The 2023/24 Premier League season gets underway on Friday with reigning champions Manchester City visiting newly promoted Burnley.
Pep Guardiola’s side are strongly fancied to run riot at Turf Moor – which would be a fun way to start the new campaign unless you are a Clarets fan.
With the new campaign looming large, we have dusted off our crystal ball to come up with 20 Premier League predictions for 2023/24.
Arsenal
Arsenal head into the new season with their sights set on overhauling Man City in the Premier League. A £200 million transfer outlay suggests they are serious.
However, having paid way over the odds for Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, we think the Gunners will end the campaign no higher than third in the table.
Aston Villa
Having woken up to the fact that Steven Gerrard is a lousy manager, Villa’s decision to replace him with Unai Emery paid dividends as he guided them into Europe.
Villa have made some shrewd moves during the summer transfer window, and we fancy them to finish in the top six. As a bonus, they’ll win the Europa Conference League.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth’s decision to part ways with Gary O’Neil at the end of last season raised plenty of eyebrows after he helped them avoid relegation.
Andoni Iraola is the man tasked with leading Bournemouth this term. His style of football will be pleasing on the eye but will result in the Cherries losing more games than they win.
Brentford
Brentford came close to finishing as the top London club last season, ending the campaign just one point behind Tottenham Hotspur and nicely clear of the rest.
While we do not think they will overtake Spurs this term, they look an excellent bet to finish above West Ham United for the second successive season.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton defied expectations last season to finish sixth in the table and will rightly fancy their chances of another strong campaign in the top flight.
Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson caught the eye last term with six goals in 10 league starts – we predict he will hit double figures this time around.
Burnley
Plenty of people have been willing to talk up Vincent Kompany’s chances of managing Manchester City when Guardiola eventually steps aside.
However, a 17th-place finish will be as good as it gets for Burnley. We wouldn’t be surprised to see them go straight back down. Kompany could forget about the City job if that happened.
Chelsea
Sacking two managers during the 2022/23 campaign and putting Frank Lampard in temporary charge was never likely to end well for Chelsea.
The Blues’ decision to appoint Mauricio Pochettino should steady the ship, but it will not be enough to see them secure a place in the top four.
Crystal Palace
Much like Villa with Gerrard, Palace were left to regret appointing Patrick Vieira as their manager. He was replaced in March by Roy Hodgson and he kept them safe.
Wilfried Zaha’s exit could be a blessing in disguise, given his sizeable ego. Palace will be comfortably in mid-table and a top-10 finish is not beyond them.
Everton
Everton fans have had it tough in the last few years and things will not get any easier this season. Thankfully, manager Sean Dyche gives them every chance of surviving.
The Toffees have finished in the bottom five in each of the last two campaigns – it will be the same again, but they will avoid dropping into the Championship.
Fulham
It has been a turbulent summer for Fulham, with striker Aleksandar Mitrovic upsetting the applecart by trying to force through a move to the Saudi Pro League.
The second season in the top flight can often be difficult for clubs, so do not be surprised to see Fulham flirting with the relegation zone during the campaign.
Liverpool
Liverpool were slightly less underwhelming than Chelsea last season, staging a late rally to climb up from mid-table into fifth position.
With the promise of improvement from striker Darwin Nunez and a couple of solid midfield signings, the Reds may sneak back into the top four.
Luton Town
Luton have done well to climb up the pyramid to reach the Premier League, but their stay at the top table will be a short one.
The Hatters lack the resources to compete at this level and are a banker bet to make an immediate return to the Championship.
Manchester City
Man City were relentless in their pursuit of Arsenal last season, and there was an inevitability to the way they overpowered their ‘title rivals’ on the run-in.
Striker Erling Braut Haaland was pivotal to their success, netting 36 league goals. We predict he will smash through the 40-goal mark this season.
Manchester United
Man United made excellent progress during Erik ten Hag’s first season as manager and they are fancied to be the nearest challengers to Man City this term.
New goalkeeper Andre Onana will help United implement Ten Hag’s style of play more effectively. He’s also a good bet to win the Golden Glove.
Newcastle United
Newcastle nabbed fourth spot last season to qualify for the Champions League, but we think they will struggle to replicate that achievement this term.
With much-improved Villa potentially pushing for a top-six spot, the Magpies could end up in seventh position at best.
Nottingham Forest
Steve Cooper built up a reputation as a moaner in the Championship, and he has continued in the same vein with Forest in the top flight.
He was lucky to keep his job last season, but he won’t be as fortunate this year. Cooper is a great bet to be the first manager to leave his post.
Sheffield United
The Blades return to the Premier League for the first time since 2021 but will find it extremely to avoid dropping straight back into the Championship.
While Paul Heckingbottom’s side will be more competitive than Luton, they look nailed on to finish in the bottom three.
Tottenham Hotspur
The ongoing uncertainty over Harry Kane’s future has been an unwelcome distraction to Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-season preparations.
Regardless of what happens with Kane, new signing James Maddison is fancied to enjoy a stellar season to book his place in England’s squad for the 2024 European Championship.
West Ham United
West Ham went into the summer in a buoyant mood after winning the Europa Conference League. Fast forward a couple of months and things are a mess.
Rice has been sold, new signings are thin on the ground, and people are falling out behind the scenes. Manager David Moyes will not last the season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Having parted company with Julen Lopetegui, Wolves have turned to former Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil to lead the team this season.
O’Neil did a solid job with Bournemouth before being ruthlessly axed, and should have enough about him to keep Wolves out of trouble this season.
