We didn’t get an exciting end to the Premier League last time out, with Liverpool dominating, and several other supposed contenders failing to make any impression.

 

After dominating the Premier League for the previous four seasons, becoming the first side in English football to win four in a row, Manchester City flopped last season. They did finish third and got to the FA Cup Final which would be considered a good season for most, but not for Man City.

 

Perennial bridesmaids, Arsenal, were once again the runners up, for the third season in a row, seemingly unable to just get over the line.

 

Man Utd and Spurs flopped even worse than Man City in the league. Even if you didn’t see either of them challenging for the title, you would still have expected United to finish higher than 15th and Spurs to finish higher than 17th.

 

It was Liverpool who shocked many, winning the title by ten points under new boss Arne Slot, having barely bought a player.

 

Will it be one of those three to win it this time? Or will Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa or someone else take the title?

 

 

(Please note all odds are correct at time of publishing)

 

Liverpool 15/8 (BetFred)

Arsenal 5/2 (Ladbrokes)

Man City 7/2 (Coral)

Chelsea 9/1  (Bet365)

Man Utd 25/1 (BetFred)

Tottenham 50/1 (Ladbrokes)

Newcastle 50/1 (Coral)

Aston Villa 80/1 (Bet365)

Bar 250/1

 

We feel whoever wins the title this season, it will be closer than last time. Liverpool were 13 points clear of second place Arsenal by the end of February last season and TWENTY points clear of Man City. Being crowned champions was merely a formality.

 

This time, we feel Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea will all be much closer.

 

Arsenal have made some quality signings, including Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke. At the time of writing, Eberechi Eze also looks likely to be signing.

 

City have brought in several too, including Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki to add the purchases made in January.

 

And Chelsea have brought in some real potential superstars in Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and potentially the best of the lot, Estevao. They also, of course, won the recent Club World Cup and have a great chance at big odds.

 

But we are favouring Liverpool to get over the line once again. They won it so easily last time and have added Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike who already look world class, plus Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong and look the most likely to win the title once again, at 15/8.

 

However, do not be put off by Chelsea’s big odds. We see them as a dark horse for the title. If the young players they have brought in kick on straight away, they could win it, definitely. Joao Pedro and Estevao have the potential to be the signings of the season, and both could be absolutely world class. But Hato, Gittens and Delap are all top young players too, making Chelsea the best young squad in the country, for our money. It may be a year or two too early for them, but you might also land a big gamble at odds of 9/1.

 

Erling Haaland 11/8 (Bet365)

Mo Salah 5/1 (Bet365)

Alexander Isak 6/1 (Ladbrokes)

Viktor Gyokeres 13/2 (BetFred)

Joao Pedro 20/1 (Coral)

Cole Palmer 20/1 (Bet365)

Benjamin Sesko 20/1 (Ladbrokes)

Hugo Ekitike 25/1 (Ladbrokes)

Ollie Watkins 25/1 (BetFred)

Bar 33/1

 

The clear favourite is Erling Haaland, despite only finishing as second topscorer last season with 22 goals. The topscorer was Mo Salah (second favourite) with 29 goals, and second topscorer was Alexander Isak (third favourite) with 23 goals.

 

Haaland was the top goalscorer for the two seasons prior to the last one, however, and it’s obvious why he is the bookies favourite.

 

Of course, with Isak, a lot will depend on where he ends up, so we’d say a bet on Isak at this stage is a risky one.

 

He has been angling for a move away from Newcastle, if he doesn’t get it, will he sulk? Will he play often? Even if he does get the move, the most likely destination at the minute is Anfield. Would he then play second fiddle to Mo Salah? Of course, Liverpool also have Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, plus others who can play the wide attacking roles such as Florian Wirtz. 

 

Because of the uncertainty surrounding Isak, and how the new striking options at Liverpool may affect Mo Salah, we do feel Haaland is a very sensible choice.

 

Liverpool 1/9 (Bet365)

Arsenal 2/11 (Bet365)

Man City ¼ (BetFred)

Chelsea 8/13 (Ladbrokes)

Newcastle 11/4 (Coral)

Man Utd 7/2 (Labdrokes)

Aston Villa 4/1 (BetFred)

Tottenham 5/1 (Bet365)

 

Number of Promoted Teams Relegated 

2 – 9/10 (Bet365)

1 – 11/4 (Bet365)

3 – 7/2 (Ladbrokes)

0 – 20/1 (Coral)

We think this is an interesting market, and the bookies clearly think one of the three promoted teams (Championship champions Leeds, runners-up Burnley and playoff winners, Sunderland) will survive.

However, we think there’s a very good chance all three will be relegated once again. It has happened for each of the last two seasons and at 7/2 the odds are are too big to turn down for it to happen once again.

The gap between the Premier League and Championship teams is getting bigger and bigger each season because of the riches on offer to Premier League teams, and this bet will either land or come very close to landing.

 

Chelsea to finish in the top four  8/13 (Ladbrokes) – 10 points

Chelsea and Man City both to finish in the top four  0.96/1 (almost evens) – 6 points

Liverpool to win the Premier League  15/8 (BetFred) – 6 points

All 3 promoted teams to be relegated 7/2 (Ladbrokes) – 4 points

Erling Haaland to be topscorer 11/8 (Bet365) – 3 points

Chelsea to win the Premier League 9/1  (Bet365) – 1 point