Liverpool are set to successfully defend their Premier League title on the back of a summer of heavy spending.
That’s according to Opta’s supercomputer, who have given Arne Slot’s side a 28.5 per cent chance of winning the title for a third time and a second consecutive season under the Dutchman.
The Reds have taken the opportunity of the summer transfer window to invest heavily in their squad, with the likes of Hugo Ekitike (£79m), Florian Wirtz (£116m) and Milos Kerkez (£40m) among the arrivals so far.
Elsewhere, Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m) have also joined, while the champions maintain interest in Alexander Isak, who has told Newcastle he is interested in leaving but would again cost well north of £100m.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are expected to be their closest competitors. The Gunners are given a 24.2 per cent chance of finally winning their first title since 2004.
It would be a repeat of last season’s table if the supercomputer predictions come to fruition, with Manchester City given an 18.8 per cent chance of returning to the top of the tree – the third most-likely side.
Interestingly, though, first place is the most likely finish for all three sides. While Liverpool are given 19.5 per cent chance of coming second and 14.2 per cent chance of finishing third, Arsenal have 18.7 per cent chance of repeating their second place finish again and 14.7 per cent chance of coming third.
City, who have also invested heavily this summer, are given 17.3 per cent chance of coming second and 14.1 per cent chance of finishing third.
Overall, the three top sides are adjudged to have 72.7 per cent, 68.5 per cent and 62 per cent chance respectively of qualifying for the Champions League, and that will increase by 7.6 per cent, 8.6 per cent and 9.2 per cent chance respectively if the Premier League secures a fifth qualifying spot again.
Predicted to finish fourth, meanwhile, is Chelsea. That again would be a repeat of last season, with Enzo Maresca’s men given 8.4 per cent chance of winning the league, 10.4 per cent of coming second, 10.6 per cent of finishing third and 10.9 per cent of a fourth-place finish.
At the other end of the table, City are in fact given 0.2 per cent chance of getting relegated, but the three promoted teams are the favourites.
With Burnley backed to come 18th, they are given 45.9 per cent chance of going down – the lowest of the three sides. Leeds are adjudged to have 48 per cent chance of going down, while Sunderland claim 66.4 per cent and are heavily tipped to finish last at 34.1 per cent.
Two teams who struggled last season were Tottenham and Manchester United, with the Red Devils finishing 15th and Spurs 17th, but getting the better of Ruben Amorim’s men in the Europa League final.
According to the supercomputer, that will happen again. United are backed to finish 12th, with Spurs coming 14th under new boss Thomas Frank.
United are given a 10.7 per cent chance of finishing in the top five next term despite their apparent improvements in pre-season. That increases to 20.5 per cent for a top-seven finish, and 40.3 per cent for the top half.
They are also given 11.1 per cent chance of getting relegated.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are given 9.2 per cent chance of a top-five finish, and that rises to 18 per cent in terms of a top-seven finish. They are given a 35.9 per cent chance of ending up in the top half, and 13.7 per cent chance of being relegated.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa are the team backed to finish fifth with a 38.1 per cent chance of reaching the top five, ahead of Newcastle in sixth and Crystal Palace in seventh ahead of rivals Brighton.
Making up the top half would be Bournemouth and Brentford, with Nottingham Forest 11th ahead of United.
The come Everton in 13th, Fulham in 15th and West Ham in 16, with Wolves occupying the final survival spot.
