Liverpool, Arsenal or Man Utd to come second to Manchester City this season?

We are gearing up for the start of the Premier League season and the big question is about who will come second. Should we write off Liverpool?

Send your views and predictions to theeditor@football365.com.

Maybe read the F365 predictions first.

Don’t write off Liverpool or Jurgen Klopp
As we approach the beginning of the season and the usual rush of predictions begin to flood in, I thought I’d take the time to mention Liverpool and their head coach.

Firstly, to point out the ‘wounded animal’ effect. Liverpool had a pretty dismal season last time out, after a very successful one the previous year. This is a dressing room still packed with proven, serial winners – something no other PL team bar City can legitimately claim. They will be hurt by last season. Professional pride will mean they will want to prove a point. I think this has been sorely underestimated.

Next, the midfield restructuring. What was it most casual observers have been saying the last two years? That they need to clear out the dead wood, and freshen it up with 2 or 3 new signings in there? With Lavia (or someone else) on the way, Szobozlai and Macallister in already, and no fewer than 4 CMs gone, is that, or is it not, the refresh required? Put another way, what more can they be doing to convince the doubters if this doesn’t already convince them?

Finally, Mr Klopp himself. Love him or hate him (many choose the latter), most people would agree he is one of the world’s coaching elite, along with Pep, Ancelotti and one or two others. Last season was the first time in 7 full seasons in charge that he didn’t qualify Liverpool for the top four – surely an aberration, not the exception that proves a decline. And look at the trophies he’s won, at Anfield, at Dortmund. People have such short memories, people are way too quick to write him off. He remains one of the very best, and he’ll be hellbent on proving a point too.

So, while I don’t think Liverpool will win the title next season – that will be Manchester City, again – I do think that only a fool would bet against them being the best of the rest, and to win at least one cup. Write them off at your peril.
AH, Swansea

READ: Who will win the Premier League this season? Arsenal splurge brings them in to 5/1

Man Utd will overtake Arsenal
Sorry, but Manchester United weren’t vulnerable post Treble. They won the league in the year 2000 and again in 2001.

While United had more financial resource to call on than Arsenal which led to the move around the corner to Ashburton Grove, Manchester City are actually an even more well-oiled machine.

There is no debate over who will win the league this coming season. City will make it four in a row.

The debate is over who comes second and I still think it will be United – meaning Arteta will be gone come next season.

I’m not being a Stewie. I’m just being a realist. Arsenal aren’t fooling me two seasons in a row.
Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London

Man Utd are not ready yet
So you can’t really deny how good City were last season, they won the REAL treble and performed incredibly well in the last 3-4 months of the season when it really mattered, they played with pressure on them all the time, managed to beat Madrid 4-0 at home with ease, didn’t even get out of second gear against United in the FA Cup Final and made Arsenal look amateurs in handling that pressure in the title race.

However, I do think that City winning their first Champion League and Pep winning another one after winning his second one 12 years beforehand with Barcalona, I think a very small level of complacency will creep into the City team, as I think there is a sense they feel untouchable at the moment, but its another season and most teams will be up for the challenge against City this year. Ferguson once said it, complacency is a disease, and I hope it spreads nicely along the City Squad given it may actually give a chance to teams challenging for the title.

City will have to forget about last season, I still think they will rack up between 85-95 points next season still, which they are doing on a regular now, but I think teams like Arsenal and United who have strengthened reasonably well this summer but you also can’t write off Liverpool just yet due to their experience, but they do badly need a Midfielder and RB from the squad I can see, their defence will struggle at times, but you can’t question their attacking power at the same time.

Honestly as a United fan, I would take 3rd place in the league now, simply because I don’t think the team is good enough to challenge for a title challenge yet. If United had signed Kane this summer, then yes maybe you can argue that case. I think if United can get out of the Champions League group stage, look to retain the League Cup and try and get to another FA Cup final again, its a realistic and healthy aim for Ten Haag and the team.

Ten Haag was smart last year and turned United into a so called ‘Cup’ Team as this would have given him the best platform in being backed this summer, and where knockout games are more pressure in a way, the team did do very well in that aspect and Ten Haag pumped a lot of belief in them.

However United in Europe must improve IMMENSLY this season. Losing 3-0 to Sevilla last year (Mainly due to De Gea & Maguire being tossers) was not good enough nonetheless and goes to show United may not even be good enough for the Champions League this year, but with Casemiro, Varane, Fernandes & Rashford in the spine of that team, I would expect United to qualify comfortably from the group stage in 1st or 2nd place. However, its crucial that Varane and Martinez stay fit, you could see a big difference for United last year when these two didn’t start together.
Rami, Manchester (Let the season begin!)

More predictions
As is traditional, tell me who will win the league.
It’s Man City isn’t it? Yep.

And the rest of the top four, in order. Which nobody ever gets right.
Arsenal a close second again. Liverpool somehow 3rd. Villa in 4th because I couldn’t sensibly put them third. What’s the point if you don’t believe at this stage in the season, right?

Three picks for relegation please.
Luton, Wolves (just looks a mess, nothing personal), and Sheff Utd

Which club will be a pleasant surprise?
Ignoring my obvious Villa bias I’ll say Chelsea. By virtue of the fact that they can’t be as shambolic as last year. They may even only need one manager this year. May.

Who will win the golden boot?
Given that Kane may go to Germany I can only say Haaland.

Which new signing will have the greatest positive impact?
Can’t wait to see Moussa Diaby in full flow but I’ll look elsewhere for this one. Let’s say Declan Rice – he’ll do exactly what he’s supposed to and this question doesn’t consider the price tag.

And which one will turn out to be a massive flop?
If we judge Hojlund as we judged Nunez last year (which seems fair to do) then I’d have to say Hojlund. For the lad’s sake, I hope I’m wrong.

Who will be the biggest bloody bargain?
Hard to ignore free transfers like Dahoud or Tielemans but that feels like cheating. The price tag for World Cup winning Mac Allister seemed rather low. Yeah, him. Even if Salah won’t let him take penalties.

Who will be named PFA player of the year?
For old times sake, I’ll plump for super Jack. Then he can come back to Villa. Lovely.

First manager to leave their Premier League job.
Assuming I can’t say Lopetegui, I’ll go with… Dyche, because I want it to be. Not sure why.

Pick the Champions League winner.
No one else seems good enough, and now they know how to do it. Bad City. Bad City.

In five words, tell us what you are most excited about this season.
S%^t loads of injury time.
Gary – AVFC, Oxford

…Reckon you’ll get a few of these but here goes

As is traditional, tell me who will win the league.
Man City – unless the 115 financial allegations come to some sort of resolution and they are docked points then i assume the worst.

And the rest of the top four, in order. Which nobody ever gets right.
Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea (just heard about Nkunku being out and still picking them)

Three picks for relegation please.
Wolves, Sheffield United, Luton

Which club will be a pleasant surprise?
Burnley – Top half and a decent cup run. You heard it here first.

Who will win the Golden Boot?
Erling Haaland

Which new signing will have the greatest positive impact?
Pep is going to make Kovacic look world class.

And which one will turn out to be a massive flop?
Havertz. I like him, but he’s the one signing i can’t work out.

Who will be the biggest bloody bargain?
Kovacic.

Who will be named the PFA Player of the Year?
Harrison Kane Esq. will have a belter before walking over the road to Arsenal on a free.

First manager to leave their Premier League job?
Lopetegui just walked so let’s go sensible and say Moyes

Pick the Champions League winner.
Real Madrid, but i genuinely think Arsenal will go further than Man City this year.

In five words, tell us what you are most excited about this season.
Raya versus Ramsdale keeper fight
Stu AFC, Illinois

Luton to survive, actually
First time writer – I fully understand why Luton are favourites for relegation however the belief amongst pundits that it’s a foregone conclusion are very wide of the mark. A lot has been made of the rise from non-league to Premier, however you also have a group of players who would never have believed that when they joined Luton would end up playing in the top tier of English football.

Every footballers aspiration is to play at the very top – Luton Town’s squad have turned that dream into a reality. Those players will grab onto this opportunity akin to a drowning man grabbing onto a life raft. This opportunity may never come again in their careers so they will fight for every inch, and that collective strength may just be enough.

Combine this with one of the best rising managers in Rob Edwards, 35 points possibly being enough, and the fact that Wolves, Forest and others who struggled last season may still be hovering around the bottom, do not be surprised if Luton scape survival – it’s that spirit that’s brought the club into the Premier League.
Nafees Asif

The first Arsenal ladder of 23/24
Now the season is imminent, here is my first Arsenal ladder of 23/24 season. Final lap time!

This is my estimation on the thoughts of Mikel Arteta. Numbers in brackets indicate previous positions.

1 (1) Saka – The squad has the least depth in his position. Starboy.
2 (2) Odegaard – El Capitano and conductor of the orchestra.
3 (8) Saliba – Boy did we miss him during the run in.
4 (NE) Rice – The Lighthouse. £105m and still not in the top three. Yikes!
5 (9) Gabriel – Billy’s partner in crime.
6 (4) Martinelli – Last season’s top scorer.
7 (NE) Timber – Multi functional and versatile.
8 (NE) Havertz – See above.
9 (3) Partey – “The Lighthouse” makes “Work Event” less prominent.
10 (11) White – Can feel Timber breathing down his neck.
11 (5) Ramsdale – Can both feel and smell Raya breathing down his neck.
12 (12) Jesus – He may well shoot up this ladder if his knee procedure recovery goes well.
13 (6) Zinchenko – Fitness issues and Timber creates a drop in prominence.
14 (NE) Raya – All four of the new additions in the top 14 make for a good summer of recruitment.
15 (10) Trossard – Super sub. Provides depth for multiple positions.
16 (13) Jorginho – When required, will have the absolute trust of Arteta.
17 (17) Vieira – Arteta clearly loves him. Like a patient parent waiting for their talented boy to become a man.
18 (18) Smith Rowe – Arteta has shown some love to him too in pre season.
19 (19) Kiwior – Zinchenko and Timber are ahead of him at LB and Gabriel is an immovable object at LCB. Good depth though.
20 (20) Nketiah – Jesus, Trossard and Havertz are all ahead of him, surely?
21 (22) Tomiyasu – Versatile squad depth. But will need an injury crisis in order to get regular starts.
22 (16) Tierney – Timber, Zinchenko, Kiwior and Tomiyasu are all ahead of him. 5th choice left back. Batshit mental!
23 (15) Nelson – Pre season interrupted by injury.
24 (14) Holding – Saliba is back. Tomiyasu is back. Timber has arrived. Will never see 14th place again!
25 (23) Elneny – Rice, Partey and Jorginho are ahead of him. Get those pom poms out Mo!
Naz, Gooner

Kane and Mbappe are the same but different
Dan, London asks why Spurs are seemingly prepared to let Kane go on a free while at the same time PSG are forcing Mbappe through the exit door in order to earn some money.

The big differences appear to be: PSG paid about £180m (or thereabouts) for Mbappe and he’s been on absolutely huge wages since day one. Kane was a product of the academy, didn’t immediately establish himself in the first team and presumably earned his generous salary as he got older and better. The levels of investment put into these two players isn’t even comparable.

Given the clubs’ transfer expenditure(s?) over the past five or so years, I’d also hazard a guess at saying PSG ‘need’ that money more than Spurs do in order to comply with FFP.

There’s also the face-saving exercise. Kane going on a free at close to 31 having scored hundreds of goals is much less banter worthy than PSG having their pants pulled down by the best player in the world, who has taken hundreds of millions of pounds, isn’t in his prime yet and didn’t even help them win them the coveted Champions League.

The situations are the same but different.
James, Kent

Has Kane already been sold?
I have a feeling that Daniel Levy has already agreed to sell Captain Kane to Bayern Munich, it is just not announced yet, because Mr. Levy wants to complete all the replacement signings without the exorbitant Kane Windfall Tax in terms of prices he is quoted by selling clubs that a £100 million sale will levy upon him (As case in point see the prices that West Ham are being quoted for their Rice windfall).

The signings made by Spurs so far are

a) Micky van de Ven – £34m
b) Alejo Veliz – £13m
c) Destiny Udogie
d) Manor Solomon – Free Transfer – 5 year deal
e) Guglielmo Vicario – £17.2m
f) James Maddison – £40m
g) Ashley Philips – £2m
h) Dejan Kulusevski – £25m

Even if one leaves out the Kulusevski deal as pre-agreed and ignore the Ashley Philips and Manor Solomon deals, that is £100 million worth of signings.

It is unlike Mr. Levy to spend so much in one window, unless he has an equal amount of cash coming in, preferably immediately.
Shrivathsa (Looking forward to the League Cup predictions, have a feeling that Sarah Winterburn / John Nicholson will absolutely nail the top 4 predictions this year, which will be a first)

READ: Summer transfer window 2023: Spurs third as Liverpool in danger of slipping out of top 10 spenders

Mansplaining to the ‘ladies’
Thanks for printing my slightly annoying, semi rant.. Hope it manages to get you some click traffic…

(Not really how it works when you’re the last e-mail and not mentioned in the headline – Ed)

But I do take umbrage at your only comment..
‘They prefer Women not ladies its not 1971’

Really…

And I quote: ‘The word lady is used as a formal way to address/refer to a woman. It is considered more polite and respectful.’

So I’m not sure who you asked.. all of the Lionesses I assume, to be able to talk on their entire behalf? Or whether it was just your own decision as you personally prefer Woman.. But I hold you incorrect in your assessment.

The world is mad enough without desperately searching for ways to make it worse and cause extra conflict when there really is no need to…

I would be fascinated to know if any reader who identifies as female was upset/annoyed or even offended by my use of the word ‘Ladies’.. (apart form your good self obviously)
Al – LFC – Tin hat time I guess!

(Would you have said England Gentlemen? That’s the only question you need to ask – Ed)