5 days ago
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Alan Shearer and Joe Cole are both backing Liverpool to retain the Premier League title after a busy summer. However, the pair have very different expectations when it comes to the remainder of the top four and the relegated three.
Liverpool finished 10 points clear at the top last term and have strengthened with the additions of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and others. They aren't the only ones to bolster their squad, though.
Arsenal have added the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, Manchester City have recruited players including Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, and Chelsea have added Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to their front line. Those three teams rounded out the top four last term, and all will hope to challenge for top spot.
Shearer anticipates a repeat of last season, with Arsenal in second place ahead of City and Chelsea. Cole, however, expects City to be closest to Liverpool - followed by Chelsea and then Arsenal.
At the other end of the table, Shearer things promoted trio Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland will all go straight back down. Cole disagrees in his predictions for TNT Sports, though, believing Scott Parker will keep Burnley afloat at the expense of last season's 16th-place finishers Wolves.
All three promoted teams have splashed the cash in a bid to secure their Premier League status, but Burnley has been dealt a blow with James Trafford returning to Manchester City.
To fill the void, the Clarets have brought in two new goalkeepers, veteran Martin Dubravka and young German shot-stopper Max Weiss.
Wolves' survival hopes may hinge on how they bounce back from losing Matheus Cunha to Manchester United.
They've made Jorgen Strand Larsen's move permanent after a successful loan spell, and replaced Rayan Ait-Nouri with David Moller Wolfe following the left-back's switch to Manchester City, but manager Vitor Pereira might still have work cut out for him.
Neither Shearer nor Cole see Manchester United finishing in the top five as Ruben Amorim gears up for his first full season at the helm. Shearer predicts a sixth-place finish for them, just below Newcastle, while Cole places Amorim's side down in ninth.
Cole also ranks Newcastle in fifth place - the same position they ended last season - despite a quiet transfer window. The Magpies have only added two senior players, missed out on several targets, and could still lose Alexander Isak to Liverpool before the window closes.
While there are still a few weeks left for clubs to finalise deals, the season will kick off before the transfer deadline. Liverpool will start the season at home against Bournemouth on 15 August, giving the champions an opportunity to set the tone for their rivals.
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