1 - Chelsea
Although I should probably declare an interest, as a Chelsea fan, I don’t see anyone touching us this season. We have bought well and have a manager who gets the most out of his players: all things being equal Chelsea look like the best bet for the title across an entire season. Adding Morata, Hazard etc. into that team is scary and Chelsea will challenge on all fronts this year.
2 - Manchester United
Ten years ago United’s preachy fans used to boast about not buying the title: how times have changed (well actually they haven’t because United are really bad at buying the title). Unfortunately they have managed to spend pretty well and seem certain to be in the top 4 this season; I reckon Mourinho is destined for 2nd and another league cup (a trophy he wins for fun and no one else seems to give a shit about).
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3 - Spurs
As a Chelsea fan I feel slightly dirty putting Tottenham this high: I would be much happier dealing with the old Spurs who would play some good football, yet agonizingly finish 5th each year. This team is different and given their propensity to scam the Manchester clubs out of obscene amounts of money for average players (Kyle Walker I am looking at you), I wouldn’t be surprised to see them challenge Chelsea for the title again.
4 - Arsenal
Wenger will complete the next phase of his master plan to remain in the Arsenal job forever (even after the shaky start they've had): reclaiming fourth, yet winning nothing. Some Arsenal fans will consider it a success and some will consider it a failure. Personally, I will miss what has commonly become known as Arsenal time: that wonderful period in March, where from being on for the quadruple Arsenal suddenly drop out of every competition.
5 - Everton
Koeman is a great manager and he is a striker away from doing something special with Everton: they have bought well and will be a thorn in the side of every big team this season. Although I think they will get close, I don’t see them quite making the top 4 cut, although watch this space, because if they can find a 20 goal a season striker that all changes.
6 - Liverpool
Liverpool is destined to be distracted by the Champions League this season: they will go far in Europe, without winning it, but their league position will suffer. So despite all the positivity surrounding Klopp, it will be Thursday nights and channel 5 in 2018, which everyone else will thoroughly enjoy.
7 - Manchester City
You probably expected to see them earlier, but you would be wrong: despite spending nigh on 200 million (mostly on fullbacks): City is no closer to solving the major issues that faced them last season. They remain catastrophic through the middle of the defense with Kompany always injured and their new keeper looking as shaky as the old one. Combine that with two injury prone strikers and more attacking midfielders than you need and you get an overrated Spanish manager heading to the exit door by June, next year. After a strong start to the year, expect them to tail off soon and hit a flat patch.
8 - Swansea
Paul Clement is a good manager and looks like stealing £50 million from Everton for a certain Icelandic midfielder. Combine that money with the best young striker in England (Tammy Abraham) and you get a safe top 10 finish.
9 - Crystal Palace
After losing De Boer will get the undoubted talent in the Palace team humming and lead them to one of their best seasons in recent memory. Although, that isn’t difficult given the litany of failed seasons he is competing against.
10 - Stoke
Mark Hughes is a safe pair of hands that always takes Stoke to about 10th: there won’t be any change this year as that is where they will end up.
11 - West Brom
Tony Pulis master of the first half of the season will bore us to an 11th place finish: with 90% of West Brom’s goals coming from headers. Eventually the fans will get frustrated and ask for more, which in most cases leads to relegation and people reminiscing about the good old days (see Blackburn/Bolton etc.).
12 - Bournemouth
Eddie Howe is a great manager and everyone hopes that he gets a big job one day: his Bournemouth team will win a lot and lose a lot, but easily stay safe.
13 - West Ham
Destined for another disappointing season: what will be their excuse this time? (Now that they are used to the size of their pitch). Much to everyone’s disappointment they won’t get relegated: so expect the usual bleating about good football being the ‘West Ham way’.
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14 - Burnley
Everyone secretly wants Burnley to do well: luckily they will thanks to their exceptional manager the ginger Mourinho. At some point they will be in danger, but they won’t panic, which in the end will ensure that they don’t get relegated.
15 - Huddersfield
I like David Wagner and think that he will surprise everyone and keep Huddersfield up: don’t ask me how, it’s just a feeling. But it will give us the Premier League’s fairytale for the year: and you can be sure that every neutral will want them to do well.
16 - Southampton
Southampton has been living the football good life for the past 5 years: unfortunately it will come to an end this season and they will return to the relegation scrap days of old. But they will just about scrape out of it: although they need to sell Van Dijk quick or a poisonous atmosphere may develop at the club.
17 - Newcastle
Newcastle will just about manage to stay in the division: although it will be a close run thing. But that makes me kind of happy: they are a big club with good fans and as funny as it is to see them struggle, the Premier League is worse off in the long run.
18 - Brighton
Tragic, but obvious, Brighton will go down: a horribly unlucky 18th place finish will subject them to a year of Championship football next year. But I am sure their fans will enjoy every second of their Premier League adventure.
19 - Leicester
How the mighty have fallen: just 2 years after winning the Premier League, Leicester is destined for relegation. Personally I am glad though: they deserve it having brutally disposed of Ranieri last year.
20 - Watford
Watford is about to discover what changing your manager every year brings: this is the season it goes wrong and everything collapses around them. Ahh well: nobody really cared for them anyway!