Premier League 2024/25 predictions: Manchester City fancied to make it five-in-a-row

The 2024/25 Premier League season is underway and the top of the table already has a familiar look about bar one noteworthy interloper.

Title favourites Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have a 100 percent record after the first two rounds of Premier League 2024/2025 matches.

They are joined on six points by Brighton & Hove Albion, who have also kicked off the new campaign with a pair of victories.

At the other end of the standings, newly promoted Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City have collected one point between them and look set for a tough campaign.

With the Premier League table starting to take shape, we offer our predictions for the season, starting with one which won’t take many people by surprise.

Reigning champions look the business

Impressive victories over Chelsea and Ipswich have fired reigning champions Man City to the top of the early Premier League standings.

They never looked in danger of losing at Stamford Bridge and overcame the shock of losing an early goal to sweep newly-promoted Ipswich aside.

Striker Erling Braut Haaland has netted four goals in two games and looks fully refreshed after having a summer off due to Norway missing out on the European Championship.

Arsenal and Liverpool will be aiming to knock Man City off their perch this season, but the reigning champions look a good bet to make it five-in-a-row.

Arsenal set for more disappointment

Although Arsenal have made a couple of shrewd additions to their squad this summer, they still lack an out-and-out goalscorer.

If the Gunners address the situation before the transfer window closes, they would have all the necessary tools in place to finally end their title drought.

However, the feeling remains that Arsenal lack the mental fortitude required to get over the line when the title race reaches the business end.

Given that Liverpool have improved under new manager Arne Slot, there is no guarantee the Gunners will hang onto second place.

Liverpool will push City close

Some pundits have suggested that Slot will find it difficult to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, but the early indications suggest that viewpoint is misplaced.

It is worth noting that Klopp’s reputation is overblown given that he won just one Premier League title and one Champions League during his nine years in charge.

Liverpool completed 92 percent of their passes against Brentford in their second game – their best passing accuracy in a league game since 2003/04.

The Reds look to be getting to grips with Slot’s style of play and it would be no surprise if they emerge as the main threat to Man City this season.

Ten Hag could be gone by Christmas

Manchester United fans went into the new campaign with renewed hope after the club splashed the cash on several new players.

However, the enthusiasm has quickly died down, with the Red Devils labouring to a win over Fulham before slipping to a defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Injuries are not helping manager Erik ten Hag’s cause, but he cannot hide behind this excuse given the expectation levels at the club.

Tactical uncertainty is another issue blighting the club at the moment, and Ten Hag needs to rectify matters quickly or he may not be in a job by Christmas.

Cole Palmer will be the Player of the Season

Man City players have won the Player of the Season award in each of the past five years, but they may not make it six-in-row this term.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer is fancied to claim that accolade if he keeps producing the level of form he displayed at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

Palmer was unstoppable against Wolves, pulling the strings in attacking areas as Enzo Maresca’s side swept to an impressive 6-2 victory.

The 22-year-old has been likened to Paul Gascoigne, but he is potentially a cut above the former England star given the goal threat he possesses.

Ipswich spending spree will not pay dividends

The fixture list was unkind to Ipswich on their return to the Premier League and they have unsurprisingly collected zero points from games against Liverpool and Man City.

While they will be hoping for more luck over the next 36 matches, the club’s questionable summer transfer business could scupper their hopes of survival.

They have spent around £100 million on new recruits, many of whom have previously been standout performers in the Championship.

However, Ipswich’s failure to attract proven Premier League players will likely result in them making a swift return to the second tier at the end of the season.

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