Page 156 – The Pulse of Football

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves have it all to do this season having lost key players this summer without really replacing them. Another difficult campaign could be on the cards now that manager Julen Lopetegui walked out on the eve of the 2023/24 kicking off.

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

In the end, a 13th-place finish wasn’t so bad. However, they were just seven points outside of the relegation zone and finished with nine fewer points than the previous campaign (50).

Under Bruno Lage, Wolves got off to a horrific start. They won just three of their opening 18 matches and lost on 10 occasions. Lage was sacked and Steve Davies stepped in as caretaker manager for over a month until the appointment of Lopetegui.

Their form in the second half of the campaign was enough to beat the drop. They beat the likes of Liverpool, Spurs, Aston Villa, Brentford and Chelsea. The key month though was April as they picked up 10 points from a possible 18. It was this run that essentially guaranteed their survival.

Across the board, it was a disappointing season for practically all of the players. Sasa Kalajdzic was signed to lead the line and he picked up an ACL on his debut that ended his season in September. In his absence, Wolves struggled for goals and found the back of the net on just 31 occasions – the lowest of any team in the Premier League. Daniel Podence and Rúben Neves finished as the joint-top scorers with six. Raúl Jiménez and Diego Costa struggled to get on the scoresheet.

Neves was the standout performer in what turned out to be his final season with the club. He claimed the highest average of the season on FotMob (7.34), was one of only three players to create over 30 chances and finished with the highest Expected Assists total (5.2).

What has happened during the summer?

We’ll start with outgoings.

Neves finally left the club. The midfield maestro was linked with Barcelona but made a surprising move to Al-Hilal. He was into the final 12 months of his deal at Molineux and Wolves did manage to pocket a hefty £47million for their captain. All things considered, it was good business. Though he does need to be replaced.

Nathan Collins also departed. Brentford paid a club record fee (£23million) to bring the centre-back to the club just 12 months after Wolves signed him from Burnley for a reported £20million.

The 22-year-old made 26 appearances for Wolves last season and was part of the first-team picture. As of yet, no replacement has been signed for him.

Raúl Jiménez left to join Fulham and former club captain Conor Coady returned from his loan spell with Everton to be sold to Leicester City.

Wolves haven’t done much in the transfer market yet to combat these departures. Boubacar Traoré arrived from Metz. He’s a defensive midfielder and could fill the void, positionally, left by Neves. He doesn’t exactly share a playing profile with the Portuguese playmaker though.

Matt Doherty returned to the club after a brief stint with Atlético Madrid.

Then, with the Premier League season just a couple of days away, Lopetegui parted ways with the club. According to reports, the former Spain boss felt let down by the owners in the market this summer. Gary O’Neil, formerly of Bournemouth, is expected to replace him.

What they should be aiming for next season?

This is another team who struggled last season and have now weakened their side while their manager isn’t at the previous level. Kalajdzic is an unknown in the league but there’s a huge overreliance on him to deliver. If he fails or struggles, where are the goals going to come from? Without goals, it is a case of keeping clean sheets and Wolves weren’t necessarily good at that last season, conceding 58 goals in their 38 matches.

It isn’t Kalajdzic or bust but this team won’t be far off that.

Prediction

17th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Think you know better than our Premier League expert? Then play the FotMob Predictor Game and decide where your team will finish this season! Find the game in the More tab of the FotMob app, which you can download, for free, right here.

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: West Ham United

It was a season of two halves for West Ham United last term. This time around, they are going to want a little more consistency. They will need it if they are going to avoid a relegation scrap.

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

In the end, the Hammers were able to coast to a 14th place finish in the Premier League having collected 40 points. David Moyes also guided his team to a historic Europa Conference League triumph. All in all, it was a successful campaign for West Ham.

At one stage, though, it looked as though Moyes would be sacked.

West Ham won just four of their opening 15 matches in the Premier League, losing on nine occasions and reports emerged to suggest the former Manchester United boss was going to be replaced. He managed to turn it around though.

Their form after the turn of the year probably saved them from relegation. The Hammers picked up 20 points (half of their entire haul for the campaign) across 14 matches. For context, had they managed that sort of form for the entire season, they would’ve finished 10th on 54 points.

A lot of players struggled last term, but Jarrod Bowen still managed to catch the eye. He found the back of the net on six occasions and registered five assists on his way to a 6.97 FotMob rating. Bowen and Said Benrahma both created 48 chances last term but the former had the higher xA (6.0 to 3.3). He was comfortably the team’s best creator as well as one of their biggest goal threats.

It will come as no surprise to find out that Declan Rice topped the charts with 7.4 after an utterly dominant display in the middle third during his final season with the club.

What has happened during the summer?

Well, after weeks of negotiations, West Ham sold Rice to Arsenal for a British record fee, believed to be in the region of £105million. Replacing the former captain is going to be difficult and the Hammers haven’t had much luck yet.

They tried to sign João Palhinha but were priced out of a move by Fulham. Tyler Adams has been mentioned but at the time of writing, West Ham are yet to make a signing (Editor’s note – deals in principle have now been signed with Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse).

They also lost Manuel Lanzini with the attacking midfielder returning to his native Argentina. He may not have been a key player for the Hammers but he did make 23 appearances last term and he chipped in with three goals.

What they should be aiming for next season?

This is a difficult one. Right now, the squad is weaker than it was during the 2022/23 campaign and that was a season in which they massively struggled. Suggesting they should be aiming for a mid-table finish would be naive and it would suggest the situation hasn’t been properly analysed. However, it does feel like a squad made up of such talent should be aiming much higher than just survival.

They might find themselves in mid-table obscurity though simply because other teams are far worse than them. That isn’t exactly a bad place to be in.

Prediction

10th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Tottenham Hotspur

To say last season was disappointing for Tottenham Hotspur would be a massive understatement. Under new management this term, they are going to want to get back on track but that is easier said than done.

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

Spurs went into the season with aspirations of a top-four finish under Antonio Conte. The Italian tactician had been backed in the market and had players to suit his system.

They actually got off to a fine start under the former Inter boss, kicking off with a seven-match unbeaten run and picking up 17 points before it all imploded. Conte was sacked in March after an inconsistent period. Spurs lost eight games during an 18-match period. They also allowed a 3-1 lead to slip against Southampton in what turned out to be the 54-year-old’s last game in charge.

Cristian Stellini, Conte’s assistant, was appointed as interim manager but he lasted just four matches. He was dismissed following back-to-back losses to Bournemouth (3-2) and Newcastle (6-1). Ryan Mason then saw out the season in charge. He picked up seven points from his six games at the helm.

In the end, Tottenham could only manage an eighth-placed finish, amassing 60 points, 11 fewer than the season prior. Spurs had real issues defensively and conceded 63 goals, the most of any team in the top 10. In fact, only five teams conceded more and that included all three of the relegated clubs.

Things would’ve been much worse had it not been for the exploits of Harry Kane in the final third. The England captain found the back of the net on 30 occasions – the most since the 2017/18 campaign – and he claimed the highest average rating for a Spurs player on FotMob with 7.64.

Ivan Perišić, in his debut campaign for the club, finished as the player with the most assists (eight). However, Heung-Min Son was the player who created the most chances (61) while Kane created the most big chances (14).

What has happened during the summer?

Spurs finally appointed a full-time manager. The club settled on Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou after the 57-year-old caught the eye with his brand of football in Glasgow. If he’s able to put his stamp on things, the team will be playing attractive football in no time.

Tottenham have been fairly busy in the transfer market too. For starters, they turned Pedro Porro and Dejan Kuluevski’s loan deals into permanent ones. They also pipped Newcastle United to the signature of James Maddison and moved to bring Guglielmo Vicario in from Empoli for £20million. He’s expected to succeed Hugo Lloris as the club’s No.1 moving forward.

Manor Solomon arrived on a free transfer following a loan spell with Fulham in what was something of a surprise move. The explosive winger could be one of the shrewdest signings of the summer.

Lucas Moura departed on a free while Harry Winks was sold to Leicester City following a loan stint in Italy. And then there’s the big one – with the news breaking today that after a long negotiation period, a fee has been agreed for the sale of Harry Kane to German champions, Bayern Munich.

What they should be aiming for next season?

This depends entirely on how quickly Postecoglou can make his mark.

If it is seamless, a push for European football is on the cards for this talented group, perhaps even a top four charge. If it takes a little time, there’s still enough quality within the squad for a finish in the top seven, although that is contingent on them keeping Kane at the club, or rushing through a deal for a suitable replacement.

Prediction

7th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Sheffield United

Sheffield United made it back to the Premier League after a two-year spell in the second tier, but it is going to be even more difficult for them to remain in the English top-flight.

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

Sheffield United started the 2022/23 campaign in the Championship as one of the favourites to make the play-offs following a fifth-place showing the season before. They finished the campaign in second place with 91 points.

Their promotion was built on the foundations of a good start. They lost their opener to Watford (1-0) but then went on a 10-match unbeaten run, picking up 24 points. In fact, the Blades kept putting together decent blocks of form. For example, across November and December, they won eight of nine matches and this overlapped another 10-game unbeaten streak. They also finished the season with nine wins from 12.

They did fairly well against promotion rivals. For example, they romped to a 5-2 win over Burnley at home, beat Sunderland in both fixtures and beat Coventry at Bramall Lane. Their form against the bottom five is what it needed to be though. So many teams drop silly points in these games but Paul Heckingbottom’s men lost just one of their ten matches.

Star of the show for the Blades was Iliman Ndiaye. He was the club’s top scorer with 14 and he also topped the charts for assists (10). However, it was Oliver Norwood who claimed the highest average rating of the campaign (7.63). The midfielder created 82 chances across the season and finished with an Expected Assists total of 9. He was the man pulling the strings in the middle third. One interesting metric to note was that no player in the entire league averaged more successful tackles than Max Lowe (2.7)

What has happened during the summer?

Reports had seemed to suggest Ndiaye would get the iconic No.10 jersey at Bramall Lane and then Marseille came calling. The Blades ‘reluctantly’ accepted the bid for the 23-year-old and allowed him to sign for his boyhood club. While Sheffield United did receive a fee rumoured to be in the region of £15million, and this is going to be reinvested in the squad, this is going to be a blow to their survival hopes.

After all, he was their main man last term.

The club haven’t done much in the transfer market yet but they have made some signings. Auston Trusty, a centre-back, joined from Arsenal while Bénie Traoré, a centre-forward, moved from Häcken in Sweden. Sheffield United continued their Scandinavian raid by signing midfielder Anis Slimane from Brøndby.

They have also brought in Troyes full-back Yasser Larouci on loan.

Their squad has been strengthened but is it Premier League ready?

What they should be aiming for next season?

It isn’t glamorous and expectations, in an ideal world, should be much higher, but Premier League survival should be the aim. Anything more is a bonus.

This is Heckingbottom’s debut campaign as a manager in the top-flight and a lot of these players won’t have top-flight experience either, so it is going to be interesting to see how the squad copes with the demands and rigours of the Premier League, especially given this is still primarily a Championship squad. A talented squad at that, but still a second tier group.

Prediction

19th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest’s decision to basically sign everyone and anyone last summer eventually paid off. Steve Cooper kept them in the Premier League and they now have the opportunity to consolidate their position in the English top-flight. But the second season can often be more difficult than the first as a number of teams have found out in the past.

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

Forest eventually finished in 16th position, four points clear of the drop zone. This was a brilliant achievement for a side tipped by many to finish at the foot of the table.

For a period of time, it did look as though they would be playing Championship football during the 2023/24 campaign. Cooper’s side won just one of their opening 12 matches and picked up just six points during this period.

Their form in January and May definitely saved them. They picked up 11 points from a possible 15 after the turn of the year and eight from a possible 12 to finish the season.

The 19 points from these nine matches account for half of their haul for the season (38) and highlight just how invaluable these periods were for the team.

Nottingham Forest were heavily reliant on their home form too. They picked up eight of their nine wins at the City Ground.

If they hope to survive again this year, they are going to have to do something about their defence. They were breached on 68 occasions last season, and only three teams in the English top-flight conceded more goals. Furthermore, they were one of the lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League, finding the back of the net 38 times, a total only four teams failed to match.

Despite this, they did manage to pick up wins over Liverpool, Brighton and Arsenal while also drawing with eventual champions Manchester City.

Key to their survival were the goals of Taiwo Awoniyi. The summer signing finished the season with 10 goals and four of them were match winners. Morgan Gibbs-White also made quite the impression during his debut season with the club, creating 67 chances and chipping in with eight assists.

However, perhaps surprisingly, Serge Aurier had the highest average FotMob rating (7.04).

What has happened during the summer?

This summer has been a much calmer one for Forest.

So far, they have made just four signings. Chris Wood made his loan move from Newcastle United into a permanent one with Forest forking out £15million to secure the services of the centre-forward.

Anthony Elanga, rumoured to be a target for Everton, made the switch from Manchester United for a similar fee. He’s an exciting talent who could blend well with the attacking unit at the City Ground.

Ola Aina returned to England too. The right-back came through the ranks at Chelsea before moving to Totino, he’s now back in the Premier League having made the move on a free transfer.

And finally, this week, Matt Turner, the USMNT goalkeeper joined from Arsenal in a permanent move.

Forest have, unfortunately, lost some key players during the transfer window. Renan Lodi and Keylor Navas returned to their respective clubs following their loan spells. Jesse Lingard also departed after a one-year stint with the club, he failed to have the desired impact on the team after joining from Manchester United last summer. Finally, Sam Surridge left to join Nashville.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Their first objective for the season should be survival. Once that is assured, a mid-table push is well within their grasp given they have been able to keep a number of their highly-rated players.

This appears to be a settled team now and they have Premier League experience and know-how. This should work in their favour and make the 2023/24 campaign a much more enjoyable one with no real threat of relegation.

Prediction

12th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Aug

2023

Leagues Cup – R16 Player Power Rankings

The tournament that has been Lionel Messi’s introduction to American soccer reaches its final stages following three weeks of matches between teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX.

This is the third edition of the Leagues Cup, but the first in such an expanded format involving all teams from both leagues in a World Cup, condensed Champions League-style tournament.

It has been no surprise to see Messi emerge as the star of the show, but there have been plenty of impressive performances so far.

Our Player Power rankings take a look at some of the best from the Round of 16.

By James Nalton, MLS expert

Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC)

MLS star and Los Angeles FC wide forward Bouanga was a late arrival to the Leagues Cup as his team, along with Mexican club Pachuca, were given a bye to the knockout rounds.

Bouanga has wasted no time in showing he, not Messi, could end up being the star player of this tournament.

In the two games LAFC has played, Bouanga has scored five goals.

He netted a hat-trick in the first knockout round as LAFC dismantled FC Juarez 7-1, and then went on to score twice in the Round of 16 against Real Salt Lake.

The 28-year-old Frenchman also registered an assist in both of those games, giving him seven goal contributions in total from two games (Messi has eight in four games).

We could well be on course for an LAFC versus Inter Miami, Bouanga versus Messi final.

Mateusz Bogusz (Los Angeles FC)

The 21-year-old Poland youth international has played a number of positions for LAFC since his arrival from Leeds United earlier this year, but this game showed his most useful role might be in midfield.

Bogusz assisted two of the goals in LAFC’s 4-0 win against RSL, creating five chances in total.

The first was a long-range pass over the top of the defence to set Bouanga free, the second invited Filip Krastev to make it 4-0 to finish the game off.

His five shots on goal were a reminder of his attacking instincts, and he might be disappointed not to have ended the game with a goal to go with his assists.

The signing of Bogusz sees LAFC continue to recruit well, and it now has another player on its hands who can help the team in its quest to win trophies.

Given the number of options the club now has in the forward line, Bogusz could be set to thrive in this midfield role from now on.

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

It has been a dream start in ~~MLS~~ the Leagues Cup for Messi following his high-profile move to American soccer this summer.

It could not have been scripted any better as he came off the bench on his debut against Cruz Azul to score a free kick to win the game for Inter Miami in the 94th minute.

The story has continued in much the same vein as the club’s new captain has scored twice in each of his three games since that opener.

His two goals against FC Dallas in the Round of 16 this week were not enough to give his side the win within 90 minutes in a dramatic game that finished 4-4, but he did score another free kick that tied the scores and take it to penalties.

Miami scored all of theirs, with Messi stepping up to net the first, and the team with its new star remains on course to secure its first trophy.

Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)

Left-back remains a great source of creativity for Philadelphia Union, both in open play and from set pieces, thanks to Wagner.

In the Leagues Cup last 16 against New York Red Bulls, the German full-back sent in a number of dangerous corner kicks before one was eventually converted by Nathan Harriel.

Wagner finished the game having touched the ball 80 times, such is his involvement in the team’s attack, and having created six chances in total.

He remains the club’s biggest chance creator in the Leagues Cup, as he is in MLS.

Only Leonardo Suárez of Club América (14) and Jefferson Savarino of Real Salt Lake (14) have created more chances than Wagner’s 13 in the tournament so far.

Bernard Kamungo (FC Dallas)

There are a number of Liga MX forwards who could have featured in the Player Power rankings for this round, including Sergio Canales and Julian Quinones, but the story of FC Dallas forward Kamungo cannot be ignored.

Kamungo and his family moved to Texas from a Tanzanian refugee camp in 2016, and he immediately impressed in high school football.

A trial with North Texas SC, the reserve team of FC Dallas, was enough to convince the club to sign him in 2021, and he went on to score 16 goals in 25 games in MLS Next Pro in 2022.

Promotion to the FC Dallas first team was the natural next step, and having worked his way into the side for MLS games as the 2023 season has progressed, Kamungo has gone on to star in the Leagues Cup with two goals and three assists in four games.

Only Messi’s brilliance prevented Kamungo’s side from progressing further, as he scored one of the goals in that 4-4 thriller.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Leagues Cup live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Newcastle United

Newcastle United had a fairytale 2022/23 campaign but this has now skewed hopes and expectations for the upcoming 2023/24 season. How will the manager and the players deal with the new pressures?

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

After Eddie Howe guided the Magpies to a mid-table finish during the 2021/22 season, many expected Newcastle to consolidate their position in the Premier League table before making a push for Europe in a year or two.

Few had them down as finishing in the Champions League places but that is exactly what happened. Yes, the Toon Army spent a bit of money to bring in the likes of Alexander Isak but Howe did a magnificent job with a number of players he inherited to guide his side to a fourth-place finish.

For a bit of context here, Newcastle conceded the joint fewest goals (33) along with Manchester City. They also lost the joint fewest number of matches (5), sharing this record with the eventual champions.

Howe’s side suffered just one defeat in their opening 23 matches in the Premier League and, at one stage, went on a 17-game unbeaten run to really announce themselves as genuine contenders for a place in the top four. They also went all the way to the Carabao Cup final.

A resilient defence and a well-structured shape were the foundations for their success, they did have a lot of fun in the final third on occasion. They romped to big wins over Brighton (4-1) and Spurs (6-1), beat Manchester United 2-0 and played out a 3-3 draw with Manchester City.

Newcastle had three players hit double figures with Callum Wilson (18), Miguel Almirón (11) and Isak (10), all getting in on the act. The latter impressed in his debut campaign in England despite injury.

However, none of these three weren’t the highest-rated Newcastle player per the FotMob ratings. That honour belonged to Kieran Trippier (7.74). The England right-back was a creative menace for the Magpies, finishing with seven assists. He also racked up 24 big chances created, 110 chances created, and created chances worth 11.8 Expected Assists.

What has happened during the summer?

Considering there is Champions League football on offer and Newcastle United have the funds to attract a lot of players, they haven’t done much business this summer.

Howe missed out on rumoured top targets James Maddison and Dominik Szoboszlai. The former went to Spurs while the latter made the move to Liverpool.

Newcastle did manage to pry Sandro Tonali away from AC Milan though in a deal believed to be worth in the region of £55million. Bringing the talented 23-year-old to St James’ Park is considered quite the coup.

They have also added Harvey Barnes to their ranks. The former Leicester City winger, who scored 13 times last season, is a shrewd addition to the squad and will bolster their attacking ranks ahead of their Champions League campaign. The 25-year-old joined for a reported £38million and will likely fill the void left by Allan Saint-Maximim.

The flamboyant Frenchman has moved to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Ahli after four years with the club. He lacked output and managed just 12 goals for the Magpies in the league. As exciting as he was, the addition of Barnes gives Newcastle more of a goal threat.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Matching what they achieved last season will be difficult. Howe’s side are going to have to contend with European football and the extra demands this places on players. Teams also know what to expect from this Newcastle side now. There wasn’t exactly an element of surprise there but the opposition will adapt to combat Howe and his team now, and this might take some time to get used to.

The Magpies haven’t exactly bolstered their squad much ahead of the new campaign either. So a combination of things could see them struggle to hit the heights of last season.

Prediction

9th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Manchester United

Erik Ten Hag’s debut season as Manchester United manager was a successful one but there’s going to be increased pressure on the Dutch tactician this time out. How he and the players deal with it will be interesting.

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

Manchester United claimed a third-place finish in the Premier League and secured Champions League football. On that alone, it was a successful campaign.

The former Ajax man also guided the Red Devils to Carabao Cup success and reached the FA Cup final.

It was a strange campaign though in terms of results. They lost heavily to Brentford (4-0), Manchester City (6-3) and Liverpool (7-0) but also managed to pick up 2-1 wins over the latter two.

Only Newcastle United and Man City conceded fewer goals than United but their return of 58 could be beaten by six of the top 10, while ninth-placed Brentford scored the same number of goals. In truth, United struggled for consistency last season but, somehow, did enough to claim a top-four place. Their longest unbeaten run was just six games.

Marcus Rashford had a career-best season, netting 17 times in the Premier League. He was the only United player to hit double figures in the league though and this will no doubt be something Ten Hag looks to improve this season. The England international, perhaps surprisingly, didn’t manage the highest-rated average though. Bruno Fernandes (7.8) did.

In fact, the new United captain had the highest average of any player in the league last term, really highlighting his importance to the Red Devils.

What has happened during the summer?

Ten Hag has delved into the transfer market once again to splash the cash.

André Onana joined from Inter Milan for a reported fee of £44million. The one-time Ajax shot-stopper reunites with Ten Hag and replaces David De Gea as the club’s undisputed No.1. The former Atlético Madrid goalkeeper had initially been offered a new deal at Old Trafford but that was pulled by the club and he was allowed to leave on a free.

Mason Mount swapped the blue of Chelsea for the red of Manchester United this summer. Having rejected a contract extension at Stamford Bridge, the Blues sold him for an initial £55million. The 24-year-old claimed the iconic No.7 jersey and looks set to play a key role for the Red Devils moving forward.

Rasmus Højlund has finally finalised his £64million move from Atalanta. The versatile forward has impressed over the last 12 months and has the potential to lead the line at Old Trafford for the next decade if he develops as expected.

According to reports, another midfielder is being lined up with United being linked to both Sofyan Amrabat and Roméo Lavia while Harry Maguire could be sold if a good enough offer arrives.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Is it too early for a title challenge? With the money United have spent over the past 12 months, you are kind of hoping for more than just a top-four challenge, aren’t you?

The core group is now made up of players signed by the former Ajax boss. A top four finish is the bare minimum at this stage. They need to be pushing for an 80+ point season and seeing where it gets them. There needs to be some return for the outlay else questions will be asked.

Prediction

4th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Manchester United

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

Manchester United claimed a third-place finish in the Premier League and secured Champions League football. On that alone, it was a successful campaign.

The former Ajax man also guided the Red Devils to Carabao Cup success and reached the FA Cup final.

It was a strange campaign though in terms of results. They lost heavily to Brentford (4-0), Manchester City (6-3) and Liverpool (7-0) but also managed to pick up 2-1 wins over the latter two.

In fact, the new United captain had the highest average of any player in the league last term, really highlighting his importance to the Red Devils.

What has happened during the summer?

Ten Hag has delved into the transfer market once again to splash the cash.

According to reports, another midfielder is being lined up with United being linked to both Sofyan Amrabat and Roméo Lavia while Harry Maguire could be sold if a good enough offer arrives.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Is it too early for a title challenge? With the money United have spent over the past 12 months, you are kind of hoping for more than just a top-four challenge, aren’t you?

Prediction

4th.

(Images from IMAGO)

Aug

2023

Premier League Predictions: Manchester City

Manchester City completed football last season so it is going to be interesting to see how hungry this group of players is this time around. If they aren’t completely focused, they could relinquish their grip on the Premier League title.

By Sam McGuire

How the team did last season

Pep Guardiola’s side looked off the pace early on and found themselves five points behind Arsenal in the race for the title when the Premier League paused for the World Cup break.

As usual, though, they eventually clicked into gear. In the 24 English top-flight matches the team played following the mid-season break, City won 18 and this included a winning run of 12 games between February and May.

Erling Haaland broke the Premier League goalscoring record, finding the back of the net on 36 occasions. The former Borussia Dortmund striker involved himself in 44 goals last term and claimed a FotMob rating of 7.76. Only one player in the entire Premier League managed a higher average.

City had to switch the system mid-way through the campaign to get themselves back on track but it paid off. Guardiola was using Nathan Ake as a left-back and John Stones as an inverted right-back, making a 3-2-2-3 shape in possession. It turned out to be a masterstroke as both players had a key role in the Citizens going on to win a historic treble.

The most important month for City was in April. They started off with a 4-1 win over Liverpool and then finished it off with a 4-1 win over Arsenal to really assert their dominance in the Premier League.

What has happened during the summer?

Not as much as you would’ve thought.

The reigning champions have only been able to add Mateo Kovačić to their ranks. The former Chelsea man will boost Guardiola’s midfield options but he’s one of only two new faces through the door at the time of writing.

Compatriot Joško Gvardiol is the other, with the arrival of a new left-sided centre-back meaning there’s an expectation that Aymeric Laporte will leave the club. There is still uncertainty over whether or not Bernardo Silva will seek a transfer with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly keen. If he does depart, expect City to make a move for a left-sided attacker with both Michael Olise and Jeremy Doku mooted as possibilities.

City have already sold Riyad Mahrez to Al-Ahli for a fee believed to be in the region of £30million while İlkay Gündoğan left on a free transfer to join Barcelona.

What they should be aiming for next season?

City will always be title favourites. They have a stacked squad and they have the money to make a transfer happen out of nothing if they’re ever a little short towards the end of the transfer window, it is exactly what they did with Manuel Akanji last season.

They have the experience and the know-how to go on long winning runs. They also possess the most dangerous striker in world football in Haaland. With him at their disposal, they’re always going to be amongst the goals and goals win you games.

The only real question mark is whether or not they’re going to be up for the fight again after a long 2022/23 season. It can take a lot out of teams.

Prediction

1st.

(Images from IMAGO)