We Go Again: Part 1
- Daniel Austin-Chukwu
- Sep 7, 2024
- 4 min read
It’s that time again folks. As the first international break of the season is upon us, it provides the opportunity to assess how teams are shaping up at this early stage. Admittedly, teams have only played three games which doesn’t give much of an indication as to who will finish where, but we have seen glimpses of what to expect. Can anyone stop City? How will Slot do in his first year at Liverpool? Can the three promoted clubs stay up? All this and more will be addressed in this week’s post. Let’s get into it.
Title Winners: City
Every time I think to question City, I remember who they are. They may not be as strong as in previous years, City remain the team to beat in England. The one word that is synonymous with them is inevitable. They are so relentless that it must be demoralising being in a title race know that they’re involved. They have gotten a bit weaker as mentioned but they have a group of around that is so good.
They’ve only made two major signings, but both could end up being steals. Savinho, the Brazilian winger, has arrived from Girona and he looked lively in the short cameo against Chelsea. Donning the #26, he could become City’s next Mahrez. Re-signing Gundogan on a free from Barcelona is a great signing as well. He might not be the same player, but the quality and experience he has will be important as the season progresses. It will be another close race, but City will have too much for the rest of the league.
Top Four: Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle
Arsenal & Liverpool are making the top 3, no doubt about it. I like the signings Arsenal have made. They’ve added some more depth across the pitch. As much as they’ve made some good additions, it just won’t be enough to overhaul City. It’s early days, but Liverpool under Slot have played some nice football. Anyone that watches them can see the tweaks they’ve made since the Dutchman’s arrival. My only thing about them is I still feel against the City’s and Arsenal’s, their midfield balance could cause a few issues.
This last time could be any one of five teams. I’m sure I’ll change my mind later but for now I’m going for Newcastle. Them not having any European commitments will really work in their favour. Yes, they’ll want to do well in the domestic cup competitions, however ultimately, it’s the Champions League that matter most to Newcastle. The return of Sandro Tonali from his betting ban will help them massively, as we only saw glimpses of his ability last season.
Fifth to Seventh: Spurs, Chelsea, United
I have Spurs just missing out on the top 4 but it could go either way. It’s clear how Ange Postecoglou wants his side to play, and we should this style develop in his second full season. There will be pressure on Dominic Solanke to hit the ground running following his high profile move. What will most likely be their undoing is their squad depth, as injuries to one or two starts could be trouble for them.
Another season, another new manager at the helm for Chelsea. Once again, they’ve made a truckload of signings, yet they’ve failed to address their biggest weak points: goalkeeper and striker. They do have some promising talent and if they can gel, could be a threat for the top 4. Then there’s United. Despite changes in the front office, the same issues remain on the field. The balance of the team is still not right, and even with the new signings, it is going to take a lot to fix it. I really hope I’m wrong, but based on what I’ve seen so far, United have work to do.
Best of the Rest: Villa
I got this widely wrong when I did my predictions last season, but I have a bit more confidence this time around. We saw it happen with Newcastle, but the added workload of playing Champions League football (especially with the new format) will affect their league form. They’ll have to use the full depths of their squad to remain competitive on both fronts, but I’m not sure if they have the players to do it.
The loss of Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby could also negatively impact their season. Specifically with the Brazilian, they were two of their key players in their surge to the promise land. The Brazilian has been replaced by Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior (both have left on loan since arriving), whilst Morgan Rodgers (a player I do like) could help fill the Diaby void. For them, this season is sort of a free hit, and I think they’ll drop off a little bit.
Relegation: Everton, Ipswich, Southampton
This is going to be a long season for Southampton, plain and simple. They have that typical feel of a promoted team that will let goals in left, right and centre, and simultaneously not score enough. It was only one game, but in their match against Brentford, their defending was comical to say the least. They haven’t picked up a point yet and I just don’t see where they’re going to get enough wins and points to stay up.
I always like when teams that haven’t been in the league for a while get promoted and it’s good to see Ipswich back in the big time. In my opinion, they’ll be this year’s Luton. Going to Portman Road will be a tough place for most teams but their lack of Premier League experience will be their downfall. I’ve been saying Everton will go down for a while and I’m going to stand on this hill. They can narrowly avoid the drop so many times before they finally go through that trap door, and I think this could be the year.
This Week’s Hot Take
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal must be under pressure to win the league this season. We know how good City are, but after challenging for two straight years, at what point do we ask the question is challenging as far as Arteta can take the Gunners? I’ve always said Liverpool managed to win at least one title during this period of City dominance, why can’t Arsenal do the same?
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