The 2024-25 Premier League season gets started this weekend and it is shaping up to be a fierce battle at the top and bottom of the table.
Manchester City are bidding to win the title for the fifth campaign in a row, which would be unprecedented in the modern era. However, the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be looking to finally dethrone the Citizens.
The battle for European football could be quite special as well, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Aston Villa and Newcastle all gunning for the coveted Champions League and Europa League spots.
Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich are the new kids on the block this season and each of those three will find it hard to avoid dropping straight back down to the Championship.
Ahead of the Premier League‘s opening fixture on Friday evening, when Manchester United host Fulham, we asked NetBet ambassador and ex-Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour to preview the season for us, as well as provide his predictions for the Top 4 race.
And do not forget, this weekend customers can win up to £5,000 when they play our Correct Score Predictor. Simply predict four correct scores from the chosen Premier League fixtures to be in with a chance of winning!
Ray Parlour’s Premier League Preview
Ray says: “I am really looking forward to the start of the new Premier League season. It promises to be another close title race and looking at some of the signings made, the quality on the pitch will only continue to improve.
“Arsenal may still be hurting after losing the title on the final day of last season to City and will be even more determined to go one better this season. Mikel Arteta has boosted the squad and I think Arsenal may still make one further major signing before the window closes.
“West Ham look to have done some good business with their new signings and Chelsea have an ever bigger squad now, so they will have strength in depth. However, both of them start the season with new managers in Julen Lopetegui and Enzo Maresca, so it will be interesting to see how they get on.
“Liverpool had a good pre-season and look ready to start the Premier League campaign well under their new boss Arne Slot. Manchester United, on the other hand, have picked up some annoying injuries, so they may struggle to start the season on top form.
“New boys Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town will be raring to go for the new season but it will be a tall order for these teams to stay up. To do so, they will have to look to pick up wins quickly in order to build up some momentum.
“Looking at the Premier League transfers completed so far, I expect the window to really hot up before it slams shut later this month. For my old club Arsenal, it was vitally important to keep all their key players and that is exactly what they have done so far.
“That is a massive plus for their title challenge and new Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori adds strength in depth and he will really help Arteta rotate his squad.”
Ray Parlour’s Top 4 Predictions
1st: Arsenal
Ray says: “Arsenal can go one step further and lift the trophy at the end of the season. They have added quality and not lost any of the players Arteta values most, so they can win it this time around.
“To name just a few positives, Gabriel Jesus is fit, Kai Havertz is in good form and Gabriel Martinelli is back fully fit. Arsenal may well add one more signing in the attacking areas too, which could prove to be important come May.”
2nd: Manchester City
Ray says: “City will push Arsenal all the way and it will be a very close race again. Four titles in a row is an amazing achievement and City still have an amazing squad, although Julian Alvarez has left for Atletico Madrid, so his guile and skill will be missed.
“However, Erling Haaland will be ready to score bundles of goals again and with Rodri running the midfield, City will be tough to stop. But winning five in a row is very, very hard and with Arsenal looking strong, it may be time for a new winner.”
3rd: Liverpool
Ray says: “Liverpool have looked really good in pre-season and Slot seems to have come in and given them a new belief. Attacking wise, with Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, they have plenty of firepower and defensively, Virgil van Dijk will once again be the leader.
“I am not sure how strong their midfield will be throughout the 2024-25 season, but they will test Arsenal and City and could well be in the title race for a long, long time.”
4th: Manchester United
Ray says: “United can certainly return to the Top 4 and although they have a few injuries for the start of the season, I believe the squad as a whole will bounce back from last term with more consistent form.
“With new coaching staff and Kobbie Mainoo starting in the midfield, United should have more energy about them. Defensively, I suspect the injury situation will not be as bad as it was in 2023-24, so they should have far more stability this time around.”
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