For the third year running I am making my Premier League Predictions

Last year is kind of an off year for me only predicting one team right out of the top four, Arsenal.

The other three I predicted to finish 5th, 6th and 14th. You might be saying “14th?! how did you manage to predict the champion’s of the league to finish 14th!” Well if you read my previous article “Keep Dreaming Foxes” Leicester City was at 5,000-1 to win the league. No one was expecting Leicester to do anything last season.

Tottenham was another pleasant surprise that proved me wrong finishing third. This year looks a lot different with all the TV money coming in each team is spending big trying to out do the other and win the league.

Here I am going to predict the top six teams in the Premier League this year.

First up is my predicted champions Manchester City. It’s no shock after the summer they’ve had.

Bringing in Pep Guardiola aka the best manager in the world. Follow that up with the signings of Nolito, Ilkay Gundogan and latest signing Leroy Sane City look to be a dominant team. The only question mark is captain Vincent Kompany who when fit is one of the best center backs in the world but all of last season he was either injured or not playing well. Manchester City have to buy one more defender before they’re a favorite for the title.

Predicted XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kompany, Kolarov, Gundogan, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Nolito, Aguero

Next I have who I believe will finish in second place, Manchester United. It pains me to say it, but Manchester United looks good, really good, especially if they are able to complete the most expensive signing of all time Paul Pogba, which at the time of revision Pogba’s transfer has been completed for £89m ($117m), before the window is over.

United also brought Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and Eric Bailly from Villarreal not to mention signing one of the top managers in the world in Jose Mourinho couple that with players like Luke Shaw coming back from injury United look to be a heavyweight contender this season.

Predicted XI: De Gea, Darmian, Bailly, Smalling, Shaw, Pogba, Schneiderlin, Martial, Rooney, Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic

Third place will go to Arsenal. Arsenal was my prediction last year to win the league, but Leicester had to go and prove me wrong, which is fine (I loved every second of it).

Arsenal only brought in one player that can go straight into the starting eleven and that’s Granit Xhaka the midfielder from Borussia Monchengladbach. Xhaka was the best player for Switzerland at the Euros and should cement Arsenals midfield and they should contend for the title and at least make a top 4 place.

Predicted XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Ramsey, Cazorla, Oxlade, Coquelin, Walcott, Giroud

And to round out the top four is Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has spent the summer buying players to sure up the team, the only problem area yet to be addressed is Left Back and if rumors are true then Liverpool are in the market for a left back namely Mattia De Sciglio of AC Milan or Jonas Hector of FC Koln. Klopp has brought in goalkeeper Loris Karius from Mainz, center back Joel Matip from Schalke, center midfielder Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade, winger Sadio Mane from Southampton and center midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. Klopp without the added games of European football should be able to keep all the first team players fit and challenge for the title and the top four. The only drawback is Loris Karius will miss the first to months of the season with a broken hand and Simon Mignolet will start the season.

Predicted XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Sakho, Hector*, Can, Henderson, Coutinho, Firmino, Mane, Sturridge.

Moving onto the Europa League spots in fifth I have Tottenham. Last year they choked — they were within two games of Leicester at the end of the season but after a 2-2 draw with Chelsea all hopes of the title were gone and once the title was out of their reach they collectively shattered, losing 2-1 to Southampton and being demolished 5-1 by relegated Newcastle on the final day.

Mauricio Pochettino is in the camp of “If it isn’t broke don’t fix it” leaving the squad alone and only bringing in Southampton defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama. But due to the lack of spending on new players and every other team spending big bucks on players I don’t think Spurs have done enough.

Predicted XI: Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Rose, Wanyama, Dier, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane

Lastly in sixth I predict West Ham. Dimitri Payet, that’s it really.

The Frenchman had a stellar Euro’s tournament pushing France to a final’s appearance contributing five goals in six games. Payet is a multi-faceted tool player, kind of like baseball’s five tool player Payet is the complete midfielder. He can score, pass, defend and his free kicks are other worldly. Combine Payet with new Algerien Sofiane Feghouli West Ham can challenge for European spots in the league. The only drawback is starting left back Aaron Cresswell is injured for the first few weeks of the season and without Cresswell West Ham’s defense isn’t as deep and cohesive as usual.

Predicted XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Antonio, Noble, Kouyate, Payet, Lanzini, Feghouli, Valencia

With all of the money being thrown into the league this year it will be even tougher to compete for the top spots. I don’t expect more than 10 points to separate first and sixth place. “But where’s Leicester??” I hear all of you screaming. Leicester is a complicated pick. They have lost Midfield dynamo N’Golo Kante, which will throw the midfield out of whack because I don’t think Danny Drinkwater can fill the void left by Kante. Plus Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have been rumored to leave all summer.

The League will be as competitive as it has ever been and it should be a fun season to watch.

1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool
5. Tottenham
6. West Ham
7. Chelsea
8. Leicester
9. Southampton
10. Crystal Palace
11. Everton
12. Stoke City
13. West Brom
14. Watford
15. Middlesbrough
16. Bournemouth
17. Swansea
18. Burnley
19. Sunderland
20. Hull City

Bold- Champion’s League Spot

Italics- Europa League Spot

Crossed out– Relegated