With the brand new Premier League season now simply hours away, Metro has put collectively a listing of our boldest, most random and maybe even controversial predictions for the marketing campaign forward.
Can Gabriel Jesus compete for the golden boot? Will the person who changed him at Manchester Metropolis – Erling Haaland – wrestle? And are Chelsea liable to lacking out on the highest? Prepare for the most well liked of sizzling takes…
Chelsea to complete outdoors the highest 4
‘If you wish to combat for a similar place you want to enhance, you'll be able to by no means stand nonetheless. In the event you stand nonetheless, different groups will overtake you.’
Thomas Tuchel has already fired a warning shot to Chelsea’s hierarchy forward of the brand new season and it’s clear he is aware of he's in for a uneven trip except extra recent faces are introduced in.
The lack of Antonio Rudiger is a significant one. The 29-year-old, who joined Actual Madrid on a free switch this summer time, was a pacesetter in Chelsea’s dressing room and considered one of Tuchel’s trusted lieutenants on the pitch. Cesar Azpilicueta, one other supply of reliability for Tuchel, had needed to affix Barcelona and the Chelsea supervisor has even admitted that he's holding the Spaniard towards his will.
Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly have arrived to compensate for the important thing departures in Chelsea’s defence and assault however Tuchel is adamant that additional reinforcements are required.
A 4-0 defeat to Arsenal in Orlando 12 days in the past led to a different indignant response from Tuchel, who claimed his aspect are ‘not aggressive like this’. Even for a pre-season fixture, Chelsea’s assault appeared stagnant and that has been a working theme all through their summer time preparations.
Tuchel will definitely be wanting over his shoulder at Tottenham, who completed three factors behind Chelsea within the Premier League final season and have considerably strengthened Antonio Conte’s squad this summer time.
Arsenal additionally seem like on target underneath Mikel Arteta and the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko may also bolster a aspect that had a poor begin to the season final 12 months, however ended up simply 5 factors behind Chelsea by the tip of Could. — Chris Davie
Harm-prone Erling Haaland to wrestle
Erling Haaland is predicted to make a large influence at Manchester Metropolis this 12 months after the striker’s big-money transfer from Borussia Dortmund, however there's good purpose to suppose he'll flop.
The 22-year-old has a stinking damage document, lacking 10 video games in 2020-21 by 4 separate spells on the sidelines and suffered much more final time period with hip flexor and muscular issues, lacking 16 matches.
Some Dortmund followers have even claimed that Haaland has not been the identical participant since his damage struggles final season and teased Metropolis supporters for overspending on him.
It's also price noting that Metropolis play a really completely different fashion to Dortmund. Haaland has arguably been at his greatest when given area to assault on the counter, utilizing his tempo and energy to latch onto by balls, whereas Metropolis want to dominate possession and build-up play.
You solely want to have a look at gamers akin to Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo, who took time to seek out their ft underneath Pep Guardiola, in addition to Jack Grealish who has probably not stood out since his £100m transfer.
Rio Ferdinand has even raised issues over Haaland’s ego, and all of us noticed his surprising miss from shut vary throughout Metropolis’s Neighborhood Protect defeat to Liverpool. — Liam Grace
Tottenham to problem for the title
Throughout the final 9 matches of the Premier League season, Tottenham picked up simply three factors fewer than the lengthy established huge two of Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool.
Six wins – together with a blood-and-thunder north London derby victory – two attracts and only one loss secured fourth spot and Champions League soccer. They scored 22 objectives and, crucially, conceded simply 4 – half as many as Metropolis.
Certain, it's a lot more durable to take care of that form of type over a full marketing campaign, however Antonio Conte has spent the summer time tailoring the squad to suit his fashion and wishes in addition to overseeing a gruelling pre-season marketing campaign that has additional embedded his philosophy.
Of the brand new additions, Yves Bissouma brings metal and management in midfield; Ivan Perisic provides final-third high quality and a devilish cross; Clement Lenglet’s silky passing seems a super match for the again three; and Richarlison gives real cowl and competitors throughout the frontline.
And that entrance three, in fact, are arguably probably the most deadly and harmful within the division. From the dramatic win on the Etihad in February onwards, Harry Kane, Dejan Kulusevski and golden boot winner Son Heung-min had 51 purpose involvements between them in simply 16 matches. If there's one weak spot, although, it's the lack of a inventive spark in midfield.
However, Kane seems as sharp as ever and able to vanquish his August demons, Cristian Romero seems primed to cement his credentials as one of many league’s greatest defenders and there's a large quantity of optimism round a membership who now have confirmed winner on the helm. Cue a 1-0 loss towards Southampton on Saturday. — Ewan Roberts
All three promoted groups to remain up
In 30 seasons of the Premier League, there have solely been three events the place all three of the newly promoted groups have survived, however there's purpose to consider that this marketing campaign may make it 4.
Nottingham Forest, returning to the top-flight for the primary time in 23 years, have backed their extremely rated supervisor Steve Cooper with many spectacular signings, together with Jesse Lingard, Dean Henderson and Omar Richards.
Off the again of a record-breaking 43 objectives in 44 Championship video games final season, Aleksandar Mitrovic might lastly be able to set the top-flight alight for Fulham, because the Cottagers look to keep away from a 3rd straight relegation.
Bournemouth are the favourites to complete backside of the desk and can wrestle probably the most to beat the drop, however Scott Parker is a good coach, and the Cherries can by no means be underestimated.
Their probabilities of survival have additionally been vastly helped by the standard, or lack thereof, of their opponents, with Everton and Leeds set to as soon as once more be concerned within the relegation scrap, having misplaced their greatest gamers over the summer time.
Brentford have been tipped to endure second-season syndrome, whereas Southampton are additionally among the many favourites to go down given their decline in current seasons, whereas one can not additionally rule out the opportunity of Leicester being in hassle having thus far did not signal anybody. — Callum McAvoy
Anthony Martial to be reborn underneath Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag’s first summer time at Previous Trafford has been dominated by speak of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure after the 37-year-old requested to depart the membership.
Ronaldo had been a part of Ten Hag’s plans however plans change and as one door closes, one other opens. Rising on the entrance is Anthony Martial.
He was deemed surplus to necessities earlier than Ten Hag’s appointment however a powerful pre-season – which noticed Martial discover the web thrice – will see the Frenchman begin the marketing campaign because the membership’s first alternative centre ahead.
However whereas the objectives have been greater than welcome for a striker that managed simply two in 23 appearances for United and Sevilla final time period, it was Martial’s work-rate and trade that struck a chord.
By no means earlier than have supporters seen the Frenchman harry and harass opponents like he did on United’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia, whereas his interchanging with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford had followers drooling.
There may be hypothesis that Martial may miss United’s opener towards Brighton, which might be a harmful blow to the Frenchman’s hopes of hitting the bottom working this season.
However nonetheless, the marketing campaign is a protracted one and it’s one Martial could make his personal if he continues to soak up Ten Hag’s concepts. His expertise has by no means been doubtful. — Sean Kearns
Harvey Elliott to nab World Cup spot
An 18-year-old Harvey Elliott started final season as considered one of Jurgen Klopp’s first alternative midfielders, beginning three of the opening 4 Premier League fixtures as a Reds aspect that will go to problem on 4 fronts till the tip of Could laid the foundations for its marketing campaign.
Elliott’s progress was sadly halted by a severe ankle damage suffered towards Leeds United in September, however he nonetheless returned to the aspect within the latter levels of the season and scored a penalty within the Carabao Cup shootout victory over Chelsea, in addition to beginning away at Inter Milan within the Champions League knockout levels.
Now 19, Klopp has already demonstrated his belief in each Elliott’s capability and character, and the teenager has staked a declare for normal beginning XI involvement once more with one other sturdy pre-season.
With James Milner and Jordan Henderson one other 12 months older and the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara all liable to spells absent with knocks, the primary a part of my prediction is that Elliott will make round 25-30 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, greater than most of his midfield colleagues.
His dribbling, capturing, and left-footedness all render him a singular possibility as considered one of Klopp’s ‘quantity eights’, and also will earn him an sudden spot on the aircraft to Qatar as one of many ultimate names in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad. — Dan Austin
Gabriel Jesus to win Premier League golden boot
Arsenal have gotten themselves a cut price in Gabriel Jesus. The striker has been acquired from a title-winning Manchester Metropolis aspect for simply £45million, and crucially fills the void left by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
The Brazil worldwide has been on hearth in pre-season, scoring seven objectives in simply 5 outings – together with a hat-trick towards Sevilla within the Emirates Cup.
Arsenal missed a whopping 42 huge probabilities in England’s high flight final season, with important striker Lacazette netting simply 4 instances within the 2021/22 marketing campaign.
Jesus will nearly actually higher that tally, however extra crucially present the sharpness and link-up play to assist the excellent children round him thrive.
He already is aware of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta having labored alongside the Spaniard on the Emirates Stadium, and joins the north London membership’s Brazilian contingent together with Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and fellow summer time signing Marquinhos.
Most significantly, Jesus would be the important man after enjoying second fiddle to Sergio Aguero at Metropolis. Now, he is able to fulfil his enormous potential and rating a bucket load of objectives. The remainder of the Premier League have to be careful. — Mike Stavrou
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