With the 2024/25 Premier League season resuming on Saturday following the international break, find out if our writers have changed their predictions after watching the opening three Matchweeks and following the closure of the summer transfer window.
Who will win the title?
Adrian Clarke: Manchester City will still be favourites to win their fifth consecutive title, but I do feel it could be Arsenal's time to be champions. The team has improved under Mikel Arteta season after season, and if that happens again the Gunners will reach 90+ points. With a few additions and fire in their belly, I fancy Arsenal to end their wait for the title.
Adrian Kajumba: Arsenal. They are the rising force, have added in key areas and Man City’s dominance cannot continue forever.
Alex Keble: Man City. I originally picked Arsenal, but Erling Haaland’s form (and full match fitness for the first time in two years, according to Pep Guardiola), plus the arrival of Ilkay Gundogan tips the balance. What’s more, Ederson stayed, Kevin De Bruyne is in full flow and Rico Lewis has gone to the next level.
Ben Bloom: They have the best squad and best manager, they have abundant title-winning experience and they just look to be getting stronger and stronger. A couple of clubs are capable of running them close, but it will be a surprise if Man City don’t win it again.
Verdict: Champions
Clarke: Arsenal
Kajumba: Arsenal
Keble: Man City
Bloom: Man City
Who will finish in top four?
Adrian Clarke: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Spurs. I see the title race being more of a two-horse race this season as Liverpool adjust to Arne Slot’s rebuild at Anfield. I do feel that Tottenham Hotspur have a great chance of landing top four this season.
Adrian Kajumba: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Manchester United. My doubts about life after Jurgen Klopp for Liverpool have been reduced by how they have begun the season under new head coach Slot while Spurs' early-season inconsistencies and some familiar frailties have made me rethink my previous decision to tip them for the top four.
Alex Keble: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa. More upheaval at Chelsea, another tumultuous year for Man Utd and the potential for a difficult second season for Ange Postecoglou – whose lack of a "Plan B" means Spurs risk being found out – points to a repeat of last season’s top four. But Liverpool climb one higher for me because Slot’s calmer tactics appear to have added to Klopp’s football without taking anything away.
Ben Bloom: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea. I can’t see anyone beating City to top spot, but expect the battle to be close, with Arsenal and Liverpool having proven themselves near the summit on multiple occasions and both starting the season well. Chelsea are baffling but have enough talent within their head-spinning depth to take fourth.
Verdict: Top four
Clarke: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Spurs
Kajumba: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd
Keble: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa
Bloom: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea
Who else will qualify for European competition?
Adrian Clarke: Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton. I originally had Man Utd qualifying for Europe, but I am yet to see any real improvements to their tactical identity, which remains caught between two stools. Defensively they also look less reliable than I imagined they would be. I can see Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion churning out consistent results throughout this season that will be good enough to get both into the top seven. They are extremely well coached sides.
Adrian Kajumba: Chelsea, Spurs, Aston Villa. Due to their lack of squad strengthening, Newcastle United drop out of my selections for fifth to seventh place while Villa’s additions and encouraging opening to 2024/25 has renewed my belief in Unai Emery and his side.
Alex Keble: Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea. Newcastle came roaring back in the second half of last season and have got off to a strong start, plus they benefit from free midweeks. Man Utd look on the verge of crisis already, so the sheer talent in the Chelsea squad should see that they pip United and Brighton to a top-seven finish.
Ben Bloom: Man Utd, Spurs, Newcastle. Man Utd have not started well, but have made some promising signings and I can see them battling with Spurs and Chelsea for fourth, fifth and sixth. Newcastle failed to strengthen but can benefit from no European football to finish above the likes of Villa.
Verdict: Other European qualifiers
Clarke: Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton
Kajumba: Chelsea, Spurs, Aston Villa
Keble: Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea
Bloom: Man Utd, Spurs, Newcastle
Which promoted side will finish highest?
Adrian Clarke: I am going to take a punt on Ipswich Town. Head coach Kieran McKenna has passed every test he’s faced so far with flying colours and I believe he can make the Ipswich competitive. Ipswich will score plenty of goals, and because they have a young side packed with talent, I predict they will attack matches with fearlessness. Can they keep enough goals out at the other end? That’s the concern, but their firepower will help them pick up points.
Adrian Kajumba: I had selected Southampton but Ipswich’s ambition and approach in a superior transfer window - spending big (reportedly over £100million) and spreading the outlay to give McKenna multiple new and improved options across his squad has been impressive.
Alex Keble: McKenna’s tactical flexibility gives Ipswich the best chance of Premier League safety. That stands in contrast to Russell Martin, who refuses to change how Southampton play and will be punished for it. Leicester City’s lack of firepower is a serious concern.
Ben Bloom: Southampton. All three promoted sides were active in the transfer market. I expect Ipswich to step into the Luton Town "plucky, entertaining, but ultimately not quite good enough" vacancy, with Leicester and Southampton battling it out to stay in the division. The latter have not started well, but I fancy them to do okay overt the course of the season.
Verdict: Best promoted team
Clarke: Ipswich
Kajumba: Ipswich
Keble: Ipswich
Bloom: Southampton
Best player
Adrian Clarke: Haaland. The Man City striker has got off to such a flyer that it already feels like it will be a surprise if he doesn’t eclipse the 36 goals he snared in 2022/23. He is approaching his peak years and could be borderline unstoppable. I sense that Bukayo Saka may push him close, though.
Adrian Kajumba: The winner tends to come from the champions and Saka’s consistency and goal involvements will see him pip his team-mates and emerge as Arsenal’s most decisive player, including my pre-season choice Martin Odegaard.
Alex Keble: It isn’t just his seven goals in three matches, it’s how sharp he has looked in all areas of his game. Guardiola’s repeated assertion that Haaland is finally free from injury and able to train longer and harder tells me he will smash his own 36-goal Premier League record.
Ben Bloom: Odegaard. The Arsenal captain had a brilliant 2023/24 season and has grown into his role as the lynchpin of Arteta’s side. It is not difficult to see him quickly becoming a club legend.
Verdict: Best player
Clarke: Erling Haaland
Kajumba: Bukayo Saka
Keble: Erling Haaland
Bloom: Martin Odegaard
Best manager
Adrian Clarke: My early impressions of Slot and Fabian Hurzeler are excellent, but I believe this is Arsenal’s year to finish in top spot, so I will go for Arteta to be given this accolade come the end of the season.
Adrian Kajumba: If he ends Man City’s dominance of the Premier League, there can only be one winner. Arteta.
Alex Keble: Only once in the last 10 years has this award been given to anyone other than the title-winning manager, so to match my previous prediction, Guardiola will win it.
Ben Bloom: It’s boring, I know. But Guardiola wins this award more often than not, and if City win the league in what might turn out to be his final season in charge, then he’s nailed on to take it again.
Verdict: Best manager
Clarke: Mikel Arteta
Kajumba: Mikel Arteta
Keble: Pep Guardiola
Bloom: Pep Guardiola
Best young player
Adrian Clarke: Savinho is a wonderful talent at 20 years of age, so it would be no surprise to see him win Young Player of the Season award. I also have a feeling Cole Palmer could be in the running to secure back-to-back crowns in this category.
Adrian Kajumba: I have had second thoughts about Man Utd’s Kobbie Mainoo because, on reflection and despite his talent, Arsenal’s youngsters will have a better chance to shine. With Saka claiming the main award, this will be where the classy lynchpin of Arsenal’s outstanding defence, William Saliba, is recognised.
Alex Keble: Palmer won it last year and is eligible to win it again this season, so it would be a surprise if anyone else under the age of 23 outperforms Palmer – who is already on five goal contributions from three Premier League games.
Ben Bloom: Two of the league’s best attacking talents, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer, are still eligible to win the award this season, and I will plump for Saka as the most likely recipient. Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo could earn a big move by next summer, but it’s hard for a defender at a smaller club to win such an award.
Verdict: Best young player
Clarke: Savinho
Kajumba: William Saliba
Keble: Cole Palmer
Bloom: Bukayo Saka
Top scorer
Adrian Clarke: Haaland. Do I really need to explain why?!
Adrian Kajumba: Haaland. Always the favourite and his blistering start to 2024/25 of seven goals in three games suggests there will be no slowing down from the winner of the last two Golden Boot awards.
Alex Keble: He had a poor season in 2023/24, failing to show up in the big games, missing plenty of huge chances and generally looking well below the level we have seen. Yet Haaland still comfortably won the Golden Boot. That says it all.
Ben Bloom: If he does not miss multiple games, Haaland will score more Premier League goals than anyone else. Fact. Only injuries can stop him. I would expect Palmer, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah to score plenty again. But Haaland is a cheat code.
Verdict: Top scorer
Clarke: Erling Haaland
Kajumba: Erling Haaland
Keble: Erling Haaland
Bloom: Erling Haaland
Most assists
Adrian Clarke: Saka. He’s already produced three assists in three outings, and he’s a talent that seems to be getting better and better each season. He’s Arsenal’s go-to player and I back him to have a brilliant campaign.
Adrian Kajumba: Saka's creative contribution already - three assists in three games - and early-season reminder he is playing with more reliable finishers than my original selection, Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes, have led to a change of heart.
Alex Keble: Salah's 10 assists last season were just three short of winner Ollie Watkins, and after the strong start Slot has made, I expect Liverpool to score lots of goals this season. Salah has said he wants to make the most of what could be his final year at the club. He certainly looks in good shape – and ready to hit new heights.
Ben Bloom: Saka is ridiculously talented and should be Arsenal’s chief creator. Expect the likes of De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku to also rack up plenty of assists, with the luxury of Haaland in their free-scoring side.
Verdict: Most assists
Clarke: Bukayo Saka
Kajumba: Bukayo Saka
Keble: Mohamed Salah
Bloom: Bukayo Saka
Most clean sheets
Adrian Clarke: David Raya. Arsenal’s success is built on solid defensive foundations, so I anticipate the Gunners 'keeper collecting this prize for the second season in a row. His own game is also looking increasingly confident. The Spaniard has been outstanding so far.
Adrian Kajumba: Raya won the Golden Glove last season, has started this one impressively and Arsenal’s defence, the Premier League’s meanest in 2023/24, is now even stronger.
Alex Keble: Raya. Arsenal kept more clean sheets than anyone else last season and with the addition of a stable presence on the left in Jurrien Timber, Arteta’s side will only improve at the back.
Ben Bloom: A tricky category to predict because it is based on so many factors in addition to the ability of the recipient. Alisson is as safe a bet as any goalkeeper to win it, having excelled in a number of games last season despite injuries hampering his campaign. And he has three clean sheets this campaign already.
Verdict: Most clean sheets
Clarke: David Raya
Kajumba: David Raya
Keble: David Raya
Bloom: Alisson Becker
Writers' predictions
| Clarke | Kajumba | Keble | Bloom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions | ARS | ARS | MCI | MCI |
| Top four |
MCI, LIV, TOT |
MCI, LIV, MUN |
LIV, ARS, AVL |
ARS, LIV, CHE |
| Other European spots |
CHE, AVL, BHA |
CHE, TOT, AVL |
NEW, TOT, CHE |
MUN, TOT, NEW |
| Top promoted club |
IPS | IPS | IPS | SOU |
| Best player | Haaland | Saka | Haaland | Odegaard |
| Best manager | Arteta | Arteta | Guardiola | Guardiola |
| Best young player |
Savinho | Saliba | Palmer | Saka |
| Top scorer | Haaland | Haaland | Haaland | Haaland |
| Most assists | Saka | Saka | Salah | Saka |
| Most clean sheets |
Raya | Raya | Raya | Alisson |