MNF Predictions: Man Metropolis or Arsenal for the title? Who makes Europe? Who’s relegated? Influence signings and extra…

Talking on Monday Night time Soccer, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville made their 2024/25 Premier League season predictions.

Champions

Jamie Carragher: Man Metropolis
Gary Neville: Arsenal

Jamie: “Going away from home on the first game of the season is always difficult, look at Liverpool at Ipswich in the first half. Man City go to Chelsea, whatever we say about them it’s still Stamford Bridge, they’ve still got big-name players, and they win.”

Gary: “My reasoning [for backing Arsenal] last year was that coming off the back of the treble for City might have an impact on them at certain points, the demands, the expectations, the injuries, but I think they won their last nine games, which is just special.”

Jamie: “Something that’s interesting about Arsenal, no team in Premier League history has improved their position five years in a row. Arsenal have done it four years in a row, and to go beyond where they did last year is going to be tough.”

Gary: “Arsenal had an unimaginable season so I used to be not 1,000,000 miles away. They’re getting nearer and I really feel they’ll do it. Pep Guardiola wins on a regular basis however I really feel Arsenal are so constant that this might be the yr.

“Arsenal are getting to such a high level now of consistency, defensive solidity, the balance of the team, they look like they have got a great spirit.”

Jamie: “In the last couple of years, when they’ve gone for the league, they’ve gone out of the domestic cups and not got to a final in Europe. This group of players are good enough, and they should be winning a trophy this season.”

Second to fourth

Jamie Carragher: Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham
Gary Neville: Man Metropolis, Man Utd and Chelsea

Gary: “Chelsea could easily be an absolute mess. But the players Chelsea have got, I think they could have a good season.”

Jamie: “I think getting rid of the manager was a big mistake. Enzo Maresca is a young manager, really inexperienced, and I think it’ll be a tough job. They’ll battle it out for the European places, Newcastle and Aston Villa too. They haven’t got a goalkeeper!”

Gary: “I think Liverpool, my view would be that the impact of (Jurgen) Klopp will take its toll. The evidence of history. There will be some pain at some point this season and it could cost them.”

Jamie: “There’s areas of the Liverpool squad which need strengthening, but I love the fact they don’t panic. I really admire that. When I see the situation at Chelsea, I’d never want them to be like that.”

Fifth and sixth

Jamie Carragher: Man Utd and Aston Villa
Gary Neville: Liverpool and Tottenham

Jamie: “Manchester United have made some big mistakes in the past. They’re buying younger players now, but let’s not make out this is revolutionary. Sir Matt Busby was doing this in the ’60s! It’s not something special they should be lauded for. I think they’ll compete but miss out. I think Tottenham have the edge over them.”

Gary: “I think Liverpool have a better team than Manchester United, far better forwards. But I really do question whether that Liverpool midfield can stand up over the season. I think Manchester United have got more depth in midfield.”

European contender

Jamie Carragher: West Ham
Gary Neville: Newcastle

Jamie: “It’s a different style of football [at West Ham], maybe not completely different. But it’ll be about trying to get on the ball more, their recruitment this summer has been very good. They won a European trophy under David Moyes, so they’ve been there or thereabouts.”

Gary: “I just feel sometimes that the Champions League will take its toll on Aston Villa.”

Jamie: “Newcastle need to get a centre-back over the line, I love them and Eddie Howe and he’d be the next England boss if it was my choice. I think they’ll just miss out, as they did this year.”

Relegated

Jamie Carragher: Southampton, Leicester and Nottingham Forest
Gary Neville: Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester

Jamie: “I don’t want to see the three promoted teams go down, it’s not good for the Championship or the Premier League. Nottingham Forest have been close every season, and eventually the trapdoor opens.”

Gary: “I hope Jamie is right and Ipswich or one of the clubs stay up but I am not sure. I hope I am wrong.”

Jamie: “I suppose Ipswich are this season’s Luton, they’ve been away for so long. It’d be very hard to diminish their enthusiasm, but you could see that in the first half with Leicester. It was nothing new for them. The energy won’t be there every week at Portman Road, but if they go five or six games without a win I don’t think it’ll affect them too much. I think they might do enough.”

Prime scorer

Jamie Carragher: Erling Haaland
Gary Neville: Erling Haaland

Influence signing

Jamie Carragher: Pedro Neto
Gary Neville: Dominic Solanke

Jamie: “I chose Pedro Neto because I think but for injuries he could play for the best teams in the world. I’ve watched him for Wolves and thought I’d love Liverpool to sign him.

“The one fear is that he is greatest on the correct, reducing in on his left, however that is the place Cole Palmer likes to play. I like to observe him, and I truly get down a bit once I hear he is injured once more. I might like to see him keep match, he is the most effective gamers within the Premier League when he’s.”

Player to watch

Jamie Carragher: Yankuba Minteh
Gary Neville: Jurrien Timber

Jamie: “I learn rather a lot about Minteh over the summer time about him coming again to Newcastle, however once I have a look at what they have there, [Miguel] Almiron and [Jacob] Murphy, that lad, what he did [for Brighton] in opposition to Everton, that is one Newcastle are going to rue letting go. He seems to be like the true deal.”

Gary: “I was looking forward to Timber coming to Arsenal and adding defensive stability and they did that without him. He feels like a new addition and I am looking forward to seeing how he fits in.”

Supervisor to observe

Jamie Carragher: Arne Slot
Gary Neville: Erik ten Hag, Arne Slot and Enzo Maresca

Jamie: “I don’t think Liverpool supporters are expecting the world in the first season. They realise the situation he [Slot] is coming into, I think Liverpool replicating what they did last season would be enough.

“I used to be actually impressed with a few issues from the weekend. I used to be impressed with how decisive he was at half-time, he recognized an issue and handled it.

“When I was watching Liverpool play out from the back, we’ve all played in those games on a dry pitch, the opposition are onto you.

“I preferred what he mentioned the place he mentioned you need not preserve enjoying quick passes in these conditions, you possibly can go a bit longer. He is the entire reverse of Klopp, the gang have been chanting his title on the finish and he shied away from it.”

Gary: “I cannot separate them because I think there is a story with all three. It is high stakes for all of them in different ways. A lot of people thought Erik ten Hag was gone but he is still there, renewed hope, squad stronger, feeling better but now he needs to deliver.

“Slot taking up from Klopp and the way that’s going to go, one of many best managers ever within the Premier League and getting into these footwear has not gone effectively earlier than when that has occurred so there are eyes on him.

“Maresca is very young in his coaching career having to cope with the noise at Chelsea, the amount of players, the balance of the team, the youth of the squad, it is a big job.”