With the 2024/25 Premier League season kicking off on Friday, pundits are predicting who will win the title, which teams could be the surprise package, who will win the Golden Boot, and much more.
Who will be champions?
Michael Owen: Arsenal
Karen Carney: Manchester City
Darren Bent: Arsenal
Tim Sherwood: Man City
Shay Given: Man City
Mark Schwarzer: Man City
Don Hutchison: Man City
Matt Holland: Man City
Leon Osman: Arsenal
Shaun Wright-Phillips: Man City
Jermain Defoe: Man City
Who will finish in the top four?
Owen: Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Man City
Carney: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd
Bent: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Sherwood: Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd, Spurs
Given: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle
Schwarzer: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs
Hutchison: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs
Holland: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd
Osman: Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle, Spurs
Wright-Phillips: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa
Defoe: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs
Who else will qualify for UEFA competitions?
Owen: Newcastle, Spurs, Man Utd
Carney: Aston Villa, Newcastle
Bent: Spurs, Man Utd, Newcastle
Sherwood: Liverpool, Villa, Man Utd
Given: Aston Villa, Spurs
Schwarzer: Chelsea, Man Utd, Newcastle
Hutchison: Man Utd, Newcastle, Chelsea
Holland: Spurs, Chelsea, Aston Villa
Osman: Liverpool, Villa, Man Utd
Wright-Phillips: Spurs, Man Utd, Brighton
Defoe: Man Utd, Aston Villa, Newcastle
Which team will be a surprise package?
Owen: Aston Villa (again!)
Carney: Crystal Palace
Bent: Ipswich Town
Sherwood: Spurs
Given: Everton. I don’t think they’ll be in a relegation fight but will be cruising in top half.
Schwarzer: Palace. Oliver Glasner did an incredible job at the end of last season. The big question marks are around keeping Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze.
Hutchison: Everton
Osman: Ipswich
Holland: West Ham United
Wright-Phillips: Ipswich
Defoe: Southampton
Which promoted team will finish highest?
Owen: Ipswich
Carney: Leicester City
Bent: Ipswich
Sherwood: Southampton
Given: Southampton. I like Russell Martin a lot and the way they play.
Schwarzer: Leicester. They’ve got the set-up, the players and, in Steve Cooper, an exciting manager.
Hutchison: Leicester
Osman: Southampton
Holland: Ipswich
Wright-Phillips: Ipswich
Defoe: Southampton
Who will win the Golden Boot?
Owen: Erling Haaland
Carney: Haaland
Bent: Haaland
Sherwood: Haaland
Given: Haaland
Schwarzer: Haaland
Hutchison: Haaland
Holland: Haaland
Osman: Haaland
Wright-Phillips: Haaland
Defoe: Haaland
Who will be the best young player?
Owen: Kobbie Mainoo
Carney: Oscar Bobb
Bent: Adam Wharton
Sherwood: Cole Palmer
Given: Mainoo
Hutchison: Bobb
Holland: Mainoo
Wright-Phillips: Mainoo
Defoe: Palmer
Who is the most exciting signing so far?
Owen: Joshua Zirkzee
Carney: Jurrien Timber. Not a new signing, but he will feel like one after his injury last season.
Bent: Amadou Onana
Sherwood: Elliot Anderson
Osman: Riccardo Calafiori - not one to get you out of your seat, but could bring a title.
Given: Anderson
Schwarzer: Niclas Fullkrug. He’s over 30, but is a top-class player and fits the mould of a West Ham player.
Hutchison: Archie Gray
Holland: Gray
Wright-Phillips: Zirkzee
Defoe: Pedro Neto
What is your bold prediction for the season?
Owen: Man City reign to end
Carney: I am interested to see how Liam Delap does with his move from Man City to Ipswich. Also I can’t wait to see how Liverpool play without Jurgen Klopp.
Bent: Ipswich to finish top 10.
Sherwood: Arsenal to finish second.
Given: Newcastle to get back in the UEFA Champions League.
Schwarzer: Villa will not finish in a European place.
Hutchison: Newcastle win a trophy.
Osman: Liverpool not to finish in top four.
Holland: Haaland to reach 100 Premier League goals…(he needs another 37!).
