Before you know it the 2022/23 Premier League season will be upon us. Clubs have started returning to pre-season training ahead of the season starting again on August 5.
Plenty of transfer business has already been done and there is sure to be much more action. But who will do the best business and who will have the best squad to be able to challenge Manchester City for their crown?
Can Antonio Conte work his magic on the Tottenham squad? Will Mikel Arteta get the best out of his Arsenal players? And what about the new Todd Boehly era at Chelsea?
READ MORE: Tottenham handed new deadline to complete dream £86m Richarlison and Anthony Gordon transfers
With little more than a month to go before the season begins in earnest, we asked our football.london staff to look into their crystal balls and make their early 2022/23 predictions...
Aaron Catterson-Reid - Trends writer
Premier League winners: Man City
Top four: City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal
Relegation: Leeds, Forest, Bournemouth
Premier League top scorer: Harry Kane
Unexpected star of the season: Marcus Rashford
Champions League winners: Man City
Europa League winners: Roma
Who will have the best transfer window: Arsenal
Who will have the worst transfer window: Leeds
Best signing: Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal
Biggest flop signing: Diego Carlos at Villa
I have a strong feeling Chelsea’s defensive exits will result in them having a subpar season and Thomas Tuchel could even get sacked so I back Spurs and Arsenal to finish above them this season. Both north London teams have started the transfer window with intent and I think they will make a few more astute acquisitions. Leeds will have a hard time replacing Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips and could easily go down. I also can see Marchs Rashford having a top start to the season ahead of the World Cup if Erik ten Hag manages him correctly.
Rob Warlow - Content editor
Premier League winners: Man City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea
Relegation: Bournemouth, Fulham, Brentford
Premier League top scorer: Mo Salah
Unexpected star of the season: Moises Caicedo
Champions League winners: Liverpool
Europa League winners: Roma
Who will have the best transfer window: Tottenham
Who will have the worst transfer window: Fulham
Best signing: Erling Haaland at Manchester City
Biggest flop signing: Brenden Aaronson - Leeds United
I think Tottenham will be improved under Antonio Conte and will overtake Chelsea as the nearest challengers to Manchester City and Liverpool. I still believe those two will be too strong though, with Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez adding firepower to the two respective sides. Relegation is harder to predict as it could be three from a large number of sides, but I think Nottingham Forest will surprise a few on their return to the Premier League.
Joe Doyle - Tottenham editor
Premier League winners: Man City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal
Relegation : Bournemouth, Fulham, Southampton
Premier League top scorer: Harry Kane
Unexpected star of the season: Michael Olise
Champions League winners: Bayern Munich
Europa League winners: Man United
Who will have the best transfer window: Man City
Who will have the worst transfer window: Bournemouth
Best signing: Erling Haaland
Biggest flop signing: Brendon Aaronsen - Leeds
Man City have strengthened an attack that already dominated the league with arguably the best striker in the world - or at least he will be in the next three years. I still feel that there will be some adaptation time to City's system, so can see Harry Kane topping the goalscoring charts again. I think Ten Hag will come in and change United, but they will lack consistency and so could cause some damage in the cups. A lot depends on the rest of the window for relegation, but I feel like it could be the end of a cycle for Southampton and Hasenhuttl. Olise already made an impact at Palace in his first year, but I reckon he'll kick on well this season. Flop would be harsh on Aaronsen, but I feel he's been brought in early to replace Raphinha and that's a lot of expectation and pressure.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Let us know your predictions for the upcoming season in the comments
Rob Guest - Tottenham writer
Premier League winners: Man City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea
Relegation: Southampton, Fulham, Bournemouth
Premier League top scorer: Harry Kane
Unexpected star of the season: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Champions League winners: Man City
Europa League winners: Sevilla (after finishing 3rd in Champions League group)
Who will have the best transfer window: Tottenham
Who will have the worst transfer window: Fulham
Best signing: Nick Pope at Newcastle United
Biggest flop signing: Darwin Nunez
Man City will only be stronger now with Erling Haaland in their XI and they will go on to claim a Premier League and Champions League double. Tottenham will close the gap on City and Liverpool, with Chelsea just scraping the final Champions League spot after a lot of change at the club this summer. Southampton's poor finish to last campaign could well carry over and lead to a season of struggle at St Mary's, thus seeing them join Fulham and Bournemouth in going down to the Championship come May. Nick Pope will be a great addition for Newcastle United for a bargain fee but I’m not sure if Darwin Nunez will fully justify his huge price tag as it may take him a while to adapt to life in the Premier League.
Sam Truelove - Arsenal editor
Premier League winners: Liverpool
Top four: Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham, Arsenal
Relegation: Fulham, Brentford, Southampton
Premier League top scorer: Mo Salah
Unexpected star of the season: Brennan Johnson
Champions League winners: Liverpool
Europa League winners: Man United
Who will have the best transfer window: Arsenal
Who will have the worst transfer window: Leeds
Best signing: Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal
Biggest flop signing: Erling Haaland
Liverpool will bounce back and go on to win the Premier League and Champions League next season. The arrival of Darwin Nunez will boost Jurgen Klopp’s squad, although he will be eased in gently. Gabriel Jesus could help fire Arsenal back into the Champions League, and I’m expecting him to get more than 15 Premier League goals. Tottenham will continue their good run of form under Antonio Conte, and they could go far in the Champions League. Brennan Johnson is some talent at Nottingham Forest - I expect them to easily stay up. Erling Haaland will take time to get used to Man City’s style of play and could struggle with injuries.
Scott Clayton - Chelsea editor
Premier League winners: Man City
Top four: Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham
Relegation: Brentford, Fulham, Nottingham Forest
Premier League top scorer: Mohamed Salah
Unexpected star of the season: Dom Solanke
Champions League winners: Chelsea
Europa League winners: Roma
Who will have the best transfer window: Man City
Who will have the worst transfer window: Tottenham
Best signing: Youri Tielemans
Biggest flop signing: Darwin Nunez
City with Haaland just adds more goals to a teams that scores gals for fun. A full season under Conte will help them make top four way ahead of Arsenal and Man United. I don’t think Liverpool will be as good going forward for a few months as Nunez fits in and Salah will have a lot or stress on his shoulders now Mane has left. Nunez has been brilliant finding space in a Portugese league but this is a better standard of league that I expect he wont hit the ground running just yet.
Lee Wilmot - Head of football
Premier League winners: Man City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea
Relegation: Leeds, Nott’m Forest, Brentford
Premier League top scorer: Harry Kane
Unexpected star of the season: Donny van de Beek
Champions League winners: Man City
Europa League winners: Roma
Who will have the best transfer window: Tottenham
Who will have the worst transfer window: Leeds
Best signing: Erling Haaland
Biggest flop signing: Darwin Nunez
With Haaland coming in I can’t see past Man City cantering to the league title. I’m not expecting Liverpool to be as strong next year, although I still think they have too much for the rest of the chasing pack to finish second, just ahead of Tottenham and Chelsea. Darwin Nunez has come in for big money and there will be plenty of pressure on and it takes time for many players from other countries to settle, so I don’t think he’s going to do the business. Donny van de Beek with a manager he knows well should finally come to the fore for Manchester United.
Tom Canton - Arsenal fan brands writer
Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Man City Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs
Relegation: Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Southampton
Premier League top scorer: Erling Haaland
Unexpected star of the season: Fabio Vieira
Champions League winners: Manchester City
Europa League winners: Arsenal
Who will have the best transfer window: Arsenal
Who will have the worst transfer window: Manchester United
Best signing: Fabio Vieira
Biggest flop signing: Raheem Sterling to Chelsea
Manchester City are just far too strong to consider their title challenge will be harmed by a Liverpool now without Sadio Mane and adapting to a system with a more classic number nine. I have a feeling Chelsea might struggle this season losing so many defensive influencers. Arsenal meanwhile look on for a spectacular transfer window but with the least known Fabio Vieira providing the real surprise.
Mark Wyatt - Crystal Palace writer
Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal
Relegation: Leeds, Bournemouth, Brentford
Premier League top scorer: Harry Kane
Unexpected star of the season: Michael Olise
Champions League winners: Bayern Munich
Europa League winners: Inter (finish third in Champions League group)
Who will have the best transfer window: Spurs
Who will have the worst transfer window: Leeds
Best signing: Erling Halaand
Biggest flop signing: Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal
Erling Halaand’s arrival at City should see them win a third straight Premier League title while I back Bayern Munich to bounce back from a poor Champions League campaign last season and win the whole thing under Julian Naglesmann next year. I back Harry Kane to stay fit and firing all season under Conte and for him to lead the goalscoring charts well ahead of Gabriel Jesus, who I’m not sure will have as instant an impact on Arsenal’s forward line as fans expect.
Scott Trotter - Chelsea writer
Premier League winners: Liverpool
Top four: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham
Relegation: Fulham Bournemouth Leeds
Premier League top scorer: Harry Kane
Unexpected star of the season: Harvey Elliott
Champions League winners: Bayern Munich
Europa League winners: Sevilla
Who will have the best transfer window: Spurs
Who will have the worst transfer window: Everton
Best signing: Over the long term Erling Haaland, but whoever picks up Christian Eriksen could have a steal.
Biggest flop signing: Diego Carlos at Villa
I think the Premier League will actually much closer than people expect, within the top four. Erling Halaand is no doubt a top class signing, but may take time to settle and his progress could dominate the back pages in a distracting way, Liverpool's adjustment to life without Sadio Mane will be interesting but their transition in forward places has been successful so far, Spurs have produced some very good business and Harry Kane is unlikely to have as slow a start as in 2021/22. Chelsea will be left with little choice but to sign well or struggle and another summer of big spending will put pressure on Mikel Arteta. Everton should do enough to avoid relegation but recent years have provided little inspiration in the transfer market to have no concerns about.
Calum Trenaman - Social Media Editor
Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea
Relegation: Bournemouth , Nottingham Forest, Leeds United
Premier League top scorer: Erling Haaland
Unexpected star of the season: Ollie Watkins (Will outscore Harry Kane)
Champions League winners: Manchester City
Europa League winners: Arsenal
Who will have the best transfer window: Tottenham Hotspur
Who will have the worst transfer window: Manchester United
Best signing: Declan Rice (if Chelsea sign him)
Biggest flop signing: Frenkie de Jong (Manchester United)
This will be the year that Pep finally bucks the trend and wins the Champions League with Manchester City. The Premier League is almost a foregone conclusion with their current squad and the Spaniard at the helm, but European glory will be the key achievement next season. That will be in no small part due to the signing of Erling Haaland, who will continue grinding out goals and assists with Terminator-like precision and consistency. Manchester United will underwhelm next season, with potentially another summer spending spree producing disappointing results. I have a sneaking suspicion that Arsenal will change tack this season, focusing on their Europa League campaign as that may be their best chance at Champions League qualification for 2023/24. Tottenham will build on terrific January signings with strong additions this summer too, and it will see them move away from Chelsea and Arsenal, finishing a strong third. I think if Leeds lose Raphinha, they could really struggle next season. Bamford will be back, but I can see them going down having narrowly avoided relegation last season. They will be joined in relegation by Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest; the former because I don’t think they’ll be able to keep as many clean sheets as they did in the Championship (20), the latter because it’s their first time back in over 20 years and, while it’ll be a fun season, they won’t have the quality to match the vast majority of their opponents.
Danyal Khan - Trends writer
Premier League winners: Man City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea
Relegation: Fulham, Southampton and Bournemouth
Premier League top scorer: Erling Haaland
Unexpected star of the season: Raheem Sterling
Champions League winners: Real Madrid
Europa League winners: Arsenal
Who will have the best transfer window: Man City
Who will have the worst transfer window: Man United
Best signing: Erling Haaland
Biggest flop signing: Fabio Vieira
Haaland is a goalscoring machine - proven at the top level. Wouldn’t be surprised if he hits 20+ goals this season. I’ve gone for Vieira as my biggest flop of 2022/23. I think Arsenal fans are expecting too much from him too soon and don’t believe he will live up the billing this early.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Let us know your predictions for the upcoming season in the comments
READ NEXT:
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Full Chelsea Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
Full Tottenham Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
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