Michael Owen predicts Premier League winner, top four and relegated trio
Michael Owen has backed Manchester City to win the Premier League for the fourth successive season - and believes Arsenal will once again be their closest challengers.
Pep Guardiola's side secured the top-flight title for the third time in a row in 2022/23 after fending off competition from Arsenal, eventually winning the league by five points. City also won the Champions League and the FA Cup to complete the treble in another highly-successful campaign.
And Owen has tipped them to finish in top spot, despite losing Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan to Al-Ahli and Barcelona respectively. Guardiola has brought in Mateo Kovacic as his only confirmed summer arrival, although Josko Gvardiol is expected to arrive as the second through the door in the coming days.
As for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has strengthened well this summer, spending over £200m so far in the form of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice. Owen is expecting them to finish second for the second consecutive year and be City's closest competitors for the title, after finishing on 84 points last season.
Rounding off the Champions League spots for Owen is Liverpool and Manchester United. This means Newcastle have been knocked out of the top four at the expense of Jurgen Klopp's Reds, who finished fifth last term. Liverpool have overseen a major reshuffle in midfield but are expected to be stronger this time around.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
In fifth is Chelsea, who are anticipated to have a much-improved effort on the disappointing 12th-place finish last season. Mauricio Pochettino is the club's new manager and has overseen a dramatic rebuild, with in excess of 15 players leaving and several coming in, including Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.
Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea are expected to improve this season (Getty Images)Owen has backed Aston Villa to be the latest non-traditional 'big six' side to enter the top-six after an incredible end to the campaign under Unai Emery. Villa have strengthened well in the summer transfer window, too, with Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby signing as they prepare for the Europa Conference League.
Newcastle, Brighton, Tottenham and Brentford make up Owen's top-10, with West Ham, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Crystal Palace coming in the following positions. The former Liverpool and Man Utd striker has also tipped Burnley and Bournemouth to avoid the drop.
This means Wolves, Sheffield United and Luton will be relegated to the Championship, according to Owen. Wolves have endured a poor transfer window to date with Matt Doherty and Tom King their only summer arrivals who weren't at the club last term, while he also thinks the Blades and the Hatters will struggle.
Julen Lopetegui's Wolves have been tipped to struggle this season (Getty Images)Owen's Premier League table in full
1. Manchester City
2. Arsenal
3. Liverpool
4. Manchester United
5. Chelsea
Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move
6. Aston Villa
7. Newcastle
8. Brighton
9. Tottenham
10. Brentford
11. West Ham
12. Everton
13. Nottingham Forest
14. Fulham
15. Crystal Palace
16. Burnley
17. Bournemouth
18. Wolverhampton Wanderers
19. Sheffield United
20. Luton Town
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
