17 games into the new campaign, though, and the wheels are coming off in quite spectacular fashion for Guardiola and his all-conquering City players. Arne Slot’s Liverpool have already opened up a 12-point lead over the reigning champions with a game in hand in the bank as well. With data provided by Skinlords.com’s Premier League Supercomputer, how the division will shape up at the end of the season has been predicted. Manchester United fans may want to look away, as the results do not make good reading for the Red Devils.
With speculation mounting over Guardiola’s future, despite the Catalan native recently signing a two-year contract extension at the club, the Citizens may not be able to extend their record-breaking streak of top flight crowns. Alas, the supercomputer has predicted that his side will finish in fourth on, by their standards, a measly 76 points.
Slot and his entourage, in their first foray in English football, will reign victorious after gaining a four-point lead over second-placed Chelsea at the summit after their rapturous 6-3 win over Tottenham. In what would be considered a fantastic maiden season at the helm, particularly following the departure of the much-beloved Jurgen Klopp, the Merseyside outfit are expected to be just two points ahead at the top.
Enzo Maresca, formerly of Leicester City, has been tipped for a very successful debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea predicted to finish third on 84 points with a goal difference of +39 – if that is to come true, the west Londoners would return to where they believe they belong: Europe’s top table.
Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur, according to the supercomputer, won’t be able to improve upon their fifth place finish last term. Instead, they will drop as lowly as ninth, with Newcastle United forecasted to grab the first, and only guaranteed, Europa League spot. If the predictions are correct, Eddie Howe’s side will finish on 62 points, level with sixth-placed Nottingham Forest as the two old English heavyweights will be closely chased down by Bournemouth (seventh with 61 points) and Aston Villa (8th with 60 points).
Brentford will follow closely behind them, missing out on the top 10 courtesy of an inferior goal difference, as Thomas Frank’s side continue to ship goals at the same rate at which they also score them. Fabian Hurzeler, one of the youngest managers in Premier League history, has done a superb job since taking over from Roberto De Zerbi in the summer but, upon the conclusion of his maiden term in England, has been predicted to finish in 12th once injuries start to take their toll – on 54 points with a two-goal positive goal difference.
Crystal Palace, at one point last season, looked set to challenge those vying for continental football – but Oliver Glasner’s side are predicted to finish in 16th this term. Despite having the likes of Eberechi Eze and Jean-Phillipe Mateta in their ranks, their predicted plateau of performances will see them gather just another 20 points in the remaining 21 outings.
After sacking Gary O’Neil, Wolves will be relieved that they can steer just clear of the dropzone. Matheus Cunha is a good example of how the Old Gold still have some talent to boast and, with everything crossed, it should be enough to see them finish 17th, just two points above the dreaded dotted line.
It has often been claimed that the magic number is 40 points when it comes to Premier League survival. You may even remember Claudio Ranieri reiterating that constantly the very same year that he led Leicester City to the most unexpected Premier League title. Unfortunately for the Foxes, the supercomputer believes that the tally this time is 26 points, a number which the supercomputer believes Wolverhampton Wanderers will achieve to send the 2016/17 winners straight back down.
