The 2017/18 Premier League season kicks off with Arsenal vs. Leicester on Friday night, with Liverpool’s trip to Watford the early kick off on Saturday.
The summer has seen new managers and plenty of new signings, with more money spent throughout the league than ever. It’s a bit of a madness when clubs like Watford are spending £18 million on a player and you don’t even blink at the price.
Man City‘s £200 million-plus spend this summer puts the pressure on Pep Guardiola to deliver in his second season, while across Manchester Jose Mourinho has also been splashing the cash.
New boys Huddersfield and Brighton are expected to struggle, while Burnley and Stoke could be dragged into the relegation mix if they don’t start well.
Here’s what the This Is Anfield writers are predicting for 2017/18:
HENRY JACKSON
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Man United
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
Relegated: Burnley, Brighton, Huddersfield
First manager to be sacked: Slaven Bilic if West Ham start slowly.
First player to be banned for diving: Hopefully, Ander Herrera.
Surprise team: Crystal Palace
Best new signing: Salah
KARL MATCHETT
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man United
4. Liverpool
Relegated: Stoke, Burnley and Brighton
First manager to be sacked: Got a feeling about Craig Shakespeare flopping big time, but I’ll go with Paul Clement.
First player to be banned for diving: Manolo Gabbiadini
Surprise team: Palace to be surprisingly exciting to watch when attacking
Best new signing: Salah! Outside of Anfield, Lacazette, Klaassen and Jay Rodriguez for the top, middle and bottom tiers of the league.
SACHIN NAKRANI
Top Four:
1. Manchester City
2. Manchester Utd
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
Relegated: Burnley, Huddersfield and Leicester
First manager to be sacked: Slaven Bilic. Was on borrowed time last season and I can’t see him completing this one.
First player to be banned for diving: Wayne Rooney. We can dream, can’t we?
Surprise team: Brighton. Will stay up. Just.
Best new signing: Alexandre Lacazette. Given the service – which he should get at Arsenal – the French striker could be lethal this season.
BEN TWELVES
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Man United
3. Chelsea
4. Liverpool
Relegated: Brighton, Swansea, Burnley
First manager to be sacked: Mark Hughes
First player to be banned for diving: Pedro
Surprise team: Huddersfield
Best new signing: Alvaro Morata
AARON CUTLER
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Man United
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
Relegated: Burnley, Brighton, Huddersfield
First manager to be sacked: Mark Hughes
First player to be banned for diving: Jamie Vardy
Surprise team: Bournemouth
Best new signing: Javier Hernandez
JAMES NALTON
Top Four:
1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
Relegated: Swansea, Brighton, Burnley
First manager to be sacked: Slaven Bilic
First player to be banned for diving: Wayne Rooney
Surprise team: Huddersfield
Best new signing: Bernardo Silva (Man City) or Florian Lejeune (Newcastle)
JACK LUSBY
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Spurs
4. Liverpool
Relegated: Swansea, Stoke, Burnley
First manager to be sacked: Slaven Bilic
First player to be banned for diving: Wilfried Zaha
Surprise team: Huddersfield Town
Best new signing: Ignoring Salah…Bernardo Silva, Sead Kolasinac, Sandro Ramirez or Kelechi Iheanacho
NEIL POOLE
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man Utd
4. Liverpool
Relegated: Swansea, Huddersfield, Brighton
First manager to be sacked: Marco Silva
First player to be banned for diving: Origi
Surprise team: Newcastle
Best new signing: Salah
