The season is about to begin and the Premier League is filled with new players and new-look teams that look to shake things up from last year’s order. The Top Flight may have missed out on Lionel Messi but the league looks to be as competitive and exciting as ever.
In 2021/22 the Premier League welcomes Norwich City, Watford, and Brentford, as they come up from the Championship and attempt to stay up. Current holders Manchester City will be looking to retain their title and teams like Leicester City and Arsenal will be pushing to break into Champions League positions.
I did another prediction as last season ended, although this one is more strict, check out how that matches to this one.
The Premier League’s Top Four
1. Chelsea
This may come as a surprise, but I have current Champions League holders Chelsea taking the number one spot this year. Chelsea have a stacked squad and the return of Romelu Lukaku really rounds the team off with a proven number 9 goalscorer.
The Blues went from strength to strength last year from the point of Thomas Tuchel’s appointment and I can only see this continuing. They have a stout defence, with attacking players who are only getting better.
A resolute and dominant Tuchel side pip others to the top spot, Chelsea as champions.
2. Manchester City
Manchester City will be as strong as ever, but not strong enough to retain their Premier League title. Adding Jack Grealish is a good addition, even though it could be argued he doesn’t suit Pep Guardiola’s style.
City also look likely to add Harry Kane, which would answer a lot of questions up front will not stop Guardiola’s team from stuttering. Not adding a holding midfielder and with rumours swirling about players wanting out, it will be a mixed season for the Cityzens, however, with the quality this side has, it will reach second.
City finish second as they stutter here and there throughout the season.
Ready for the next chapter! So proud to have joined the Premier League champions, can’t wait to get started! 💙 pic.twitter.com/snoKdNQSpT
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) August 5, 2021
3. Liverpool
Liverpool finishes third for the second season in a row, but this time they will be there for most of the season. Having Virgil van Dijk back is massive for Jurgen Klopp’s men and adding Ibrahima Konate to partner him, was a very smart piece of business.
Where Liverpool’s problems will lie, is going forward. Constant reliance on the likes of Mohamed Salah to score goals will not carry the Reds up the table. They are still in need of a proven goalscorer, especially if Roberto Firminio’s form continues to fall back.
Liverpool look a lot better this season, but not enough to really challenge, third.
4. Manchester United
The only team to ‘challenge’ Manchester City last year, digress down to fourth. United filled in one of their big needs in the summer, bringing in standout winger Jadon Sancho and will also bring in Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane, but failed to address other issues, such as holding midfield.
Add to this the fact that nobody knows what type of Paul Pogba the Red Devils will get and will turn out to be a mixed season. The side will need time to gel and will ultimately stutter, just like its Manchester counterparts. It’s possible that sorting out holding midfield could be an issue for years to come.
United stutter and start as they slowly gel together, fourth, but comfortably fourth.