 WHO WILL WIN PREMIER LEAGUE 2021-22?

by Stefan Attard

After the football feast that we witnessed at the EURO 2020, us Manchester United fans are all counting down the days to Saturday the 14th of August for the return of the English Premier League as our attention now shifts to who will be crowned as English champions.

Manchester City will be looking to reclaim their title, though the likes of Chelsea Liverpool and more importantly Manchester United are set to pose threats to their crown.

Manchester City are the overwhelming favourites with the bookmakers (4/6) to win the Premier League title for the fourth time in five seasons. Pep Guardiola’s side will begin their campaign on Sunday 15 August away to Tottenham Hotspur ‑ a fixture they lost last season.

European champions Chelsea have odds of 5/1 to win the title and will certainly fancy their chances under Thomas Tuchel. The Blues beat City in the league, FA Cup and Champions League final in the space of six weeks last season but were fortunate to finish in the top four after losing at Aston Villa on the final day of the season, as Leicester conceded three late goals to Spurs and fourth place to the Blues.

Liverpool are also 5/1 to win back their title after their defence of the trophy hit severe turbulence midway through last season. They recovered to clinch a top-four place by winning their last five games of the season but finished 17 points adrift of City in third.

Manchester United finished second behind their neighbours and are 8/1 to claim the title. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side kick off their campaign at home to fierce rivals Leeds United. It is unlikely that there will be a winner other than the aforementioned teams with the bookies putting Tottenham 40/1, FA Cup winners Leicester City 50/1 and Arsenal, who are without European football for the first time in 25 years, at 50/1.

Manchester City seem to be heavy favourites with the bookies to successfully defend their title and be crowned Premier League champions for an eighth time. Pep Guardiola’s side finished 12 points ahead of crosstown rivals Manchester United after a topsy-turvy start to the season severely impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

But the Citizens managed to cement their status as clear-cut frontrunners towards the back end of the campaign, and they will no doubt be raring to reclaim the crown. They narrowly missed out on clinching the coveted domestic quadruple - winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – ultimately falling short of Champions League triumph, losing to Chelsea in the final. Throughout this summer’s transfer window, our neighbours are looking to strengthen their squad with England duo Harry Kane and Jack Grealish. If they manage to sign these world-class talents, they are likely to go all-out again this year.

Liverpool’s attempt at a title defence ultimately ended up being a disappointing one, as the Reds had an inconsistent and, at times, awry 2020-21 campaign despite starting it off strongly; their capabilities of even finishing in the top four a doubt after a dramatic dip in form were caused partly by the absence of defensive mainstay Virgil van Dijk. They, however, managed to claim a third-placed finish in the final day of the season after a last-gasp push – and Klopp’s side could very well keep up the momentum this year. At the time of writing, Liverpool acquired just one signing with Ibrahima Konate joining the Merseyside club for £36m. Liverpool however lost Gini Wijnaldum who was very influential in his 5 years at the club. There is no denying that the Reds find themselves with a gaping hole in the middle of the park and undoubtedly they are desperate to see an ambitious signing to fill the gap. Compared to what rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have done in the transfer market, it seems that Liverpool need to do more to challenge their rivals.

Chelsea are also 5/1 to be crowned Premier League winners following Thomas Tuchel’s tremendous success with the London club, the German successfully winning the Champions League in his debut season.

The Blues are expected to challenge for more titles with an impressive roster of young forward talent, and if Tuchel’s side already got the better of Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League final, they could very well dethrone them in the Premier League as well. Following last year’s incredible transfer window, it is interesting to see what investments they will be doing this summer. The attack seems to be the only ‘weakness’ in this formidable Chelsea side. Chelsea are rumoured to be interested in Haaland; however, following last season’s expenditure coupled by Dortmund’s selling of Jadon Sancho, it seems unlikely that this transfer will happen this summer. If Chelsea manage to land a prolific striker they will certainly be genuine title contenders.

At the time of writing Man Utd are 8/1 to lift their first Premier League trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of the club. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had his fair share of

critics, and the Europa League 2021 final loss will mean even more pressure mounting on him to deliver silverware. The Red Devils did finish second in the Premier League and it seems that uncertain times at Old Trafford are over. Indeed, I am a firm believer that something nice is brewing up at OT and our beloved manager has more glory in store for Manchester United.

This transfer window has turned out to be very different from those in recent memory. Apart from signing world class exciting players in Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane, I am very impressed that the club has managed to do so without being held to ransom. The fact that both players expressed their desire to join Manchester United is also a good sign that the club is heading in the right direction. I am sure that this season will be an exciting and a successful one for our beloved team!

Who are the outsiders to win the Premier League? Tottenham are 40/1 to be Premier League champions for the first ever time, following Jose Mourinho’s unceremonious dismissal from the club in 2021 with former Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo now taking on the reins. Santo impressed with former club Wolves, but whether he will be able to replicate the success with a heavyweight side club like Tottenham, who finished in disappointing seventh place, is another question. He will be facing problems if Harry Kane does indeed decide to leave Tottenham for another club this summer – but perhaps an armour change is just what Spurs need.

Arsenal and Leicester are both 50/1 to win the Premier League, with Arsenal’s miserable 8thplaced finish being compounded by a lack of qualification for European competition. Mikel Arteta will be expected to at least inspire the Gunners into making a push for a top-four spot, so winning the Premier League outright this coming season might be too big of an ask.

Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester were surprise contenders to keep the pressure up on Manchester City at the top of the table last season, and were early favourites to secure a top-four spot at the expense of Chelsea or Liverpool. But the Foxes’ magnificent Premier League run - and Champions League hopes - all came undone towards the end of the campaign, when they failed to win their remaining games in hand to finish in the top four. Rodgers’ side could very well make another push for top four again this season, but if a fourth‑placed finish is unfeasible, so is winning the league.

Upon looking at the potential Premier League winners it is very hard to predict a winner other than the previous season’s top 4. I personally think that this year the gap at the top will shorten significantly and the title race will go down to the wire. I also firmly believe that Manchester United can go all the way as the team that Ole managed to assemble is arguably the strongest that we have had since the title winning side of 2013. Here’s to an exciting and successful season ahead! Glory Glory Man United!