Premier League Top 10 Banker Team to bet on in 2021/2022 Season

Last season - Champions

Pep Guardiola's reigning champions have claimed the crown in three of the past four seasons and, while they will have very serious competition, I believe they will keep rivals at arm's length to retain the title they won comfortably last term.

The arrival of £100m Jack GreaIish from Aston Villa is a stunning power play and show of strength, while the prospect of Harry Kane arriving from Spurs remains.

City cured defensive deficiencies last season by signing Ruben Dias and simply look to have the best all-round squad strength.

The Champions League final loss to Chelsea was a sting in the tail, though. Can they claim that Holy Grail this season?

2. Liverpool

Last season - 3rd

It's getting tricky already given the spending at Chelsea and Manchester United, but Liverpool have the title in their sights again with their squad back to the sort of strength that won it for the first time in 30 years in 2019-20.

Central to it all is Virgil van Dijk, fit again after the serious knee injury that ruled him out from October last season.

Liverpool were decimated by injuries but managed to put together a late run to finish third. Van Dijk, however, is the game-changer.

The world-class defender adds so many layers to Jurgen Klopp's team, augmented too by the arrival of fellow centre-back Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig. Liverpool's front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah remains as potent as ever, while Diogo Jota provides serious competition.

Klopp may yet do more business, but even now this is a title-challenging Liverpool squad.

3. Chelsea

Last season - 4th

Thomas Tuchel's stunning impact since succeeding the sacked Frank Lampard in January was exemplified when Chelsea beat Manchester City in the Champions League final in Porto.

Tuchel's drive and tactical acumen were outstanding, and the imminent £97.5m return of striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan appears to solve the one glaring weakness in Chelsea's armoury after Timo Werner failed to fire. A superb signing.

Champions League match-winner Kai Havertz grew in stature and Tuchel is expected to turn his attentions to bolstering his defence once Lukaku is signed, with Sevilla's Jules Kounde heavily touted.

Chelsea are a side dripping with quality under a top-class coach. Expect a title challenge and a trophy.

4. Manchester United

Last season - 2nd

This is a huge season for Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is armed with a new long-term contract and bolstered by those big-money arrivals - Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid's vastly experienced defender Raphael Varane.

United finished second last season, but were never serious title contenders, and the Europa League final loss on penalties to Villarreal left Solskjaer still struggling to win the matches that really matter.

This is a squad capable of a tilt at top spot, with the ageless Edinson Cavani still at OId Trafford and Bruno Fernandes pulling strings in midfield. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire were excellent contributors to England's run to the Euro 2020 final.

Manchester United have a squad capable of being champions - and certainly winning Solskjaer's first trophy. He needs it, given the talent at his disposal.

5. Leicester

Last season - 5th

The Foxes suffered the pain of missing out on Champions League football on the final day for the second season in succession, but their status as a genuine top-six club was solidified by winning the FA Cup for the first time.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has quality throughout and will have the influential Harvey Barnes back after injury to add to smart summer recruitment in exciting young Red Bull Salzburg striker Patson Daka, Lille's title-winning midfield man Boubakary Soumare and experienced left-back Ryan Bertrand.

The injury to defender Wesley Fofana was a bitter blow - but while much, as ever, will depend on the ageless Jamie Vardy, fellow forward Kelechi Iheanacho gets better and the Community Shield win over Manchester City only reaffirms confidence.

Another good season ahead - and maybe another piece of silverware.

6. Tottenham

Last season - 7th

It's one of the big questions: Will Harry Kane still be at Spurs when the transfer window closes?

If he is, then this could be a pessimistic prediction. If he isn't, it will be a hammer blow to Spurs and new manager Nuno Espirito Santo as he attempts to set a new course for a club that lost its way under Jose Mourinho.

World-class talent such as Son Heung-min remains but so much still hangs on the issue of Kane and, if he leaves, how he is replaced.

Cristian Romero, the Argentina defender signed from Atalanta for £42.5m, has Premier League pedigree while Bryan Gil, the winger brought in from Sevilla, could be a thrilling addition.

7. Arsenal

Last season - 8th

There's big pressure on manager Mikel Arteta as last season was an unedifying prospect at times. But there is still talent in the Gunners squad and things could yet improve.

Arteta has superb youngsters at his disposal in England's Euro 2020 star Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, while Kieran Tierney is a high-class operator and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will surely be better this term.

The £50m addition of the highly-rated Ben White from Brighton adds defensive quality along with left-back Nuno Tavares. The capture of Belgium Under-21 midfield Albert Sambi Lokonga is another interesting addition.

Arteta still needs more, though. Huge season for him and Arsenal.

8. Aston Villa

Last season - 11th

Interesting times at Villa Park with the £100m departure of club talisman Grealish, but the club worked in smart fashion to ensure squad strengthening before signing off on the Manchester City deal.

I think Villa could be an intriguing prospect this season and, if he can stay fit, England striker Danny Ings, brought in to join Ollie Watkins in attack, could be a masterstroke signing.

Leon Bailey will add pace and threat out wide while Emiliano Buendia, signed from Norwich City, brings creativity even though he must prove he is Premier League quality. The returning Ashley Young adds vast experience.

Last season saw an improvement under manager Dean Smith. I expect the same again this season. Outside bet for a cup maybe?

9. West Ham

Last season - 6th

David Moyes did a magnificent job in taking the Hammers to sixth last season, remarkably having them in Champions League contention until late in the campaign, showing his old touches of wise moves in the transfer market and an ability to build a resilient team with quality.

I'm not sure he will be able to do the same again, although he can still count on class acts such as Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and the explosive Michail Antonio, if he can remain fit for long spells.

Moyes will want a couple of quality additions before the transfer window closes, which may just improve this projected placing.

Last season - 10th

Remarkable goings-on at Goodison Park where Carlo Ancelotti jumped ship for Real Madrid, paving the way for the most controversial managerial appointment in Everton's history in former Liverpool Champions League winner Rafael Benitez.

Benitez will need a good start to win over those opposed to his appointment while trying to bolster a thin squad working within Financial Fair Play restrictions.

It may be that Benitez's hands-on training ground approach, allied to his renowned organisational skills and tactical acumen, will work better with this group of permanent underachievers.

More so than with Ancelotti's relaxed style, which last season brought away wins at Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs, but defeats at home to Fulham, Sheffield United and Newcastle United among others.

Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray will add to Everton's threat but so much rests on Benitez.