Predictions: The Premier League is back – you pick the winners

Another season, another field of unknown quantities. Not many would have predicted Liverpool as champions a year ago, nor that Manchester United and Tottenham would finish 15th and 17th. Now here we are again, with new variables thanks partly to a lot of transfer fun.

The curtain rises at Anfield, where Arne Slot’s Liverpool host Bournemouth in a bid to get their title defence off to a positive start. How quickly can the Reds’ influx of new arrivals gel, and were pre-season defensive vulnerabilities just a blip on the radar?

Similar questions follow Manchester City into their first fixture away to Wolves, after an underwhelming 2024-25 left Pep Guardiola’s four-time champions third and 13 points adrift from the top.

Meanwhile, at Stamford Bridge, Club World Cup success has rebuilt ambitions for a stacked Chelsea just in time for a potential goal-fest with London neighbours Crystal Palace.

But the game of the round has to be United v Arsenal. The Red Devils are under pressure to remedy an embarrassing campaign, and have a shot at a fresh start under newish manager Ruben Amorim. Of course, the result at Old Trafford depends on whether his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta has the right ingredients to return his runners-up to the glory days.

Make your predictions below, and see how others are tipping, too.

And, read Vince Rugari’s exclusive interview with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola here.

Matches on Saturday, August 16

Matches on Sunday, August 17

Match on Monday, August 18

Match on Tuesday, August 19

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