El Chumbazo's Premier League Predictions 24/25

With the Premier League only 1 week away, the team at El Chumbazo give us their Premier League predictions for the exciting new season. Can anyone take the title away from City? Who will sneak into European football? Who can go on a flawless cup run? Who will struggle and be sucked into the relegation battle? Read on to find out our predictions...some which will come back to bite us at the end of the season perhaps!

Premier League Table Predictions:

Domestic Trophy Winners:

Season Predictions:

Jack H's Predictions:

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Top 7:

I can't look past Man City to win the title again in Pep's likely final season in charge. Their team is still solid although I do think Arsenal will run them very close again. Arteta has recruited extremely well this summer and if injuries go in their favour as they did last season, Arsenal could steal the title his year.

Slotball is looking very exciting so I'm predicting Liverpool to finish 3rd this year. Lack of summer recruitment is worrying but there is still 1 month before the window closes.

Without European football, I'm backing Newcastle to have a sensational season and forge their way back into the Champions League. Injuries hampered them last season, so a reduced fixture list will work in their favour. They've also been precise with their transfers this summer, focusing on positions they were light in last season through the signings of Kelly, Odysseas and potentially Guéhi.

I'm a huge fan of Angeball and think we will just miss out on Champions League again this year. But 5th place Europa League football is still admirable for a transitioning Spurs side. We've recruited well this summer and offloaded lots of unwanted players. Ange is not messing around this time.

I've put Villa to finish 6th. Despite playing Conference League football last year, they struggled in that tournament against weak opposition when putting out rotated sides. Now in the Champions League, they can't afford to rotate too much. I think Villa will struggle between the start of the UCL and Christmas with fixture congestion, but will bounce back once they've exited the Champions League.

Chelsea will grab 7th for me. Maresca is exciting but his style of play does leave lots of space in behind as we saw Man City and Celtic recently exploit. They'll score lots but also concede a fair few.

Relegation:

Relegation will be tight this year for sure. For me, Southampton could face a similar fate to Burnley if they don't adapt their football for the Premier League. I loved watching the Saints last season but fear that their mistakes they made in the Championship will be heavily punished in the Prem, finishing 20th.

I'm a big fan of McKenna and what he has done at Ipswich, delivering back to back promotions. I do fear that this will be one step too far for them but they will go down fighting. However, for McKenna, I could see him grabbing a move to Manchester United next summer if Ten Hag performs poorly again.

18th might be shocking for many but I do see Brentford losing their Premier League prestige. Summer recruitment hasn't been prolific, with new striker Thiago facing a few months out with injury whilst Toney seeks a move away from West London. Maupay's and Reguilón's loans have also ended so The Bees are light in their squad. The return of Rico Henry is an extremely valuable one but they struggled last season without their key men. They just about held on last season but I think it could be the end of the road for Frank's men.

Domestic Trophy Winners:

Man City to win the Community Shield and Premier League is a no brainer for me. They'll want to deliver in Pep's final season at the club. Don't rule them out of a strong UCL campaign as well.

I fancy Newcastle to go on a strong cup run for the EFL Cup. Playing matches in a period when other teams will be focused on European football, Newcastle could maximise their reduced fixture schedule and steal the trophy.

I predict Arne Slot to deliver silverware in his first season in charge of Liverpool. I think that the Scousers will come out of the blocks fast and also embark on a strong FA Cup campaign. I have a feeling the final could be Liverpool vs Arsenal which would make for sensational viewing.

Surprise Team for the 24/25 Season:

I'm predicting them to finish 8th this year, Crystal Palace will shock the league this season. Despite losing Olise, The Eagles look a team reborn under the exciting Oliver Glasner. Since his appointment towards the back end of last season, their attacking and defensive numbers sit right up with the best. The Austrian has even brought the best out of Mateta, Mitchell and Hughes who at times struggled to find consistency. With smart signings of Kamada, Sarr and second seasons for Wharton, Muñoz and Henderson, Palace look a force to be reckoned with this year.

Team to Underperform:

If it wasn't for the FA Cup win last season, Ten Hag would've definitely not stayed at Manchester United. Finishing 8th in a very poor season by The Red Devils standards, I think they'll do even worse this season, finishing 9th. Indeed, one can argue that they've offloaded poor players and recruited well. Yet, they've recruited unproven Premier League players and still hold on to average or struggling players in the likes of Antony, Malacia and Wan-Bissaka (who would be much better at a low-block side). Ten Hag has ridden his luck for too long now and he will be outmatched this season.

First Manager Sacking:

I actually think that no managers will be sacked this season. With the financial constraints many Premier League clubs find themselves under, I don't think any club can afford to sack their manager. Ten Hag would be my first choice but I don't see the INEOS group being brash to remove him after backing him in the summer.

Golden Boot:

Erling Haaland. One of the best strikers in the world playing in one of the best teams in the world can only lead to one outcome really!

Golden Glove:

David Raya. A sensational goalkeeper playing in the best defence last season, Raya will reproduce similar numbers this season. With reinforcements in the squad and players returning to full fitness, Arsenal's backline will be a fortress this year.

PFA Player of the Season:

Cole Palmer. Whilst I think Chelsea will dip in and out of form whilst they adjust to life under Maresca, Palmer will continue his sensational consistency. He's a mentality monster and will rack up goals and assists again this year.

PFA Young Player of the Season:

Adam Wharton. The 20-year-old plays with the maturity of a midfielder in their prime. Those of you who are devout followers of El Chumbazo know that we are massive fans of Wharton. This will be his first full season in the Prem and I'm expecting the young man to thrive under Glasner again. He is a sensational talent and will be a key part of that Palace team.

George's Predictions:

georgef_17

Top 7:

After a couple of years on an upward trend, something tells me this could be the year for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side to finally return the Premier League trophy to the Emirates. Obviously, this won't be without a firm challenge from serial winners Manchester City, but we can only pray to see an end to their absolute dominance of English football under Pep Guardiola.

I think we're most likely going to see a two-horse race here, with Liverpool cruising to third place in their first season under the newest contender for Baldest Premier League Manager, Arne Slot. I've refused to turn a blind eye to Aston Villa, unlike my co-writers, as I think that Unai Emery's men can continue to solidify themselves at the top end of the table.

Newcastle United will surely enjoy a strong campaign, unburdened by the hectic schedule of midweek football, and enjoy essentially complete financial freedom to continue to build towards the City-like dynasty that the ownership strives for.

In 6th, I've gone for Manchester United. Despite losing both Rasmus Højlund and Leny Yoro to pre-season injury, a fresh ownership situation, the rise of young stars such as Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, and the return of Lisandro Martinez from injury may lead to clearer skies ahead for the Red Devils. More signings needed though before the transfer window slams shut, particularly in the midfield area, which has been lacking for years.

In 7th, I've predicted Spurs. Some good recruitment and a strong manager in Ange Postecoglou definitely puts the Lilywhites in good shape, however a return to Thursday night football could throw a spanner in the works, particularly in regard to squad depth.

Relegation:

An incredibly boring take, I'm aware, but I can only foresee the three newly promoted teams heading straight back down to the greatest league in world football, the EFL Championship. In 18th, Ipswich. Kieran McKenna's men enjoyed a fairytale promotion last year, which was absolutely deserved. There is quality down at Portman Road, and I expect the Tractor Boys to give it a good go, but just fall short. Of course, they'll have to contend with the usual poaching around January, in which every talent they possess will be coaxed out by a bigger club to go and sit on their bench. Expect McKenna to get a lot of interest once the managerial merry-go-round starts up too, and possibly a return to the red half of Manchester should Ten Hag fail to spearhead a turnaround for United.

In 19th, I've gone for Leicester City, and frankly, I'm astounded none of my co-writers have tipped the Foxes to go down. They are a club in all manner of financial trouble with both the Premier League and the EFL, they've lost a title-winning manager in Enzo Maresca, leaving a squad (with massive holes throughout) for Steve Cooper to inherit and try to get a tune out of playing a completely different style of football, and have lost their most crucial player in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Unfortunately, I just don't see them surviving.

Finally though, I've tipped Southampton to finish dead last. Having watched a lot of Championship football last season, I can vouch for just how surprising it was to see Southampton get promoted in the first place, overcoming in the playoff final a Leeds United side who were too busy falling apart (again) to turn up at Wembley. I'm expecting the Saints' return to the Premier League to go about as well as Sheffield United's 23/24 attempt.

Domestic Trophy Winners:

I've gone for Manchester City in this year's Community Shield, and expect them to pick up at least one proper trophy in addition, probably the FA Cup. However, I've gone for Arsenal for the title, with a surprise EFL Cup winner in Aston Villa. I can definitely see why Jack H has gone for Newcastle to get themselves some silverware though, and could also see that happening.

Surprise Team for the 24/25 Season:

I think everyone should be keeping an eye on West Ham this year under new man Julien Lopetegui, who reportedly turned down the Bayern Munich job to take over in East London. The recruitment has been exceptional, bringing in (among others) Crysencio Summerville, Nicklas Füllkrug and 18-year-old Brazilian talent Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras, to join a squad already bursting with quality.

Team to Underperform:

Perhaps some slight bias here, but I think that Chelsea and Enzo Maresca just aren't a good match. In all fairness, we haven't seen a good match between Chelsea and any manager in a good few years. The squad is overwhelmingly bloated in some areas, lacking quality in others, and there seems to be an idea that all the issues can be solved by throwing more money in. Cole Palmer is an excellent footballer, but one man can only do so much, and surely there will come a point where he thinks his talents can be best used elsewhere. When that day comes, Chelsea will be in real trouble.

First Manager Sacking:

It'll almost certainly be Nuno Espírito Santo who gets his P45 first this season. Forest have struggled for a couple of seasons to get a foothold in the top flight, and notoriously reactionary owner Evangelos Marinakis won't hesitate to pull the plug when things start to go south, seemingly having read the Football Ownership Manual they follow at Watford.

Golden Boot:

Unless there's some form of injury or massive unforeseen issue that stops him playing, it'll be Erling Haaland, won't it. Keep an eye on Ollie Watkins, Jean Philippe-Mateta, and Alexander Isak though.

Golden Glove:

David Raya. If I'm right in my prediction that Arsenal will kick on this year, Raya will be a huge part of that. An excellent goalkeeper with a quality defensive line in front of him, Raya will surely be right up there.

PFA Player of the Season:

Phil Foden. Having spent the last few seasons under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, I can see this year being the year Foden really takes over the role usually played by Kevin De Bruyne, who is aging now past his best, regardless of the rumours of a move to Saudi. Foden has been carefully curated to fill this specific role, and we could be about to see him start to really fulfil his potential as one of the best in his position in the Premier League era.

PFA Young Player of the Season:

Alejandro Garnacho. I think this will be the year Garnacho really claims that left-wing position for his own. An incredibly exciting footballer who is not afraid to take a man on, and who could forget that screamer at Goodison Park?

Alex's Predictions:

ale_xhowe

Top 7:

Unless you’re a Manchester City fan, predicting the Premier League table these days is a depressing job. Despite a strong challenge from Arsenal, I think that Pep Guardiola’s side will break their own record by claiming a fifth Premier League title in a row.

Newcastle will bounce back from their relatively disappointing finish last season with no Champions League football to focus on this time around. Provided that they do not experience another injury crisis, the Magpies will score a lot of goals and comfortably secure top four.

Liverpool will make up the final Champions League spot. While their pre-season results have looked promising under Arne Slot, a title race is unlikely, particularly given their inactivity in the transfer window as of this moment.

I think that Tottenham will struggle to keep up a top four challenge this season, but they will be saved from slipping further down the table by the underperformance of the teams below them.

Chelsea are a woefully run club, with no coherent recruitment strategy and a revolving door of managers. This short-termism means that they will not be able to get up to speed under Enzo Maresca before he is inevitably sacked. However, Cole Palmer will drag them to sixth at the expense of Manchester United.

United will have a very bad first half of the season and a decent second half. I think that Erik ten Hag will be sacked by Christmas, before a new (interim) manager bounce allows them to leapfrog Villa, who will be juggling Champions League football alongside their domestic matches.

Relegation:

I doubt that we will see a similar scenario play out to last season, where all three promoted teams were instantly sent back down again. However, one of those teams will sadly be unable to survive the pressure of the Premier League, and that will be Ipswich. They will not be far behind the rest, but their inexperience in the top flight will result in them being relegated in the final couple of weeks.

Below them, I think, will be Nottingham Forest. Saved by virtue of the inadequacy of the promoted clubs last season (although their points deduction was another blow), I can see this being their last year in the top flight for quite some time.

Finally, my prediction for bottom spot is Brentford. Injuries to their new recruits and a wantaway star striker mean that Brentford will really struggle for goals this season. Thomas Frank has overachieved for several years with the Bees, but this year will see his luck finally run out. However, I wouldn’t rule him out of the Manchester United job once Erik ten Hag is inevitably given the boot.

Domestic Trophy Winners:

While I think the title race will be a close contest again between Manchester City and Arsenal, it is with a heavy heart that I am backing City to win a fifth straight Premier League title, as well as destroying Manchester United in the Community Shield.

Liverpool will take a while to warm up to life under Arne Slot, and especially given their lack of recruitment so far in the transfer window, it is unlikely that they will be able to mount a sustained title challenge. Nevertheless, I think that the Reds will comfortably secure Champions League football and the reduced pressure will allow them to go on a strong cup run.

Finally, Arsenal will compensate for their inevitable heartbreak in the title race with a record fifteenth FA Cup, most likely facing Newcastle in the final.

Surprise Team for the 24/25 Season:

Since appointing Oliver Glasner earlier this year, Crystal Palace have gone from strength to strength. Depending on how successfully they retain their star attacking players such as Eberechi Eze, I can see a strong push for the Europa League spots at the expense of Manchester United and Aston Villa. Although I think they will fall away towards the end of the season, this may be the turning point after years of mid-table mediocrity.

Team to Underperform:

I was considering choosing Manchester United for this position, but it’s hard to see how they can get much worse than last year. Instead, I am predicting that Brighton will continue to regress, and their decision to dispense with Roberto de Zerbi will come back to bite them. A mid-table finish is the best that the Seagulls can realistically aim for this season.

First Manager Sacking:

Thomas Frank, Enzo Maresca and Nuno Espírito Santo will all certainly be sacked this season, but the first of the bunch to go will be Erik ten Hag. Manchester United were abysmal last season, finishing in their lowest ever Premier League position, and the club’s owners made a fatal error in sticking with ten Hag rather than readying a replacement for the new season. The Dutchman will be gone by Christmas and I wouldn’t rule them out of being in the bottom half by this time as well.

Golden Boot:

Were Alexander Isak not so injury-prone, I could see him pipping both of his competitors to the Golden Boot this season. Nevertheless, I think his lack of fitness will let him down and therefore I am predicting a two-way tie between Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins. Last season demonstrated that the Norwegian is not infallible, and while his natural tendency to whack in four goals per match against sides in the relegation zone will help him, I see him finally being matched this season by Ollie Watkins. Both will grab 25 goals for their respective clubs.

Golden Glove:

David Raya may not be the out-and-out best keeper in the league, but he enjoys the added protection of undoubtedly its best defence. I think he will be kept on his toes by competitors such as Alisson and Alphonse Areola, but by the end of the season the Spaniard will retain his Golden Glove by a comfortable margin.

PFA Player of the Season:

My natural aversion to backing Manchester City has led me to overlook Rodri for this one, although I think he will undoubtedly enjoy a special season. Instead, I am going to go for Bukayo Saka. Following a Euros wherein he was one of the few England players to perform close to his best, Saka will claim a personal record in goal contributions, and help Arsenal push Manchester City all the way in the title race.

PFA Young Player of the Season:

This is by far the most difficult to predict owing to its nature of being awarded to breakout stars, but I think Kobbie Mainoo will be a bright spark in an otherwise damp squib of a Manchester United season. Jarell Quansah and Adam Wharton will run him close, but Mainoo will nail down a starting spot this season and very possibly hit double digits in goals.