Club-by-Club preview for the 2024/25 English Premier League Campaign

The English Premier League resumes as  Manchester United and Fulham kick-starts  the 2024-2025 campaign on Friday night, at Old Trafford.

All 20 EPL clubs over the next few days, will be action as they their preparations and recruitments to test in gameweek one of the season.

Who will win the league, who will root the league, who will be the surprise team of the season, and who will be the disappointing teams have been a major discourse in the build-up of the opening day.

Here is an analysis that provides club-by-club preview for the 2024-25 Premier League season.

Arsenal Football Club

The North London club finished 2nd last season behind Manchester City and would be hoping to do better this season. Mikel Arteta’s side have only recruited Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna to strengthen the defence and will be depending on the same squad to win themselves the league.

However, Arsenal will need to be more alert and not slip as they did at the last two seasons, losing  the top spot to Man City towards the end of the season. They will need to kill games early to evolve this season and seal the number one spot.

Position Prediction: 1st position

Aston Villa

Massively spending this summer transfer, adding up Ross Barkley Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, Jaden Philogene and other more, Aston Villa will be hoping to replicate their last season performance into the new season, as they finished 4th to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Unai Emery’s side will find it difficult to meet up with last season position, while also juggling to make a mark in Europe’s premier competition. However, with their strong additions and quality playing style and attack, Villa should still be able to retain an European spot.

Position Prediction: 6th position

Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola’s side finished 12th last season, earning their highest points tally in the competition and would be hoping to survive the heat of the new campaign and retain a spot in the league against next season.

However, the exit of talisman Dominic Solanke, who scored 19 goals in the league, last season, could be a sour loss for the Cherries as he has been instrumental for the club, scoring 27 per cent of his side’s goals since they were promoted to the top flight. His departure will affect the team but they should be able to avoid relegation.

Position Prediction: 15th position

Brentford

Unstable Brentford performed well in the first season and underperformed in their second, finishing 16th. Entering their third season since promotion to the top flight, the Bees will be hoping to capitalise on the strong form of their attack, with Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa scoring during the pre-season, while also hoping to retain star man, Ivan Toney.

However, while their attack is positive, their defence is far from convincing as they conceded 11 goals in five pre-season games. Still, Frank Thomas’ side could be an entertaining and surprising team to watch.

Position Prediction: 11th position

Brighton

With their impressive pre-season performance, young, promising wingers and depth in attack, scoring 14 goals in 4 games, including a 4-0 win over Villareal, Brighton is looking sharp under new head Manager, Fabian Hurzeler. Kaoru Mitoma’s return from his long-term injury is another big boost for the Seagulls.

However, they will need to replicate the pre-season form into the Premier League games to achieve a better feat than they did last season, where they finished 11th.

Position Prediction: 7th position

Chelsea

Chelsea’s pre-season campaign has only shown their fans a Chelsea with new faces but the same old Chelsea. The London club has recruited 10 new faces, with a new manager, in a bid to turnover their turbulent past seasons.

The challenge of selection is looking more tough than the league itself with the Blues owning over 40 players, only to select 11 for a game. However, new manager, Enzo Maresca will need to show his brilliance and technicality in utilising the best, while also finding solution to is defensive chaos.

Although lucky to finish 6th last season as a result of Cole Palmer’s magic, Chelsea will need to find their balance, unless settle for a lower position than they got last season.

Position Prediction: 9th position

Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace were a joy to watch last season as they finished 10th, courtesy of the whole teams hard work and few players’ brilliance, like Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marc Guehi.

However, losing Michael Olise is a blow and should they lose Guehi to Newcastle and Eze, it will be  would be utterly devastating.

Glasner will be hoping for more brilliance from his boys so as not to battle at the relegation spot, as the loss of Olise and any more key players would tell on the team.

Position Prediction: 14th position

Everton

Finishing 15th and surviving last season was a big feat for Everton following their points reduction by the English FA.

Still, Sean Dyche’s side would also need to find their strong foot in the league rather than been a regular relegation survivalist.

Having lost Onana to Aston Villa and the unstabilty of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin due to long stay on sidelines, Everton will likely struggle again this season and perhaps, leave it late towards the end of the season before surviving the relegation seat.

Position Prediction: 17th position

Fulham

One team to play in silence and still surprise all is Fulham. Although they lost Joao Palhinha, one of  their best player, Fulham looks optimistic of landing a flew blows and surprising all this season.

With Emile Smith Rowe rediscovering his form after joining from Arsenal and Ryan Sessegnon returning after an injury-riddled spell with Tottenham, the West London club is sure to be a surprising one.

Position Prediction: 12th position

Ipswich

Newly promoted side, Ipswich, have shown through their pre-season tour that they are ready to fight for a stay in the Premier League next season, winning two (Shakhtar and Nice) and losing two.

Having gotten back-to-back promotion from League One to the Premier League, Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich will be hoping to continue the fairytale.

However, little or no expectation is placed on the newcomer as they lack Premier League experience but they remain a team that can produce surprises and it wont be shocking seeing them stay far from the relegation spot.

Position Prediction: 13th position

Leicester

Championship winner, Leicester, is back in the Premier League hoping to stay for a while or perhaps, compete for the top 10 place.

Having escaped PSR issues and a potential point deduction, but lost Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Maresca to Chelsea, Leicester are bound to struggle and if not careful, return to the Championship.

Position Prediction: 18th position

Liverpool

Replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool may be one of football’s trickiest jobs for new head coach, Arne Slot. But the pre-season performance has gotten Liverpool fans confident.

Although, no new addition into the Liverpool squad, they are expected to deliver and fight the other big teams for the title.

Mohamed Salah also looks to be back to his best, looking sharp in front of goal all through the pre-season.

Position Prediction: 2th position

Manchester City

Reigning champion, Manchester City, will be kick-starting their title defence against Chelsea, and should capitalise on Chelsea’s defence holes and win the game.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side is looking like they are already having title fatigue and is likely to slip away their hold on the laurel.

Although, Erling Haaland would easily claim his third golden boot, Guardiola will need to cook up extra brilliance for Man City to retain the title.

Position Prediction: 4th position

Manchester United

A new story is likely to be what Manchester United would tell this season, having struggled in the league since 2013, and evidently since Erki ten Hag took over.

Ten Hag has struggled in his first two seasons although winning the Carabao Cup in his first and FA Cup in his second, but will need to be better as his job looks to be hanging.

The signing of De Ligt, Mazraoui and Leny Yoro looks likely to solve United’s defensive dilemma and would need to build on their attacks and finishing to write a new story.

Position Prediction: 3th position

Newcastle

As there is no continental football for Newcastle, they should be able to focus totally on the Premier League.

Eddie Howe and his boys are expected to display a good fight to retain their spot in the top 10 while also fighting for an European spot.

With the likes of talents like Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Harvey Barnes, Miguel Almiron and many more, Newcastle should finish well.

Position Prediction: 8th position

Nottingham Forest

Many might have predicted relegation spot for Nottingham but Nuno Espirito Santo should be able to quell the fear and escape the bottom spot.

An impressive pre-season and talented squad are expected to deliver and produce entertaining displays, while proving lots wrong.

Position Prediction: 19th position

Southampton

Russell Martin has tried to keep hold of as many promotion heroes as possible and was delighted to see Flynn Downes and Taylor Harwood-Bellis join permanently this summer from West Ham and Manchester City respectively.

The Saints are perhaps the best equipped of the promoted sides to survive but are still bound to struggle and return back to the Championship.

Position Prediction: 20th position

Tottenham

Tottenham will be hoping to regain their scoring prowess since the sale of Harry Kane, having signed Dominic Solanke who was impressive last season, scoring 19 goals. The combination of Solanke, Son, Maddison and Kulusevski should revive their attacking spirit.

However, Ange Postecoglou will be hoping the team delivers as they hope to return to the UEFA Champions League.

Position Prediction: 5th position

West Ham

Been aggressive in pursuit of their targets and done well to bolster their side to create one of the most exciting attacks in the league with Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville arriving and also adding French centre back Jean-Clair Todibo is an impressive coup, too.

The pressure is thus on Julen Lopetegui to guide this group back into Europe and finish better than their 9th finishing, last season.

Position Prediction: 10th position

Wolves

Losing an influential player like Pedro Neto is not a brilliant way to prepare for a new campaign. Hopefully, Wolves would be hoping for some brilliance from his boys and continue to be nightmare to opponents.

Been a stubborn team in the league, Wolves are likely to remain in the league for the following campaign.

Position Prediction: 16th position