Expert Opinion: 90min Writers Predict the Final 2017/18 Premier League Table
It's here! It's here! The Premier League is finally here!
It really is football fan Christmas, and everyone at 90min has got...a little excited. So, we've got a handful of writers together and everyone's thrown together a completed Premier League table for the coming season.
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Keep scrolling down for all the views - keep reading for a nice big collected table of the average predictions at the end!
Position | Chris Deeley | Scott Saunders | Andrew Headspeath |
1 | Manchester City | Manchester United | Manchester United |
2 | Manchester United | Manchester City | Manchester City |
3 | Arsenal | Liverpool | Liverpool |
4 | Tottenham | Chelsea | Chelsea |
5 | Chelsea | Tottenham | Tottenham |
6 | Liverpool | Arsenal | Arsenal |
7 | Everton | Everton | Everton |
8 | Bournemouth | Leicester | Leicester |
9 | West Ham | West Ham | Bournemouth |
10 | Leicester | Southampton | Crystal Palace |
11 | Crystal Palace | Crystal Palace | Southampton |
12 | Southampton | Bournemouth | West Ham |
13 | Newcastle | West Brom | Newcastle |
14 | West Brom | Swansea | Watford |
15 | Huddersfield | Newcastle | West Brom |
16 | Swansea | Stoke | Swansea |
17 | Burnley | Watford | Stoke |
18 | Stoke | Burnley | Huddersfield |
19 | Watford | Huddersfield | Burnley |
20 | Brighton | Brighton | Brighton |
What They Said
Chris: Full disclosure - I wouldn't be stunned if any of the top six won it this season. At time of writing, Chelsea's squad looks too thin to deal with all of their competitions and I worry about Spurs at Wembley, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ City probably look the least flawed team. Just about. Barely.
At the other end, David Wagner's Huddersfield project looks smart enough to give them a puncher's chance of staying out of trouble, but I don't have the same faith in Brighton. Marco Silva might ride a second discordant squad in two years down to the Championship, while Stoke...well, it's process of elimination as much as anything. Anyone from 11th downwards could go down. Who bloody knows?
**EDIT: Burnley have sold Andre Gray to Watford, so it's all blown to hell. Maybe swap their places.
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Scott: Scott Saunders is currently skiving in Macedonia with the FanVoice crew and will enter his thoughts upon return.
Andy: This year the top of the table is anyone's guess, as is the bottom...and the middle bit actually. Fortunately everyone can agree that Everton will almost certainly finish seventh.
Personally I fancy West Ham to underwhelm with their frankly overrated and over the hill signings, while I can't quite find a reason to have Huddersfield stay up other than David Wagner is quite cool. Stoke could well be doomed after a decade in the top flight.
Position | Jamie Spencer | Jude Summerfield | Kavan Flavius |
1 | Manchester United | Manchester City | Manchester City |
2 | Manchester City | Tottenham | Manchester United |
3 | Arsenal | Chelsea | Tottenham |
4 | Tottenham | Liverpool | Chelsea |
5 | Chelsea | Manchester United | Arsenal |
6 | Liverpool | Arsenal | Liverpool |
7 | Everton | Everton | West Ham |
8 | Leicester | Leicester | Everton |
9 | West Ham | West Ham | Leicester |
10 | Swansea | West Brom | West Brom |
11 | Bournemouth | Newcastle | Southampton |
12 | Southampton | Crystal Palace | Stoke |
13 | Newcastle | Southampton | Bournemouth |
14 | West Brom | Bournemouth | Watford |
15 | Stoke | Brighton | Crystal Palace |
16 | Crystal Palace | Swansea | Newcastle |
17 | Huddersfield | Stoke | Swansea |
18 | Watford | Watford | Burnley |
19 | Brighton | Burnley | Huddersfield |
20 | Burnley | Huddersfield | Brighton |
What They Said
Jamie: There is no standout title contender this season. The 'big six' all have obvious qualities and strengths yet are all equally trying to manage noticeable weaknesses. It will come down to whoever can best mask their problems, but I definitely picture Chelsea struggling.
Leicester will half bounce back and I think Swansea will have a much better season. Bad news for Burnley and Watford.
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Jude: A lot of people are fancying Manchester United for the title but I think their rivals City are actually more likely, especially if they can bring in a centre-back before the close of the transfer window.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool fill up the rest of my top four and I'm also backing new boys Newcastle and Brighton to stay up.
Kavan: Tottenham aren't ready to win the league just yet, but they looked poised to make almost as strong a finish as they did last season. I'd have hoped to have Chelsea in first place, yet given the way they've handled transfers this summer I just can't see them being as effective - especially now that they're back in the Champions League.
City, on the other hand, have made remarkable strides in that regard, and their defence is much better for it. Anything short of a title win should be considered a resounding failure. United look to be stronger too, but they can't be expected to finish above their local rivals.
Position | Tom Power | Joanna Durkan | Tom Proctor |
1 | Manchester United | Manchester City | Manchester City |
2 | Manchester City | Liverpool | Chelsea |
3 | Tottenham | Chelsea | Manchester United |
4 | Chelsea | Manchester United | Arsenal |
5 | Liverpool | Arsenal | Liverpool |
6 | Arsenal | Tottenham | Tottenham |
7 | Everton | Everton | West Ham |
8 | West Brom | Southampton | Everton |
9 | West Ham | Leicester | Leicester |
10 | Newcastle | West Ham | Bournemouth |
11 | Watford | West Brom | Southampton |
12 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | Newcastle |
13 | Stoke | Stoke | Swansea |
14 | Burnley | Crystal Palace | West Brom |
15 | Leicester | Newcastle | Crystal Palace |
16 | Southampton | Burnley | Stoke |
17 | Crystal Palace | Watford | Huddersfield |
18 | Swansea | Brighton | Watford |
19 | Huddersfield | Swansea | Burnley |
20 | Brighton | Huddersfield | Brighton |
What They Said
Tom Power: Expect United, City and Tottenham to be the three to battle it out for the crown, with Jose Mourinho's men pipping the others to yet another title triumph. Europe will make things harder for Chelsea and Liverpool, while Arsenal could well struggle to feast at UEFA's top table again. Everton's vast summer spending could make them dark horses for a top four spot.
At the bottom, newly promoted Brighton and Huddersfield will struggle, with Crystal Palace and Swansea in the battle, while Southampton could be a surprise relegation battler if they don't make some useful signings before the window closes.
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Joanna: Although both Manchester clubs spent heavily this summer, I’m hard pressed to look beyond Manchester City as favourites for the title after a host of impressive signings to strengthen their defence - but look for Liverpool and Chelsea to give them a serious run for their money.
I also see Arsenal and Tottenham struggling with the Europa League and move to Wembley respectively, whilst at the bottom of the table a handful of clubs will be cut adrift from the rest - with Huddersfield, Swansea and Brighton paying the ultimate price come the end of the season.
Tom Proctor: With the settling in process out the way, Pep Guardiola will be determined for domestic success. He has rejuvenated his back line this summer with some great signings and if Vincent Kompany can stay fit for at least two-thirds of the season, Manchester City stand a brilliant chance of winning a third league title.
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At the bottom, Brighton are my pick to go straight back down, with Burnley also to be relegated having lost a key defender in Michael Keane. David Wagner is a great coach and could well mastermind a successful survival bid for newly-promoted Huddersfield, which could spell trouble for Watford and Marco Silva.
Position | Callum Rice-Coates | Ben Davies | Ben Carter |
1 | Manchester City | Manchester United | Manchester United |
2 | Manchester United | Manchester City | Chelsea |
3 | Chelsea | Arsenal | Arsenal |
4 | Tottenham | Chelsea | Manchester City |
5 | Arsenal | Liverpool | Tottenham |
6 | Liverpool | Tottenham | Liverpool |
7 | Everton | Everton | Everton |
8 | Southampton | West Ham | Southampton |
9 | West Ham | Bournemouth | West Ham |
10 | Leicester | Swansea | Stoke |
11 | Newcastle | Leicester | Leicester |
12 | Bournemouth | Southampton | Crystal Palace |
13 | Crystal Palace | Watford | West Brom |
14 | Stoke | West Brom | Watford |
15 | West Brom | Crystal Palace | Bournemouth |
16 | Swansea | Newcastle | Newcastle |
17 | Brighton | Stoke | Swansea |
18 | Watford | Burnley | Burnley |
19 | Burnley | Brighton | Brighton |
20 | Huddersfield | Huddersfield | Huddersfield |
What They Said
Callum: Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, having strengthened significantly in key areas - namely full-back - now look imposing both defensively and offensively. Manchester United should challenge with an upgraded spine, while things at Chelsea haven't been ideal over the summer. Spurs and Arsenal may struggle to keep up, but it could be close at the summit.
At the bottom, Huddersfield could well find things difficult in the top flight, while Watford and Burnley may also struggle.
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Ben Davies: The league is a definite toss up between the two Manchester clubs. United have bought smart, and City have, well, bought everyone. Chelsea's lack of depth will see them suffer, and Arsene Wenger has a point to prove. Tottenham's lack of summer activity will come to haunt them and Wembley - as well as European football - won't help.
At the other end, this gets predicted every year but two of the three promoted sides will surely go down. Huddersfield have over bought (circa QPR 2012), Brighton haven't bought enough quality, and I fear that Burnley will be sussed out at home.
Ben Carter: Manchester United and Arsenal have a point to prove after missing out on the top four last season and with the signings they've made, they'll be back in the Champions League places no doubt.
Chelsea will go close again but Diego Costa's absence is a huge loss. City, Spurs and Liverpool will fight it out for fourth, possibly even Everton depending on how the new boys settle in.
Position | Club |
1 | Manchester City |
2 | Manchester United |
3 | Chelsea |
4 | Tottenham |
5 | Arsenal |
6 | Liverpool |
7 | Everton |
8 | West Ham |
9 | Leicester |
10 | Southampton |
11 | Bournemouth |
12 | West Brom |
13 | Crystal Palace |
14 | Newcastle |
15 | Stoke |
16 | Swansea |
17 | Watford |
18 | Huddersfield |
19 | Burnley |
20 | Brighton |
