We're here again. It's time to look into the crystal ball and make a prediction about the final outcome of the season.
Last season, the act of folly was a success, with the top three predicted in the correct order along with the two teams that were demoted to the second tier. There was guarded optimism for Manchester United but it was not enough.
Is it possible to get my excuses in first. There is a month left in the transfer window.
Predicting who will go down is a hazardous occupation this season.
| Position | Club | Position (cont) | Club (cont) |
| 1 | Manchester City | 11 | Brighton |
| 2 | Liverpool | 12 | Wolves |
| 3 | Tottenham | 13 | Crystal Palace |
| 4 | Chelsea | 14 | Everton |
| 5 | Arsenal | 15 | Brentford |
| 6 | Manchester United | 16 | Leeds |
| 7 | West Ham | 17 | Southampton |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 18 | Nottingham Forest |
| 9 | Newcastle | 19 | Fulham |
| 10 | Leicester | 20 | Bournemouth |
I think Manchester City will win the title for the fourth time in the past five years, and I think they'll do it in a row.
The signing of Erling Haaland solved the main flaw in the magnificent side, which was the tendency to not convert so many chances. He was one of the most sought after strikers in the world.
Jack Grealish will be a better player for one full season because of the one-on-one training he will get under the guidance of the new coach.
City do not look any weaker than they did last season despite the departure of some of their key players.
The season began last season.
They missed out on the title on the final day of the season, but still won the FA Cup and League Cup, both on penalties.
They will fight on all fronts and challenge City all the way in order to win a trophy.
The loss of Sadio Mane is obvious, but the replacement is already showing what he can do. There was a serious talent at Cottager last season, and you should keep an eye out for him.
The 4th season was last year.
I agree with the big expectations for Spurs this season because they are now in the hands of one of the world's great coaches in Antonio Conte who will give them a winning mentality.
The deals are best done early so there has been some serious squad strengthening.
Richarlison gives an already stellar attack another dimension and added depth while Yves Bissouma was outstanding for BRIGHTON IvanPerisic will bring experience, quality and flexibility.
There is a limb out on the ground. Spurs have a trophy and a top four.
The 3rd season was last year.
There was a lot of turbulence this summer with a new owner in Todd Boehly and the fact that Barcelona were trying to steal big transfer targets away in the shape of Raphinha and Jules Kounde.
After the season starts, this is a club that seems to thrive on instability and aggravation.
Part of the gap left by the departure of Antonio Rudiger will be filled by him.
Expect more big names in, with the Seagulls being a target, and never backing against the Blues being in the shake-up and winning silverware.
The 5th season was last year.
There is a lot to like about the summer transfer business and there is more to come.
I can see them challenging for the top four again with the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, both of whom will add quality and experience to the team. There is a new addition to the strength in the middle of the field.
It's a big season for Arteta, but he has the trust of the board and they have looked a million dollars in pre-season.
He needs a top-four finish and a challenge for the trophy. I don't think they're a title contender.
The 6th season was last year.
It was a horror show last season when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked and Ralf Rangnick was no longer with the team.
Anyone expecting miracles from Ten Hag should get real as he begins to sort out a fractured dressing room and a lack of quality at the club.
While Ten Hag is going with what he knows in signing defender Lisandro Martinez along with a seemingly endless Frenkie de Jong pursuit, there is a cloud over pre-season because of the desire to leave by CR7 Christian will provide guile and quality in the middle of the field. How will he get along with Bruno?
Jadon Sancho can show why he was valued at £73m if he can show why he was valued at Ten Hag.
The top-four challenge and cup are the best bets. Do you think title contender? There was no chance of that happening.
The 7th season was last year.
Failure to win the Europa League or reach the final might still be considered one of the great missed opportunities by West Ham.
With new faces in his squad and the outstanding Declan Rice still at the heart of all that West ham do, the rejuvenated David Moyes will want the same.
A lot will depend on how the new signing from Sassuolo settles in the league, but he comes with glowing references and, rest assured, every incoming player will have been studied carefully by David.
I can see the Hammers having a good season.
Fourteenth of last season.
I'm expecting a big improvement from Villa this season with manager Steven Gerrard having had a pre-season to get his ideas across and new faces.
Villa helped Gerrard by getting their business done early and it looks good, with Philippe Coutinho signed permanently and the highly rated pair of defender Diego Carlos from Sevilla.
They need to get over the fact that they were so inconsistent last season that they were frustrating to watch.
The last season was 11th.
Huge expectations on the club after an excellent second half to the season under new manager Eddie Howe and the arrival of the controversial Saudi Arabian owners.
For all the talk of Hollywood signings,Newcastle's transfer business has been solid and sensible rather than spectacular, using common sense as opposed to spending for the sake of it, and if they succeed in prising James Maddison away fromLeicester City this will be considered as a serious statement
Nick Pope from England is an excellent addition while the defender from Lille is considered to be a great prospect. The first phase improved mentality and quality with experience and Bruno Guimaraes that real 'X factor' class.
Howe will need to bring in more firepower despite Chris Wood's struggles.
Good consolidation will satisfy the Toon Army as this will be steady rebuilding rather than a cash- crazy quick fix.
The season started last season.
I rate Brendan Rodgers highly and there is a lot of talent in his squad, but there is a sense that there has been lost. More talk of outgoings around the likes of Youri Tielemans and James Maddison than of incomings has been taking place so far.
A large hole would be left in the dressing room if they went.
After winning the FA Cup and missing out on the playoffs on the final day of the season, Rodgers has reached a critical point in his tenure.
The manager wanted a "healthy shake-up" to refresh his team, but has been unable to do that. If Rodgers succeeds in predicting mid-table, it could be a bad one.
Players must be in.
The ninth season last year.
At the end of last season, Graham Potter was able to get the big results his attractive football deserved, such as beating Manchester United at the Amex and then going on to win at Spurs and Arsenal. The days of living near the bottom of the league seem to have ended under this manager.
There's no reason to think that this season will be any different than last year.
Potter is talented enough to find a way to recover from the loss of Yves Bissouma.
Last season, the flaw was not finishing off the chances they created. The man they hope will solve this is Turkish forward Deniz Undav, who spent time at a former parent club. He was the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year.
Potter has invested in the future with the signings of two strikers, one of which is Ivorian Simon Adingra from FCNordsjaelland.
The last season was 10th.
Bruno Lage adopted a progressive attacking style after succeeding Nuno Espirito Santo as manager of Wolves.
Now firmly established in the premier league, they will be looking to Hwang Hee-chan to build on his loan spell last season after completing a permanent move from RB Leipzig while Nathan Collins will add to the defensive resources marshalled by captain
If Wolves can keep hold of Ruben Neves, then there is no reason why they can't have another decent season.
They may have a serious impact on how they perform if they lose their top goal scorer for a long time after he picked up an injury.
The last season was 12th.
Patrick Vieira made a big impression as Selhurst Park's manager in his first season, but will have to do without one of his key players this time around.
He will have Cheick Doucoure, the Malian who was delighted to sign for the club. He is a good goalkeeping signing.
It will be interesting to see if he can get an improvement out of Palace, but I don't think they will struggle.
The last season was 16th.
This is where the potential strugglers begin and could lead to a fight for survival.
The failure of the appointment of Rafael Benitez and the aim of keeping the Toffees up resulted in a terrible season for the club.
It was more of a fan effort than a player effort. They will be needed again as the club wrestles with financial restrictions, the sale of main marksman Richarlison to Spurs and the outcome of a much-touted strategic review.
I have a feeling that they will have enough to stay up this time, with the additions of James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil.
The last season was 13th.
Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for his country at the Euro 2020 tournament, has been snapped up by Manchester United and helped to finish the season in a good place.
I think the Bees will stay up despite the loss of Eriksen, as manager Thomas Frank showed himself to be a shrewd operator.
They need to keep Ivan Toney up front and add defensive experience with the signings of Ben Mee and Lewis Potter. The forward is going to be watched.
The last season was 17th.
KalvinPhillips and Raphinha, two of the most influential players in the team, have left the club.
This makes life difficult for Jesse Marsch, as he tries to rebuild his life after taking on the mantle of the famous figure of the same name.
The fanatical and unswerving support they receive at home is what will keep them alive. They have to be on Elland Road if they are to survive.
Marsch has brought in two Americans who have worked under him before, as well as a Canadian, to work with him. The same applies to the defender.
A pre-season injury to Luis Sinisterra, who arrived from Feyenoord for over twenty million dollars, could affect the start of the season.
This is a show of faith in Marsch, who wants to be his own person. Some teams need a good start or times could be very difficult.
Patrick has to be kept fit. Don't let Jack Harrison go.
The last season was 15th.
During the last 12 games of the season, the Saints lost nine of them and the manager felt the anger of fans. He's going to be looked at.
He needs a fast start to prove that his reign at St Mary's has not ended.
Teenagers from Manchester City and Bordeaux have arrived in the transfer market thanks to Hasenhuttl. The new defender is only twenty years old. A lot will be expected from Joe Aribo.
James Ward-Prowse has been kept away from the public eye. He will be important to their season and I expect to make sure they don't get into trouble.
I do not think they will be safe.
Championship play-offs winners.
After 23 years in the top flight, the Forest have made a huge splash in the transfer market.
Steve Cooper has been rewarded by the owner with funds that he hopes will prevent Forest from going back to the Championship.
Cooper's rejuvenation was based on great team spirit and there is always risk in adding so many new faces.
In Forest's defence, they had no choice but to embark on this rebuild as seven of the 14 players who took part in the play-off final have left.
The most eye-catching signing is Jesse Lingard. He will have a huge responsibility in this new team.
After the success of last season, even with Cooper's expertise, I worry about the number of players in the squad.
Forest will go down, but I think they can draw other people into that fight and still stay up.
The championship winners last season.
Marco Silva did a great job restoring the club to the top flight, but will face a fight to keep it in the top flight.
The man who scored 43 goals last year is so important. He will have to make a big impact on his return to the top flight, while the Cottagers will have to find a replacement for the talented young player.
It's still hard to see anything other than a fight for survival, and you get the impression the manager feels that.
Runners-up last season.
Scott will have a fight on his hand to avoid the same fate as he did when he was demoted to the second tier of English football.
Much will be dependent on whether Dominic Solanke can transfer the goal touch that made him so potent in the Championship to the top flight.
The major summer arrival is Marcus Tavernier, but the Cherries will need much more.
I don't think survival will be seen as success.
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