FINAL SAY
Alan Shearer predicts Premier League table in full with Chelsea to finish NINTH and Man City denied title
Former Premier League winners to finish rock bottom
ALAN SHEARER has made a bold set of Premier League predictions as he names the table in FULL ahead of the new season starting on Friday.
Manchester City are aiming for an historic fifth consecutive title with Arsenal the favourites to challenge their dominance.
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And Shearer backed the Gunners to do just that - and overcome their 21-year title drought to be crowned Prem champions for the fourth time.
He did press that Arsenal need to land themselves a "statement" striker before the window slams shut to give them a real chance.
The Newcastle icon expects Chelsea's misery to continue, predicting the Blues to finish NINTH after they climbed up to sixth last season.
Shearer can hardly be blamed though - Chelsea did come 12th two years ago and are onto their fourth manager of the Todd Boehly era.
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Stamford Bridge chiefs have forked out £185m on ten new faces this summer to rank the American's total bill up to £1.2billion.
Shearer told Betfair: "I don't see Chelsea getting into the top four at all. They're not ready yet."
While the Match of the Day star also predicted Newcastle to pip Manchester United and Tottenham to a fourth place finish, while Liverpool will come third under new boss Arne Slot.
The Red Devils finished eighth last season - their worst ever position- and have brought in some clever signings, but Erik ten Hag is forecasted to struggle to find a way for his side to gel again.
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Shearer added: "It's a big season for Ten Hag and Man United because they're going to have to improve massively in the league."
He is projecting a tight relegation battle but thinks the three who got promoted, also including Ipswich and Leicester, will go straight back to the Championship.
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The ex-Southampton man is predicting the Saints to be relegated and former Premier League winners Leicester to finish rock bottom.
Shearer believes Aston Villa will follow in Newcastle's footsteps and drop from fourth to seven amid the constraints of playing Champions League football this season.
As for the golden boot race, Shearer, who knows a thing or two about putting the ball in the back of the net, thinks Man City's Erling Haaland will claim his third successive award.
Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25
NOTHING stays the same forever.
And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.
Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.
Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.
There's also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the 'multiball' system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides - but not straight away.
Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.