On the eve of the 2024-25 Premier League season, we asked 30 BBC TV and radio pundits to pick their top four, with explanations for their selections.
Manchester City and Arsenal were the only sides to be selected as our pundits’ title winners, but seven other clubs were considered as potential top-four candidates.
Ex-England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley believes Liverpool and Manchester United will finish third and fourth respectively.
She said: “Liverpool will need to tighten up defensively and be more clinical in front of goal. Moreover, we all know that changes can take time to embed and with Jurgen Klopp gone, Arne Slot’s stylistic changes toward a more controlled approach could mean a lag in performance.
“Inconsistent last season and already plagued by injuries, United are rebuilding. They have made some quality signings over the summer so expect to see some improvements, particularly the additions of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to solidify their defence, but they will still drop points where they shouldn’t.”
Former England defender Anita Asante is backing Newcastle to finish in the top four, as they did in 2022-23.
“Eddie Howe’s side showed lots of promise last season but the injury crisis they had throughout the campaign didn’t help their European qualification ambitions,” she said.
“They are sure to have a big rebound this season with Alexander Isak leading the front line. With a healthy squad and only the Premier League as a primary focus, they are definitely strong contenders to finish in the top four.”
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman agreed, adding: “Isak is key but they’ve got no European football and cannot possibly have the bad luck on the injury front they did last season.”
And former England international Sue Smith is predicting that Tottenham will finish in the top four: “Ange Postecoglou did brilliantly last year when everything looked like it was going to be difficult after they lost their best player and goalscorer, Harry Kane. But Ange came in and was a breath of fresh air, playing football that was great to watch.
“The injuries massively hindered them but you feel with another year under Ange they’ll kick on. Dominic Solanke is a great signing that adds goals to the team. He had a brilliant season last year with 19 goals for Bournemouth and is a player high in confidence.”
Who did our pundits pick as their Premier League top four? Read more here
