The return of the Premier League is finally upon us, with Championship winners Burnley hosting defending champions and treble winners Manchester City in the 2023-24 curtain-raiser at Turf Moor on Friday night.
Man City once again go into the campaign as firm favourites to lift an unprecedented fourth straight title, but rivals such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea will hope to run them close this time around.
At the other end, a number of clubs will be content with mere survival this season ahead of what is shaping up to be a competitive relegation battle.
Here, the Sports Mole team provide their predictions for the new campaign, including their picks for champions, top four, relegated and much more.
Barney Corkhill, Editor
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United
Relegated: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United, Luton Town
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Paul Heckingbottom
Signing of the Season: Pau Torres
Neil Wilkes, Editor in Chief
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea
Relegated: Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Luton Town
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Aaron Ramsdale
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Ange Postecoglou
Signing of the Season: Dominik Szoboszlai
Matt Law, Football Editor
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool
Relegated: Luton Town, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Erik ten Hag
First manager sacked: Paul Heckingbottom
Signing of the Season: Andre Onana
Darren Plant, Senior Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea
Relegated: Fulham, Sheffield United, Luton Town
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Dominik Szoboszlai
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Vincent Kompany
First manager sacked: Steve Cooper
Signing of the Season: Dominik Szoboszlai
Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United
Relegated: Luton Town, Sheffield United, Everton
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne & Trent Alexander-Arnold
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Paul Heckingbottom
Signing of the Season: Nicolas Jackson
Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool
Relegated: Luton Town, Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Paul Heckingbottom
Signing of the Season: Declan Rice
Jonathan O'Shea, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United
Relegated: Sheffield United, Everton, Luton Town
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: David Moyes
Signing of the Season: Josko Gvardiol
Sam Varley, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United
Relegated: Bournemouth, Sheffield United, Luton Town
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Marco Silva
Signing of the Season: Declan Rice
Matthew Wilkinson, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea
Relegated: Luton Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Andre Onana
Player of the Season: Declan Rice
Manager of the Season: Unai Emery
First manager sacked: Julen Lopetegui*
Signing of the Season: Nicolas Jackson
(*chosen before Wolves exit was confirmed)
Joel Lefevre, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea
Relegated: West Ham United, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Aaron Ramsdale
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Jurgen Klopp
First manager sacked: David Moyes
Signing of the Season: Christopher Nkunku
Marvellous Adepoju, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal
Relegated: Luton Town, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Rob Edwards
Signing of the Season: Christopher Nkunku
Jonny Webb, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool
Relegated: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United, Luton Town
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Martin Odegaard
Golden Glove: Alisson Becker
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Rob Edwards
Signing of the Season: Andre Onana
Andrew Delaney, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal
Relegated: Luton Town, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Unai Emery
First manager sacked: David Moyes
Signing of the Season: Josko Gvardiol
Carter White, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea
Relegated: Luton Town, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Ederson
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola
First manager sacked: Paul Heckingbottom
Signing of the Season: Christopher Nkunku
Dominic Lund, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea
Relegated: Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Golden Boot: Harry Kane (Erling Haaland if Kane leaves)
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Alisson Becker
Player of the Season: Kevin De Bruyne
Manager of the Season: Unai Emery
First manager sacked: Paul Heckingbottom
Signing of the Season: Dominik Szoboszlai
Anthony Brown, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Arsenal
Top four: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Manchester United
Relegated: Everton, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Golden Glove: Alisson Becker
Player of the Season: Bukayo Saka
Manager of the Season: Mikel Arteta
First manager sacked: Steve Cooper
Signing of the Season: Moussa Diaby
Devesh Jaganath, Reporter
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City
Top four: Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool
Relegated: Luton Town, Sheffield United, Everton
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne
Golden Glove: Nick Pope
Player of the Season: Marcus Rashford
Manager of the Season: Mikel Arteta
First manager sacked: Marco Silva
Signing of the Season: Declan Rice
Most popular choices
© Reuters
Champions: Manchester City (16 picks out of 17)
Top four: Man City (17/17), Arsenal (17/17), Liverpool (14/17), Manchester United (13/17)
Relegated: Sheffield United (16/17), Luton Town (15/17), Nottingham Forest (6/17)
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland (16/17)
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne (14/17)
Golden Glove: Ederson (10/17)
Player of the Season: Erling Haaland (13/17)
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola (9/17)
First manager sacked: Paul Heckingbottom (6/17)
Signing of the Season: Declan Rice, Dominik Szoboszlai, Christopher Nkunku (all 3/17)
Barney Corkhill
