Premier League predictions: What will happen in 2024/25?

Predicting the 2024/25 Premier League season weeks before the campaign kicks off. How could this possibly go wrong?

Well, we're going to do it anyway. After all, the new Premier League season is just a few weeks away and the excitement is already palpable. It's at this point that even a clash between Brentford and Nottingham Forest seems like the most incredible football match one could ever witness, so let's embrace it.

Forget Euro 2024, forget the Copa America. They're old news. It's time to put your Premier League head on and unanimously agree with all our predictions for the upcoming campaign.

Premier League champions

As well as Arsenal have performed over the past two seasons, pushing this all-conquering Manchester City team to their limits, they may well fall short again come the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Given they have won six of the last seven Premier League titles, it's hardly a leap to predict that Pep Guardiola's men might triumph again. Opta are slightly less bullish on a City title victory this time around compared to last season, but their supercomputer nonetheless gives Guardiola's side an 82.2% chance of retaining their crown. As dull as it would be to see the trophy return to the Etihad, it's the logical destination.

Perhaps we can act as a jinx.

Surprise overachievers

How much of a surprise it would be to see Crystal Palace push for European places next season is questionable. After all, they finished tenth in 2023/24 following a tremendous late surge up the table under Oliver Glasner.

But the Eagles did finish 11 points off Chelsea in seventh and have already seen one of their chief creators, Michael Olise, leave for Bayern Munich. Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze could get poached too, with Palace's success largely depending on who they can keep around at Selhurst Park.

However, with some smart recruitment and a bit of luck in the market, Glasner's men could push on and break into the top six next season.

Surprise underachievers

Given Liverpool arguably overachieved in Jurgen Klopp's final season, we're predicting a difficult reality check for 2024/25. The Reds have been indebted to Klopp for so many years that coping without the charismatic coach may prove impossible. Well, in the short-term at least.

Arne Slot is the man handed the unenviable task of rallying the troops and building on solid foundations, but as impressive as his Feyenoord side were, he still remains largely untested at the elite level.

Now, Liverpool are unlikely to finish too far down the table regardless of any drop-off in results, but they may underwhelm as Slot tries to fit his feet into Klopp's gargantuan shoes. Dropping out of the Champions League spaces seems a distinct possibility.

Relegation candidates

In the 2023/24 season, all three of the newly-promoted clubs were sent straight back to the Championship. We fancy that at least two will have returned to the second tier by this time next year.

As remarkable as their ascent back into the Premier League has been, Ipswich Town are likely to struggle at the top table. Having spent significant amounts on largely untested talents from elite clubs, they may well be this season's Luton Town - popular and indefatigable, but just a little too weak.

Southampton do have Premier League experience to call upon, although manager Russell Martin doesn't - well, as a coach, at least. A lack of star quality means the Saints will be fighting an uphill battle from day one and a slow start could prove lethal.

While Leicester City could get drawn into the relegation fight under new boss Steve Cooper, we're backing them to just about stay up. Instead, it could be their Midlands rivals and Cooper's former employers Nottingham Forest who are demoted. They seriously struggled last season regardless of their points deduction and they may not be fortunate to have three such poor teams below them this time around.

Top scorer

Two seasons in the Premier League. Two Golden Boots. 63 goals. Need we say any more?

Betting against Erling Haaland for a third successive Golden Boot is the equivalent of betting on blue at a roulette table. You would simply be throwing your money away.

The likes of Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins pushed him close last season, but a man who generally produces a goal per game is just too good to deny.

Most assists

When Erling Haaland finishes top scorer, it may be his compatriot claiming the playmaker award. Arsenal show few signs of slowing down under Mikel Arteta - in fact, they're speeding up at a remarkable rate - and their devastating attacking play has been key to their success, albeit with a rock solid defence in the background.

Bukayo Saka may hog the headlines and Kai Havertz may be the hipster's choice, but it's Martin Odegaard who holds the key for the Gunners. The graceful magician boasts an unrivalled left boot, capable of slicing open defences with remarkable ease.

He produced ten assists last season, the most he's grabbed in a single Premier League campaign, and we fancy him to kick on even further next term.

Best young player

His passport may say he's 19 years old, but Kobbie Mainoo has the brain of a 26-year-old Spaniard, spraying balls around the centre of the pitch and breaking up play with incredible consistency. A goal in last season's FA Cup final against Man City may be nothing more than a footnote come the end of what should be an exceptional career.

Mainoo is already among the Premier League's most well-rounded midfielders, operating at an extremely high level amid the Old Trafford chaos last season. If Man Utd can actually pull themselves together, sign a few good players and not immediately turn them into deadwood, Mainoo is only going to shine even brighter next season.

Most improved player

We may have tipped Liverpool to struggle, but Slot's arrival could unlock the potential of Dominik Szoboszlai. After a blistering start to his Anfield career, the Hungarian alarmingly went off the boil come the turn of the year, failing to even nail down a starting spot by the end of the campaign.

An underwhelming Euro 2024 may not have inspired confidence, but Slot's system should offer the former RB Leipzig man the freedom he craves. Szoboszlai will likely be able to play in a role more similar to that of a number 10, allowing him to showcase his quick feet and powerful shooting in the danger zone.

Given he managed just three goals and two assists in his debut Premier League campaign, he shouldn't have to work too hard to set a new personal best.

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