2024/25 predictions: Champions, top four, best promoted team and more (2024)

With the 2024/25 Premier League season officially starting from 6 June, our writers make some predictions for the upcoming campaign.

Who will win the title?

Adrian Clarke: Manchester City will be favourites to win their fifth consecutive title, but I do feel it could be Arsenal’s time to be champions. Year on year the team has improved under Mikel Arteta, and if that happens again the Gunners will reach 90+ points. With a few additions and fire in their belly, I fancy Arsenal to end their wait for the title.

Adrian Kajumba: Surely Man City cannot do it again. There has to be a drop-off at some point after what is now four Premier League titles in a row. Meanwhile, Arsenal are the coming force. After two title-race test runs in 2022/23 and 2023/24, this campaign will be their time.

Alex Keble: Assuming it’s the final season under Pep Guardiola, as is being rumoured, minds will remain focused on a perfect ending and an unthinkable fifth title in a row. What’s more, Man City surely won’t have a transfer window as poor (by their standards) as summer 2023, meaning a fully patched-up midfield and a refreshed right wing.

Ben Bloom: If this is to be Guardiola’s final campaign in charge there will be even greater incentive for a true Premier League great to bow out on a high. It’s not an interesting prediction - and a couple of clubs are capable of running them close - but, as ever, it will be a surprise if Man City don’t win.

Verdict: Champions
Clarke: Arsenal
Kajumba: Arsenal
Keble: Man City
Bloom: Man City

Who will finish in top four?

Adrian Clarke: Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, Liverpool. Tottenham Hotspur impressed me for much of last season, and providing they strengthen their squad with signings that suit Ange Postecoglou’s style,they will improve. Liverpool will rebuild under new head coach Arne Slot, and this could impact their points tally.

Adrian Kajumba: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Spurs. Manchester United will not be as inconsistent and ravaged with injuries as they were during 2023/24 which will make a big difference. With Spurs having the foundations of last season to build on with Postecoglou, at this stage, I’d tip them to finish fourth ahead of their potential competition.

Alex Keble: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa. More upheaval at Chelsea, another turbulent season for Man Utd, and the potential for a difficult second season for Postecoglou – whose lack of a "plan b" means Spurs risk being found out – points to a repeat of last season’s top four.

Ben Bloom: Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Arsenal. While I can’t see anyone beating City to top spot, I expect the battle for the top four to be incredibly close. Chelsea have an interesting new manager in Enzo Maresca, and some steadily improving strength within their head-spinning depth; Newcastle United can flourish without European football if they avoid a similar injury fate to last season; Arsenal have proven themselves at the top table.

Verdict: Top four
Clarke: Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, Liverpool
Kajumba: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Spurs
Keble: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa
Bloom: Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Arsenal

Who else will qualify for European competition?

Adrian Clarke: Man Utd, Newcastle, Aston Villa

Adrian Kajumba: Chelsea, Newcastle, Liverpool. There is change at Chelsea but they are used to that and having to adapt to it. That is not quite the same at Liverpool who will no longer have the reassuring presence of Jurgen Klopp at the helm following his departure after nine years. A season of transition for Liverpool under Klopp's successor Slot would be no surprise. Newcastle would have wanted European football but they can use not having any to their advantage in the Premier League. The demands of UEFA Champions League football impacted Eddie Howe's side last season and the same could now happen to Aston Villa in the upcoming campaign.

Alex Keble: Newcastle, Chelsea, Man Utd, Spurs. Newcastle came roaring back in the second half of last season and should perform strongly unless they lose Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak. Man Utd will surely improve and Chelsea have a strong foundation now, while a fifth Champions League spot going to England would also mean Spurs sneaking into Europe.

Ben Bloom: Liverpool, Spurs, Man Utd. A distinct divide has emerged between the top eight and the remainder, which means one team could miss out on European football. Unai Emery has worked wonders but, unless they make plentiful big signings, I can see Villa struggling to match recent heights. Liverpool will fully expect to finish in the top four, while Spurs and Man Utd will do well to finish higher than sixth.

Verdict: Other European qualifiers
Clarke: Man Utd, Newcastle, Villa
Kajumba: Chelsea, Newcastle, Liverpool
Keble: Newcastle, Chelsea, Man Utd, Spurs
Bloom: Liverpool, Spurs, Man Utd

Surprise package?

Adrian Clarke: It feels like Crystal Palace are on an upward curve under Oliver Glasner but I fear they may lose one or two of their star men this summer. So, I will plump for Fulham to improve and be the surprise package in 2024/25. I rate head coach Marco Silva, and if he recruits well in the window, I see them pushing into the top half next season. They need a bigger squad, but the platform is there to enjoy a decent campaign.

Adrian Kajumba: Palace have never finished higher than 10th in the Premier League but achieving a new high this season is a realistic target. I have tipped Liverpool to claim seventh for now due to their greater experience towards top of the table but Palace may not be too far behind.

Alex Keble: AFC Bournemouth. The most remarkable thing about Andoni Iraola’s success in 2023/24 is that he did it without most of his summer signings. Alex Scott, Tyler Adams, Hamed Traore, and Romain Faivre all struggled for minutes and will bolster the team next season.

Ben Bloom: Given I’ve predicted Chelsea and Newcastle to finish second and third, they are probably my biggest improvers from last season. But I’ll plump for Brentford, on the caveat that Thomas Frank remains in charge. The drop from ninth to 16th last season came due to an extraordinary injury crisis, along with the absence of Ivan Toney for much of the campaign. Given their tight purse strings, even staying up was a huge achievement. Injury meant Kevin Schade could not prove his worth last season, but he has talent.

Verdict: Surprise package
Clarke: Fulham
Kajumba: Palace
Keble: Bourmemouth
Bloom: Brentford

Which promoted side will finish highest?

Adrian Clarke: It’s a tough one to call, especially not knowing how ambitious each promoted club will be in the transfer market, but I quietly fancy Southampton to fare well. They already have a sprinkling of Premier League experience, which is a real asset, and towards the end of the campaign Russell Martin unearthed a new, more pragmatic strand to their tactical approach. That adaptation could hold them in good stead when they face tougher opponents. Saints will need to sign several new faces, but the playing philosophy has no blurred lines. I feel this stability can help them secure safety.

Adrian Kajumba: Southampton. They should have the biggest combination of consistency and momentum following promotion plus Premier League experience of the three teams to come up.

Alex Keble: Ipswich. Not unlike Luton Town this season, momentum, total buy-in to the manager, and a more pragmatic playing style than their fellow promoted clubs should give Ipswich a fighting chance.

Ben Bloom: I covered a fair few Ipswich Town matches last season and my heart would love to say them, but I can’t see it happening. I haven’t tipped Leicester City or Southampton to go down. Leicester currently possess the stronger squad but will have a new manager after losing Maresca to Chelsea, and financial issues could well impact them. So Southampton are the option.

Verdict: Best promoted team
Clarke: Southampton
Kajumba: Southampton
Keble: Ipswich
Bloom: Southampton