleher €14.80m
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold €10.00m
Preview:
Arne Slot is coming off a very successful first season at the helm of Liverpool as he guided them to a Premier League title with really no sweat all season long. They were the most dominant outfit, making sure not to tumble in any trap games along the way like their competitors did. The summer has been, from a business standpoint, successful, but nothing will cover the void and hurt left in the club with the tragic passing of their Portuguese attacker Diogo Jota in July. I think in the memory of their teammate, they will have everything to play for and should be the favorites to take out the title once again.
When looking at incomings, Liverpool have had a historic summer window where they started off by shattering the English transfer record by signing German superstar Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz will look to hit the ground running and is seen as the heir to Salah’s throne when it comes to being Liverpool’s talisman. To follow that, they broke the bank again by signing promising Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké, who was seen as one of the hottest commodities on the striker market this offseason. He is an all-round striker who has been named by many scouts and experts as “Baby Isak” for anyone wanting to know the expectations on the young man. To complete their transfer business, they brought in a pair of high-flying wing-backs in Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, who was one of the best full-backs in the Premier League at only 21 years old last year.
To fund this, they have had to make some sales, with three high-profile names heading out the door this offseason. Starting with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has joined Real Madrid after becoming a Liverpool legend at a young age. The other names are attacker Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, who were both looking for new chapters in their careers and have now found them.
The last remaining question is whether they will break their own transfer record and secure the signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle, who many believe is the best striker in the league after last season. If they are able to pull that off, there should be no question who the favorite is for now and for the future, as they would have an abundance of talent compared to the rest of the league.
But even without that move, they are my preseason favorites.