Barely a breath has been taken since the European Championships finished and yet here we are at the start of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea have each significantly strengthened in attack with the acquisitions of Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho, and Romelu Lukaku respectively, while Liverpool welcome back the talismanic Virgil van Dijk from long-term injury.
Tottenham Hotspur and new manager Nuno Espirito Santo have a Harry Kane-shaped elephant in the room to contend with, but do have a seemingly refocused and revitalised Dele. FA Cup and Community Shield holders Leicester City will seek to breach the Top 4 after consecutive recent end-of-season slip-ups.
Mikel Arteta will be under immediate pressure at the Emirates Stadium and speaking of Arsenal, one of their legends, Patrick Vieira, makes his Premier League managerial bow with Crystal Palace. Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United will want to avoid the dangers of the dreaded second season syndrome, while perennial yo-yo pair Norwich City and Watford are back in the big time once more.
In its 30th campaign, the Premier League will welcome its 50th different club to host top-flight football with the inclusion of the Moneyball-inspired newcomers Brentford, managed by Thomas Frank.
As with last year, members of Team OTB Sports have committed to each of their predictions ahead of the new season under the same following categories:
- the final top four, in descending order;
- the final bottom three;
- the league's top goalscorer;
- the league's player of season, and;
- the first manager to be sacked/leave.
So, in no particular order, here are our predictions ahead of the 2021/22 season...
John Duggan
Top 4: 1st) Chelsea, 2nd) Manchester City, 3rd) Manchester United, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Southampton, Burnley, Watford.
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
Player of the Season: N'Golo Kante.
First managerial casualty: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal).
Shane Hannon
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Manchester United, 3rd) Chelsea, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Norwich City, Southampton, Watford.
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
Player of the Season: Mason Greenwood.
First managerial casualty: Xisco Munoz (Watford).
Joseph Conroy
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Liverpool, 3rd) Chelsea, 4th) Manchester United.
Relegated 3: Brentford, Norwich City, Watford.
Top scorer: Harry Kane.
Player of the Season: Raheem Sterling.
First managerial casualty: Steve Bruce (Newcastle United).
Arthur O'Dea
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Chelsea, 3rd) Manchester United, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Watford, Brentford, Crystal Palace.
Top scorer: Harry Kane.
Player of the Season: Harry Kane.
First managerial casualty: Patrick Vieira (Crystal Palace).
Colm Boohig
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Chelsea, 3rd) Manchester United, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Norwich City, Watford, Burnley.
Top scorer: Danny Ings.
Player of the Season: Harry Maguire.
First managerial casualty: Sean Dyche (Burnley).
Ruairi Carberry
Top 4: 1st) Chelsea, 2nd) Manchester City, 3rd) Manchester United, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Southampton.
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
Player of the Season: Romelu Lukaku.
First managerial casualty: Daniel Farke (Norwich City).
Emma Carroll
Top 4: 1st) Chelsea, 2nd) Liverpool, 3rd) Manchester City, 4th) Leicester City.
Relegated 3: Southampton, Norwich City, Brentford.
Top scorer: Mo Salah.
Player of the Season: Kai Havertz.
First managerial casualty: Ralph Hasenhuttl (Southampton).
Mario Bowden
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Chelsea, 3rd) Manchester United, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Watford, Burnley, Norwich City.
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
Player of the Season: Bruno Fernandes.
First managerial casualty: Patrick Vieira (Crystal Palace).
Phil Egan
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Liverpool, 3rd) Chelsea, 4th) Manchester United.
Relegated 3: Norwich City, Watford, Burnley.
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
Player of the Season: Kai Havertz.
First managerial casualty: Xisco Munoz (Watford).
Stephen Kisbey-Green
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Liverpool, 3rd) Chelsea, 4th) Manchester United.
Relegated 3: Burnley, Norwich City, Brentford.
Top scorer: Harry Kane.
Player of the Season: Jack Grealish.
First managerial casualty: Xisco Munoz (Watford).
Christian Crawford
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Chelsea, 3rd) Manchester United, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Watford.
Top scorer: Jamie Vardy.
Player of the Season: Bukayo Saka.
First managerial casualty: Patrick Vieira (Crystal Palace).
Nathan Murphy
Top 4: 1st) Manchester City, 2nd) Liverpool, 3rd) Manchester United, 4th) Chelsea.
Relegated 3: Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford.
Top scorer: Mo Salah.
Player of the Season: Mo Salah.
First managerial casualty: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal).
Tommy Rooney
Top 4: 1st) Manchester United, 2nd) Chelsea, 3rd) Manchester City, 4th) Liverpool.
Relegated 3: Watford, Brentford, Burnley.
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
Player of the Season: Bruno Fernandes.
First managerial casualty: Rafael Benitez (Everton).
Richie McCormack
Top 4: 1st) Chelsea, 2nd) Liverpool, 3rd) Manchester City, 4th) Manchester United.
Relegated 3: Burnley, Brentford, Watford.
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
Player of the Season: N'Golo Kante.
First managerial casualty: Ralph Hasenhuttl (Southampton).
What do you think? Tweet us your 2021/22 Premier League predictions at @offtheball or WhatsApp us on 087 9 180 180.
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