With the 2021/22 Premier League season set to kick off this evening, I thought I’d have a look at my table predictions for the upcoming campaign.
20th – Norwich City
This is by far the easiest placement for me; excluding Milot Rashica and Pierre Lees-Melou, the Canaries’ signings lack any real experience or reliability and will all be tossed on an already weak & thin squad with huge pressure. Relying on Teemu Pukki and Josh Sargent for goals to keep you up? Yikes…
19th – Brentford
Despite their win against Arsenal on the weekend (although I’m not sure if that’s a feat anymore), I simply do not get the hype around Brentford at all. Sadly, being a “well run club” isn’t going to single-handedly keep you up (which usually tends to be people’s go to justification for placing Brentford in such a high regard). With Kristoffer Ajer being the only signing of any real quality- I can only see them struggle. Regardless, I do think Ivan Toney will have a fantastic season, scoring 15+ league goals and perhaps being snatched up by the likes of Tottenham at the end of the season (when/if Harry Kane does eventually leave).
18th – Southampton
The Saints looked absolutely horrendous in the second half of last season and, on top of that, they sold their only reliable goal scorer in Danny Ings. Adam Armstrong is a reasonably good signing in my opinion, but Ralph Hasenhüttl out before January and Southampton down is where I see them.
17th – Watford
This is probably the least confident i’ve ever been for one of our seasons. I love Xisco Munoz, I love the players- but good enough to stay up? No guarantee. I wanted to be realistic and not biased here, but after the first result of the season- this is already looking like an overly negative point of view. Come on you orns!
16th – Newcastle United
Another year, another relegation battle for Newcastle, and another scrap to safety. They could easily go down, but I always predict them to be relegated and they somehow never are. So, I’m not going to bother this year. Steve Bruce, wanted sacked by the fans, but ends up keeping his job another season. Also, just to note, a wildly underwhelming transfer window for the Magpies.
15th – Burnley
Sean Dyche masterclass incoming once again. I’m seeing a lot of people saying they’re set on going down- have they not watched the past 6 seasons? Dyche doesn’t need much to grind out results and keep them up. However, Dwight McNeil leaves and I lose a lot of confidence in this particular prediction.
14th – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have a good squad and a fairly decent managerial appointment (whether he’ll flourish in English football like Nuno did is another question). Also extremely interested to see Francisco Trincão play. But l just think something won’t click in the squad and they’ll struggle over patches across the season and finish disappointingly.
13th – West Ham
Maybe a bit of a shocking one, but with European football to focus on and still a need for another centre back, I can’t see them recreating what they did last year. Furthermore, they’re one Michail Antonio injury (which isn’t unlikely at all) away from being striker-less.
12th – Brighton and Hove Albion
This is on the probable assumption they sign a capable striker. Really impressed with their transfer business this summer and don’t think they lost their best centre half in Ben White (Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk a very capable back two). I’m backing Leandro Trossard to have a brilliant season too. And Mwepu? Fair play to the Seagulls.
11th – Crystal Palace
I can see Palace doing pretty well this season. Another club with a sensational transfer window and I actually think Patrick Vieira will shock a lot of people too. I believe Conor Gallagher is going to have a very good season and win their POTS. Pretty tough to start against Chelsea (no wonder they were battered), and the football didn’t look great. But, give Vieira a little while to get settled and I can see them going on a fantastic run.
10th – Arsenal
Yep. I am very very confident Arsenal will have one of their worst seasons in recent memory (along with last season, of course). Despite being a big fan of Ben White and Martin Ødegaard, I really can’y see Mikel Arteta silencing many of his doubters. Saying that, I am a massive fan of Emile Smith Rowe and thought his performance on the weekend was sensational despite the loss. Wouldn’t be shocked to even see them finish a little higher, but after their first game vs newly promoted Brentford, I all the more confident.
9th – Everton
Not much to say about this one. I can see Rafael Benítez securing top ten for the Toffees and Jarred Branthwaite potentially having a break-through season. I really hope Abdoulaye Doucouré has a good year too (already bagging in their first game).
8th – Aston Villa
ANOTHER club that’s had a superb transfer window. Although I was confident they’d batter us on the first game of the season (instead the Hornets finished 3-2 victorious), I still believe they’ll have a decent placed finish. This isn’t that surprising considering how well they’ve strengthened their squad this year.
7th – Leicester City
Think this will be a slightly worse season for Leicester than the last two, but impressive nonetheless. Would likely be higher if Wesley Fofana wasn’t out for so long. I also predict Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (who i’m a big fan of despite having played for Luton Town) to play a big part and Patson Daka to score 20+ in all competitions.
6th – Leeds United
Here’s my big shock of the campaign. I’ve been bitten by the Bielsa bug I’m afraid. See them and Spurs to have a battle for 5th place but Nuno’s men to prevail in the end. Despite their heavy loss to United on the weekend, they looked really promising. Kavlin Phillips, Raphinha and Junior Firpo to be brilliant- mark my words.
5th – Tottenham Hotspur
Really strong recruitment considering it’s Spurs, snapping up one of my favourite centre halves in Christian Romero. I’m a big fan of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg also, and see him having a very good season. Wouldn’t be surprised if they get knocked out early in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League to a minnow of a club however.
4th – Liverpool
Top four here we go! This might just be the strongest top four we’ve had in the Premier League for a long while. The fact I have Liverpool, with all their injuries returning, not to finish top three speaks volumes. Can’t seem the Reds reignite their form from the season before last, but back them to win the FA or Caraboa Cup regardless. Think they’ll be in a title battle for a while and then fall off around Christmas/January time. Harvey Elliott to have a breakthrough season as well.
3rd – Manchester United
Manchester United to finish really high without many people noticing is bound to happen again. Very strongly believe *Watford academy graduate* Jadon Sancho will deliver as he is expected to and be in the Premier League TOTS and running for POTY. Off to a brilliant start against Leeds.
2nd – Chelsea
My god are Chelsea going to be good this season. Thoma Tuchel is nothing short of a genius and their squad is absolutely, undeniably unbelievable. Surely have to be neck and neck with City for first place all season (much like Liverpool and City a few years back) but I can actually see them being disappointing in the CL (much like Liverpool in their post Premier League win season). Romelu Lukaku 20+ league goals easily and Mason Mount in the Premier League TOTS. Hope Trevoh Chalobah keeps up his good form from the Super Cup final and opening game of the season also.
1st – Manchester City
Boring, boring, Manchester City. No change here i’m afraid. City to romp the league and smash 15 goals past Watford this year. Ferran Torres to be really impressive too. The fact a club can have John Stones, Rúben Dias, and Aymeric Laporte available to them as their centre backs really isn’t fair. Not forgetting the wealth of talent they have in… *checks notes*… that’s right, EVERY OTHER POSITION. Not to forget Crystal Palace or Newcastle to get their customary shocking win against them as well.
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