2024-25 Premier League winner predictions: Liverpool could make flying start under Slot

Manchester City and Arsenal have finished first and second in the Premier League in the last two seasons and the betting suggests they will again be the teams to beat in 2024-25.

The Gunners are closing the gap on City, having been 50-1 in the ante-post betting before finishing as runners-up in 2022-23.

Last season, Mikel Arteta's men took the title race down to the final day but City avoided a slip-up at home to West Ham to seal their sixth title in seven years.

City still the ones to beat

There were signs of vulnerability from Pep Guardiola's side, who lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals before a surprise 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

However, the Citizens won the league in fine style despite missing injured playmaker Kevin De Bruyne for the first half of the season as Phil Foden and Rodri – Player of the Tournament in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph – stepped up to the plate.

City stars Erling Haaland, John Stones and goalkeeper Ederson also suffered untimely injuries but Guardiola's men dug deep to hold off Arteta's spirited young Arsenal side.

Arsenal aiming to go one better

The Gunners are respected in the outright market after they dispelled doubts over their fortitude under pressure by winning 16 of their last 18 league matches. 

One of the exceptions was a 0-0 draw with City at the Etihad Stadium, where the hosts mustered only one shot on target, and Arsenal took eight points from four matches against the champions and third-placed Liverpool in 2023-24.

Their recruitment has been excellent, with Declan Rice and Kai Havertz arriving last summer, while goalkeeper David Raya and centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel form a top-class defensive unit.

Guardiola's City and Arteta's Arsenal will prove tough nuts to crack but, at the prices, Liverpool merit an each-way bet to win the title in Arne Slot's first season at Anfield.

Arne can Slot right into Premier League title race

Replacing the iconic Jurgen Klopp will not be easy but Slot's personality and footballing ethos could make for a smooth transition.

Like Klopp, he will want Liverpool to play on the front foot, pressing high up the pitch, and his Feyenoord side averaged 2.44 points per game over the past two Eredivisie seasons.

Knocking City off their perch is a tall order but Slot inherits a powerful squad featuring established stars such as Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexis Mac Allister.

Doubts remain over Mohamed Salah's future at the club but Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz are among the Reds' other attacking talents and there should be more to come from youngsters Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.

Rapid start required for Maresca

Chelsea are interesting contenders under Leicester's Championship-winning boss Enzo Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino's shock exit at the end of last season suggests the Italian will need to hit the ground running.

Third-placed Liverpool finished 14 points clear of Aston Villa in fourth in 2023-24 and there could be a similar gulf this season.

Villa's Champions League campaign may be a distraction for them while Tottenham had a promising, if injury-disrupted, first campaign under Ange Postecoglou.

Newcastle will also be hoping for better luck with injuries and Manchester United need to boost their attacking firepower.

United's FA Cup triumph eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag but his side scored just 57 league goals last term – 17 fewer than any other team in the top eight.