#Danny Murphy’s Premier League predictions: Kevin De Bruyne is back for Pep Guardiola"

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Danny Murphy’s Premier League predictions: Kevin De Bruyne is back for Pep Guardiola

The Premier League will be back next week with more intriguing and exciting storylines than ever.

Will Manchester City and Liverpool dominate again? Can Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turn over Manchester United ? How will Frank Lampard do when Spurs and Arsenal have broken their transfer records and he cannot sign anyone?

Mail on Sunday columnist DANNY MURPHY gives his opinion on all major problems at the top and bottom …

The Premier League is back next week with more intriguing and exciting plot lines than ever

Manchester City and Liverpool were 25 clear points of the field last season. I'm sure they won't repeat their incredible results, but it will still be a two-horse race for the title. The gap is too big for their rivals to make up for in one go.

A fully fit Kevin van Bruyne will give City a boost, he is one of the best midfield players in the world, but I am still supporting Liverpool to reverse last May's one-point deficit.

Partly because City could unknowingly prioritize the Champions League after winning the Premier League twice in a row. Pep Guardiola would never admit it, but his players would take their more winning games for granted and occasionally miss out.

The main reason, however, is the departure of Vincent Kompany, their leader for so long. Kompany can be replaced on the field, but in the dressing room and training field it will be impossible to find someone with his experience, credibility and gravitas.

Every team, no matter how good, has moments in the season when players bicker or fall out. The manager cannot always fix things: sometimes it is up to a senior player to say "I need a word" and set things right.

City has a new captain, but Kompany's influence went beyond wearing a bracelet. He had authority and the respect of everyone. When City got tired at the end of last season, it was no coincidence that Guardiola turned to Kompany to play and reassure. His winning goal against Leicester was symbolic in determining the best title race ever.

City and Liverpool qualify again for the Champions League, but when six major teams go for four places, two miss – as Arsenal and Manchester United did last season

I feel that United will improve through financial power – especially now that they have signed Harry Maguire – and will join Tottenham in the top four, which means a broken heart for Chelsea. They have made the right arrangements in Frank Lampard and Jody Morris, but will have to be patient, since they have lost Eden Hazard, have a transfer ban and are without the injured Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Vincent Kompany can be replaced on the pitch, but in the dressing room is the impossible

A few clubs think they can crack when they break through the top six, with Arsenal looking the most vulnerable. It would be good for the Premier League for someone to break through, but I think the Gunners have too much firepower in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and £ 72 million new boy Nicolas Pepe to lose their status.

if anyone can do it, I think it's Everton, who has shown real ambition with their purchase of Moise Kean from Juventus, and those who read this pages know that I'm a fan of Andre Gomes, whose loan from Barcelona has been granted permanently.

I may have wanted the chances of Leicester City, but Maguire is leaving a gap. Each replacement needs time to develop and may not be effective from day 1.

Wolves finished seventh last season, nine points behind Manchester United, but it will be difficult to improve. Not only because they play Europa League football, but opponents will also work them out and give them more respect.

WILDER LEADS LOAD OF ENGLISH MANAGERS

It makes sense that Premier League clubs want the best players and managers, no matter where they come from. So it's nice to see that English coaches are now considered high enough to get jobs at the highest level.

There will be eight managers in the Premier League this season, most for a few years, and I am particularly impressed by the work that Chris Wilder has done at Sheffield United. He has received much praise in the last 12 months, but has been excellent for 18 years – from Alfreton and Halifax to winning promotion at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United punches above their weight, but they give it a real go, as Neil Warnock did at Cardiff. Recruitment, organization, togetherness and a fantastic team spirit can go a long way and I think they can cause a few surprises, even if they eventually fall.

see that English coaches are now highly regarded to get jobs at the highest level

NORWICH AND BRIGHTON SEE VULNERABLE

Bridging the gap between the championship and the Premier League is difficult . Promoted teams need a good start, otherwise it can be very demoralizing.

Aston Villa has signed a dozen players, but their recruitment looks better planned than Fulham's one year ago. Guys like Matt Targett, Tom Heaton and Tyrone Mings know what the Premier League is about, while Scotland midfielder John McGinn could be a revelation, the way he can pass people.

Sheffield United will be dangerous underdogs but I am worried about Norwich, who has to play against Liverpool in Anfield on Friday night. They were brilliant in the championship and played football, but that can be a disadvantage this season if they have less ball. I don't see that they have the same firepower as the Villa. There is always a more established club that is in danger and this time it could be Brighton because they are trying to change their playing style under Graham Potter, which is always a risk.

Burnley and Crystal Palace will stay

With Brighton, it is uncertain how they will respond to Potter's philosophy after being used to Chris Hughton. It could go very well, and I hope it does as a fan of good football. But the Premier League is a relentless place for people who learn while working.

Brighton tries to change their playing style under Graham Potter, which is always a risk

TOTTENHAM LANDE SUMMER SIGNING

The deal that struck me most this day Tottenham broke their transfer to sign midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon for £ 63m.

I saw Ndombele quite well last season, he is an excellent athlete and has the ability to shoot people past and get the whole team on the field, as Mousa Dembele used to do. Unlike Dembele, he can also choose a creative pass.

Ndombele will be a crowd puller because he does not take the safe option with the ball. It can sometimes mean that you lose possession, but more often he will make something good happen. I think he will be best alongside a partner who holds his position, such as Harry Winks, Eric Dier or Victor Wanyama. Then he can venture when the opportunity arises.

The record buy of Arsenal looks explosive and fast and Aaron-Wan Bissaka at Manchester United is a great player. Rodri in Manchester City is big and powerful, but I don't see him reinforcing his first XI yet. He was signed by Atletico Madrid to succeed Fernandinho in the long run, but at the moment he is not as good as the Brazilian, who can break forward and hit one in the top corner.

Tottenham broke his transfer record and signed midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon

SOLSKJAER SUPPRESSION BUT I PREFER HIS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERY & # 39; S

Only one manager is directly under pressure when he loses his first match: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United. You will not see any pressure on Jurgen Klopp if Norwich Liverpool or Frank Lampard gets upset when Chelsea is beaten in Old Trafford this Sunday. But Solskjaer has to run on the field.

United is one of the biggest clubs in the world and the way they ended last season with major players who didn't perform was unacceptable. The size of the club and the money spent contribute to the research.

The good news for Solskjaer is that I think they get through better than expected. Wan-Bissaka and Maguire will prove good acquisitions and the expenses must not stop before the deadline. I think they can return to the top four and give Solskjaer breathing space.

Arsenal must spend more than anyone else in the last few days of the window. This is their third consecutive season outside the Champions League and unless they do business in defense and midfield, they have no chance to end that run.

PLEASE NOTE, KANE IS BACK

Harry Kane has won but missed two Golden Boots In the last two seasons to Mo Salah. As he started the preseason, I wouldn't bet he would regain his crown and put him in a perfect mood for Euro 2020.

Kane looked sharp, not just his goal from the center line against Juventus. After injuries last season, he has that steel determination and I feel he could have one of those runs.

I played with open-minded strikers like him. If we were to win a match in Liverpool and Michael Owen had not scored, he would be furious. Alan Shearer would admit the same. What I like about Kane is that he never gets calmer. The team may play poorly, but will always support themselves to score. If he scored twice, he would never be easy, he would be desperate for the hat trick.

It's about goals, goals, goals for him and I predict that a lot will come.

Harry Kane has won two Golden Boots but missed in the last two seasons to Mo Salah

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DANNY MURPHY: The Premier League is back next week with more intriguing and exciting plot lines than ever. Will Manchester City and Liverpool dominate again?

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Premier League 2018-19: BBC Sport pundits decide champions and prime 4

Premier League 2018-19: BBC Sport pundits decide champions and prime 4

Premier League 2018-19: BBC Sport pundits decide champions and prime 4

No crew has managed a profitable defence of the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2009 – however will this season be totally different?

That’s the intention of Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola, a winner of three consecutive league titles in each Spain (Barcelona, 2008-11) and Germany (Bayern Munich, 2013-16), who noticed his facet end 19 factors away from the pack final day out.

However who will problem them in 2018-19? Can big-spending Liverpool mount a severe problem? Will Manchester United slender the hole? Can Tottenham enhance? And are Chelsea and Arsenal contenders after altering their managers in the summertime?

We requested 24 BBC TV and radio pundits to choose their prime 4 with explanations for his or her alternatives.

The predictions had been made on the idea of how every squad formed up on Wednesday, eight August, earlier than the opening weekend of the season, however two days earlier than the deadline for incoming transfers and with the potential for gamers to go away up till the switch window shuts in the remainder of Europe on the finish of August.

Predictor 1st 2nd third 4th Ian Wright Liverpool Man Metropolis Man Utd Arsenal Ruud Gullit Liverpool Man Metropolis Chelsea Man Utd Martin Keown Liverpool Man Metropolis Tottenham Man Utd Dion Dublin Man Metropolis Man Utd Liverpool Tottenham Alex Scott Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Joleon Lescott Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Mark Lawrenson Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Matthew Upson Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Alan Shearer Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Danny Murphy Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Pat Nevin Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Lindsay Johnson Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Charlie Adam Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Danny Mills Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Chelsea Mark Schwarzer Man Metropolis Liverpool Man Utd Chelsea Rachel Brown-Finnis Man Metropolis Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham Sue Smith Man Metropolis Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham Paul Ince Man Metropolis Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Kevin Kilbane Man Metropolis Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Stephen Warnock Man Metropolis Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Jermaine Jenas Man Metropolis Liverpool Tottenham Man Utd Chris Sutton Man Metropolis Liverpool Tottenham Man Utd Chris Waddle Man Metropolis Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea Leon Osman Man Metropolis Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal

Six groups characteristic within the forecasted prime fours, and solely Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool characteristic in all 24.

By way of who will win it, Manchester Metropolis are favourites, with 21 votes. Liverpool get the opposite three.

General predicted rating, utilizing all BBC predictions

(utilizing system of Four pts for a 1st place, Three pts for 2nd, 2 pts for third and 1 pt for 4th)

1. Man Metropolis 2. Liverpool 3. Man Utd 4. Tottenham 5. Chelsea 6. Arsenal 93 pts 74 pts 34 pts 18 pts 15 pts 6 pts

Man Metropolis – a well-oiled machine managed by a serial winner

That is the third season operating the place Metropolis have featured in everybody’s forecasted prime 4. Final season, solely 5% of individuals we requested thought Guardiola’s facet would finish lower than third. This season, no-one thinks they are going to end beneath second.

Alan Shearer: It has been a very long time since anybody gained back-to-back titles however I feel Metropolis will win the Premier League once more due to Pep – he will not need their requirements slipping. He’ll play precisely the identical approach and they’ll be very exhausting to cease, though I feel Liverpool and United will each be lots nearer to them this time.

Shearer joins Ian Wright and Gary Lineker on Match of the Day at 22:20 BST on Saturday on BBC One and the BBC Sport web site for highlights of seven Premier League video games (together with Friday evening’s season opener).

Metropolis gained the 2017-18 title with a century of factors, scoring 106 objectives

Chris Sutton: Pep is not going to permit Metropolis to grow to be complacent. Their consistency ranges final season, once they gained 32 out of their 38 league video games, together with a run of 18 wins in a row, had been unbelievable.

Paul Ince: Guardiola is a serial winner – you may see that from the way in which he rants and raves on the touchline demanding extra even when his crew are two or 3-Zero up. That’s his mentality, and his gamers purchase into it.

Matthew Upson: Metropolis are about to begin their third season underneath Guardiola and it’s clear they’re a well-oiled machine. They know his philosophy and the way in which he desires to play. As we noticed within the Neighborhood Defend, once they had been lacking Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, the personnel does not likely matter – when one participant steps out one other one steps in – and that’s their nice power.

Upson and Alex Scott are the friends on Soccer Deal with BBC One and the BBC Sport web site at 12:00 BST on Saturday.

Neighborhood Defend: Chelsea 0-2 Manchester Metropolis highlights

Sue Smith: If something Metropolis can be stronger as a result of their drawback space was left-back final season. Benjamin Mendy is now again and match and is an actual risk down that flank. Look by way of the remainder of the crew and it’s top of the range all through.

Lindsay Johnson: I can’t see Metropolis not profitable the title as a result of they’ve improved an already very sturdy squad by bringing in Riyad Mahrez, they usually appear to be a cheerful camp.

Jermaine Jenas: I nonetheless assume Metropolis will win the league, however everybody has had a few years now to have a look at this Guardiola facet and work out what they’re about, like Liverpool did in opposition to them final season. It’s exhausting for Pep to maintain considering up new issues and if different groups do clock easy methods to trigger them issues then that may make life much more troublesome – and it’ll not matter how large the hole was prior to now.

Liverpool – Man Metropolis’s Kryptonite have performed the most effective enterprise of the summer time

Klopp on stress, expectation and Karius

Solely 43% individuals we requested thought Liverpool would make it into the top four final season, and solely 13% thought they’d be larger than third – they completed fourth. This yr 14% assume they are going to win the title and 96% assume they are going to end within the prime two.

Ian Wright: I need this season’s title race to be extra spicy and I feel it is going to be. If Liverpool can get some impetus, then we do not know the way Manchester Metropolis will react underneath stress if a crew can keep near them on the finish of the season.

You even have to think about that Liverpool are Metropolis’s Kryptonite. That is why I’m backing Jurgen Klopp’s facet to pip them to the title.

When Liverpool are doing properly within the league, the league appears higher. And, when they’ve a superb crew, with the gang at Anfield they’re actually unstoppable – as we noticed in opposition to Metropolis within the Champions League final season.

Ruud Gullit: If Metropolis must battle for the league, we do not know if they’ll do this. They are going to be up there on the prime however I’m backing Liverpool to win it. They’re contenders due to the way in which they play, and the way they management video games however additionally they need to entertain they usually need to assault – they play the proper approach.

Liverpool had been Manchester Metropolis’s bogey crew final season – Walker

Stephen Warnock: Liverpool have arguably performed the most effective enterprise within the window thus far, albeit the most costly. They will be stronger all over the place however, if that they had not signed Alisson, I might not be backing them to complete second. Getting the goalkeeper proper is that necessary, you solely have to have a look at what number of factors David de Gea earned United along with his saves final season.

Danny Murphy: Getting their signings performed so early was helpful as a result of it offers Klopp time to point out what he desires from them, and get them as much as the health ranges he requires for the way in which he desires to play.

Kevin Kilbane: Alisson is the signing of the summer time. I’ve heard individuals say that they are one or two players short of a title-winning team however I do not agree with that – there have been a few seasons over the previous three or 4 years once they have been severe contenders however have been one quick, and it was a keeper they wanted.

I’ve tipped Metropolis due to the way in which they performed final season, and the way they play however it could not shock me if Liverpool gained the league.

Be a part of Kevin, Jason Mohammed and Dion Dublin for Closing Rating on Saturday, from 14:30 BST on the Pink Button and from 16:30 on BBC One.

Joleon Lescott: In addition to all their signings, it seems like Daniel Sturridge is again in rivalry at Liverpool now and I feel each events must recognise the half he can play this season. Klopp has obtained to see that Sturridge has the shut management to unlock groups who sit deep, and Daniel has to grasp that when Liverpool are enjoying on the counter-attack, he has obtained a variety of work to do off the ball and, like Firmino, will not be there simply to attain objectives.

Chris Waddle: They’ve spent some large cash and Klopp can’t hold saying ‘we’re constructing’. That is the yr for me the place Liverpool have gotten to return out and say ‘we’re competing for the Premier League title’. I do know they will not however they’re in a spot now the place they’re making an attempt to win every thing Metropolis and United try to win, so why deny it?

Danny Mills: I suppose the one drawback they face is whether or not they’ll be so closely reliant on Mo Salah’s objectives once more. I nonetheless assume he’ll rating masses, however I can’t see him getting as many as he did final season.

Manchester United – a lot of high quality, however missing concord

Final season, 33% of individuals we requested thought United would be champions – they completed second. This time, no-one thinks they are going to win the title, and just one pundit – Dion Dublin �� thinks they are going to end second.

Dion Dublin: United have gotten a lot high quality of their squad they usually positively progressed underneath Jose Mourinho final season. What they’re lacking in the mean time is concord, but when he can discover that and get all his good gamers smiling and joyful, they are going to be very shut.

You may hearken to Dion Dublin and Conor McNamara’s commentary of United’s opening sport of the season in opposition to Leicester on BBC Radio 5 dwell and the BBC Sport web site on Friday. Construct-up from Outdated Trafford begins at 18:30 BST.

Mourinho desires two signings, however solely expects one

Ruud Gullit: United already had the gamers to problem Metropolis final season, however they could not do it. So are they going to do it now? Are these gamers going to carry out? You must ask why so a lot of their gamers underachieved.

Chris Waddle: Jose all the time appears to get away from bed the unsuitable facet each morning. He simply has to get on with issues and begin smiling. If he does that, it’s going to rub off on the crew.

Chris Sutton: United simply appear to be an sad camp and all of it comes right down to the supervisor. I ponder what the house owners make of him telling followers to not flip as much as their tour video games in the US, plus his criticism of his gamers and all his feedback about needing new gamers however not getting them – he has mainly been telling the centre-halves already on the membership that they’re hopeless.

It has resulted in a destructive feeling in regards to the membership, at a time when nearly each different membership within the land has an air of positivity going into the brand new season. I feel Mourinho’s frustration in all probability comes from him Metropolis and Liverpool, and the way in which they play, and he’s in all probability jealous. You marvel in regards to the influence it’s going to have on United firstly of the season, and what it means for his personal future too.

Jermaine Jenas: I do not see it ending properly. There are too many inner points with present gamers, points over their fashion of play, and likewise points with potential signings supposedly saying they don’t need to go and play there for him due to that fashion of play. United followers should not satisfied by the soccer they play underneath him, or the place they’re heading underneath his management, so it will be an fascinating few months.

Danny Mills: You must be very cautious with the way in which you learn Mourinho due to the way in which he performs the media, and deflects consideration from different issues. Do not write them off on the again of him messing about in a press convention, saying I have never obtained this or that. The truth is, write them off at your peril.

Mourinho praises ‘phenomenal’ gamers throughout pre-season

Paul Ince: Final season, from a footballing perspective, United weren’t nice. Their followers had been moaning that they didn’t assault sufficient and though I feel Mourinho has tried to handle that, they actually need to hit the bottom operating this time.

The indicators should not nice, although. Every part ought to be geared in direction of the primary sport of the season however as an alternative it’s all about Mourinho. There are some positives, and I’m anticipating a giant season from Paul Pogba after his World Cup, however I positively assume they want one other striker as back-up to Romelu Lukaku – somebody in the same mould to the Belgian.

Ian Wright: It’s blatantly apparent that United want central defenders, which is why he has proven an curiosity in Leicester’s Harry Maguire and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld. I’m not certain whether or not he’ll get both of them earlier than Thursday’s deadline although.

Tottenham – will this season be ‘like Groundhog Day?’

Final day out, 55% of individuals thought Tottenham would finish outside the top four – they completed third and are the one crew to make the highest three in every of the previous three seasons. This time, 46% assume they are going to miss out on the Champions League spots, and no-one thinks they are going to break into the highest two.

Joleon Lescott: Are Spurs making an attempt to win the league? Do they consider they’ll win it? I feel they hope they’ll, however they will not count on it, just like the Metropolis gamers do. They remind me of Arsenal just a few years in the past, once they had been simply content material with ending within the prime 4.

Jermaine Jenas: This can be a crew whose supervisor is aware of them inside out and vice versa, and I can see them making a quick begin to the season due to that connection. Spurs have additionally obtained a gaggle of younger gamers who’ve been collectively for a very long time and their expertise of falling in need of profitable a trophy can be with them. I simply assume that, together with them shifting into their new stadium imply there are a variety of positives for them.

Ian Wright: Tottenham have a variety of gamers who got here again late to pre-season after the World Cup and having to attend just a few video games to get into their new floor goes to be one other disruption. I simply assume they could make a stuttering begin that different groups would possibly reap the benefits of.

Chris Waddle: Spurs will certainly be within the prime 4 and I feel they’ve an out of doors probability of profitable the title as a result of their strongest XI is pretty much as good as anybody’s within the Premier League, however my fear is that they are going to be affected by fatigue and accidents, and their squad will not be ok. They’re additionally going to be going into their new stadium, and even when it solely takes them just a few weeks to settle in, it is going to be a difficulty.

Chris Sutton: Tottenham haven’t signed anybody but however I nonetheless assume they’ve good power in depth of their squad. On prime of that they’re sturdy defensively and have a lot of artistic choices and have the most effective striker within the league in Harry Kane.

The making of England’s Kane

Stephen Warnock: Spurs do not make my prime 4 as a result of I feel they must strengthen. If Kane will get injured, then they’re in huge bother. A few high quality late signings may tip issues of their favour although.

Kevin Kilbane: How do Spurs make that step-up, that enchancment they should go from third-place to champions? It’s exhausting to see them making the signings that might make that occur, and I feel this season is likely to be like Groundhog Day for them, the place they’re simply difficult for a Champions League place. It’s prime 4 at greatest for them, as a result of I do not assume they’ve sufficient to significantly problem Liverpool and Metropolis over the course of the season.

Danny Murphy: For the followers, and simply to push everybody within the squad, you all the time want to purchase not less than one large identify, somebody who’s going to return in and make them higher. Of the gamers Spurs have being linked with this summer time, Wilfried Zaha and Anthony Martial would match the invoice, however it seems unlikely both of them can be arriving now.

Chelsea – ‘issues are difficult proper now’

Neighborhood Defend: Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea gamers will ‘must work’

Just one BBC pundit predicted Chelsea would end outdoors the highest 4 final season – their former supervisor Ruud Gullit. They completed fifth. This season, Gullit thinks they are going to end third, however 63% assume they are going to miss out on the highest 4.

Mark Lawrenson: I take a look at Chelsea and it’s only a mess, is not it? The entire thing.

Ian Wright: They have a brand new keeper lined as much as exchange Thibaut Courtois and I feel Eden Hazard will keep, however who’s going to attain all of the objectives?

For the time being it seems like they are going to be counting on Olivier Giroud as a result of it isn’t occurring for Alvaro Morata and we’ve seen that Michy Batshuayi will not be going to do it at this stage. So that they want one other striker which is why, as issues stand, they do not make my prime 4.

Pat Nevin: Issues are difficult with Chelsea. I feel they’re in precisely the identical scenario they had been in earlier than the season began final yr, which is they should purchase. I think they are going to attempt to convey yet one more centre-back in however, if David Luiz is again to his greatest after his accidents final season, then that won’t be an issue.

The final couple days of the Premier League switch window may change every thing as a result of they might promote one in every of their large outfield gamers and get in three others, and that might utterly change the image.

Upson & Dublin say Chelsea had been ‘outplayed’

Stephen Warnock: Retaining Hazard is essential for Chelsea. He’s their match-winner and nearly irreplaceable, particularly at this stage of the switch window. With out him, I might not decide them to complete third, however I do assume the way in which Maurizio Sarri performs fits the gamers he has obtained, and never having Champions League soccer will assist them lots.

Ruud Gullit: Gamers need to win trophies – you already know your profession is brief. Hazard got here to Chelsea to win issues, not simply to play properly and earn some huge cash, and he nonetheless desires to win trophies – main ones – now.

Chelsea must create that chance for him – if they can not, then you definately can’t blame him if he does need to depart. Can they do it this season? It’s too early to inform.

Matthew Upson: What Sarri noticed within the Neighborhood Defend could have instructed him lots about what his gamers are able to, by way of becoming into his system or reaching the required requirements. He has points to deal with proper by way of his crew and, with Thursday being the switch deadline for incoming gamers, there’s not a lot time to resolve whether or not to handle them within the switch market.

Read more from Upson here on the issues faced by new Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.

Arsenal – begin underneath Emery can be essential

Some 70% of BBC pundits, presenters and commentators predicted Arsenal would finish outside the top four final season, they usually completed sixth. This season, 75% assume they are going to miss out on Champions League soccer once more, and no-one thinks they are going to end larger than fourth.

New Arsenal boss Emery thanks Wenger for ‘his legacy’

Ian Wright: I place confidence in Arsenal ending fourth as a result of I feel their attacking gamers will trigger all the opposite groups issues – however I’m nonetheless anxious in regards to the defensive facet of issues and the way in which the gamers begin the season underneath Unai Emery, and grasp what he desires from them, goes to be so essential.

They begin in opposition to a Metropolis crew who know precisely what they’re doing, however this is likely to be a superb time to play them as a result of a few of their gamers are late again from the World Cup. Arsenal are going to play this urgent sport and will they catch Metropolis off guard? In the event that they do, have they obtained sufficient defensively to cease Metropolis even when Metropolis are rocked by a few punches? That may simply be my wishful considering.

After that, they play Chelsea, West Ham and Cardiff, and relying on outcomes, that might be an unbelievable opening, or a case of ‘uh oh’. By the point they get to West Ham, when they are going to be up in opposition to Jack Wilshere, properly there’s a story ready to be written there, is not there?

Martin Keown: It is going to be a extremely shut battle to make the highest 4; Arsenal and Chelsea will push Manchester United all the approach and have an out of doors probability of claiming a Champions League place. Emery has had longer along with his crew than anybody else – they’ve largely all been collectively for the entire of pre-season – they usually may probably trigger an upset in opposition to Metropolis on day one.

Stephen Warnock: Emery has a incredible document and his appointment is an enormous coup for Arsenal. He has signed some wonderful gamers, however lots is dependent upon how shortly they adapt to the Premier League.

Kevin Kilbane: They will not problem for the title however I feel Emery will make them extra pragmatic and more durable to beat. That would be the greatest distinction with Arsenal this season in comparison with when Arsene Wenger was in cost they usually performed extra off the cuff. It’s a change that they’ve been crying out for.

Jermaine Jenas: After 22 years of Wenger operating the membership, from the way in which they practice to the way in which they play, the preliminary shock of enjoying underneath Emery can be nice for them. That change would possibly really feel good to the gamers within the early levels however no person actually is aware of how they’ll translate that to the pitch, or which fashion of play they are going to undertake and they’re a little bit of an unknown amount.

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Who is in a 'mess' and who will win Premier League? - BBC pundits' predictions

No team has managed a successful defence of the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2009 – but will this season be different?

That is the aim of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, a winner of three consecutive league titles in both Spain (Barcelona, 2008-11) and Germany (Bayern Munich, 2013-16), who saw his side finish 19 points clear of the pack last time out.

But who will challenge them in 2018-19? Can big-spending Liverpool mount a serious challenge? Will Manchester United narrow the gap? Can Tottenham improve? And are Chelsea and Arsenal contenders after changing their managers in the summer?

We asked 24 BBC TV and radio pundits to pick their top four with explanations for their selections.

The predictions were made on the basis of how each squad shaped up on Wednesday, 8 August, before the opening weekend of the season, but two days before the deadline for incoming transfers and with the potential for players to leave up until the transfer window shuts in the rest of Europe at the end of August.

Predictor 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ian Wright Liverpool Man City Man Utd Arsenal Ruud Gullit Liverpool Man City Chelsea Man Utd Martin Keown Liverpool Man City Tottenham Man Utd Dion Dublin Man City Man Utd Liverpool Tottenham Alex Scott Man City Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Joleon Lescott Man City Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Mark Lawrenson Man City Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Matthew Upson Man City Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal Alan Shearer Man City Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Danny Murphy Man City Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Pat Nevin Man City Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Lindsay Johnson Man City Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Charlie Adam Man City Liverpool Man Utd Tottenham Danny Mills Man City Liverpool Man Utd Chelsea Mark Schwarzer Man City Liverpool Man Utd Chelsea Rachel Brown-Finnis Man City Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham Sue Smith Man City Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham Paul Ince Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Kevin Kilbane Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Stephen Warnock Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Jermaine Jenas Man City Liverpool Tottenham Man Utd Chris Sutton Man City Liverpool Tottenham Man Utd Chris Waddle Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea Leon Osman Man City Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal

Six teams feature in the forecasted top fours, and only Manchester City and Liverpool feature in all 24.

In terms of who will win it, Manchester City are favourites, with 21 votes. Liverpool get the other three.

Overall predicted ranking, using all BBC predictions

(using system of 4 pts for a 1st place, 3 pts for 2nd, 2 pts for 3rd and 1 pt for 4th)

1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man Utd 4. Tottenham 5. Chelsea 6. Arsenal 93 pts 74 pts 34 pts 18 pts 15 pts 6 pts

Man City – a well-oiled machine managed by a serial winner

This is the third season running where City have featured in everyone’s forecasted top four. Last season, only 5% of people we asked thought Guardiola’s side would finish lower than third. This season, no-one thinks they will finish below second.

Alan Shearer: It has been a long time since anyone won back-to-back titles but I think City will win the Premier League again because of Pep – he won’t want their standards slipping. He will play exactly the same way and they are going to be very hard to stop, although I think Liverpool and United will both be a lot closer to them this time.

Shearer joins Ian Wright and Gary Lineker on Match of the Day at 22:20 BST on Saturday on BBC One and the BBC Sport website for highlights of seven Premier League games (including Friday night’s season opener).

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Chris Sutton: Pep will not allow City to become complacent. Their consistency levels last season, when they won 32 out of their 38 league games, including a run of 18 wins in a row, were unbelievable.

Paul Ince: Guardiola is a serial winner – you can see that from the way he rants and raves on the touchline demanding more even when his team are two or 3-0 up. That is his mentality, and his players buy into it.

Matthew Upson: City are about to start their third season under Guardiola and it is clear they are a well-oiled machine. They know his philosophy and the way he wants to play. As we saw in the Community Shield, when they were missing Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, the personnel does not really matter – when one player steps out another one steps in – and that is their great strength.

Upson and Alex Scott are the guests on Football Focus on BBC One and the BBC Sport website at 12:00 BST on Saturday.

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Sue Smith: If anything City will be stronger because their problem area was left-back last season. Benjamin Mendy is now back and fit and is a real threat down that flank. Look through the rest of the team and it is top quality throughout.

Lindsay Johnson: I cannot see City not winning the title because they have improved an already very strong squad by bringing in Riyad Mahrez, and they seem to be a happy camp.

Jermaine Jenas: I still think City will win the league, but everyone has had a couple of years now to look at this Guardiola side and work out what they are about, like Liverpool did against them last season. It is hard for Pep to keep thinking up new things and if other teams do clock how to cause them problems then that will make life a lot more difficult – and it will not matter how big the gap was in the past.

Liverpool – Man City’s Kryptonite have done the best business of the summer

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Only 43% people we asked thought Liverpool would make it into the top four last season, and only 13% thought they would be higher than third – they finished fourth. This year 14% think they will win the title and 96% think they will finish in the top two.

Ian Wright: I want this season’s title race to be more spicy and I think it will be. If Liverpool can get some impetus, then we don’t know how Manchester City will react under pressure if a team can stay close to them at the end of the season.

You also have to consider that Liverpool are City’s Kryptonite. That’s why I am backing Jurgen Klopp’s side to pip them to the title.

When Liverpool are doing well in the league, the league seems better. And, when they have got a good team, with the crowd at Anfield they are literally unstoppable – as we saw against City in the Champions League last season.

Ruud Gullit: If City have to battle for the league, we don’t know if they can do that. They will be up there at the top but I am backing Liverpool to win it. They are contenders because of the way they play, and how they control games but they also want to entertain and they want to attack – they play the right way.

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Stephen Warnock: Liverpool have arguably done the best business in the window so far, albeit the most expensive. They are going to be stronger everywhere but, if they had not signed Alisson, I would not be backing them to finish second. Getting the goalkeeper right is that important, you only have to look at how many points David de Gea earned United with his saves last season.

Danny Murphy: Getting their signings done so early was beneficial because it gives Klopp time to show what he wants from them, and get them up to the fitness levels he requires for the way he wants to play.

Kevin Kilbane: Alisson is the signing of the summer. I have heard people say that they are one or two players short of a title-winning team but I don’t agree with that – there have been a couple of seasons over the past three or four years when they have been serious contenders but have been one short, and it was a keeper they needed.

I have tipped City because of the way they played last season, and how they play but it would not surprise me if Liverpool won the league.

Join Kevin, Jason Mohammed and Dion Dublin for Final Score on Saturday, from 14:30 BST on the Red Button and from 16:30 on BBC One.

Joleon Lescott: As well as all their signings, it looks like Daniel Sturridge is back in contention at Liverpool now and I think both parties have to recognise the part he can play this season. Klopp has got to see that Sturridge has the close control to unlock teams who sit deep, and Daniel has to realise that when Liverpool are playing on the counter-attack, he has got a lot of work to do off the ball and, like Firmino, is not there just to score goals.

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Chris Waddle: They have spent some big money and Klopp cannot keep saying ‘we are building’. This is the year for me where Liverpool have got to come out and say ‘we are competing for the Premier League title’. I know they won’t but they are in a place now where they are trying to win everything City and United are trying to win, so why deny it?

Danny Mills: I suppose the one problem they face is whether they are going to be so heavily reliant on Mo Salah’s goals again. I still think he will score loads, but I cannot see him getting as many as he did last season.

Manchester United – lots of quality, but lacking harmony

Last season, 33% of people we asked thought United would be champions – they finished second. This time, no-one thinks they will win the title, and only one pundit – Dion Dublin – thinks they will finish second.

Dion Dublin: United have got so much quality in their squad and they definitely progressed under Jose Mourinho last season. What they are missing at the moment is harmony, but if he can find that and get all his good players smiling and happy, they will be very close.

You can listen to Dion Dublin and Conor McNamara’s commentary of United’s opening game of the season against Leicester on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website on Friday. Build-up from Old Trafford starts at 18:30 BST.

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Ruud Gullit: United already had the players to challenge City last season, but they couldn’t do it. So are they going to do it now? Are these players going to perform? You have to ask why so many of their players underachieved.

Chris Waddle: Jose always seems to get out of bed the wrong side every morning. He just has to get on with things and start smiling. If he does that, it will rub off on the team.

Chris Sutton: United just seem to be an unhappy camp and it all comes down to the manager. I wonder what the owners make of him telling fans not to turn up to their tour games in the United States, plus his criticism of his players and all his comments about needing new players but not getting them – he has basically been telling the centre-halves already at the club that they are hopeless.

It has resulted in a negative feeling about the club, at a time when almost every other club in the land has an air of positivity going into the new season. I think Mourinho’s frustration probably comes from him looking at City and Liverpool, and the way they play, and he is probably jealous. You wonder about the impact it will have on United at the start of the season, and what it means for his own future too.

Jermaine Jenas: I don’t see it ending well. There are too many internal issues with existing players, issues over their style of play, and also issues with potential signings supposedly saying they do not want to go and play there for him because of that style of play. United fans are not convinced by the football they play under him, or where they are heading under his leadership, so it is going to be an interesting few months.

Danny Mills: You have to be very careful with the way you read Mourinho because of the way he plays the media, and deflects attention from other things. Don’t write them off on the back of him messing about in a press conference, saying I haven’t got this or that. In fact, write them off at your peril.

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Paul Ince: Last season, from a footballing point of view, United weren’t great. Their fans were moaning that they did not attack enough and although I think Mourinho has tried to address that, they really need to hit the ground running this time.

The signs are not great, though. Everything should be geared towards the first game of the season but instead it is all about Mourinho. There are some positives, and I am expecting a big season from Paul Pogba after his World Cup, but I definitely think they need another striker as back-up to Romelu Lukaku – someone in a similar mould to the Belgian.

Ian Wright: It is blatantly obvious that United need central defenders, which is why he has shown an interest in Leicester’s Harry Maguire and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld. I am not sure whether he will get either of them before Thursday’s deadline though.

Tottenham – will this season be ‘like Groundhog Day?’

Last time out, 55% of people thought Tottenham would finish outside the top four – they finished third and are the only team to make the top three in each of the past three seasons. This time, 46% think they will miss out on the Champions League spots, and no-one thinks they will break into the top two.

Joleon Lescott: Are Spurs trying to win the league? Do they believe they can win it? I think they hope they can, but they won’t expect it, like the City players do. They remind me of Arsenal a few years ago, when they were just content with finishing in the top four.

Jermaine Jenas: This is a team whose manager knows them inside out and vice versa, and I can see them making a fast start to the season because of that connection. Spurs have also got a group of young players who have been together for a long time and their experience of falling short of winning a trophy will be with them. I just think that, along with them moving into their new stadium mean there are a lot of positives for them.

Ian Wright: Tottenham have a lot of players who came back late to pre-season after the World Cup and having to wait a few games to get into their new ground is going to be another disruption. I just think they might make a stuttering start that other teams might take advantage of.

Chris Waddle: Spurs will definitely be in the top four and I think they have an outside chance of winning the title because their strongest XI is as good as anyone’s in the Premier League, but my worry is that they will be affected by fatigue and injuries, and their squad is not good enough. They are also going to be going into their new stadium, and even if it only takes them a few weeks to settle in, it will be an issue.

Chris Sutton: Tottenham have not signed anyone yet but I still think they have got good strength in depth in their squad. On top of that they are strong defensively and have lots of creative options and have the best striker in the league in Harry Kane.

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Stephen Warnock: Spurs don’t make my top four because I think they have to strengthen. If Kane gets injured, then they are in massive trouble. A couple of quality late signings could tip things in their favour though.

Kevin Kilbane: How do Spurs make that step-up, that improvement they need to go from third-place to champions? It is hard to see them making the signings that would make that happen, and I think this season might be like Groundhog Day for them, where they are just challenging for a Champions League place. It is top four at best for them, because I don’t think they have got enough to seriously challenge Liverpool and City over the course of the season.

Danny Murphy: For the fans, and just to push everyone in the squad, you always need to buy at least one big name, someone who is going to come in and make them better. Of the players Spurs have being linked with this summer, Wilfried Zaha and Anthony Martial would fit the bill, but it looks unlikely either of them will be arriving now.

Chelsea – ‘things are complicated right now’

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Only one BBC pundit predicted Chelsea would finish outside the top four last season – their former manager Ruud Gullit. They finished fifth. This season, Gullit thinks they will finish third, but 63% think they will miss out on the top four.

Mark Lawrenson: I look at Chelsea and it is just a mess, isn’t it? The whole thing.

Ian Wright: They have got a new keeper lined up to replace Thibaut Courtois and I think Eden Hazard will stay, but who is going to score all the goals?

At the moment it looks like they will be relying on Olivier Giroud because it is not happening for Alvaro Morata and we have seen that Michy Batshuayi is not going to do it at this level. So they need another striker which is why, as things stand, they don’t make my top four.

Pat Nevin: Things are complicated with Chelsea. I think they are in exactly the same situation they were in before the season started last year, which is they need to buy. I suspect they will try to bring one more centre-back in but, if David Luiz is back to his best after his injuries last season, then that will not be a problem.

The last couple days of the Premier League transfer window could change everything because they could sell one of their big outfield players and get in three others, and that would completely change the picture.

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Stephen Warnock: Keeping Hazard is crucial for Chelsea. He is their match-winner and almost irreplaceable, especially at this stage of the transfer window. Without him, I would not pick them to finish third, but I do think the way Maurizio Sarri plays suits the players he has got, and not having Champions League football will help them a lot.

Ruud Gullit: Players want to win trophies – you know your career is short. Hazard came to Chelsea to win things, not just to play well and earn a lot of money, and he still wants to win trophies – major ones – now.

Chelsea have to create that opportunity for him – if they can’t, then you cannot blame him if he does want to leave. Can they do it this season? It is too early to tell.

Matthew Upson: What Sarri saw in the Community Shield will have told him a lot about what his players are capable of, in terms of fitting into his system or reaching the required standards. He has issues to tackle right through his team and, with Thursday being the transfer deadline for incoming players, there is not much time to decide whether to address them in the transfer market.

Read more from Upson here on the issues faced by new Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.

Arsenal – A good start under Emery will be crucial

Some 70% of BBC pundits, presenters and commentators predicted Arsenal would finish outside the top four last season, and they finished sixth. This season, 75% think they will miss out on Champions League football again, and no-one thinks they will finish higher than fourth.

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Ian Wright: I have faith in Arsenal finishing fourth because I think their attacking players will cause all the other teams problems – but I am still worried about the defensive side of things and the way the players start the season under Unai Emery, and grasp what he wants from them, is going to be so crucial.

They start against a City team who know exactly what they are doing, but this might be a good time to play them because some of their players are late back from the World Cup. Arsenal are going to play this pressing game and could they catch City off guard? If they do, have they got enough defensively to stop City even if City are rocked by a couple of punches? That might just be my wishful thinking.

After that, they play Chelsea, West Ham and Cardiff, and depending on results, that could be an unbelievable opening, or a case of ‘uh oh’. By the time they get to West Ham, when they will be up against Jack Wilshere, well there is a story waiting to be written there, isn’t there?

Martin Keown: It will be a really close battle to make the top four; Arsenal and Chelsea will push Manchester United all of the way and have an outside chance of claiming a Champions League place. Emery has had longer with his team than anyone else – they’ve largely all been together for the whole of pre-season – and they could potentially cause an upset against City on day one.

Stephen Warnock: Emery has a fantastic record and his appointment is a massive coup for Arsenal. He has signed some excellent players, but a lot depends on how quickly they adapt to the Premier League.

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Kevin Kilbane: They won’t challenge for the title but I think Emery will make them more pragmatic and harder to beat. That will be the biggest difference with Arsenal this season compared to when Arsene Wenger was in charge and they played more off the cuff. It is a change that they have been crying out for.

Jermaine Jenas: After 22 years of Wenger running the club, from the way they train to the way they play, the initial shock of playing under Emery will be great for them. That change might feel good to the players in the early stages but nobody really knows how they are going to translate that to the pitch, or which style of play they will adopt and they are a bit of an unknown quantity.

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BBC Sport – Football

Who is in a 'mess' and who will win Premier League? – BBC pundits' predictions was originally published on 365 Football