Manchester City to retain the Premier League title while Luton Town go straight back down… but which teams MISS out on the top four? Michael Owen reveals his 2023-24 predictions
- Michael Owen reckons the top two will be unchanged in the upcoming season
- He picked two of the three promoted sides to make a return to Championship
- The ex-striker tipped Liverpool to replace Newcastle in the league’s top four
Michael Owen has backed Manchester City to retain their Premier League crown and finish ahead of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
The former star striker made his predictions ahead of the new campaign that kicks-off next Friday when newly-promoted Burnley welcome Pep Guardiola’s side to Turf Moor.
Owen, who claimed his sole Premier League title with Man United in 2011, reckoned Vincent Kompany’s team will manage to escape the drop and finish in 16th place.
While the other two promoted clubs, Luton Town and Sheffield United, are set for an immediate return to the Championship according to the 46-year-old’s predictions.
The two-time golden boot winner inserted Wolves into his final relegation spot, while he anticipates considerable improvement from Chelsea but not enough to regain a place in the top four.
Michael Owen has backed Man City to complete the historic feat of four straight league titles
City finished five points clear of second placed Arsenal, who showed immense improvement
Luton Town completed a fairytale season by winning the play-off final on penalties in May
City racked up 89 points last term as they cruised to a third successive league title and their fifth in six seasons.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal ended up five points adrift of the summit and Owen expects the Gunners to suffer the same fate this season, though he is optimistic about the response of one of his former clubs.
The 46-year-old spent eight years in the Liverpool first team after graduating from the academy and he backed Jurgen Klopp’s side to bounce back from their disappointing fifth place finish.
Owen opted to go for Man United in the final Champions League qualification spot ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, Aston Villa and Newcastle, who the ex-speedster believes will find balance of domestic and European football a struggle.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the table Bournemouth, Burnley and Crystal Palace have been tipped to finish in the three spots above the drop zones.
