Robbie Savage predicts the final Premier League table as the 2022/23 season gets back underway following the World Cup played in Qatar.
Whilst giving his thoughts on each club, he has also took into account the amount of minutes each team’s players played in the tournament.
The current league leaders are Arsenal, sitting five points clear at the top with Man City in second, Newcastle in third and Tottenham in fourth.
Sitting down at the bottom, in the relegation zone, is Wolves, Southampton and Nottingham Forest. Wolves were the only side out of the in the current bottom half of the table to pick up a win in the first round of games back after the World Cup.
Robbie Savage said in his column for The Mirror last week that he thinks the final standings will change a fair bit come May 2023. We also reflect back on his prediction for each side right at the start of the season. Without further ado, this is what he said…
1 – MANCHESTER CITY
World Cup minutes: 4,624
Robbie Savage said: "They will win the title comfortably – again.
"Although their players played more World Cup minutes than any other Premier League club, they have the depth of quality to cope easily, and there was no sign of any hangover against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night. I expect them to reel in Arsenal and leave them behind."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 1st and said: "Champions in four of the last five seasons, they have added Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips... so they are going to be the team to beat again. After winning the title for the last two years with a false No.9, they are going to be even more dangerous with an authentic centre forward."
2 – MANCHESTER UNITED
World Cup minutes: 3,873
Robbie Savage said: "Erik ten Hag's World Cup contingent will come back from Qatar full of confidence, especially the defenders. Harry Maguire had an excellent World Cup, Lisandro Martinez won it with Argentina and Raphael Varane reached the final with France. And up front, Marcus Rashford is flying.
"Resurgent United will prosper without Cristiano Ronaldo."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 6th and said: "Can they recover from their worst Premier League season? And will Cristiano Ronaldo still be a United player when the transfer window closes? To finish in the top four, the number-crunchers say you need to score 76 goals – but without CR7, I don't think United have enough goals in that side. If new boss Erik ten Hag gets them back in the Champions League, he's done a great job."
3 – ARSENAL
World Cup minutes: 1,699
Robbie Savage said: "That injury Gabriel Jesus suffered at the World Cup with Brazil has given Gunners boss Mikel Arteta a huge test.
"Although Jesus had not scored in 11 appearances before the break, his all-round contribution was so integral in Arsenal's flying start."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 5th and said: "Gabriel Jesus is a fantastic addition to Mikel Arteta's front line, and with Eddie Nketiah maturing fast as a proven goalscorer at the highest level, the Gunners will be hard to contain. They look stronger on paper than last season, when the next setback always seemed to be just around the corner, but it may not be enough to break back into the top four."
4 – LIVERPOOL
World Cup minutes: 1,788
Robbie Savage said: "Surely they will find some consistency, and regain their swagger, after such a patchy start?
"Mo Salah will be raring to go after the World Cup break, and I expect Darwin Nunez to kick on and fire them back above the dotted line."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 2nd and said: "All of a sudden, the best front three in Europe has had a makeover – and out of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah, only Salah is left in Jurgen Klopp's likeliest starting XI. But the prospect of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and the Egyptian king causing havoc is exciting. In the title race they will be close... but not cigar again."
5 – TOTTENHAM
World Cup minutes: 3,687
Robbie Savage said: "Antonio Conte's players played the third-most minutes of World Cup football between them, and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the fall-out.
"Conte is a winner, but a top-four finish will be a stretch from here."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 4th and said: Antonio Conte has had the best transfer window of all this summer, bringing in six new players and giving the squad more depth ahead of Spurs' return to Champions League orbit. They may not have enough to dislodge City and Liverpool from the top two, but they can only get better. When Conte means business, it's always fun to watch.
6 – NEWCASTLE
World Cup minutes: 458
Robbie Savage said: "With the joint-lowest goals against record to date, there is growing talk of Champions League football on Tyneside next season.
"Last year, they didn't win any of their first 14 games. Just let that sink in."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 7th and said: The richest club in the world are laying the foundations for a march on Europe, with England keeper Nick Pope and defender Sven Botman ideal recruits to improve the team's spine. The only way is up on Tyneside, and they could be the most wealthy club in the Europa Conference League next season.
7 – CHELSEA
World Cup minutes: 3,326
Robbie Savage said: "A big month for head coach Graham Potter.
"There is no doubting his ability, and he steered them through the Champions League group comfortably, but football is a results business and Chelsea's Premier League results need to improve fast."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 3rd and said: Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly are top-class signings, and it looks as if Marc Cucurella is on the way from Brighton. But, but, but... although the club's owners may have changed, the model is likely to remain the same. Thomas Tuchel didn't win anything last season (apart from a low-grade pot in the desert) and he will be under pressure if they don't start well.
8 – BRIGHTON
World Cup minutes: 1,544
Robbie Savage said: "What a fantastic thing, for a club like Brighton, to welcome Alexis Mac Allister back to the Amex as a World Cup winner.
"And I expect Roberto de Zerbi will keep the Seagulls flying high."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 9th and said: Although the Seagulls have lost Yves Bissouma to Tottenham and Marc Cucurella looks like flying the nest, head coach Graham Potter's ability to regenerate, reorganise and reinvigorate his squad has been so impressive. They finished ninth last season, and I can see them doing so again.
9 – LEICESTER
World Cup minutes: 982
Robbie Savage said: "Just three months ago, the calls for manager Brendan Rodgers to go were deafening after a 6-2 defeat at Tottenham.
"But they will keep climbing the table with expert coaching and a strong work ethic."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 16th and said: What is going on at the King Power? The Foxes have lost Kasper Schmeichel to Nice, and there are concerns that Wesley Fofana, James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and even Jamie Vardy might be next out of the door. Lose two of those four and they might be in trouble – but if all four stay, they will be fine. Why have they not bought a single player this summer?
10 – FULHAM
World Cup minutes: 1,333
Robbie Savage said: "Favourites to go down back in August, their energy and tempo was refreshing before the break.
"They can target a top-half finish if talisman and leading scorer Aleksandr Mitrovic stays fit."
Back in August 2022, he thought they would finish 19th and said: It's not a good sign when head coach Marco Silva complains about his squad being too thin, and his team being “not ready” for the challenge of Premier League survival, in the week before the big kick-off. He may be getting his excuses in early for a relegation battle.
Time to continue our look at what Robbie Savage has to say as he predicts the final Premier League table as the 2022/23 season gets back underway...
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