Premier League predictions 2024-25: BBC Sport pundits pick their top four

Manchester City – ‘When the going gets tough, they seem to thrive’

 

City have now been the BBC pundits’ pre-season favourites in eight of the nine seasons since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016, but only 63% (19/30) think they will be champions again, compared with 96% (26/27) last season.

 

Chris Waddle: Four in a row was unbelievable and five would be absolutely incredible. They are a fantastic team but I am not sure even City can do that.

 

Jermaine Jenas: These players have achieved everything there is to do in the game, and Pep still manages to get every ounce out of them. They will be there until the end, but it might just be one year too many.

 

Chris Sutton: Psychologically, City seem to have this edge which has been built up over the past few years where, when the going gets tough, they seem to thrive on it.

 

Danny Murphy: They have the super-confidence and experience now of getting over the line, which gives you a head start.

 

Steve Sidwell: City have the hunger and desire to go again, not only within the squad but with the manager too. I believe they will be relentless this season.

 

Anita Asante: They are an unstoppable and unflappable force.

 

Troy Deeney: They are still favourites because they have not lost anything. They have sold Julian Alvarez but he was not a starter or main man for them.

 

Glenn Murray: I felt like Alvarez was reliable and picked up a lot of slack for Erling Haaland when he wasn’t playing well or scoring. He gave City added firepower and, without him, I am thinking who is going to do that job? In previous seasons, before Haaland joined, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez stepped up but it is asking a lot for Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku to provide those extra goals.

 

Sue Smith: We’ve seen it before where they lose a key player but Pep always finds a way, either bringing someone in or using someone who is already there.

 

Danny Murphy: They have still got their best players, have already bought in Savinho, who looked lively in the Community Shield, and they are also likely to sign one or two more before the transfer window shuts.

 

Also, it looks like we are seeing the emergence of another superstar in Oscar Bobb. He is a wonderfully gifted left-footed forward who is quick and can beat people. He is going to get a lot more game time this season when he is back from injury.

 

Michael Brown: City have got to be careful about how they get through the first few weeks, because a lot of their players have not really had a pre-season. I am also a bit concerned about Rodri’s fitness, and they are better off waiting until everyone is ready rather than risking injuries. The Chelsea game on Sunday is going to be difficult because of that, but defeat would not be a disaster. Even if they started on -3 points, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

 

Leon Osman: City finishing second is a statement that doesn’t seem to fit right. They will maintain their standards, but with no cover as things stand for the brilliant Rodri, and a reliance on him to play all their games, that may take its toll.

 

Nedum Onuoha: They will still be just as good but through the season they will have questions that need to be answered about Kevin de Bruyne and Ederson’s futures then, at the end of it, Pep Guardiola – does he stay or does he go?

 

Paul Robinson: With Pep in charge, City are going to be hard to topple, but it could be a time of change at the club in the next 12 months. Even if Arsenal don’t win it this season, they look like they are going to be strong for years to come.

 

Arsenal – ‘Settled, powerful and primed to take the next step’

 

Last year, only one pundit (Ellen White) thought Arsenal would win the league, and they took the title race to the final day. This time, 37% (11/30) think they will be champions for the first time since 2004.

 

Ellen White: I am sticking with Arsenal, who went so close last time. Fine margins decided that title race and it will be the same again this season, but this time they will get over the line.

 

Jermaine Jenas: Last season was a massive step in the right direction, and they will have learned a lot from going the distance for the first time. After they faded in 2022-23, there was only one game, at home to Villa, that cost them in the run-in, and the way they finished the season so strongly is a good indication that this team is primed and ready now, on top of the hunger they already had.

 

Chris Sutton: I’ve not seen anything to suggest it will be third time lucky for Arsenal in the title race. They got a lot of praise for way they went to Etihad Stadium in March and put on a really good rearguard action against Manchester City, but you look at how the table ended up and think they might have to go back to being braver against them next time. I still think they will come second though.

 

Anita Asante: As well as their team defensive record, it was that solid centre-back partnership between Gabriel and William Saliba that kept them in contention last time. Whether they can go from title contenders to title winners will be determined by whether they can secure a top-class finisher this season.

 

Karen Bardsley: Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Ben White will be exciting and create lots of chances. Additionally, Riccardo Calafiori, when he features, will step forward and add an extra number into midfield. I am expecting more flexibility in selection and tactical approach from Mikel Arteta this season.

 

Danny Murphy: Arsenal look really settled, they are powerful and they have a brilliant defensive set-up that has been improved further by Calafiori. They needed him because Gabriel and Saliba got through last season without being injured, which is very unusual. I am absolutely certain of Calafiori’s quality too, because I have seen him play live twice and he was brilliant each time.

 

Paul Robinson: As well as bringing in Calafiori, having Jurrien Timber back from long-term injury is like another new signing as well.

 

Glenn Murray: They might just have the edge on momentum. City have not gone backwards, but Arsenal have improved again.

 

Nedum Onuoha: Arsenal seem to get better every year with the young players they have, and a youngish manager, and I don’t see this being the season where they plateau.

 

Matt Upson: A lot of their players have had a couple of seasons of feeling and seeing what it takes to win the title, plus it is going to be extremely hard for City to stay at the top for yet another year. That all comes into my thinking of why Arsenal are going to do it this time.

 

Liverpool – ‘A well-balanced squad even without any new faces’

 

Only one pundit (Shay Given) thought Liverpool would make the top two last season – they finished third. This time, two pundits think they will be runners-up, out of a total of 27/30 who think they will make the top four.

 

Chris Waddle: The title race is between Manchester City and Arsenal, no-one else.

 

Nedum Onuoha: It’s going to be close again between City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

 

Jermaine Jenas: It was April before Liverpool fell off the pace last season and I feel like they will go the distance again. It was a weird season for them because they missed a bucketload of chances, especially in games where it really mattered. That won’t keep happening with the quality they have. The top three is going to be very tight, and they will be right in among it, although I do have them down as third.