Premier League 2022/23 Early Predictions
The Premier League is finally back, promising an unprecedented season with the upcoming pause for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. However, there’s still plenty of intriguing action surrounding Manchester City, especially after the arrival of Erling Haaland in the squad. Liverpool is also hoping to keep up the pace to the end again this season, despite losing Sadio Mane.
Here are early 2022/2023 EPL season predictions as sports fans, punters, and bookmakers continue preparing for a season like no other based on Vwin’s report.
EPL Champions: Manchester City
Manchester City would be the best bet for the EPL championship title in a regular EPL season. There are many uncertainties this season, although many, including Liverpool’s coach Jurgen Klopp, believe that Mancity will end with the title. That doesn’t mean that Klopp’s Liverpool won’t fight them hard, but it’s hard to look past Guardiola’s Champions.
Liverpool and Manchester City are evenly matched this season, so their rivalry will remain entertaining, with Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United competing for UCL spots. Manchester City has already added Erling Haaland to their squad, but it might take some time for the team to adjust to playing with a true No 9.
Champions League Qualification: Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea
The EPL bix six are effectively split into two and four teams in recent seasons, with Manchester City and Liverpool dominating the first two positions over the last four campaigns. Klopp’s team is realistically the only squad with the required excellence to outrank Man City, and it’s hard for the team to slip below the top two following the arrival of Darwin Nunez to soften Mane’s departure.
Beyond that, who dominates positions three to six is anyone’s guess. Tottenham seems well placed for the top three as Antonio Conte appears to have the squad he always wanted after the arrival of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic during the transfer market. Chelsea is another strong contender for the UCL qualifications, with the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling expected to boost their performance.
Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal should be ready to bounce into the top four if things get tough. The Gunners are a little light on the central midfield and attacking firepower, but you can expect them to keep showing progress. Manchester United must also focus on their midfield and attack, although Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial might rediscover their best playing form.
Relegation Teams: Fulham, Bournemouth, Southampton
Choosing newly promoted teams to go down might look as easy as predicting Liverpool and Manchester City to dominate the top two, but the major EPL financial advantages make it hard to bridge the gap. To effectively predict the relegation team, you’ll need to look at some magic over recent years.
After Thomas Frank’s memorable top-flight debut with Brentford and Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds revolution, you can expect Steve Cooper to try and continue improving his Nottingham Forest. Cooper might be among the brightest tactical minds from Britain’s exciting crop of coaches, although there’s still the question of how many players Nottingham Forest has brought in.
Fulham is a great example of what not to do after they went transfer crazy before making a disappointing return to the Championship in 2018. In contrast, there’s been an uncomfortable stasis level at Craven Cottage this season, with May’s entertaining pitch invasions now replaced with the pensiveness of what might happen under tactician Marco Silva.
Manager Scott Parker helped Fulham get their last promotion and led Bournemouth to the EPL’s runners-up next to the west Londoners, adding to his fine bodywork. However, their quiet summer gives them the look of a team seeking to evolve without overly sweating relegation. Two of the new boys may go away and an established name.
Golden Boot Winner: Harry Kane
If Harry Kane got his way last summer, we wouldn’t be talking about Erling Haaland as an EPL player. Kane was Guardiola’s top choice to replace Aguero as Manchester City’s striker because of his ability to operate as a playmaking forward and a traditional number 9. The England captain has displayed that to a sublime extent with his two-goal master class during Tottenham’s 3-2 over Manchester City at Etihad Stadium earlier in February.
Harry Kane started the 2021/2022 EPL season in a malaise while laboring under manager Nuno Espirito Santo, and he’s now back to the Champions League to rack up the scoring charts. However, Nunez and Haaland will be worthy contenders as EPL newcomers, but it seems like they’ll just be learning from the master this season as Harry Kane bags the golden boot.
Player of the year: Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne hit his face on Antonio Rudiger in the 2021 UCL finals before playing for Belgium during the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, dosed up on painkillers. Guardiola’s playmaker seems to be just a husk at the beginning of last season, taking until December to improve his form. However, De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah have dominated the title for EPL player of the season since the 2017/2018 season, and the City’s playmaker is in top shape this season.