Premier League 2021-22 preview - Southampton tipped for survival

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in their opening fixture, on Saturday August 14.

Saints had a successful pre-season on a results basis, but supporters will clearly feel that something could be lacking come the opening weekend, with the departure of Danny Ings and a number of first teamers like James Ward-Prowse and Jannik Vestergaard who haven’t got any minutes due to injury and rest.

It’s an incredibly difficult start to the campaign with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City also to come in the opening weeks – but of course, every team plays every other team twice in the 38 matchdays.

With that in mind, here’s a brief look at every Premier League team for the 2021-22 season with a little prediction for players we think will prove to be key...

Odds taken from SkyBet

Read more

Saints reportedly keen on loan deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Letters from Saints fan

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray won't budge on Adam Armstrong

Arsenal

Arsenal will be relying on the likes of youngsters Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka to supply Pierre Emile-Aubameyang and improve on their eighth-placed finish last time out. With no European competition, focus will be fully on the Premier League.

Manager: Mikel Arteta

Title odds: 50/1

Relegation odds: 66/1

Key player: Emile Smith-Rowe

Best transfer of the summer: Ben White

England international Ben White cost Arsenal £50m to acquire

Aston Villa

Aston Villa will be without talisman Jack Grealish for the first time in years but have moved swiftly to replace him with Norwich’s Emi Buendia, Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey and Saints’ Danny Ings. With Manchester United’s on-loan Axel Tuanzebe also providing depth in defence, it could be an interesting year.

Manager: Dean Smith

Title odds: 150/1

Relegation odds: 9/1

Key player: Ollie Watkins

Best transfer of the summer: Danny Ings

Saints striker Danny Ings swapped his hometown club for Aston Villa last week

Brentford

The Bees will be looking forward to a debut campaign in the Premier League after play-off success at the second time of asking. Ivan Toney will do well to get anywhere near his goal totals of the last two seasons but his goals will be vital, while Kristoffer Ajer has impressed in pre-season.

Manager: Thomas Frank

Title odds: 1000/1

Relegation odds: 5/4

Key player: Ivan Toney

Best transfer of the summer: Kristoffer Ajer

Ivan Toney broke Championship scoring records to get Brentford promoted last season

Brighton

Only the three relegated sides won fewer games than Brighton last year, and with limited transfer business the onus will be on Graham Potter to find a method of turning chances into goals.

Manager: Graham Potter

Title odds: 500/1

Relegation odds: 13/2

Key player: Lewis Dunk

Best transfer of the summer: Enock Mwepu

Graham Potter's 'Potterball' has seen interest from clubs elsewhere but he will want an improved finish after a difficult 20-21 season

Burnley

It’s still a remarkable achievement that Burnley remain in the top-flight after so long, even if it was in 17th last term. Staying in the division again will be a success, while winger Dwight McNeil has another season to develop and impress.

Manager: Sean Dyche

Title odds: 1000/1

Relegation odds: 2/1

Key player: Dwight McNeil

Best transfer of the summer: Nathan Collins

Dwight McNeil has represented the Three Lions and under-21 level

Chelsea

The reigning European champions will now want to follow Liverpool and win the Premier League the following season. Kai Havertz will prove to be a highly useful asset again – but goals could yet come from transfer-linked former player Romelu Lukaku. It will be a tight battle at the top.

Manager: Thomas Tuchel

Title odds: 11/2

Relegation odds: 1500/1

Key player: Kai Havertz/N’Golo Kante

Best transfer of the summer: N/A (Romelu Lukaku if confirmed)

Kai Havertz scored the match-winner in the 20-21 Champions League final

Crystal Palace

An exciting project under largely unproven manager Patrick Vieira with the introduction of several impressive transfers. The two centre-backs Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen are reasons to be excited, along with Michael Olise from Reading. Palace fans will be just as excited for the return of injured Eberechi Eze, though.

Manager: Patrick Viera

Title odds: 1000/1

Relegation odds: 13/8

Key player: Wilfried Zaha

Best transfer of the summer: Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen

Ex-Nice boss Patrick Vieira has taken over from Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace

Everton

Carlo Ancelotti abandoned his Everton project to re-join Real Madrid, leaving Rafa Benitez to fill that void. No major transfers have been made so reliance will be on the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Luca Digne.

Manager: Rafa Benitez

Title odds: 100/1

Relegation odds: 20/1

Key player: Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Best transfer of the summer: Demarai Gray (as back-up)

Few Toffees supporters would have expected former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez to be in charge this campaign

Leeds

Leeds have claimed plaudits for their gung-ho approach to the Premier League. They’ll have to consider second-season-syndrom though and ensure they continue going forward. Loanee Jack Harrison returns on a permanent basis, which will be pleasing for Marcelo Bielsa.

Manager: Marcelo Bielsa

Title odds: 100/1

Relegation odds: 12/1

Key player: Kalvin Phillips

Best transfer of the summer: Jack Harrison

Kalvin Phillips comes off the back of an impressive European Championships campaign with England

Leicester

Leicester are fresh off winning the FA Cup final and defeating Manchester City in the community shield, and have plenty of firepower with Harvey Barnes, Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho as options in attack. They seem to only get better under Brendan Rogers.

Manager: Brendan Rogers

Title odds: 80/1

Relegation odds: 66/1

Key player: Kelechi Iheanacho

Best transfer of the summer: Ryan Bertrand

Ryan Bertrand aided Leicester to a Community Shield win at Wembley

Liverpool

Liverpool fans will want some more business to be done with just the one incoming, but the returns to action of Joe Gomez and crucially Virgil van Dijk will be like new signings in significance. After finishing third following a late resurgence last season, they’ll face a tough test to ward off all challengers and wrestle the title from Manchester City.

Manager: Jurgen Klopp

Title odds: 5/1

Relegation odds: 1500/1

Key player: Mohamed Salah

Best transfer of the summer: Ibrahima Konate

Mohamed Salah scored 22 goals last term, only beaten by Harry Kane

Manchester City          

Pep Guardiola’s side are by-far favourites to win the title, particularly after spending £100m to acquire Jack Grealish from Aston Villa. Gabriel Jesus is their only recognised striker, but it could be another big year for the likes of Phil Foden and FWA player of the year Ruben Dias.

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Title odds: 8/13

Relegation odds: 2000/1

Key player: Kevin De Bruyne

Best transfer of the summer: Jack Grealish

Manchester City are the defending Premier League champions

Manchester United

Manchester United have made enviable moves in the transfer window with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and, er, Tom Heaton. However the former two are unproven in the Premier League and expectations are high.

Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Title odds: 15/2

Relegation odds: 1000/1

Key player: Harry Maguire

Best transfer of the summer: Raphael Varane

Red Devils will hope for a big year from England international and summer-signing Jadon Sancho

Newcastle

As long as Steve Bruce keeps Newcastle in the Premier League, that clearly will satisfy Mike Ashley’s ambitions – but not the fans. With no major incomings again it’s going to be another slog and the impetus will be on Allan Saint-Maximin to excite fans once more.

Manager: Steve Bruce

Title odds: 750/1

Relegation odds: 9/4

Key player: Allan Saint-Maximin

Best transfer of the summer: N/A

Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin is hailed as a hero by the Toon

Norwich

Norwich are back in the Premier League but without their talisman Emi Buendia, who moves to Aston Villa. Billy Gilmour and ex-Werder Bremen Milot Rashica are promising additions though, but face a battle to keep the Canaries from another relegation.  

Manager: Daniel Farke

Title odds: 1500/1

Relegation odds: 10/11

Key player: Max Aarons

Best transfer of the summer: Billy Gilmour (on loan from Chelsea)

Billy Gilmour, 20, too impressed at this year's Euros

Southampton

Saints are without goal-supplier Danny Ings and are leaving crucial transfer business to right before the season’s opener - but it's reported Adam Armstrong should be in with an accepted bid. Captain James Ward-Prowse will be essential to achieve Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first target, staying in the top division. There are a number of young players in the first team that could yet improve too. 

Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl

Title odds: 750/1

Relegation odds: 7/2

Key player: James Ward-Prowse

Best transfer of the summer: Tino Livramento

Skipper James Ward-Prowse looks set to stay at Saints amid links of a move elsewhere

Tottenham

It could be a new-look Tottenham with a new manager, and if Harry Kane does indeed go. Heung-min Son has signed a new contract with the club though in what is a major boost, while Bryan Gil and Christian Romero replace Toby Alderweireld and Gareth Bale. A successful season for Spurs will be anything more than qualifying for the Europa Conference League, which they’ll compete in this term.

Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo

Title odds: 66/1

Relegation odds: 50/1

Key player: Harry Kane/Heung-min Son

Best transfer of the summer: Christian Romero

Harry Kane's future is still undecided

Watford

One of the favourites to go back down, Watford haven’t been able to add proven Premier League quality to their squad. Ashley Fletcher and Josh King will look to add some goals, but Xisco Munoz will not be given much time if things go south – based on every other Hornets manager’s fates.

Manager: Xisco Munoz

Title odds: 1500/1

Relegation odds: 10/11

Key player: Ismaila Sarr

Best transfer of the summer: Ashley Fletcher

Watford boss Xisco Munoz got the club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking

West Ham

David Moyes did superbly well to lead West Ham to a Europa League place and a sixth finish in the Premier League last year. If they keep Declan Rice he’ll be extremely pleased, but they will likely be without Jesse Lingard who performed brilliantly on loan last season. A top-six place looks unlikely again.

Manager: David Moyes

Title odds: 150/1

Relegation odds: 12/1

Key player: Declan Rice

Best transfer of the summer: Alphonse Areola (on loan from PSG)

Highly-rated Declan Rice will miss football-pal Jesse Lingard

Wolves

Wolves are without manager Nuno Espirito Santo who has moved on to Tottenham, and midfielder Ruben Neves is linked with a move away to Manchester United. They will be boosted by the return of Raul Jimenez, who suffered a serious head injury last season and missed many months, while goalkeeper Jose Sa replaces the outgoing Rui Patricio.   

Manager: Bruno Lage

Title odds: 500/1

Relegation odds: 9/2

Key player: Conor Coady

Best transfer of the summer: Francisco Trincao (on loan from Barcelona)

Francisco Trincao, 21, represented finalists Portugal at the under-21 European Championships