Former Premier League striker predicts who will win the Premier League this season

The Premier League springs back into action this weekend, ready to go full steam ahead into its busy winter schedule. 

Leading the way at the top of the table are Arne Slot's Liverpool, who find themselves with a five point lead over Manchester City thanks to the Dutchman's impressive start to the campaign. 

It's a position that made the Reds favourites to win the title ahead of the reigning champions, and talking to AceOdds, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes this might be the season we don't see Pep Guardiola's team lift the trophy. 

He said: "It's difficult. Liverpool, you could say, have they had a big test yet? but they've played Chelsea, Villa, and Arsenal, and haven't lost to any of them.

"They've got City coming up, I know that, and I think they've got Newcastle away and somebody else away. They've got Man City on the 1st of December at home and that'll tell us more about where they are.  

"There’s still a question mark over Arne Slot’s Liverpool, but he's answered all the questions so far. I don't know. For City to win it five times on the track would be unbelievable without Rodri.

"You have to feel that this year’s going to be the one where they're not going to lift it. Given that, Liverpool are nine points ahead of Arsenal, you're thinking, well, I don't think a team's overturned that deficit.

"At the moment, you'd say Liverpool."

• Read next I Emmanuel Petit names the aging Premier League winner he thinks would bring 'something special' to Arsenal 

Looking at the other end of the table and the possible teams that could exit the league this season, Smith can't see past the three promoted sides from going straight back to the Championship - a trend he doesn't think is a good look for the Football  League. 

"Ipswich are giving it a good go," he added. 

"I think Southampton you'd say they would maybe finish bottom. Have Ipswich got enough? I mean, McKenna’s a really good coach. I heard Nicky Butt talking about him saying he was the most impressive coach, as impressive as anybody he's shared a training ground with but you can only work with what you've got.

"They've come a long way quickly, Ipswich. Is this kind of just a bit early for them? It might be. Will there be a surprise? So often there is. 

"Wolves, I still think they’ll clamber, clear. Unfortunately, it might come down to Leicester just dropping into it, and then it's the three promoted clubs going back down again.

"It's not a habit you want to see because it's not great for the Premier League. It suggests the gap is too big for these teams to make the jump up because in years gone by that was a rare thing for the three promoted clubs to get relegated, but it happened last year and it could well happen again, which you don’t want to see." 

 

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