Premier League predictions: Man Utd for the title, trouble for Arsenal

Image 1 of 7

Three months after Leicester City were crowned Premier League champions a new season is about to begin. After the shock of last season, the big guns of the league are set to reassert their authority following a summer of huge transfers and major managerial changes.

With Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho in charge in Manchester is there any hope that Leicester will retain their crown, or that Arsenal and Liverpool will claw their way to the top of the table? What chance do Spurs have of improving on last season's campaign and can Chelsea rediscover the form that won them the title last year?

Here's what the football experts expect to happen over the coming season:

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Manchester United:

With Jose Mourinho at the helm and big name signings Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on board, many experts predict that United will win the title. But can they shake off the three years' worth of rust that has accumulated under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal?

Pre-season performances suggest that the sluggishness of the Van Gaal era persists and let it not be forgotten that Mourinho hardly has a reputation for seat of your pants attacking football. However, he has the Premier League know-how and a burning desire to restore his reputation after last season's nightmare with Chelsea.

The football writers at the Daily Mirror have overwhelmingly backed United to win the league this season and Jack de Menezes of The Independent agrees: "Under Louis van Gaal, United didn't have that bad a squad, they were just wasted in the Dutchman's system," he says. "With Jose Mourinho at the helm, United would certainly push for the top four with the same players, but the introduction on Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – players that are used to winning – makes them genuine title contenders.

Manchester City:

Pep Guardiola has touched down in the Premier League and his Manchester City side have been installed as favourites for the title. Considering his track record at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, it's easy to see why. But will his philosophy stand up to scrutiny in the mayhem of the Premier League and can he and his players find the formula that will guarantee success quickly enough to mount a challenge?

City have spent more than £150m this summer and the quality available to Guardiola is staggering, but how he juggles his players will be key.

The football writers of the Daily Mail back City to claim the title and more than half of the BBC pundits agree. Phil McNulty, chief football writer at the BBC says: "The arrival of the world's most celebrated coach, Pep Guardiola, is the fulfilment of a long-held dream for Manchester City's owners – he is the man they have always wanted at the head of their football organisation. The Etihad house has been built waiting for him to move in."

James Benson of the Daily Star believes the Premier League trophy will be sitting on the sideboard at the end of the season. "Guardiola inherited the Premier League's most talented squad from Manuel Pellegrini and has added extra quality this summer. His track record speaks for itself and he'll be motivated by the challenge posed by the top flight's collection of elite managers – including arch-nemesis Mourinho."

Chelsea:

After a horrible season in 2015-16 could the Blues bounce back and reclaim the title this season?

Antonio Conte will be taking his bow in the Premier League this season, but he will demand results from the off. The addition of N'Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi adds depth to the squad.

They have the support of some big name pundits. Paul Merson of Sky Sports backs them "on the strength of the manager and Eden Hazard", who could fire them back to the top of the table if he rediscovers his form of two seasons ago.

His Sky colleague Matt Le Tissier agrees. "There's a big advantage in not playing European football, and that certainly works in favour of both Chelsea and Liverpool," he says. "I was also very impressed with how Conte got so much out of a very average Italy team at Euro 2016. That's what Chelsea need after struggling to motivate themselves after winning the previous title."

Arsenal:

It could be Arsene Wenger's last campaign in charge, but what are his side's chances of a first title since 2004? Not many believe that they have what it takes to win the Premier League this season, but there are still some believers.

Among them is Dominic King of the Daily Mail. He says it's time that "Arsenal fans recognise what Arsene Wenger has done for them over the last 20 years".

"If the title challenge doesn't materialise, it would be a travesty to see a man who has built up a club and produced some of the greatest teams we will ever see find himself on the end of a booing campaign," he adds.

His colleague Riath al-Samarrai is less bullish. "There's a chance, at this point in the window, that they've been left behind," he warns.

McNulty of the BBC agrees. They have "no chance of the title, but they always seem to win enough games to keep qualifying for the Champions League", he says. Wenger "will need to reach for the chequebook to buy class in attack and in central defence. If he does, the outlook may be brighter. If he doesn't, expect more of the same – or even less."

Former striker Ian Wright concurs. "Arsenal could not manage a title challenge in a season where Leicester won the league and this time it is going to be a lot harder for them," he tells the BBC.

Liverpool:

Jurgen Klopp spent his first few months at Anfield where he became a hero to the fans, but can he turn that into success on the field after some canny work in the transfer market over the summer? Unfortunately for Reds fans, few people expect Liverpool to take the title.

Indeed the BBC pundits' league has them finishing sixth. Only John Motson, who puts them second, believes they will finish higher than third.

"With the momentum Klopp gathered this season, it would not surprise me if they make a flying start. I don't think they are good enough to win it, but they will certainly be in the top four," says Chris Sutton.

Spurs:

They came so close last season, but after finishing second to Leicester have the Lilywhites blown their chance? Few people expect them to take the title, but their hopes of another top four finish have divided the experts.

Some believe the demands of the Champions League will be their undoing, while others think that they will develop from the team that got so close last season.

However, Craig Hope of the Mail lives up to his name and tips them for the title. "If Man United had signed Harry Kane and Dele Alli this summer we'd be saying they were title favourites, wouldn't we? They haven't. They still play for Spurs," he says.

"And so does the division's best back five, plus the likes of Eric Dier and Christian Eriksen. They came close last season and will be better for that experience with a manager in Mauricio Pochettino who will surely go on to manage one of Europe's very top clubs."

Leicester City:

What a difference a few months makes. A year ago they were being tipped for relegation and three months ago they were crowned champions of the Premier League. But no one is talking about them as potential title winners this season.

Like Spurs, they will have to contend with the Champions League. They have already lost one key player from their title winning tea, N'Golo Kante, with rumours of more to follow.

"The Champions League changes everything – they have got more games, and less rest – they will not be able to play the same team every time like they did last season. Also, when you take one player out of a unit like that then it makes one heck of a difference, especially if that player is N'Golo Kante," warns Pat Nevin of the BBC.