Liverpool will fail to successfully defend their Premier League title this summer, despite their huge summer splurge of more than £290million.
That’s according to a Sportscasting supercomputer, which has predicted the final top flight table just a matter of weeks out from the start of the new season.
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 north of £100m.
According to the supercomputer, though, the Reds will only manage a third-place finish this season, despite reaching 85 points, having finished on 84 last season.
The champions will instead be Manchester City, according to the prediction. Arsenal will also be sandwiched between them, once again finishing second.
On Liverpool’s chances, the supercomputer said: ‘Arne Slot’s rebuilt side will feature a potent attack – with Mo Salah alongside signings Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
‘But their defence will let them down against top teams, causing them to slip to third in the title race.’
The Reds have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, while their centre back options are just Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, with Joe Gomez injured.
On City, meanwhile, who came third last season as they gave up their title for the first time in five years, the computer said: ‘Even without any seismic squad changes, their machine-like system – powered by Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden, the returning Rodri, and a 36-goal season from Erling Haaland – keeps them dominant.
‘Their depth and consistency in tight matches give them the edge over Arsenal and Liverpool.’
The prediction states that City will finish on 92 points – four ahead of Arsenal. That suggests the title race could go down to the final day.
Occupying the fourth Champions League spot is predicted to be Chelsea, building on their Club World Cup success this summer, managing 79 points.
In fifth, meanwhile, is quite an eye-catching call. Manchester United are set to return to the upper echelons of the top flight, show vast improvement under Ruben Amorim as he enters his first full season in charge of the club.
United haven’t been majorly busy in the summer transfer window with just Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon arriving for north of £140m combined, but they are expected to look to continue to buy and build on their 15th-place finish last season.
United do not have European competition to balance this year, meaning they will have a free shot at Premier League success, and, according to the supercomputer, that will pay off.
| Position | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City |
| 2 | Arsenal |
| 3 | Liverpool |
| 4 | Chelsea |
| 5 | Manchester United |
| 6 | Aston Villa |
| 7 | Tottenham |
| 8 | Newcastle |
| 9 | West Ham |
| 10 | Everton |
| 11 | Brighton |
| 12 | Wolves |
| 13 | Brentford |
| 14 | Fulham |
| 15 | Crystal Palace |
| 16 | Bournemouth |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest |
| 18 | Burnley |
| 19 | Sunderland |
| 20 | Leeds |
While Aston Villa are listed in fifth, Tottenham will also have an improved season as they climb from 17th to seventh in the table. Thomas Frank is now in charge, and the club are hoping for an improvement on the field.
One side who will struggle to do that, though, is apparently Newcastle. Eddie Howe’s side snuck into the Champions League last term because of Villa losing on the final day, but have struggled in their recruitment this summer. So far, the Magpies have signed Anthony Elanga for £55m, but have lost out on the likes of Ekitike and have been beaten to James Trafford by Manchester City too. While they are monitoring Aaron Ramsdale, they could also lose Isak and go into this season somewhat weaker than the last.
West Ham, though, could improve under Graham Potter and finish ninth, while Everton are tipped to make the top 10 in their new stadium.
Wolves are also backed for improvement under Vitor Periera despite losing Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri in 12th, just behind Brighton in 11th. Frank’s departure isn’t predicted to impact Brentford too much, either, with Keith Andrews’ side tipped to come 13th.
That is ahead of London rivals Fulham in 14th, FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in 15th and Bournemouth in 16th.
That trio will apparently finish ahead of Nottingham Forest, who will seemingly suffer a dramatic fall from grace after finishing seventh last term, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot.
Despite keeping hold of Morgan Gibbs-White and only losing Elanga from their big names, Forest are tipped to come 17th this season.
That is once again ahead of the three newly-promoted sides, with Burnley in 18th, Sunderland 19th and Leeds 20th.
Though it could go down to the final day, Forest are predicted to reach 40 points, five ahead of Burnley with 35. Sunderland are then backed to achieve 32, while Leeds are tipped to prop up the division on 28.
In another prediction, Erling Haaland is backed to win the Golden Boot with a staggering 36 goals. That will apparently be 13 ahead of Salah, 16 ahead of Isak and 19 ahead of Cole Palmer.
Mikel Arteta is also predicted to win Manager of the Season despite failing to deliver the Premier League title again.
