How pundits predict Premier League title race will unfold as Man City fall and Arsenal end title drought

THE Premier League RETURNS this weekend to cap off an incredible summer of sport.

And plenty of predictions have already been made for what promises to be another exciting season in the English top flight.

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Will Pep Guardiola be able to guide Manchester City to an unprecedented goal? FIFTH a direct Premier League title?

Or will Arsenal finally be able to break the Sky Blues’ stranglehold on the Championship and end their 21-year wait for domestic glory?

Football fans across the country have shared their predictions for the new season, which kicks off on Friday night.

Many experts – both on television and on YouTube – are starting to give their opinions on the results of the new campaign.

And SunSport has rounded up predictions from some of the biggest names in the game for you to take a look at.

Paul Scholes

The former Manchester United and England midfielder told beIN Sports: “I think the favourites are the same as last year.

“Manchester City will be favourites, followed closely by Arsenal.

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“I expect Arsenal to be the team that wins this year. I think they have improved over the last two years under Mikel Arteta.

“I just think this year is the time they’re ready to win.

“It won’t be easy, there will be a lot of competition because the top seven or eight teams in England are all good teams.

“But I just think Arsenal will be the team that breaks Manchester City’s cycle this season.”

Jamie Carragher

The Liverpool legend told Sky Bet: “I’ll pick Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool. Fourth? I think it will be… I’ll pick Tottenham.

“Fifth, I bet on Manchester United. And sixth, I bet on Aston Villa.”

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Mark Lawrenson

“I think Arsenal can finally overtake Manchester City for the title this season, they are improving season after season.

“Mikel Arteta is a motivated man, and almost all the players here are players he has signed.

“By also signing Riccardo Calafiori, they will concede practically no goals.

“Scoring has been a bit of a problem for them but I think they will sign a striker before the end of the transfer window.

“This could be what secures them the Premier League title.”

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Michael Owen

“Arsenal and Manchester City will be in the top four of pretty much everyone’s predictions,” the former Liverpool and Manchester United player told Casino Hawks. “And I think Liverpool will probably be in there too, although there are some questions about where Arne Slot will be.

“I had thought about Newcastle, but Aston Villa are solid and seem to be improving.

“In terms of order, my reasoning is that if City don’t win, they might actually lose a bit of ground.

“It’s almost as if City aren’t really in the race after 10 games so their priority might be elsewhere – I think there could be a big surprise this season.

“I’ll pick Arsenal first, then Liverpool, then Aston Villa and finally Manchester City.”

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Adrian Clarke

The former Arsenal midfielder said: “Manchester City will be favourites to win their fifth consecutive title, but I think this could be Arsenal’s moment to be champions.

“The team has improved under Mikel Arteta season after season, and if that happens again the Gunners will reach 90+ points.

“With a few additions and some fire in the belly, I imagine Arsenal will end their title bid.”

He added: “I see the title race being more of a two-horse race this season as Liverpool adjust to Arne Slot’s rebuild at Anfield.

“I think Tottenham Hotspur have a great chance of finishing in the top four this season, but Ange Postecoglou will want more players to arrive before the end of August who suit his style.”

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Gary Neville

Former Red Devils right-back Gary Neville has revealed his top four predictions on Stick to Football, presented by Sky Bet.

Neville backed Manchester City to a fifth successive win, with Arsenal close behind in second.

Controversially, the outspoken pundit placed Manchester United in third place and Tottenham in fourth – leaving Liverpool missing out on a place in the top four.

Explaining his decision, he said: “I think Tottenham have fallen off a lot (last year), but they have something.

“I think they have something and I’m betting on Tottenham (rather than Liverpool).”

He later added that he believed Liverpool might not even make the top six under new boss Arne Slot.

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Ian Wright

Arsenal icon Ian Wright has backed his former side to finally win the league title after missing out on City for the last two seasons.

Wrighty told The Overlap, presented by Sky Bet, that he thinks the Gunners will finish top with City in second, and Manchester United and Aston Villa occupying the final two places in the top four.

Backing Villa to have another great season, he said: “You can’t not have Villa in the top four.

“Not with the way they move and the recruiting they’ve done.

“I was thinking about Liverpool but I changed my mind. We’re making predictions before we know everything, but they’ve made some very good signings.”

He added: “This manager (Unai Emery) knows what he’s doing. They have a goalscorer, a very good midfielder.

“(Amadou) Onana has gone there, they have (Ian) Maatsen at left-back and (Ezri Konsa) at full-back. I’m telling you man, their whole spine is brilliant.”

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Roy Keane

Roy Keane, also speaking to Overlap, presented by Sky Bet, explained that he expects Man City to retain their title with Arsenal chasing a close second spot once again.

The Manchester United legend backed his former club to finish third and Aston Villa to sneak up behind them and take fourth place.

Speaking about the final top-four finish, Keane said: “I don’t think it’s going to be Spurs. Villa have a better chance than Spurs.”

Adding that Unai Emery will be able to balance Villa’s Champions League campaign with their Premier League schedule.

He explained: “I think he’s used to European football, this manager, he knows him.

“The format has changed in the Champions League this year, it will be different, I tell you.”

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