PREDICTION TIME
How pundits predict Premier League title race will unfold with Man City slump and Arsenal to finally end drought
Some of the biggest names in the game have weighed in with the pre-season predictions
THE Premier League RETURNS this weekend to cap off an incredible summer of sport.
And predictions aplenty have already been made for what promises to be another exciting season in the English top flight.
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Will Pep Guardiola be able to guide Manchester City to an unprecedented FIFTH straight Premier League title?
Or will Arsenal finally be able to break the Sky Blues' stranglehold on the league and end their 21-year-long wait for domestic glory?
Footie fans up and down the country have been chiming in with their predictions for the new season, which kicks off on Friday night.
Pundits galore - both those on TV and those in their YouTube armchairs - are starting to weigh in with their thoughts on outcomes for the new campaign.
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And SunSport has rounded up predictions from some of the biggest names in the game for you to cast your eye over.
Paul Scholes
The former Manchester United and England midfielder told beIN Sports: "I think the favourites are the same as last year.
"Man City will be favourites, closely followed by Arsenal.
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"I do expect Arsenal to be the team to win it this year. I think they’ve progressed over the last couple of years under Mikel Arteta.
"I just think this year is the time where they are ready to win it.
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"It’s not going to be easy, there’s going to be a lot of competition because the top seven or eight teams in England are all good teams.
"But I just think Arsenal will be the team to break the Manchester City cycle this season."
Jamie Carragher
The Liverpool legend told Sky Bet: "I'll go Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool. Fourth? I think that will be… I'm gonna go [with] Tottenham.
"Fifth, I'm gonna go [with] Manchester United. And sixth, I'm gonna for; I'll go with Aston Villa."
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Mark Lawrenson
“I think that Arsenal can finally pip Manchester City to the title this season, they’ve got better season by season.
"Mikel Arteta is a driven man, and nearly all of the players there are players he has brought in.
“Signing Riccardo Calafiori as well, they will hardly concede.
"Scoring has been a little bit of a problem for them, but I think they’ll sign a striker before the end of the transfer window.
"That could be what secures them the Premier League title.”
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Michael Owen
"Arsenal and Manchester City will go in virtually everybody's top four predictions," the former Liverpool and Manchester United man told Casino Hawks. "And I think Liverpool will probably be in there as well despite there being some questions over how well Arne Slot will fit in.
"I had a thought about Newcastle but Aston Villa are solid and look to be still improving.
"In terms of the order, my thought process is if City are not gonna win it, they could actually drop away a little bit.
"It's almost like if City are not gonna be really in the race after 10 games then their priority could go elsewhere - I think there could be a big surprise this season.
"I’m going to go for Arsenal first, Liverpool second, Aston Villa third and Manchester City fourth."
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Adrian Clarke
The former Arsenal midfielder said: "Manchester City will be favourites to win their fifth consecutive title, but I do feel it could be Arsenal’s time to be champions.
"The team has improved under Mikel Arteta season after season, and if that happens again the Gunners will reach 90 plus points.
"With a few additions and fire in their belly, I fancy Arsenal to end their wait for the title."
He added: "I see the title race being more of a two-horse race this season as Liverpool adjust to Arne Slot’s rebuild at Anfield.
"I do feel that Tottenham Hotspur have a great chance of landing top four this season, but Ange Postecoglou will want more players to come in before the end of August that suit his style."
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Gary Neville
Former Red Devils right-back Gary Neville revealed his top four predictions on Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Neville backed Man City to make it five-in-a-row with Arsenal following closely behind in second.
Controversially, the outspoken pundit stuck Manchester United in third and Tottenham in fourth - leaving Liverpool to miss out on a spot in the top four.
Explaining his decision, he said: "I think that Tottenham fell away badly [last year], but they've got something.
"I think they've got something and I'm going for Tottenham [above Liverpool."
Later adding that he thinks Liverpool may not even make the top six under new boss Arne Slot.
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Ian Wright
Arsenal icon Ian Wright has backed his former side to finally lift the league title after missing out to City for the past two seasons.
Wrighty told The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, that he thinks the Gunners will finish first with City in second, and Manchester United and Aston Villa making up the final two spots in the top four.
Backing Villa to have another great season, he said: "You can't not have Villa in the top four.
"Not with the way they've been moving and the signings they've made.
"I thought Liverpool, but I've changed my mind. We're making predictions before we know everything, but they've made a few really good signings."
Adding: "That manager [Unai Emery] knows what he's doing. They've got a goalscorer, a really good midfield.
"[Amadou] Onana has gone there, they have [Ian] Maatsen at left back and [Ezri Konsa] at the back. I'm telling you man, their whole spine is brilliant."
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Roy Keane
Roy Keane, also speaking to the Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, explained he expects Man City to retain their title with Arsenal chasing behind in a close second once again.
The Man Utd legend backed his old club to finish third and Aston Villa to sneak in behind them and grab fourth spot.
Speaking on that final top four spot, Keane said: "I don't think it'll be Spurs. Villa have got more chance than Spurs."
Adding that Unai Emery will be able to balance Villa's Champions League campaign with their Premier League fixture list.
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He explained: "I think he's used to European football that manager, he knows it.
"The format has changed in the Champions League this year, it'll be different - I'm telling you."
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