Michael Owen has shared his Premier League top-four prediction for the 2024-25 season, tipping Manchester City to win a record-extending fifth consecutive title.
Pep Guardiola’s side became the first team to secure four Premier League trophies in a row last season, outperforming Arsenal and Liverpool to retain the title.
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Former England striker Owen expects Arsenal and Liverpool to be Manchester City’s biggest challengers again next season, as Mikel Arteta and new boss Arne Slot aim to end Guardiola’s dominance.
Arsenal, who finished just two points behind Manchester City last season, have mounted consecutive title challenges under Arteta, who is aiming to lead Arsenal to their first league title since 2004.
Liverpool’s last Premier League title was in 2020, but some analysts suggest the Reds might be in for a transitional season under Klopp’s successor Slot.
Aston Villa had an outstanding 2023-24 campaign, finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time. Owen believes Unai Emery’s side or Tottenham will take fourth place next season.
Spurs showed potential under new boss Ange Postecoglou last season, briefly challenging for the title before ending in fifth place, two points behind Villa.
Owen’s prediction indicates he believes Manchester United and Chelsea will miss out on Champions League qualification again after finishing eighth and sixth, respectively, last season.
United’s eighth-place finish was their worst ever in a Premier League season, but the Old Trafford management has decided to stick with Erik ten Hag after he won the FA Cup.
Chelsea had a rough start to the 2024-25 season but improved late, finishing sixth. Despite this, Mauricio Pochettino left Stamford Bridge in May and was replaced by Enzo Maresca.
Asked for his top-four prediction, Owen told Prime Casino: ‘Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and I don’t think there is a standout for fourth.
‘I don’t fancy Manchester United and Chelsea might be back to square one with a new manager, so it might be Tottenham or even Aston Villa again.
‘It’s impossible to say if Pep [Guardiola] would have won less with Sir Alex Ferguson around, obviously it would’ve given him more competition than he has now, but Manchester City have taken the game to a new level.
‘The big question is how many titles Liverpool would have won if Pep Guardiola wasn’t managing Man City.
‘For Liverpool to win only one title with that great team, it shows how good Manchester City have been. Let’s say one or two fewer titles if Fergie was still at Manchester United, I’m sure.
‘But Pep Guardiola will eventually leave, and that might change things in the Premier League because he’s so good, it’s hard to win anything with him in charge right now.’
The 2024-25 Premier League season begins on August 16 with Manchester United hosting Fulham.
Later that weekend, Manchester City will start their title defence at home against Chelsea, while Arsenal hosts Wolves and Liverpool travels to newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
