Who will win the Premier League in 2024-25? GOAL writers make their title and top-four predictions

Mark Doyle: The now painfully predictable Premier League will produce the same top three as last season, with Manchester City inevitably finishing top of the pile once more to make it a depressing seven titles in eight seasons. Arsenal will go close, while Liverpool will play some fancy football under new manager Arne Slot, but both sides are still lacking the prolific No.9 required to topple City, who will not want for motivation during what could be Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge.

As for fourth spot, the race is once again wide open. However, Aston Villa are likely to feel the strain of competing in the Champions League, Chelsea are an unknown quantity under Enzo Maresca, Tottenham are likely to continue to flatter to deceive, while Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United will remain a model of mediocrity from top to bottom. Consequently, a Newcastle side unburdened by any European football are the best bet to finish fourth, especially as they’ve rather surprisingly managed to hold onto all of their best players in spite of their PSR issues.

Amee Ruszkai: I don't think any team has improved enough to usurp Man City at the top of the table. Pep Guardiola's side might not have made many signings themselves, but they will hope to count on a fully-fit Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones year round, which would immediately improve this winning machine and allow it to go up at least another gear. Arsenal will run them close yet again, however, I don't see the arrivals of Riccardo Calafiori and potentially Mikel Merino, while both exciting, making the difference between second and first; not while the Gunners still lack a natural goal-scorer who can be relied on in tough moments.

Arne Slot's appointment at Liverpool is one that intrigues and, despite a lack of signings, he has a good enough squad to work with to ensure the Reds remain in the top four. This year will be about laying the groundwork for what he wants to achieve on Merseyside and may well be boosted not only be the excitement of something new but, given the lack of summer business, perhaps some reinvigorating January arrivals. Finally, I see Tottenham getting over the line and completing the top four. Ange Postecoglou's first year in north London was interesting but erratic at times, and this second season should deliver more consistency, as the players become more used to his demands.

Stephen Darwin: Manchester City's domination of the Premier League is going to continue. They've got the best starting XI, the strongest squad and will be hungrier than ever to add another title to their collection in what could well be Pep Guardiola's final season in charge. Arsenal again look the best bet to be City's closest challengers, with Mikel Arteta having added a steely determination and win-at-all-costs mindset that we haven't always associated with the Gunners. As for Liverpool, the early signs in pre-season have looked positive, and despite Arne Slot's lack of signings so far, Jurgen Klopp hardly passed on a squad that was in urgent need of surgery. Expect a third-place finish for the Reds.

Fourth spot is more difficult to predict, with as many as four or five clubs undoubtedly having one eye on sealing that final Champions League spot. Manchester United and Chelsea fans will be expecting vast improvements on their dreadful 2023-24 campaigns, but there's been nothing to suggest there's going to be significant strides made in the right direction - indeed, it wouldn't be a surprise to see both Enzo Maresca and Erik ten Hag out of a job by Christmas. Given the limitations of those around them, Tottenham feel like the most likely to snatch fourth as Ange Postecoglou continues to assemble a young and hungry squad capable of playing his exciting brand of attacking football.

Richard Martin: It might be a boring prediction to say Manchester City will win a fifth-consecutive Premier League crown, but write Pep Guardiola off at your peril. The Catalan has reinvented his team in each of his eight seasons in the Premier League and never tires of innovating. Last season's team may have lacked the flair of previous incarnations, but they proved tougher and more durable, remaining unbeaten for the final months.

Arsenal will run City close again, but they lack the bloody-mindedness of the Cityzens, while Arne Slot has had an encouraging pre-season with Liverpool and has been boosted by Mohamed Salah staying, so if the Reds can avoid the injury problems that plagued them last season, they should be a force to be reckoned with again, even without Jurgen Klopp. Tottenham should be stronger in their second season with Ange Postecoglou and have made some eye-catching signings. They should finish above Aston Villa, who will find it hard to balance another top-four push with playing Champions League football.

Tom Maston: Expect the fight for the title to be a two-horse race this season between Manchester City and Arsenal, and I'm going to plump for the Gunners to finally get this one over the line. The way Mikel Arteta's side finished last season gave off similar vibes to the way Liverpool ended 2018-19, and though Arsenal would do well to match what the Reds did the following campaign in going unbeaten until February, there's a real chance for them to ride a wave of momentum and build an unassailable lead over City.

Behind them, Liverpool should have enough firepower to be the best of the rest in third, while the battle for fourth place will likely come down to Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle, with Aston Villa and Chelsea more towards mid-table. Between that aforementioned trio, it's Newcastle who have the advantage right now. The Magpies have kept hold of all their key players this summer, while the new Europa League format means that United and Spurs will have at least eight European games to fit into their schedule while Eddie Howe's side will have none. That extra rest will prove the difference in the end.

Krishan Davis: After backing Erik ten Hag to become the first manager to be sacked earlier this week, I reckon whoever replaces him at Old Trafford after a poor start will galvanise Manchester United and secure Champions League football in the second half of the season.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool exit makes it particularly difficult to predict who will finish in the top four this time around, but Arne Slot has shown in pre-season that he has what it takes to get the best out of this group of players, although second will probably be a bridge too far as they may need to make some signings after a quiet transfer window to date.

At the summit, I'm not convinced Arsenal have done enough to derail the Manchester City juggernaut, and Pep Guardiola will be desperate to claim five in a row if this is to be his swansong. The Gunners will probably push them harder than ever before this time around and it promises to be another fascinating title race, but in the end Man City always win.

James Westwood: They might as well write Manchester City's name on the trophy again now. Pep Guardiola's side won their record-breaking, fourth-successive title without ever hitting top gear, and it will probably be the same story in 2024-25. Arsenal will stay on the champions' tail, but there is a naivety in Mikel Arteta's dressing room that is preventing them from reaching the next level; along with the fact he still won't sign a proper striker.

Liverpool may even pip the Gunners to second, because Arne Slot inherited a very strong squad from Jurgen Klopp that already appears to have bought into his possession-based style. Meanwhile, Tottenham should have enough to pip Aston Villa to fourth this time around, provided they avoid another injury crisis.

Matt O'Connor-Simpson: At long last, it might just be Arsenal’s time. Last season, the Gunners proved their 2022-23 campaign was no fluke, improving in every conceivable metric, and taking four points from their two meetings with Manchester City. After missing out on the final day in May, captain Martin Odegaard spent little time patting himself on the back, promising the sun-kissed Emirates crowd they would “win everything” in 2025. They have strengthened intelligently since then and after so much success, surely - SURELY! - a slither of complacency will slip into the City ranks this season, providing just enough leeway for Arsenal to get over the line.

Pep Guardiola’s side will obviously still make the top four, though predicting the rest of that elite club is a little trickier. Arne Slot’s Liverpool have looked convincing in pre-season and provided they make a signing or two before deadline day, they should be fine. After that, it is probably a fight between Aston Villa - who have had another good window - Tottenham and Manchester United. Spurs have got the striker they so desperately needed in Dominic Solanke, so I'll go for Ange Postecoglou’s young guns to round out the top four.

Joe Strange: It just feels inevitable now, doesn’t it? After four Premier League titles in a row for Manchester City, it’s easy to wonder when - or even if - another team will be capable of outlasting them over the course of a full season. Arsenal look well prepared to push them all the way, especially after adding the excellent Riccardo Calafiori to their ranks, but questions remain over the striker situation at the Emirates. Ultimately, it feels like Erling Haaland will be the difference between the two sides yet again, with Pep Guardiola able to virtually guarantee goals, while Mikel Arteta saw his side fail to score in five Premier League games last season.

The Gunners will pip Liverpool to second place, although finishing third will represent relative success for Arne Slot as he looks to somehow fill Jurgen Klopp’s giant shoes at Anfield. Despite a lack of transfer business so far this summer, the ex-Feyenoord boss has overseen a strong pre-season, and with Mo Salah looking rejuvenated, a comfortable finish inside the top four looks achievable. City, Arsenal and Liverpool will be joined in the Champions League by Tottenham, who can learn from last season’s disappointment to beat Manchester United, Newcastle and Aston Villa to fourth spot.