Wild predictions for Premier League 2024/25

As the new Premier League season kicks off, here are some hot-take predictions from our side regarding what we can see unfold.

League winners: Liverpool

Since it’s been really boring at the top for four seasons in a row, I’d like to shake things up and predict Liverpool to win the league this season.

The Reds ran Man City really close for the most part last season, and even though they have a new manager, most of the players that challenged last season are still there.

Also, Arne Slot does have title-winning credentials from his previous job, which means he has the experience to handle the pressure of a title chase.

As for Arsenal, they will definitely challenge but I expect them to fall short for a third season in a row as they are still lacking a top-class centre-forward, a problem that Mikel Arteta has still not solved, and it looks like they are going to continue depending on Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. They are both decent forwards, but Jesus is injury-prone and Havertz is unreliable.

City are being called the favourites, naturally, but I believe they will drop off this season as a lot of their top players are on the wrong side of 30s. Additionally, Pep Guardiola hasn’t made many new signings and can be expected to focus on the Champions League this season.

Top 4

The Champions League spots will go to Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle United.

Many may find it surprising to see Newcastle in this line-up, but I do think they can get Top 4 this season. They have a top-class squad, a brilliant manager in Eddie Howe, and they have the advantage of not playing in Europe unlike Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, so they can fully focus on the league and the domestic cups.

Also read: Premier League 2024/25 Sponsors

Relegated sides

The three newly-promoted teams in the PL this term are Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town. There are also some teams in the league that have been performing poorly recently and barely surviving relegation.

With that in mind, I present to you my bottom three for this season: Everton, Brentford, and Southampton. 

Everton were in a lot of trouble last season due to multiple cases of point deductions and had to sell a couple of their good players as well. They are likely to be fighting to stay up again but may finally go down this season. 

Brentford, meanwhile, had a topsy-turvy season last time round and could go on a losing spree. With Ivan Toney most likely to leave, they don’t really look like staying up. 

Lastly, Southampton look like the weakest among the three promoted teams and will find it difficult to avoid relegation this season.

Player of the Season

The Player of the Season award will go to Alexander Isak of Newcastle. I expect him to again score a lot of goals and catapult the Magpies into a Champions League place. 

Golden Boot winner

The PL Golden Boot winner this time round will be Darwin Núñez. With regular starts under Arne Slot, he will score loads of goals and prove instrumental in Liverpool winning the league.

Dark horses: Brighton & Hove Albion FC

A lot of PL fans believe that, with Roberto De Zerbi leaving for Marseille, and most of their big players having left last season, Brighton will drop off even further than the 13th place they mustered last time round.

However, I think differently on this. I think the new Seagulls coach, Fabian Hürzeler, will do well.

Brighton have made some really shrewd signings yet again and had a really good pre-season, winning all their games. They will rise higher in the league table this term and may grab themselves a Europa league spot.

Manager of the Season

The Manager of the Season award will go to Arne Slot for delivering Liverpool the PL title at the first time of asking.

It’s really difficult to fill the massive shoes of a world-class manager like Jürgen Klopp, but Slot has shown in pre-season that he is very much capable of handling this challenge.

Also watch: Must-have FPL players as the 2024/25 Premier League kicks off

Manager most likely to be sacked first

I have a strong feeling that Erik ten Hag of Manchester United will get sacked first this season. The Dutchman barely survived last season and just kept his job due to winning the FA Cup.

I still think Man United are off the pace and will find it difficult to make the Top 4, which is the bare minimum for them as a big club. Hence, Ten Hag’s job remains in danger.

Ange Postecoglou might also find life difficult this season as Tottenham Hotspur will not make it to Top 4 for a second season running, in my opinion. There are a lot of teams with a better squad than them, and since they don’t look too strong on paper, without any tangible progress and silverware, Postecoglou may get the axe this season.