Former Manchester City defender and pundit Micah Richards has weighed in with his Premier League predictions for the new season, offering some surprising takes on how the table might unfold.
Title Race Heating Up
Richards believes Manchester City remain the team to beat, but suggests Arsenal could push them even closer this campaign. "City's squad depth is frightening," Richards admitted, "but Arsenal have strengthened well and learned from last season's mistakes."
Surprise Package
The ex-England international tipped Chelsea as potential dark horses under new management: "If they can find consistency, that squad has top-four quality written all over it."
Concerns for United and Spurs
Richards expressed doubts about Manchester United's title credentials despite their summer spending: "They've improved, but I'm not convinced they've closed the gap enough." He was similarly cautious about Tottenham's prospects under Ange Postecoglou.
Relegation Battle
At the other end of the table, Richards predicted a tough season for newly-promoted sides, though he refused to write any team off completely: "The Premier League's more competitive than ever - one good signing can transform a team's fortunes."
The pundit's full predictions included detailed analysis of each club's strengths and weaknesses, with particular focus on how new signings might adapt to English football.
