PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW

brings energy and can lead the press. In Andre Onana they have signed a goalkeeper who can change the way they play. Questions remain at centreforward, however. Rasmus Hojlund is young, direct and has an eye for goal but that’s all you can say at this stage. The £64m fee will bring pressure, as will inevitable comparisons with Erling Haaland. Ten Hag believes he will last year. But they may be missing a signing that takes them from a team that wants to compete to one that will.

TOP FOUR

Liverpool had a poor 2022-23 but improved towards the end and, with a squad that has been refreshed over the summer, can be so much better. I’m looking for more impact from Darwin

They should have a stronger squad than either Chelsea or Tottenham. I’d put those two in a similar bracket. Both have new managers and all sorts of question marks hanging over them.

New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino knows English football from his time at Spurs and Southampton and has a collection of good players but that offers no guarantees and he still has to get the balance of the team right. If Pochettino builds his Chelsea quickly enough they could creep into the top four.

Tottenham’s summer has once again been dominated by Harry Kane’s future. Ange Postecoglou’s arrival has been overshadowed by that uncertainty but the Australian coach showed at Celtic that he can achieve success by bringing in new players that he rates. It still feels very early in a new cycle for Spurs, though.

I really like the business done by Newcastle as they look to build on last year’s surprise fourth-place finish. In Tonali and Harvey Barnes they have made big improvements in key areas. St James’ Park has become a fortress again and worth points on its own.

Eddie Howe’s big challenge is balancing the demands of playing in the Champions League and Premier

League. The Toon and Liverpool look to me like the strongest candidates for fourth place.

Relegation

I’m sorry to say that I think Luton Town’s long-awaited return to the topflight will be short lived, while I can’t see Sheffield United staying up either. Burnley have gone under the radar somewhat due to the assuredness of manager Vincent Kompany. I think they’ll make Turf Moor a tough place to go and could be a surprise package. That leaves one more place in the bottom three, which I think will be a fourway fight between Wolves, Everton, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. It pains me to say it, but Everton have been battling the drop for two years and until they prove otherwise I think my old team will be doing it again.

£ Trevor Steven is a former England footballer who played at two World Cups and two European Championships. @TrevorSteven63