Premier League predictions: Who will finish where in 2022-23?
This annual act of folly was a resounding success last season, with the relegation of Burnley and Watford predicted as well as a top three finish in the right order. However, reserved optimism for Manchester United and disappointment for Brentford were prominent.
Getting your excuses in first? Well, there's still about a month left in the transfer window.
This season, predicting the underdogs is a particularly dangerous profession — as is the entire institution — but here goes.
How did Phil McNulty fare last season?
Phil McNulty predicts the 2022-23 Premier League positions at a glance
Position Club Position (Continued) Club (Continued)۔
1.Manchester City
Last season -
Champions Manchester City have been Premier League
champions in four of the last five seasons and I expect another straight battle
with Liverpool to see them back at the top. The signing of Erling Haaland
addresses a key flaw in a brilliant side, namely their tendency not to convert
many of the chances they create. He proved to be of the highest caliber and was
one of the most popular strikers in world football. England midfielder Colin
Phillips is also an ideal replacement for Fernandinho, while Jack Grealish
would be better for a full season under Pep Guardiola. Guardiola has said
goodbye to key ingredients to his success in Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and
Oleksandr Zinchenko, but City look no weaker than last season. 'He's a
generational talent' - why signing Hollande is huge for Manchester City
2. Liverpool
Final
Season - Second A truly brilliant season ended last time out with them missing
out on the title on final day, losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid
but winning the FA Cup and League Cup, both on penalties against Chelsea.
Expect them to battle it out on all fronts again this term and challenge City
all the way while picking up at least one trophy. Sadio Mane is a very obvious
loss but striker Darwin Nunez comes from Benfica with a huge reputation and has
already shown what he has to offer. Look out for Fabio Carvalho's impact at
Fulham last season - a serious talent. §
Premier League: Who can challenge Man City and Liverpool in the title race?
3. Tottenham
Final
Season - Fourth I share high expectations for Spurs this season as they are now
in the hands of one of the world's great coaches in Antonio Conte who will give
- and demand - a winning mentality that this club lacks. Conte has also
convinced chairman Daniel Levy that deals are done quickly so the squad has
been given some serious strength. Richarlison, £60m from Everton, adds
another dimension and depth to an already impressive attack while Yves Bissouma
was outstanding in midfield for Brighton last season
4. Chelsea
Final Season - Third It's never been slow at
Chelsea but there's been a different kind of turmoil this summer with a new
owner in Todd Bohly and Barcelona's barrage seemingly intent on stealing big
transfer targets in the form of Raphinha and Jules Kounde. . Chelsea manager
Thomas Tuchel has also expressed displeasure at various levels but this is a
club that appears to be heading for instability and anxiety as the season
begins. Raheem Sterling's arrival from Manchester City shows Chelsea's pulling
power while Kalidou Koulibaly has long been regarded as one of the best
defenders in the game. He will be expected to fill the void left by the
departure of the influential Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid. Expect more big
names with Brighton's Marc Cucorella on target, and Chelsea never to back down
and win silverware.
5. Weapons
Last season - 5th Arsenal, and manager Mikel
Arteta, were disappointed to miss out on Champions League football at the final
hurdle last season but there is much to like about their summer transfer
business and more to come. It is possible. I can see them challenging for the
top four again with the signing of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus - a
rare example of a deal going well for all parties - and his partner Oleksandr
Zinchenko adding not only quality but Also added experience which is necessary
for it. Win under pressure. Fabio Vieira, £34m signing from Porto, boosts
midfield strength. It's a big season for Arteta but he has full faith in the
Arsenal board and has seen a million dollars in pre-season. He needs to finish
in the top four and challenge for trophies and I think Arsenal can do that. I
don't see them as title contenders, though. He's like a chess player - a fan of
Erik ten Hague
6. Manchester United
Last season – 6 The sacking of Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer and an absolute horror show with Ralf Rangnick last season had no
effect before the eventual appointment of Ajax coach Erik ten Hague. The entire
club needs a reboot and anyone expecting miracles from Ten Hague needs to be
realistic as he begins to sort out a broken dressing room and a serious lack of
quality. Cristiano Ronaldo's desire to leave has clouded pre-season with Ten
Hague seemingly in pursuit of Frankie de Jong to sign defender Lisandro
Martinez. Christian Eriksen will provide guile and quality in midfield after
proving his fitness and return to form at Brentford. How will he work with
Bruno Fernandes? Ten Hague needs more strength in attack, and will also hope
that the likes of Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford return to their old form
and that Jadon Sancho can show why he was priced at £73m. A top four challenge
and a cup are the best bets. Title contenders? No chance.
7. West Ham
Last season - 7th West Ham had a great season
under David Moyes last time out but can still see their failure to win the
Europa League, or at least reach the final, as a great missed opportunity. Joan
Moyes will at least want the same this time around with Jarrod Bowen at the
heart of what West Ham do with new faces in his squad and the brilliant Declan
Rice. A lot will depend on how their new £30.5m signing from Sassuolo, striker
Gianluca Scamacca, settles in the Premier League but he comes with glittering
references and, believe me, Moyes of every incoming player. will be studied by
them according to their needs. Could see another good season for the Hammers
and a potential cup challenge.
8. Austin Villa
Last season - 14th I'm expecting big
improvements from Villa this season with manager Steven Gerrard having a
pre-season to feed his ideas and new faces through a passionate ownership.
Villa helped Gerrard by completing his business early and it looks good, with
Philippe Coutinho signing permanently and the highly-rated pairing of defender
Diego Carlos from Sevilla and the free transfer of Marcel Boubacar Camara
adding real quality. Added They need to rid themselves of the inconsistency
that frustrated Gerrard last season but he will expect big things from Villa
and himself. Newcastle will look to build on a promising end to the 2021-22
season.
9. Newcastle
Last season - 11th Expectations are high on
Tyneside after an excellent second half of the season under new manager Eddie
Howe and the arrival of the club's controversial Saudi Arabian ownership. For
all the fanciful talk of Hollywood signings, Newcastle's transfer business has
been solid and sensible rather than spectacular, using common sense rather than
spending, although if they do sign James Maddison away from Leicester City If
they succeed in awarding the prize, it will be considered. As a serious
statement. England keeper Nick Pope is an excellent addition while Lille's Sven
Boatman is considered a defender of great promise. The first phase laid the
foundation for improving mentality and quality, with Kieran Trippier and Dan
Byrne bringing experience and Bruno Guimaraes with real 'X factor' class. Chris
Wood struggled but Callum Wilson is always a threat along with the
unpredictable Alain Saint-Maximin - although Howe will need to bring more
firepower. I see a season of good stability, which should satisfy the Toon Army
as it will be a permanent rebuild rather than a cash-crazy quick fix.
10. Leicester
Last season - 8th It's strange because I rate
Brendan Rodgers so highly and he has so much talent in his team but there's
just a feeling that the momentum is gone. It has been a passive transfer summer
so far, with more talk of exits surrounding the likes of James Maddison, Uri
Tielemans and Kasper Schmeichel than incoming arrivals. If he goes, it will
leave a huge hole in the Leicester dressing room and a serious void to fill.
Rodgers has reached a pivotal point in his reign after winning the FA Cup and
twice missing out on Champions League football on the final day of the season.
The Foxes manager wanted a "healthy shake-up" to rejuvenate his squad
and has so far failed to do so. Crucial weeks lie ahead and if Rodgers'
mid-table prediction comes to pass, it could be a disappointment. Players
should be brought in.
11. Brighton
Last season - 9th Graham Potter has done a
fantastic job at Brighton and his attractive football towards the end of last
season has led to big results, such as beating Manchester United at the Amex
and back-to-back wins at Arsenal and Spurs. The days of being near the bottom
of the Premier League look to be over under this highly rated manager. There is
no reason to expect anything other than another very decent season, although
Chelsea may yet sign talented Spanish left-back Marc Cucorella. It will be a
blow for Brighton, plus the loss of Yves Bissouma to Spurs, but Potter is
talented enough to find a way to recover. Brighton's lackluster last season
wasn't killing off the many chances they created. The man they hope will solve
that is Turkish striker Deniz Undau, who signed in January but then spent a
loan spell at former parent club Royal Union St Gallois. He scored 27 goals in
41 appearances and was Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year. Potter has
also invested for the future with the signings of young striker Julio Anceso
from Libertad Asuncion in Paraguay and Ivorian Simon Edingara from Danish side
FC Nordsjaelland.
12. Wolves
Last season - 10th After looking good for so
long as Wolves faded last season, manager Bruno Leigh adopted a progressive
attacking style after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo. Now firmly established in
the Premier League, they will be looking to Hwang Hee-chan to extend his loan
spell last season after completing a permanent move from RB Leipzig while the
£20.5m signing from Burnley Incoming Nathan Collins will add to the defense.
Resource preparation by Captain Conor Cody. If Wolves can keep hold of the
coveted Ruben Neves then there's no reason why they can't have another decent season
and maybe another crack at the top 10. The potential long-term loss of striker
Raul Jimenez after suffering an injury in pre-season could also have a serious
impact on his performance.
13. Crystal Palace
Last season - 12th Patrick Vieira made a big impression
at Salehurst Park in his first season as manager but will have to do without
Conor Gallagher this term after his outstanding spell on loan from Chelsea
14. Everton
Last season – 16 This is where the potential
contenders really start and any of the following could fight back.Everton had a
terrible season last time out with the failure of the ill-fated appointment of
Rafael Benitez, followed by Frank Lampard, who scored to keep the Toffees up.
In reality, it was more the efforts of the Everton
fans than the players that they somehow survived. They will be needed again as
a result of club financial constraints, the sale of centre-forward Richarlison
to Spurs and a massive strategic review - carried out by the owner and board -
very vague, short on specifics. of directors who have presided over truly
disastrous transfer strategies and decision-making.There's just a feeling
they'll have enough to last this time around, with the smart signings of Dwight
McNeill and James Tarkowski from Burnley and more to come.
15.
Brentford
Last season - 13th
Brentford finished the season comfortably, helped
in large part by the signing of Christian Eriksen, who halted a free fall and
performed so impressively after suffering a heart attack while playing for
Denmark at Euro 2020. demonstrated that he was snapped up by Manchester United.Eriksen
leaves a big gap but manager Thomas Frank has shown himself to be a shrewd
operator and I fancy the Bees to hold on again, although they will need another
good start.They will have to keep Ivan Toney up front while Ben Mee from
Burnley will add defensive experience and Kane-Lewis-Potter, signed from Hull
City for £20m, was a host of Premier League fans. Will be looking forward.
Jesse Marsh and Tyler Adams
Tyler Adams (right) is one of three new Leeds
signings who played under manager Jesse Marsh (left) at the previous club.
16. Leeds
Last season – 17 Leeds scraped for survival on the
final day of last season and have since lost two of their most influential
players in Rafinha and domestic hero Calvin Phillips.This makes life difficult
for Jesse Marsh as he tries to recreate what he inherited from Marcelo Bielsa's
celebrity.I think Leeds, like Everton, will survive on the basis of the
fanatical and unwavering support they receive at home. Elland Road must be
their fortress - or they could be in trouble.Marsh has gone with what he knows
as Red Bull have brought in winger Brendan Aronsen from Salzburg and RB Leipzig
midfielder Tyler Adams, two Americans who have worked under him before. The
same applies to defender Rasmus Christensen, also signed from Salzburg.Colombian
winger Luis Sinestra has arrived from Feyenoord for £21m to add threat and
Leeds hope a pre-season hamstring injury will not prove too difficult.It's a
big show of faith in Marsch, who wants to put his stamp on it. Leeds are
another team that needs a good start or times could be very difficult.Leeds
must keep Patrick Bamford fit. And keep Jack Harrison.
17. Southampton
Last season - 15th A big season for
manager Ralf Hessen-Huttel, who felt the power of the fans' anger during a
disappointing end to the league season that saw Saints lose nine of their last
12 games. It will be checked.He has improved his backroom team and will need a
sharp start to disprove claims that his reign at St Mary's is over.Hassan
Huttle's work in the transfer market has largely focused on youth, with Romeo
Lavia and Cicco Mara arriving from Manchester City and Bordeaux respectively.
Bochum's new defender Armel Bela Kuchip is only 20 years old. Much will be
expected of Joe Arebo, who arrived from Rangers.Saints have kept captain James
Ward-Prowse away from fans. He will be the key to their season, which I hope
will ensure they stay out of trouble.
I do not predict their safety with great
confidence.
18. Nottingham Forest
Last season - Championship play-off winners Nottingham
Forest have marked their return to the Premier League after 23 years by making
an expensive and spectacular splash in the transfer market.Owner Evangelos
Marinakis has rewarded Forest's best manager Steve Cooper with the kind of
funding he hopes will keep the two-time European Cup winners from returning to
the Championship.There is an element of gambling because Cooper's brilliant
renewal was based on great team spirit and there is always a risk in adding so
many new faces.And in Forest's defence, they have had no choice but to embark
on that rebuild as seven of the 14 players from the play-off final win against
Huddersfield Town have departed, including keeper Bryce Samba and loan The
choice of recipients is also included. Defender David Spence, who has joined
Spurs.Jesse Lingard has been the most eye-catching signing since his free
transfer from Manchester United. He chose Jungle ahead of West Ham and will
have a huge responsibility in this new team.
But I worry about the sheer churn of apathy.
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