Here are the predictions you’ve all been waiting for… The Anfield Index writers have put their forecasts on the record for all of you to judge in May. Let us know what we got wrong in the comments below.
Adam Petruccione (@adampetruccione)
Top 4:
1. Manchester City
2. Arsenal
3. Spurs
4. Manchester United
Relegation:
18. West Brom
19. Burnley
20. Brighton
POTY: Alexis Sanchez
YPOTY: Tommy Abraham
Champions League: Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola will prove to be the best… person at spending billions of pounds.  City are likely to have a deep run through the Champions League and that will take some toll on their Premier League run, but no squad has more depth than the sky blues.  Assuming the Gunners hold onto Alexis Sanchez, they’ll have enough to get back into the top-4, building on a solid run to close last season. Spurs haven’t added much or even replaced their losses for that matter, but they know that and they’ll focus their efforts on the EPL as they did in 2016/17.  Expect a Monaco-like exodus for Spurs next summer.  United, Liverpool and Chelsea will battle for Champions League places until the end. Lukaku isn’t going to knit everything together for United, but he’ll add enough to get them over the line.
Liverpool haven’t added the attacking depth to cover for defensive errors and injuries that are sure to come at some point, while Chelsea’s internal distractions and mid-week responsibilities will be too much to overcome. The Baggies’ dismal finish to the season has continued through the pre-season and it will require a major turn-around for Tony Pulis’ run in the Premier League to continue past 2017/18.
Tom Holmes (@tomholmes19)
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Spurs
Relegation:
18. Swansea
19. Burnley
20. Brighton
POTY: Phil Coutinho
YPOTY: Dele Alli
Champions League: Bayern Munich
Liverpool are well set to make a serious title challenge this season. The only two teams substantially better than them last season, Chelsea and Spurs, will both struggle from a lack of depth and European football, but both should remain strong enough to hold off both Man United and Arsenal, neither of whom have improved enough to overcome the deficiencies that cost them top four last year.
Liverpool have improved massively, with three additions varying from good to world class, and no significant outgoings. Whilst defence remains a key issue, there’s still time for them to improve that issue and Klopp having more time with his squad means that every one of Liverpool’s starting XI should be in peak condition, and better than last season. That said, Man City have brought in too
many world class additions to ignore and if they can bed them all in and find a system that allows them to operate properly, they will surely be title favourites this season.
Stefan Vasilev
Top 4:
1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Spurs
Relegation:
18. Swansea
19. Huddersfield
20. Brighton
POTY: Phil Coutinho
YPOTY: Delle Ali
Champions League: Bayern Munich
With so many new comers Man City will have a tough time at the beginning of the season. They acquired a new keeper and new full backs. The pressure from the huge money spent and lack of early results will see City fall behind the rest of the top 6 early and focus on the Champions League. Man United will concede the fewest goals yet again but Lukaku will fail to replicate the output of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from last season. Spurs have not had a very good window so far (other robbing City with the Kyle Walker fee). They are still a solid team, especially defensively but for two seasons now they have been very good with nothing to show for it. The lack of depth will hurt them in the same way it did Liverpool and Man United last season and they will struggle. There are two ways the Arsenal season can go – a deep Europa League run or a top 4 finish (similar to LFC and Man United over the last two season). Given that the King Power stadium has had more famous European nights than the Emirates I go with a top 4 finish and a good domestic cup run. Wenger has added good players and I don’t see them missing out on CL football for two years in a row. LFC and Chelsea will be the two teams going for the league title at the end of the season. The two best managers in the league going head to head in the run in. Chelsea’s experience and defensive stability will prove to be the difference.
At the bottom of the league, Swansea will not be able to make a second great escape in a row. While the jump from the Championship to the PL will prove to be an incredibly difficult one for the first timers.
Unlike a lot of supporters, I am very excited about the coming season. Watching Coutinho in midfield, playing through balls to Salah and Mane will be an orgasmic experience. Additionally having a left footed left back will make the attack much more fluid and hard to deal with. Matip and Lovren will form a good defensive partnership (or maybe Matip and VvD) and LFC will concede no more than 36 goals. The depth of the squad even at this point is a lot better than last season and we can expect at least one more signing in the coming weeks.
Random prediction: Newcastle will finish above Everton.
