Man Utd won’t make top four, City can’t be stopped and Brighton are doomed – SunSport reporters make their Premier League predictions
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THE Premier League returns this weekend as Manchester City look to defend last season's crown.
Pep Guardiola has already added £63m Rodri to his ranks, with the Citizens about to confirm the addition of Portuguese right-back Joao Cancelo to their star-studded squad.
That makes City our reporters' favourites, but what about the chasing pack? Who will finish in the top six?
And who has enough about them to beat the drop?
Looking into our crystal ball, we see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Man Utd FAIL in the quest for Champions League football.
Arsenal, who splashed £72m on exciting winger Nicolas Pepe and brought in playmaker Dani Ceballos on loan will improve and could make the top four.
However, at the other end it's misery for Brighton under Graham Potter, who will rue the day they fired Chris Hughton.
Here's our writers' complete verdict... so look away now Seagulls.
NEIL ASHTON
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Tottenham
4 Arsenal
5 Man Utd
6 Everton
Relegated: Sheffield United, Norwich City, and Brighton
City are relentless and their head coach has an insatiable appetite for winning trophies, at least domestic ones.
Manchester United will get through another coach before a late rally to finish fifth.
Brighton will catch a cold after firing Chris Hughton. Norwich play nice, attractive football but they are too lightweight.
Sheffield United will pull off some shocks with their robust approach, but it will only take them so far.
NEIL CUSTIS
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Tottenham
4 Arsenal
5 Chelsea
6 Man Utd
Relegated: Brighton, Norwich and Newcastle
City remain by far the best team and squad in the Premier League and will win the title by a good distance this coming season.
CHARLIE WYETT
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Tottenham
4 Man Utd
5 Chelsea
6 Leicester.
Relegated: Aston Villa, Brighton, and Burnley
Manchester City will win the title again, Leicester will gatecrash the top six and new boys Villa to suffer relegation despite their Fulham-style big spending.
MIKE MCGRATH
1 Liverpool
2 Manchester City
3 Tottenham
4 Chelsea
5 Leicester
6 Arsenal
Relegated: Brighton, Norwich, and Sheffield United
Jurgen Klopp's players returning from injury will be like new signings and bolster a squad with momentum following their Champions League win.
City could see how important Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph are in their dressing room, while Leicester could gatecrash the top six or higher as Arsenal have not strengthened their defence and United are still building.
PAUL JIGGINS
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Tottenham
4 Man Utd
5 Chelsea
6 Arsenal
Relegated: Brighton, Sheffield United, and Norwich
Much has been made of a new team breaking into the top six, but I can't see it.
As for the relegation places, the way Brighton finished last season they needed Harry Potter not Graham!
PHIL THOMAS
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Man Utd
4 Tottenham
5 Arsenal
6 Chelsea
Relegated: Norwich, Sheffield Utd, and Newcastle
Another two-horse race on the cards and another title for Manchester City at the end of it.
Quite simply Pep Guardiola has a better and deeper squad than Liverpool. Why, then, should the outcome be any different?
Liverpool had a near faultless season last time but couldn’t do it, and will be hard pushed to repeat that.
If Virgil Van Dijk picked up an injury Jurgen Klopp’s men may find their biggest battle is staying in second.
United are sorting out their defence at last and will improve, while Spurs go into it on a much more settled footing than a year ago.
At the other end Norwich and Sheffield United both had fairytale seasons to come up but just don’t look strong enough.
And although Steve Bruce has his dream job at Newcastle, that may well turn into a nightmare. Flirted with the drop last season, expect them to fall through it this year.
ROB MAUL
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Man Utd
4 Tottenham
5 Arsenal
6 Chelsea
Relegated: Burnley, Norwich City, and Sheffield United
Only four clubs have won three English league titles in a row.
Man City are the best team of this generation and though it will be a tight battle with Liverpool, I don’t expect them to loosen their grip on the Premier League.
JUSTIN ALLEN
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Chelsea
4 Tottenham
5 Arsenal
6 Man Utd
Relegated: Norwich, Brighton, and Sheffield Utd
Can't see past City, they're too strong.
Think Frank Lampard is going to surprise people at Chelsea though and nab a top-four spot despite losing Eden Hazard.
Sorry Sheff Utd and Norwich fans, reckon it will be tough for your boys to spend more than one year in the Prem. I fear for Brighton.
JORDAN DAVIES
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Tottenham
4 Arsenal
5 Man Utd
6. Chelsea
Relegated: Brighton, Burnley, and Sheffield Utd
Man City will be keen to add some European silverware to their cabinet, but they are just too good not to be able to fight on several fronts.
Arsenal have bought well and should improve while Chelsea’s ban and inexperienced boss will see them stumble.
Sheffield United simply don’t have the squad, while Burnley and Brighton’s top-flight bubble will finally burst this season.
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BEN HUNT
1 Manchester City
2 Liverpool
3 Arsenal
4 Man Utd
5 Tottenham
6 Everton
Relegated: Brighton, Norwich, and Sheffield Utd
I expect a tough season for Chelsea, with Everton beating them to sixth in the Premier League while at the other end of the table, Brighton’s time could be up.