Premier League Predictions: Which of the Favourites Had the Strongest Pre-Season?
With the 2022/23 Premier League season starting soon, clubs are completing their transfer business and pre-season preparations.
For the Premier League’s top four, there have been mixed results in pre-season. Some clubs have completed impressive transfer business early so they can be prepared fully for the season ahead. Others have struggled on and off the pitch, with few new faces and difficult results.
As a result, some of the early odds have changed significantly, both for the Premier League outright winner and top four finishers. Here, we rank how well the Premier League’s top four have performed in pre-season.
- Tottenham – 14/1 to win, 6/4 top 4 finish
Tottenham recorded some decent results from their three friendlies. They beat Rangers (2-1) and a K League XI (6-3), which came either side of a 1-1 draw with Sevilla. Harry Kane impressed in these matches, striking four goals across the three matches, including braces against Rangers and the K League.
However, Tottenham’s transfer business has caught the eye during this window. Signing Richarlison from Everton could be important later in the season, especially as Spurs have relied on Kane and Son Heung-Min as their main goal-scoring threat in recent seasons.
In addition, Djed Spence is an exciting prospect Spurs have signed from Middlesbrough, while Yves Bissouma and Clément Lenglet will provide experience and solidity in midfield and defence. Also, Conte has signed Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster on frees. These signings will be key when rotation is needed, particularly with the demands of Champions League football too.
Towards the end of last season, Spurs impressed under Conte. Tottenham showed signs of the high intensity that Conte demands and a full pre-season, along with some impressive signings, could make Spurs an outside team to watch in the title race.
- Man City – 7/10 to win, 1/33 top 4 finish
Manchester City have had a short pre-season with just two friendlies. However, the Citizens won both, recording a routine win over América (2-1) and Bayern Munich (1-0). City looked in good form in the win against Munich, with Jack Grealish performing well and setting up Erling Haaland for a tap-in goal.
Haaland has been City’s marquee signing this summer and the Norwegian is likely to get plenty of services. Also, Haaland should provide the Citizens with the out-and-out goalscoring threat from a striker which they have been missing in recent seasons.
But the Premier League champions also signed midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who should provide a replacement for the outgoing Fernandinho. Phillips has been a consistent performer in the holding midfield role for Leeds and England in recent seasons and he could excel under Guardiola.
City is likely to be the big favourites to win another Premier League title this season. Particularly because of Haaland. The Citizens create a lot of chances per match and having Haaland to provide the goal-scoring threat is likely to combine well with Grealish, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez.
- Liverpool – 16/5 to win, 1/8 top 4 finish
Liverpool has had an up-and-down pre-season. They won two of their four friendlies, comfortably beating Crystal Palace (2-0) and RB Leipzig (5-0). But the Reds were thrashed 4-0 by Man United and they suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Salzburg last time out.
Also, Jurgen Klopp lost Sadio Mane this summer to Bayern Munich, which could have implications in attack this season. Although, the club moved quickly to sign Darwin Núñez from Benfica as a replacement and the forward could provide a key attacking threat after he scored 26 goals in 28 in the Portuguese league last season.
Most of the Reds’ core squad remains at Anfield and this will be critical to success. A poor start and too many draws cost the Reds last season as they lost the title by one point. But if they hit the ground running, they could be a threat during this campaign.
- Chelsea – 16/1 to win, 4/5 top 4 finish
Chelsea looks the most under-prepared of the top four heading into the new campaign. Their only pre-season win came against América (2-1) and they suffered poor defeats to Charlotte (1-1, lost on penalties) and Arsenal (4-0).
To further Thomas Tuchel’s problems, he lost key players Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rüdiger and Romelu Lukaku, while César Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso are linked with a move to Barcelona.
Some relief has come from signing Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. But the Blues are still lacking some key replacements and depth and the poor results in pre-season show Tuchel’s side is not ready for the 2022/23 campaign yet.
Nb: Odds via Football Betting Tips, correct as of 28th July 2022.