Sam Allardyce changes Premier League prediction: ‘I think they will do it’

Sam Allardyce has already changed his main Premier League prediction after the very first weekend of the new season.

Defending champions Arsenal came into this season as the bookmakers’ favourites to defend their title, and got underway with a convincing 3-0 win over Coventry City on Friday.

But it was a topsy-turvy weekend for the rest of the ‘Big Six’, with both Manchester United and Tottenham falling to disappointing defeats against Hull City and Brentford, respectively.

Liverpool needed a late equaliser to draw with Newcastle United, while Chelsea held on to a win against Fulham.

And Manchester City scored two late goals to rescue a 2-1 win over Bournemouth in Enzo Maresca’s first league match in charge.

Speaking before the season started, Allardyce had tipped City as his favourites to win the title this time around, even after their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield.

But the veteran Premier League manager has already had a change of heart, and is now confident that Mikel Arteta’s side will retain their title come the end of the season.

‘There’s no guarantee Arsenal win the Premier League, but there’s no challenger to them this season,’ Allardyce said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.

‘I initially said Manchester City would win the title, but thinking about it a little bit more, it’s a big change of manager that they’ve had to go through.

‘I now think Arsenal will do it.’

City have had a summer of upheaval after the departure of Pep Guardiola as well as experienced players such as Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones.

Attacking duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush are also both leaving to join Spurs, while midfielder Nico Gonzalez is closing in on a move to Newcastle.

Ayyoub Bouaddi and Elliot Anderson have both been signed to add more depth in central midfield, while the club will make a late move for Enzo Fernandez despite Chelsea’s insistence that the Argentine will now not leave this summer.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have added to their already impressive squad with the signings of Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa.

Gabriel Martinelli looks set to leave the club for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, with the Gunners still weighing up a move for Julian Alvarez if the Atletico Madrid striker indicates he would be keen on a return to the Premier League.

Arsenal travel to face Aston Villa next Monday, while City take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

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