Premier League 2024/25 Preview

24/25 Premier League teams

Here is a complete list of the teams competing in this season’s Premier League and a brief update on their chances. Please remember the predictions above and throughout this article are the thoughts of our content team and are for entertainment purposes only. You can follow our researched picks or browse the markets, study the form, and make your selections based on this and your own opinions.

Manchester City

Manchester City broke the record for the most Premier League titles won in a row when claiming a fourth gong in four seasons. Will they make it a high-five? There’s every chance as Pep Guardiola aims to continue his dominance of English football and return as winners of the Champions League following last term’s agony.

The champions will move on a few fringe players and must sort out the future of their number one shirt. But they’ve held onto their best performers from the previous campaign, including Kevin De Bruyne who looks certain to remain. Another important season is expected for the Belgian if he can remain injury free and we make Man City the most likely champion. He started 15 games last season and was responsible for either scoring or assisting 14 times, which means his impact was felt virtually every game.

Pre-season results haven’t been great with Man City losing to Scottish champions Celtic, but the team are notoriously slow starters. Fans shouldn’t worry if City doesn’t explode out of the traps and hit the front early. The Premier League champions and favourites are experienced enough to know it’s not how you start a season that counts but how you finish the campaign.

Arsenal

Fans of the Gunners hope it’s third time lucky as their beloved club aims to hunt down Manchester City following two near misses. The team from North London finished second in each of the last two seasons, despite leading and piling pressure on eventual champions City who staged a late smash-and-grab on the crown. Will Mikel Arteta’s side improve a place and finally get their hands on the Premier League championship next spring?Arsenal have been busy in the summer transfer window as they target several key areas, most notably the defence. With Italian Ricardo Calafiori a long-term target for Arteta, the Arsenal manager hopes to get the deal done in July to ensure his side are ready, willing and firing in plenty of time for the new season when they open the show against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta likes to build his team off a solid base, ensuring his men are more difficult to break down next season as they were in the previous campaign. But scoring goals and putting games to bed from a position of dominance was a major issue in their most recent failed attempt to win the league.

At least one reliable scorer who can hit double figures would improve their chances and could be the missing link. Arsenal performed well in pre-season when beating fellow EPL team Bournemouth and other respected sides.

Liverpool

The 2024/25 season will be an important one for Liverpool fans as the post-Jurgen Klopp era begins. The Reds now have new boss Arne Slot in the hot seat and hope his experience can help catapult Liverpool towards the title. He has won trophies before winning the Eredivisie in the 22/23 Season with Feyenoord. They finished third last term and were in the title race until near the end, when their hopes turned to dust as Man City and Arsenal pulled clear, leaving Liverpool back in third.

Slot will want to put his stamp on the team he inherited from Klopp and that’s completely natural. He also takes over a squad packed with talent, including some of the team’s EPL winners from the 2019/20 season when Liverpool rose to deny Man City. Everyone connected to the Anfield club wants to see more of the same but their chances rely heavily on the strength of their summer transfer window. They must get the right players in and hit the ground running. Winning the league in his first season is a huge ask for Slot, but he’s certainly good enough.

While all the attention is on which players might arrive at Anfield this month, Slot told members of the press he’s more interested in focusing on the talent he already has on the books. It’s anyone’s guess what Liverpool might look like when they line up against Ipswich Town on matchday one with the likes of Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold rumoured to be heading for the exit door. There are too many uncertainties at Liverpool just now to back them to win outright.

Chelsea

How will the blues from Chelsea perform this season? The former Premier League rulers have been far from reliable in recent campaigns and spent much of last season in mid-table before fighting back to secure a sixth-place finish and spot in Europe. They will again miss out on the UEFA Champions League riches, meaning the club’s backers must cover the costs and invest heavily in an attempt to get them firing again.

Chelsea’s problems last season stemmed from a slow start, and a lack of consistency, which cost them any chance of a top-four finish. The current squad is full of household names and proven winners such as Cole Palmer, Romelu Lukaku, and Raheem Sterling, but they must learn to play as a team in order to push the Blues back into a position to challenge. A strong start is essential this year to build confidence and give the squad something to work off heading towards winter.

Chelsea are another team where it will pay to see how they settle into the season, but they have the quality to challenge and have improved over the summer. Enzo Maresca will be asked to hit the front early by fans and turn up the heat on City, who they play in their first game of the Season. It’s more likely he’ll require time to find his feet and his strongest 11 players, and the following three games against Wolves, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth will give him a chance to do that.

Man Utd

(Cut) Manchester United, like Chelsea, has the squad to challenge for the title and secure a top-four finish, but they must be much better than they were last season when ending in eighth place. It was a poor performance from Erik ten Haag’s men and the axe is already hovering over the manager. He enters this season knowing anything less than a top-four finish could spell the end of his time at Old Trafford and he’ll be lucky to make it that far if his side isn’t challenging for the prize.  (Cut)

United spent the summer with ten Haag looking for improvement, and they were in great shape when beating Scottish side Rangers 2-0 at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, in July. It was a good outing for the Red Devils, who faced a hard-working Gers backed by a huge support inside the home of Scottish rugby. The win was necessary, but everyone at Old Trafford knows the challenges will grow when the Premier League season begins.

Several key areas of the squad require attention with Man Utd in the market for a midfielder and a defender. They could do with a proven scorer also, but the clock is ticking. One thing United fans can rely on is the club will splash the cash for the right target. This season isn’t about improving on last term’s poor finish, it’s about challenging for the top-four at all costs. Another team that’s good enough, but many question marks remain.

Tottenham

Ange Postecoglou - the Premier League’s first Australian manager - earns another bite at the cherry after a mixed bag last season. The former treble-winner at Celtic Park rolled the dice and gambled on a move to England where he made a fantastic start, briefly leading Spurs into pole position. They played free-flowing and high-scoring football for months, but couldn’t maintain that energy.

Spurs eventually finished fifth in the league, losing out on a top-four finish to Aston Villa who shocked many to secure a Champions League berth. Despite winning over many fans with that strong start, Spurs dropping from first to fifth set alarm bells ringing and supporters want to see a more balanced and consistent team in this year’s challenge. The squad has many positives to build on, but must get recruitment perfect.

Anything less than a top-four finish would be a disaster for the team and might cost Ange his position in North London. Spurs beat neighbours QPR 2-0 in a recent friendly and have invested in youth and energy during the transfer window. Expect another good season but one where Tottenham’s defensive frailties cost them dear.

Newcastle

The team from St James’ Park are notoriously difficult to predict. They have a great fanbase, solid history, cash-rich owners and unrelenting ambition. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been enough to challenge for the title in such a competitive Premier League so far. Will Newcastle United be the team to end Man City’s dominance? We don’t think so, but we do believe they are good enough to challenge for a finish in the European places.

The Magpies finished seventh in the Premier League last season, but consistency cost them a crack at the top four. Manager Eddie Howe has improved his squad during the summer months. They host Southampton on matchday one of the new season, and they should take three points from that game to get the wheels in motion.

What stands between Newcastle and the major places in the Premier League is a solid defence, as they already boast a strong attack. Howe has been working tirelessly to strengthen his defence, and in early August they were reportedly close to signing Guehi for fee in excess of £60m. Their top-four chances depend on him getting the players at the top of his summer wish list.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa were the surprise package of the previous Premier League season as they battled to a stunning top-four finish and place in the Champions League. The Villans are former European Cup winners but will make their first appearance in the competition since it became the Champions League, and that’s cause for celebration at the club.

Villa used the extra funds to strengthen their team further, and they’ll require a mix of youth and experienced players as well as those who have performed at the top level, including in the Champions League. Rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite will be great for Villa, but we fear it might take their focus away from the Premier League. Does the squad have what it takes to fight on both fronts, playing two or three times in a seven-day period?

Aston Villa’s fitness and stomach for a fight will be tested to the max this term, but we’ve seen many big name clubs crumble under the pressure of competing in the EPL and Champions League. We predict they’ll drop out of the top four and towards mid-table.

Brighton

As we head towards the middle of the Premier League table, that’s when things begin to get more difficult. Predicting success for the country’s top teams isn’t difficult, although forecasting their finishing positions is no mean feat. But when we get to the middle of the ladder, we’re looking for teams who are better than the bottom half but not good enough to challenge the major European spots.

Brighton did themselves and their supporters proud last season with an 11th-place finish despite being tipped by many to be relegated. Things could’ve been even better, as the Seagulls were driving at the prizes before suffering a late collapse as they tumbled down the pecking order. That was a valuable lesson in holding their concentration and consistency from the start to the finish line, and we’re confident they’ll improve.

Brighton impressed in pre-season when picking up some strong wins, including a stunning 5-1 win over Kashima in a game they could’ve scored more. Defending will be key this term, and Brighton must beat the teams around them in the pecking order, including Crystal Palace and West Ham. We’re not backing a title push, but we do fancy a strong season and a finish in the middle of the charts.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace seems to start the season with the same aim as Brighton - to avoid the relegation zone and protect their place in the top tier of English football (for at least another season). They managed that last year when ending in 10th and we’re certain the board would view a repeat performance as a positive result. It’s not the most ambitious plan, but Palace know they must remain an EPL side and benefit from the riches that accompany it.

Under the guidance of manager Oliver Glasner, the Eagles drew 1-1 with Charlon Athletic in a pre-season friendly match earlier this month. That result did little to inspire confidence in the Londoners, but we’re happy to give them the benefit of the doubt. Summer friendlies are a time to gain match sharpness and get minutes in the legs.

How will Crystal Palace perform this season? We’re going right in the middle and predict the Eagles will land in tenth, a place better than they did last season and higher than their neighbours West Ham who we’ll look at next.

West Ham

It’s all change in East London as the David Moyes’ reign ends and the Julen Lopetegu era begins. Scotsman Moyes led the club on some fantastic adventures and they came agonisingly close to making it to the Champions League through a top four finish in recent times. But now the focus is on building a new and improved Hammers side that can regularly challenge for the major places.

The team from Stratford beat their neighbours Dagenham and Redbridge in a recent friendly - as they should do against a team from that level - but the challenges will increase dramatically. Most pundits expect the Hammers to shoot for a safe mid-table finish in the new gaffer’s first season in charge and then build from there. But the new look backroom staff hold ambitions of finishing in the European spots. We see them settling in around 11th which is a bottom half finish, but it wouldn’t be a bad return.

Fixing a leaky defence is the main aim at the London Stadium this term after West Ham conceded too many goals in the previous campaign. Several attempts have been made to bolster the backline, but nothing has stuck so far. West Ham could be one strong defender and midfielder away from improving a few places on our prediction.

Bournemouth

The Cherries, like Crystal Palace, are a club that would be happy to avoid relegation and cement their place in the top-flight of English football for as long as possible. They know safeguarding their status as a Premier League club is important, but that’s not to say they won’t be ambitious. Will Bournemouth build on last season’s 12th place finish? We’d be surprised if they finished too much higher and a repeat performance would please the fans.

Manager Andoni Iraoli plans to build everything off a reliable defence and views that as his best chance at staying in the division. The backroom staff have been busy looking for defensive recruits this summer and spent many weeks chasing their number one target, 19-year-old Dean Huijsen from Italian Serie A club Juventus. Having finally signed the youngster, they can prepare to play safe football while aiming to catch teams on the counter. Expect the Cherries to score some sweet wins this season without troubling the top places in the EPL.

Other players may be on the way to Bournemouth this season, and it may be worth keeping an eye on their recruitment before placing any bets on the Cherries. They could, with some shrewd business, find the form needed to trouble the top 10, and you’ll get great odds on a top-half finish for Bournemouth.

Fulham

The free-spending and cash-rich glory days of Fulham Football Club are a thing of the past - at least for now - but they’re a side with something money can’t buy; vital Premier League experience. The Cottagers have become something of a permanent fixture in the top tier over the last few seasons, flirting with a top half finish before settling into the midtable. Will we see more of the same in the 2024/25 renewal?

Our tipsters and betting experts predict another uninspiring mid-table finish for Fulham. They’ll use their experience to keep their distance from the relegation zone but don’t have the budget to compete with the biggest names in the league for a European finish. Fulham is a great Premier League side, but don’t expect manager Marco Silva to work any miracles.

Nothing is guaranteed in the Premier League, but we often see Fulham beat the big names as underdogs and then lose to opponents they are expected to defeat. A lack of consistency has held the Cottagers back in recent years and we could see more of the same.

Brentford

Another London club we predict to finish as an also-ran, filling the gap in the middle of the Premier League. Brentford knows their future relies heavily on being involved in top-flight football as often as possible, and that’s why the finances on offer in the EPL dictate that they must do everything they can to avoid relegation. That’s why Brentford often keep their ambitions in check and prefer to make themselves as difficult to defeat as possible.

The Bees drew 1-1 with Benfica in a pre-season friendly, proving they can mix it with impressive competition. A demanding pre-season ensures the squad is fit, firing and ready to battle for their Premier League survival this season. New signing Igor Thiago will be handed the responsibility of firing Brentford up the table, especially in the absence of Ivan Toney.

Toney did much of the heavy lifting for Brentford and the club will miss his contributions in attack. Replacing him certainly won’t be easy or cheap. He’s scored 67 goals in 128 games for Brentford while finding the net once for England from six caps to date.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

It’s always difficult to predict Wolves as they are capable of pushing for the prizes, but their followers have also watched them battle relegation in recent times, fighting hard to stay in the Premier League. Will the season ahead bring more joy or another campaign spent fearing the worst? Only time will tell, but we predict they’ll end in the bottom half, filling position 15 in the EPL.

Wolverhampton spent much of pre-season in the United States where they met some familiar faces in West Ham and Crystal Palace. We won’t read too much into the results of those games as they were little more than glamour friendlies for a US audience. They’ve not been as ambitious in the transfer window as past seasons and that could come back to haunt them when things get serious this season.

Everton

What’s going on at Everton? Fans once watched their team push hard for the major places and take points off some of the Premier League’s top names, but last term was a rollercoaster of emotions. For much of the previous campaign it looked like the Toffees might be dragged into the Championship and that would’ve been a disaster. A late turnaround meant they kept their place in the top tier.

Does Everton manager Sean Dyche have what it takes to turn things around? Possibly, but we don’t expect to see those changes in the short-term. The experienced boss requires time and investment to sort out the mess he inherited and that’s why we’re picking Everton to finish down in the bottom half, close to the 15th place finish they achieved last season. Off-field issues continue to plague the club from Goodison Park.

Nottingham Forest

What can the Tricky Trees offer followers this season? Do they have what it takes to improve on last term’s 17th place finish where they beat relegation by the skin of their teeth? Our premier league review panel don’t hold much hope for Nottingham Forest, but do expect them to use the experience gained from last season’s effort to steer clear of the bottom-three - but not by too much.

Forest warmed up for their Premier League campaign with some tough tests against Villareal, Elche, and Olympiakos, ensuring they’re sharp, fit, and confident enough to hit the ground running. The best of their summer business focused on re-signing their top performers, but the scouting department did work hard to bolster the attack available to manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Ipswich Town

The Tractor Boys were promoted to the English Premier League following a stunning season when finishing second in the Championship. Their lack of top-level experience hasn’t dampened optimism amongst the support at Portman Road and the club is ready to cause an upset by beating the drop. Will they remain in the top flight or make a quick return to the second tier? Our panel predicts a bottom-three finish with that lack of experience costing the club dear later in the campaign.

Ipswich lack the funds to attract the experience and big names required to compete at this level. The club has been busy in the transfer window as it tries to improve its squad, but few signings have impressed critics. Ipswich will enjoy a great adventure in the EPL, but we expect them to also learn some harsh lessons.

Leicester City

It doesn’t seem too long ago Leicester City were blazing a trail of glory to the Premier League title and rubbing shoulders with huge names at the business end of the UEFA Champions League. The Foxes spent last season in the Championship where they won the title and were promoted to the EPL as champions. It was thoroughly deserved, but Leicester knows the gulf in class between the Championship and Premier League all too well.

The Leicester City squad was whipped into shape with some challenging pre-season games against Palermo, Augsburg, and Lens, learning the European style of play while building experience. But they’ve not been anywhere near as ambitious in the transfer window, and for that reason, we’re picking the Foxes to drop back into the Championship following a tough few months spent at the top table. Expect a few heavy defeats early, which will suck the enthusiasm and ambition from the players.

Southampton

Sorry Southampton fans, but we’re picking your club to fill the dreaded 20th position and basement of the Premier League. The Saints came up through the playoffs last season, despite finishing fourth in the Championship. We’ve seen some fourth-placed teams promoted in the past, and it rarely works out well for them. Ending well off the top of the Championship isn’t great preparation for a crack at the EPL.

The Saints warmed up against Montpellier and some lower-league English opposition which is hardly ideal for the jump in class that awaits them this season. Their transfer deals have lacked ambition, and it seems the board and backroom staff will focus on bringing on their impressive graduates who were given vital minutes in pre-season. A youthful and ambitious squad will find it tough against the stars of the Premier League.

Premier League 2024/25 Top Scorer (Golden Boot)

If you’re looking to bet and follow an individual rather than a team, the top goalscorer market could keep you entertained throughout the season. Also known as the Golden Boot, this trophy is awarded to the player with the most goals in the Premier League at the end of the season. Let’s look at some recent winners.

Looking at the below list, 23 or better appears to be the golden number to win the top scorer award. Haaland has won the last two, and that explains why he is the favourite to land a treble by winning it again this season. It’s easy to imagine the powerful striker picking up where he left off and firing his team to the title. He gets our vote.

If Haaland doesn’t win the Golden Boot, which player will? Traders working at major sportsbooks have had their say and have Haaland as the market leader. The City scorer sits ahead of Mo Salah and Ollie Watkins. Looking for an outsider with a good chance of challenging with great odds attached? Why not try your luck on Darwin Nunez, Cole Palmer, or fans favourite Alexander Isak? Each should give backers a run for their money.