Given the transfer market we have had so far this summer, I expect this to be a blockbuster premier league season. I don’t see the top two being any different from last season.

Liverpool have arguably had one of the best transfer windows ever, and with the potential arrival of Isak, I can see Slot and his team defending his maiden title with another season. Despite the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, and what could potentially be Nunez too, they have strengthened with the arrival of Frimpong, Kerkez and Wirtz, who for me could be one of the signings of the season. I expect him to play from a central position and I think he is ready made for the Premier league. Add to that the ever consistent Salah, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, as well as players like Gravenberch and Gakpo who slot was getting the best out of last season, the Anfield side are going to be a formidable force once again.

For me, Arsenal will be their biggest competitors again this season. They have run Liverpool and Man City close in previous seasons but have always seemed to fall short due to a lack of firepower. Well, 39 goals in 33 games is a very good return in any division and it will be fascinating to see if Gyokeres will be the man to help fire Arsenal over the line in the title race. We saw last season injuries affected Arsenal, and whilst they have bought in the likes of Madueke, Zubimendi and Nørgaard, I think they still look a little light in squad depth across the back and this could ultimately be their downfall if one of the key players gets injured. Saka will need to stay fit for the whole season as he is such a key player for this Arsenal side.

City and Chelsea will make up the rest of my top 4, with City likely pipping the Blues to 3rd place.

By their own standards, City will be disappointed with their outcome of last season but it’s been all change at the Etihad during the summer. With old faces like Kye Walker and Kevin de Bruyne leaving , Pep has also had a reshuffle with his back room staff, bringing in new faces in the likes of former Liverpool number 2 Lijnders. This feels like to me a part of a rebuild for City and I’m actually quite excited to see what Pep produces. We saw how well Marmoush performed last season and with the arrivals of the very talented Cherki, who is one of my favourite signings, as well as Reijnders and Ait-Nouri, I think we could see a different style this season from man City. They will be delighted to welcome back Rodri who is so key for them and will be hoping the likes of Stones and Foden can stay injury free and reach the form we know they can produce.

Chelsea finished the season very strongly with a win in Europe and at the club world cup so will be hoping to take that form and confidence into the new season. Like most summers for the club, it’s been a busy one with incomings like Delap, the potentially exciting Estêvão, and Joao Pedro whom already proved his worth at the club world cup and looks an exciting prospect for Chelsea up front. There is talk of more potential arrivals in the likes of Xavi Simons and Garnacho which would likely mean faces like Sterling and Nkunku will leave the club. I still think they are a keeper and central defender away from really competing with the top two, but with a wealth of options and squad depth, Maresca has something going on at Stamford Bridge and it wouldn’t surprise me if they perform very well this season.

As ever, the three that come up are always the most in danger of going back down due the step up in class to the premier league. However, out of the three coming up I think Leeds have the best chance of survival and expect them to stay up this season.

Burnley, under a very impressive Scott parker, built their foundation on clean sheets and a great defensive record to come up last season. However, with the loss two of their excellent defence in keeper James Trafford and centre-back CJ Egan-Riley, I worry this could have a big impact on the back four. Paired with their lack of firepower and goals, I struggle to see them staying in the league.

It’s great to see Sunderland back in the premier league. Whilst their signings look great on paper, with the likes of the PL experienced guy Xhaka and Adingra, the rest of their signings, whilst they may have quality are young and from other leagues. The Premier League is such a relentless beast for the newly promoted clubs and if the new players don’t hit the ground running, confidence goes on the pitch and in the stands, and it's hard to get back, especially with a fan base as big and passionate as Sunderland’s. I think this promotion has come too soon for them.

Lastly, I think this could be a risky season for Brentford. Their captain has left, top scorer Mbeumo has left, and Wissa wants to follow him out of the door, and I'm not sure people realise how damaging the loss of coach Thomas Frank is going to be. His inexperienced replacement Keith Andrews has a mammoth task at hand but for me, on the outside looking in, it’s looking too much to overcome.

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Theo Walcott

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