The Premier League is back! Ahead of the season’s curtain raiser between Manchester United and Fulham on Friday night, Grosvenor Sport ambassador Jamie O’Hara gives us his full Premier League predictions.
Jamie’s Premier League Rankings
Winner: Arsenal (37/20)
I reckon it’s going to be a fierce battle for the title this year, with Arsenal and Manchester City leading the charge once again. For me, Arsenal have made some significant improvements, and there’s still talk of another big signing—maybe a striker—which could really boost their title chances.
Arsenal are looking stronger than ever, and with a manager who knows how to get the best out of his players, I think this could be their year. I see this season going right down to the wire, possibly even being decided on the final day.
Runner Up: Manchester City
Manchester City are still a dominant force, no doubt about it, but I think they might have some off-field issues that could be a distraction this season. That said, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland are going to be crucial, especially since they didn’t have the Euros to tire them out. It’s going to be a close race between City and Arsenal, but I see City just missing out this time.
Champions League Qualification
I see Tottenham (2/1) and Liverpool (1/2) grabbing those last two Champions League spots. Spurs have made some really good defensive signings, and I think their back four could be one of the best in the league when everyone’s fit.
As for Liverpool, even though they’ve got a new manager, their squad is just too good not to finish in the top four. With players like Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah leading the way, I’m backing them to finish third, with Tottenham coming in fourth. Tottenham are 2/1 to finish in the top four.
Best of the Rest
I have to give credit to Chelsea—they’ve signed some impressive players, and their squad is deep, but keeping such a large group happy could be a challenge. Newcastle are meanwhile going to be strong again under Eddie Howe; he knows how to get the best out of his players.
West Ham are another team to watch—they’ve made some quality signings and are trying to change their style of play, but at the end of the day, I still think the usual “big six” will dominate, with maybe a few surprises from some of the clubs on the periphery.
Relegation Battle
It’s going to be a tough season for the newly promoted teams. I’m predicting Nottingham Forest (18th, 5/2), Ipswich Town (19th, 3/4), and Leicester City (20th, 2/5) to face relegation. Leicester, in particular, could struggle with all the managerial changes and financial issues they’ve had.
I’m not sure Ipswich have done enough in the transfer market to compete at this level, even though they’ve tried to strengthen their squad. I’m also not convinced that Nuno Espírito Santo is the right man for the job at Nottingham Forest, so I can see them finally losing their relegation battle next year. Nuno is 10/1 to be the first Premier League manager to be sacked.
Jamie O’Hara’s 2024/25 Premier League Table Prediction
- Arsenal
- Manchester City
- Liverpool
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Aston Villa
- Chelsea
- Manchester United
- Newcastle United
- West Ham
- Brighton
- Wolves
- Fulham
- Bournemouth
- Brentford
- Crystal Palace
- Everton
- Southampton
- Nottingham Forest
- Ipswich Town
- Leicester City