The Premier League season is set to kick off on Friday when Manchester United take on Fulham.
Manchester City will be hoping to secure a fifth straight Premier League title but facing the looming possibility of punishment for the 115 charges against the club for allegedly breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
Meanwhile, the newly promoted clubs Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton will be hoping to avoid going straight back down as all of last year’s promoted teams did.
Here is how the Hayters TV team think the season will play out…
Dan Bennett
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham, Liverpool
I’m backing Arsenal to end their Premier League title drought and finally win the crown over Man City after going close in the past two years. Hard to predict the rest of the top four but Spurs and Liverpool look best placed to qualify for the Champions League over the rest.
Relegated: Ipswich, Southampton, Leicester
All three promoted clubs to go straight back down for a second consecutive season with the gap between the Premier League and Championship continuing to grow bigger.
FA Cup winners: Man City
Pep Guardiola to end on a high in what could well be his last season at the club.
Golden boot: Erling Haaland
Footballer of the year: Bukayo Saka
Continues to get better and better and I’m backing him to take his game to another level this season.
Gerry Cox
Top four: Man City * depending on possible points deduction, Arsenal, Tottenham. Manchester United (Liverpool * if Man City have points deducted)
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, Everton *depending on possible points deduction (Leicester *depending on possible points deduction and Man City * depending on outcome of 115 charges)
FA Cup winners: Liverpool
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Footballer of the year: Rodri
Asterisks dominate my top four and bottom three predictions, simply because Leicester City, Everton and most tellingly Manchester City could face points deductions at some stage this season for breaching PSR. City could even be automatically relegated, which might be good news for one of the clubs coming up, and great news for Arsenal, who could win the title at the third time of asking, albeit by default. Guardiola’s side are still the best in the country, both physically and mentally, but the disruption of finally facing 115 charges could really disrupt their season. Rodri should pip Martin Odegaard to the FOTY title before leaving City to return to Spain.
Dan Ludlam
Top four: Man City, Liverpool. Man United, Arsenal
Predicting another close title race with Pep Guardiola bowing out in style by claiming his seventh Premier League crown in nine seasons. Liverpool will hugely impress under Arne Slot and take the title to the last few games, while Manchester United’s summer spending spree will finally produce results and a return to Champions League football. Having run City close in the last couple of seasons, I believe Arsenal will fade away due to a lack of firepower up front but I expect them to secure Champions League football at the very least.
Relegated: Leicester, Southampton, Nottingham Forest
Forest were on the cusp on relegation last season and will struggle again this time round. A lack of goal threat will prove costly, while Leicester and Southampton will put up more of a fight but ultimately come up short too.
FA Cup: Liverpool
Arne Slot will claim his first piece of Liverpool silverware by winning the FA Cup, capping an excellent debut season following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp.
Top goalscorer: Mo Salah will claim the Premier League Golden Boot, looking back to his brilliant best under Slot.
Footballer of the year: Manchester City’s Rodri will win Footballer of the Year as he continues his incredible dominance over European football with another remarkable season.
Nick Callow
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Man U
If Arsenal don’t make it third time lucky then surely they will next year so I’m getting in early. United look like they have a way of getting results and City and Liverpool are proven.
Relegation: Southampton, Ipswich Leicester
FA Cup: Newcastle Utd
They have to win a trophy one season so why not this one when they have no Europe to weigh them down.
Golden boot: Kai Havertz – so long as Arteta does not have to play him in midfield too often.
Footballer of the year: Martin Odegaard
Based on my prediction of Arsenal winning first title in 21 years it will be fitting that their captain is the best player.
Arthur Ferridge
Top four: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool
City have been on a roll for five years now, and there is very little to suggest that anyone will be able to get in their way. Arsenal will push them all the way again but fall short, while United’s failure to qualify for Europe will allow them to focus on the domestic campaign and bounce back from last year’s disappointments.
Relegation: Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Southampton
It is almost tradition that at least one promoted side falls straight back to the Championship, and Southampton look set to receive that dubious honour after an uninspired transfer window.
FA Cup: Chelsea
The Blues may struggle in the early stages of the season as they adjust to Enzo Maresca’s management, but could be on for a strong cup run should they survive the early rounds.
Golden boot: Dominic Solanke
A healthy return of 19 league goals last season helped Bournemouth to a 12 placed finish, and should be set to multiply with a stronger squad behind him after moving to Tottenham.
Footballer of the year: Cole Palmer
If Palmer plays half as well as he did last season, he will easily remind the world exactly what he is capable of. The kid has the world at his feet.
Nathan Edwards
Top four: Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
There are two great teams in the Premier League, and the rest who could compete for the European spots all have questions hanging over their head. The two front-runners will be last year’s top two, and I still think Manchester City will be able to keep Arsenal at arm’s length and win a fifth consecutive Premier League trophy.
Relegation: Nottingham Forest, Leicester, Brentford
Nottingham Forest have somehow always managed to just be better than the three worst teams in their two Premier League season, but I think this is the year they dip into the unfortunate trio. Leicester have had an uninspiring transfer window and if Ivan Toney does get his dream move, they will just lack the quality needed to find success in the league.
FA Cup: Chelsea
These past two years at Chelsea have been wild, but even throughout these difficult, unpredictable spells Chelsea still found a way to get to finals. They have a youthful, talented group who can challenge anyone on their day, and in cup football that is all you need.
Golden boot: Erling Haaland
I don’t think there needs to be too much of an explanation. He scores goals and at a rate far higher than anyone else can in world football right now.
Footballer of the year: Rodri
The Spaniard finally got some individual recognition during his nation’s Euros success, winning the tournament’s best player award, but at club level, these personal accolades don’t seem to follow him. He is City’s most important player and although seen as a defensive midfielder, he has an incredible habit of scoring a clutch goal which will only help his charge to this trophy.
Japtej Ghura
Top four: City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham.
City and Arsenal obvious. Liverpool look strong and Tottenham have recruited very well in summer.
Relegated: Bournemouth, Southampton, Ipswich
Southampton always struggle, Bournemouth will really struggle without Solanke. Ipswich just not good enough.
Golden boot winner: Erling Haaland.
No reason why he won’t score loads of goals again as long as he’s fit.
Footballer of the year: Rodri
Best CDM in the world and should’ve won POTY last season. Wouldn’t be surprised if he does next season.
FA Cup: Man Utd.
They’ve a habit of winning a trophy a season and this competition is something they’re used to winning.
James St Denis
Top four: Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool
Relegated: Leicester, Southampton, Everton
FA Cup: Chelsea
Golden Boot: Dominic Solanke
POTY: Bukayo Saka
After two seasons of fighting for the Premier League title with Arsenal, at times being the talisman of the side, Bukayo Saka will outperform expectations and win player of the year. The 22-year-old contributed to 34 goals in 46 matches for the Gunners last season, and if it is to replicate or better that form, coupled with a title win, then the England star should be one of the firm favourites for the award.
Raff Tindale
Top four: Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
With what looks to be Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge of the Manchester outfit, what better way to go out than with a fifth Premier League title in a row. City have shown their championship experience time and time again, clinching the title on the final day on two occasions in the last three seasons.
Relegated: Ipswich Town, Southampton, Leicester City
If last season taught us anything, it is that the step up from Championship to Premier League level football is bigger than ever. While Leicester and Southampton do have recent Premier League experience, they are very different sides to the ones who were relegated in the 22/23 season.
FA Cup: Newcastle United
Eddie Howe will be desperate to bring Newcastle’s trophy drought to an end; and with no European football coupled with the return of last season’s long list of unavailable players, this could be the season he does just that.
Golden boot: Erling Haaland
The Manchester City number nine is the favourite to take home the golden boot once again and after missing out on this summer’s footballing action with Norway, the Norwegian will be itching for the first ball to be kicked and get his tally up and running for this season.
Footballer of the year: Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard has been instrumental to the success of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the last two seasons. He is the man who makes the north London side tick, pulling the strings and dictating the game in the middle of the park.
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