Looking back at my Premier League predictions
Story by Lucas Michael
Back in August 2024, I predicted how I thought the Premier League season would turn out. It is always hard to figure out where teams will slot in throughout the season, and this season threw in a lot of curveballs.
I had completely forgotten about it until a few days ago when it hit me how bad my ball knowledge was/still is.
So, here are my reactions to my 2024/25 Premier League predictions.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty images
1st – Arsenal (2nd)
The Gunners showed a lot of promise at the start of the season to go on a big title push. Things did not turn out in the end, with injuries and a lack of threat in front of goal costing them in the end.
I thought they would continue their form and just pip Manchester City in a close title fight but ended up just beating them to second place instead.
2nd – Manchester City (3rd)
I had them just behind the Gunners due to the charges looming over their heads at the start of the season. Looking back on my notes, I also predicted Rodri to get injured too (not a season-ending injury).
I thought they would slightly drop off, but not to this extent. Players like Phil Foden failed to consistently turn up, whilst the defence was exposed a number of times.
3rd – Liverpool (1st)
Thought this was a nailed-on prediction – shows what I know. Underestimated Arne Slot and the lack of transfer business made during the summer. He worked wonders with what Jurgen Klopp left behind, taking the league by storm.
I also underestimated how good Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk would be, and how big Arsenal and Man City's drop-off would be.
4th – Tottenham (17th)
Ok, first howler. I do not remember why I put Spurs in fourth place as I have always been negative about Ange Postecoglou, specifically his inability to play a different type of football. This would cost Spurs throughout the season, with injuries also playing a huge part.
Technically I was correct about them getting Champions League football, but how they got it went over my head. In another season, they may be playing it in the Championship.
5th – Aston Villa (6th)
I was very close to getting this one right if the final day of the season went differently. I have been impressed with what Unai Emery has done at the club and thought they did some good transfer business to keep them up there.
It will be fascinating whether they can remain around the European places in the coming years.
6th – Newcastle (5th)
So close, yet so far. I put them up here due to them not playing European football. They had a brilliant second half of the season which saw them at one point in the race for second place.
On another day I would switch Villa and Newcastle around and look like a genius. Oh well.
7th – Manchester United (15th)
At the time I thought I was being nice to United. Turned out to be another dreadful prediction.
Despite winning an FA Cup and Charity Shield, I still thought Erik ten Hag would not last the season. Similar to Arsenal's 2019/20 season, I predicted they would start slowly, sack ten Hag, get a new manager and have a promising second half of the season.
The first bit was right, but it carried on going downhill after that.
8th – West Ham United (14th)
At the time this made sense due to the players being brought in the summer transfer window. They had a high-profile manager in Julen Lopetegui and finished ninth in the previous season.
Turned out Lopetegui was a massive flop, most of the signings failed to work out, and a managerial change did not make things better. The prediction of 8th could have been worse if they did not win on the final day.
9th – Chelsea (4th)
I decided that with the Premier League getting stronger and more competitive, at least one of the big six would fall down the table and have a season to forget. I gambled with Chelsea but bet all my money on the wrong team.
Incorrect on Enzo Maresca, and hugely miscalculated the team that finished so well the previous season. Things are on the up for the Blues.
10th – Brighton (8th)
It is crazy that 10th can be seen as a harsh prediction on the Seagulls, but that's what it turned out to be.
Was not sure how 32-year-old Fabian Hurzeler would cope in the Premier League, but also liked the squad so slapped them bang in the middle.
11th – Crystal Palace (12th)
A season for the Palace fans to remember with an FA Cup and a fantastic second half of the season.
Does not make sense why I did not do the smart thing and put them in 12th, but happy with this prediction. Could have been a lot worse if they failed to turn around their poor form at the start of the season.
12th – Bournemouth (9th)
In fairness to myself, I have predicted a lot of teams in the right area of the table, but not yet in the correct position.
I was impressed by Bournemouth's second half of the previous campaign and thought they could be an outside shot for domestic trophies/European places. Did not have the courage to put them higher due to Dominic Solanke being sold to Tottenham.
13th – Wolves (16th)
8th-14th was hard to predict due to the number of strong teams. Decided on Wolves in 13th due to their lack of firepower up top, but safe from relegation due to Gary O'Neil.
In the end, it was Vitor Pereira who kept them up. They ended the season well and even showed signs that they could place a lot higher next season with an impressive run.
14th – Fulham (11th)
One reason for this prediction: the departure of Joao Palhinha. Despite his departure, Fulham managed to cope without him with a single pivot. Props to Marco Silva who proved once again he is a great manager.
Raul Jimenez also proved me wrong. His 12 goals was his best tally since the 2019/20 season.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty images
15th – Nottingham Forest (7th)
To make this prediction sound even worse, I thought that Nuno Espirito Santos would be the first manager to be sacked. Not my finest hour.
I liked their squad and thought they were too good to be relegated, but was not convinced of Nuno, and predicted that he would hold them back until another manager came in and pushed them out of the hole.
Moving on...
16th – Everton (13th)
Never rated Everton going into the season due to a very poor squad, and an overall lack of goals. Not once believed they would get relegated with Sean Dyche at the helm.
David Moyes did a brilliant job in his second stint at the club, making 16th look like a silly prediction for Evrtion - which is some feet.
17th – Ipswich (19th)
After the previous season, I may be the only person who thought a promoted team could stay up. I picked Ipswich due to their smart transfer business and Kieran Mckenna, but they were outclassed throughout the season.
I believe they will get promoted back to the top flight next season due to that transfer business, but they need to improve to not repeat this campaign.
18th – Brentford (10th)
One team finished 13 places below my prediction in August, but somehow it still does not top this one. Why did I predict Brentford to get relegated?
Firstly underestimated the firepower of Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa. They covered the hole Ivan Toney exposed when he left. Players like Mikkel Damsgaard and Kevin Schade also vastly improved.
Overall, I thought Thomas Frank could not produce his magic again. Undoubtedly one of the best managers in the league.
19th – Southampton (20th)
Always doomed from the start. A weak squad and a playstyle easily exposed leads to relegation. Just look at Burnley from the previous season.
A lot of youth comes with a lack of experience, which accumulated in Southampton going straight back down. On the other hand, they can always take the positive that they got more than 11 points.
20th – Leicester City (18th)
Multiple things made me choose Leicester to finish last. Legal trouble, a weak squad and Steve Cooper did not leave me with much hope for the Foxes.
This wrong prediction also meant that I got no predictions right. Hopefully, once I recover from my bruised ego and Brentford prediction, I can get some right next season.