By Britwatch Team
Friday sees the long-anticipated return of the Premier League for the 2017/2018 season. Ahead of kick off for another campaign, we predict the winners, losers and surprise packages of the upcoming season.
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Premier League 2017-2018 Predictions
| WINNERS | TOP 4 | EUROPA LEAGUE | RELEGATON | GOLDEN BOOT | TOP FLOP | |
| Neil | Manchester United | Man City
Chelsea Arsenal |
Tottenham
Liverpool |
Huddersfield
Swansea Watford |
Romelu Lukaku | Alvaro Morata |
| Niall | Manchester City | Chelsea
Man Utd Tottenham |
Arsenal
Liverpool |
Huddersfield
Brighton Swansea |
Harry Kane | Mohamed Salah |
Premier League winners
Neil: Manchester United
Both Manchester Clubs have invested heavily this summer and will be amongst the favourites the regain the Premier League trophy. With Chelsea having to juggle European commitments this term also, Manchester City may be slight favourites, especially with their plethora of attacking options.
However, the addition of Nemanja Matić from Chelsea in the Red Devils’ engine room may just tip the balance in the favour of José Mourinho’s men.
Niall: Manchester City
The upcoming season’s title race promises to be a thrilling one, but in the end it will likely come down to three teams: Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
All three sides have spent money to strengthen their squads over the summer, but it is City who have invested the most. Bernardo Silva from Monaco is a fantastic addition, and providing they can keep Sergio Agüero and Vincent Kompany fit, the Citizens could he heading for their first title under Pep Guardiola.
Top Four
Neil: Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal
With United taking the league crown, the battle for the top 4 should be as hotly contested as ever. City will probably take runners-up spot leaving Antonio Conte’s men third.
For the final spot I am going for Arsenal. With the futures of Alexis Sánchez and Mesut Özil still in the air, but the addition of Alexandre Lacazette and with further attacking assets potentially to come – as well as signs their new 3-4-3 set-up could reap rewards – the Gunners might just sneak back into the Champions League places.
Niall: Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham
Chelsea and Manchester United seem guaranteed top four sides this season, and they will be expecting to fight for the title. That leaves only one spot up for grabs, and Tottenham will be the ones to take it.
Liverpool and Arsenal will compete, but despite attacking additions, their problems still remain. The future of Sanchez remains up in the air, and Liverpool have failed to improve their defence. Spurs might be away from White Hart Lane this season, but they will eventually get used to play at the home of the national team and make a late push for the final Champions League place.
Europa League
Neil: Liverpool and Tottenham
Liverpool’s addition of Mohamed Salah from AS Roma could be a shrewd move by Jürgen Klopp. However, questions remain over their shaky defence. For Tottenham Hotspur, a third-successive season as runners-up is now a tall order and with a lack of spending to freshen things up also, Spurs could well slip out of the top 4, in-spite of the goal scoring prowess of Harry Kane.
Niall: Arsenal and Liverpool
Everton have made some good signings during the summer but they are still a fair way off the pace of the top six. With the improvements of the other contending sides, Liverpool will likely slip out of the top four this season whilst Arsenal may struggle if they lose Sanchez before the end of the transfer window.
Relegation
Neil: Huddersfield, Swansea, Watford
For the new boys Brighton and Hove Albion, Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town, keeping their top-flight status come May will be tougher than ever.
After the Seagulls have built for life in the Premier League during the past five seasons however, I fancy them to stay up. The same goes for the Magpies under the wily Rafa Benítez.
I’d love the see David Wagner keep the Terriers up but I just can’t see it. The other two to drop to the Championship will be Swansea City and if I had to be pushed, I’d say Watford – despite the rather savvy Marco Silva being in charge.
Niall: Huddersfield, Swansea, Brighton
As a Yorkshireman, it is great to see a local side in the top flight, but unfortunately for Huddersfield fans, it will only last a season. The Terriers have spent more than their fellow new boys, but they still feel destined for the Championship.
Brighton will put up a better showing but will also fall back to the second tier of English football. The last relegation spot is hard to predict with so many sides vulnerable. Swansea in particular look like they could be in danger, especially if they end up losing Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Golden Boot
Neil: Romelu Lukaku
Last season’s main contenders will be there or thereabouts. Kane will always be a threat for the Lily Whites and if Gabriel Jesus can stay fully fit could bag Manchester City twenty plus goals.
However, after originally having my doubts over his move, Romelu Lukaku has been in red-hot form in pre-season and I tip the Belgian to be the clinical striker to fill the boots of Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Niall: Harry Kane
There is one thing that the Tottenham striker guarantees, and that is goals. Kane has an incredible goals per minute ratio for a reason, and if he stays fit then there is no doubt he will break the 20 goal mark again.
Other contenders include Agüero, Lukaku, Lacazette and possibly Álvaro Morata, but it is difficult seeing them topping Kane in the goal-scoring charts.
Top Flop
Neil: Álvaro Morata
After the goal-scoring exploits of Diego Costa for Chelsea, the Blues are banking on Morata to lead the line in west London.
The Spaniard was a bit-part player at Real Madrid before his move to Juventus two years ago, but since his switch to Turin he only scored 15 goals in 63 appearances for the Italians.
Whilst it may be true that a fair chunk of these were in a substitute role, whether the Spanish international can ably lead the line in a physical Premier League remains to be seen. I have my doubts.
Niall: Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian signed for Liverpool this summer, and to many it is seen as an exciting edition. Salah is quick and nimble with the ball at his feet, and he can grab his fair share of goals too.
However, he will not see Liverpool return to the top four like many expect and in that way he could be classed as a flop.
The Premier League kicks off on Friday August 11th
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