Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Could Manchester United really finish in the bottom half of the table again?

The Premier League is back, with more games than ever live on Sky Sports, but what does the new campaign have in store?

Liverpool are out to retain their crown.



To launch Between the Lines, a new weekly strand explaining the data behind the headlines, we compare the Opta and Sky Sports predicted tables - and find interesting results...

Opta's verdict: Liverpool top, Man Utd 12th!

Opta predict Liverpool will retain the Premier League title following last season's success under Arne Slot, with Arsenal coming second again, albeit by a much narrower margin than last term.

Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa are third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, meaning Opta's predicted top six mirrors the final top six last season.

Also See:

Opta's supercomputer is far from convinced when it comes to Manchester United and Spurs.

Sky Sports say: Man Utd, Spurs to rise

The Sky Sports supercomputer is far more optimistic for Manchester United and Spurs in the season ahead.

In fact, Ruben Amorim's side could even be in the frame for a Champions League finish.

Arsenal and Manchester City have work to do to shift their unwanted players but their high net spends help to explain why they are predicted to push Liverpool closer this term.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have the highest net spend among all Premier League sides, although, according to their predicted finishes, their recruitment so far this summer has been judged very differently by Opta and Sky Sports.

Why the doubts about Man Utd?

Manchester United have overhauled their attack, making a trio of high-profile additions in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko

Only eight allowed more expected goals against.

And yet, despite those issues, Manchester United look set to start the new Premier League season with roughly the same personnel as last season in goal, in defence and in midfield.

No challenge from Chelsea?

Chelsea head into the new campaign buoyed by their Club World Cup triumph in the United States but a title challenge is beyond them according to the Opta and Sky Sports supercomputers.

Both predicted tables have Enzo Maresca's side in fourth place, and with near-identical points totals too, ensuring Champions League qualification for a second successive season, but falling a long way short of a push for Premier League glory.



Sky Sports see their prospects as much brighter than Opta, who predict a second successive bottom-half finish, but even an eighth-placed finish puts Spurs below the level they aspire to.

Leeds to survive, Wolves at risk?

The predicted tables make grim reading for Burnley and Sunderland supporters but there is hope for Leeds, at least according to the Sky Sports supercomputer.

Daniel Farke's side, who pipped Burnley to the Championship title on goal difference last season, are predicted to finish 17th, fractionally ahead of Wolves, who have lost key players this summer in Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City.

The West Midlands club have so far spent modestly this summer, their outlay totalling just £48.4m, which ensures a healthy profit from the £103.7m received in sales, but raises questions about the quality and depth available to head coach Vitor Pereira.

What do the Sky Sports writers say?

We asked our journalists to come up with their predicted tables too.

As an average, Liverpool came out as champions, with Manchester United and Spurs in sixth and seventh respectively.


For more news relating to Newcastle United, visit our sister site NUFC Latest Live.