ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League 2024/25

ALL KICKING OFF – ALEX CROOK ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE: It seems like only yesterday that I was stood behind the goal in Berlin watching England’s deflating Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, but here we are about to embark on another Premier League season, writes ALEX CROOK.

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As always on the eve of a new campaign there are plenty of talking points and lots of stories to be written. Will champions Manchester City extend their record-breaking run of domination to a FIFTH successive title in what seems highly likely to be Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge or can Arsenal go one better than in the previous two campaigns and end their long baron run?

Will the newly-promoted teams fare better than Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton, who all went straight back down to the Championship? Can Erik ten Hag build on Manchester United’s unexpected FA Cup final win over City and restore the Red Devils to somewhere near their former glory or will he be outshone by fellow Dutchman Arne Slot at Liverpool?

In this column, we also cast our eye over the potential surprise packages, but let’s start at the top where Arsenal gave us an almighty run for our money last season before once again being reeled in by the City juggernaut.

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There is an argument that the Gunners will live to regret that golden opportunity to win their first title in more than two decades given City were without talismanic midfielder Kevin de Bruyne for large chunks of the campaign while goal pig Erling Haaland also suffered with injury as did England centre-back John Stones.

City also allowed the influential Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez to depart, but despite spending more than £100m on Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta’s side still got pipped by a point on the final day.

The Citizens are 5-4 favourites with starsports.bet to reign supreme again, which is a good price if you have faith in Guardiola’s men to send the gaffer into the Spanish sunset with yet another winner’s medal draped around his neck.

Arsenal are also a far slimmer price this year than they were last at just 7/4 with starsports.bet to be crowned champions, but I am going to put my faith in the north Londoners again.

They have strengthened at the back by snapping up Bologna’s silky Italian international Riccardo Calafiori, who may also win the prize for the league’s best-looking player, and could soon be adding a European champion in the form of Spain midfielder Mikel Merino to their ranks.

I still have reservations about the lack of an out-and-out number 9, however Arteta really got a tune out of Kai Havertz in that position in the second half of last season and I think keeping it tight at the back will again be central to the Spaniard’s masterplan.

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The likely departure of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid also leaves City looking a little threadbare at the top end of the pitch, especially if Haaland gets injured again, while age seemed to be catching up on Kyle Walker during the Euros and there are still concerns about Stone’s ongoing fitness.

There is also the November hearing into City’s 115 charges for allegedly breaching financial rules hanging over them, hence why their odds to be relegated have been slashed in most quarters. While that punishment seems extreme, any kind of points deduction hands Arsenal a big upper hand given City’s narrow advantage over 38 games last season.

At 7-1 with starsports.bet, Liverpool are third favourites to lift the trophy and I do think it is set up for Slot to have a decent debut season after inheriting a squad that is not in need of major surgery and that at one stage last term was being talked about for a potential quadruple before their dramatic end-of-season collapse.

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The battle for fourth-place threatens to be as intriguing as ever, although with a Champions League campaign to balance I will not be backing Aston Villa at 3-1 to repeat last season’s achievement.

Had ten Hag’s United, who still have big questions to answer after an injury-affected pre-season, not won the cup Newcastle would have been playing in the Conference League. The fact Eddie Howe’s side can focus solely on domestic matters is making me think Newcastle for a top-four finish at 11-5 with starsports.bet represents the value.

If he stays fit, I also like the look of Magpies striker Alexander Isak for Premier League top-scorer at 14-1 with starsports.bet. Isak has hit an impressive 31 goals in 52 Premier League outings and with four places available is well worth an each-way punt.

The race to avoid finishing in the bottom three is dominated by Leicester – facing their own points deduction – Ipswich and Southampton, who all came up last season.

I have to be brutally honest and say it would be no surprise to if they are the teams filling the relegation zone come May and that is as much a reflection on the strength of the other 17 sides as their own shortcomings, although both Ipswich and Saints have taken gambles with largely unproven Premier League players when it comes to their summer recruitment.

I do think Russell Martin’s brave attacking style could leave a few more illustrious opponents with bloodied noses, especially if Saints can keep hold of the sought-after Kyle Walker-Peters at the back so give them the best chance of avoiding the drop of the trio.

If the south coast side do survive then Nottingham Forest to be relegated at 5-2 with starsports.bet would be my selection as I am still far from convinced by manager Nuno Espirito Santo and I think the Tricky Trees are too reliant on star man Morgan Gibbs-White.

The battle to secure a place in the top half of the table could be the fiercest in Premier League history with so many less-fancied sides showing the strength of their ambition in the transfer market.

Brighton are very bullish about their chances of success under the league’s youngest ever manager 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler and at the time of writing are one of the biggest spenders while Julen Lopetegui certainly cannot complain he has not been backed since being named West Ham boss.

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After a poor start, Bournemouth had a really strong end to last season and the addition of teenage centre-back Dean Huijsen from Juventus amid rival interest from some top European clubs is an intriguing one. They have also managed to tie down impressive Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi to a new long-term deal.

There is still a chance main marksman Dominic Solanke gets prised away between now and the transfer deadline but assuming he stays, and the Cherries are demanding top dollar, Bournemouth to finish in the top ten at 2-1 with starsports.bet is worth a small play.

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