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Premier League 2023-24 Season Preview #2: Chelsea destined for improvement under Pochettino

The Premier League 2023-24 campaign begins when newly promoted side Burnley host champions Manchester City on Friday August 11, and here at Premier Bet we are giving you the lowdown on all 20 teams ahead of the new season.

Every day between Monday August 7 and Thursday August 11, we will analyse five teams in alphabetical order, providing you with all the information you could ask for when it comes to their key signings, performances last season, and predictions for the coming campaign. Not only will this make you the most knowledgeable person in the group chat, it will also give you plenty of food for thought when it comes to any outright bets.

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Burnley

Last season: 1st (Championship)

Key signing: Zeki Amdouni (£15m, Basel)

Prediction: 16th

After earning a reputation as the most direct side in the Premier League under Sean Dyche before their relegation, Vincent Kompany managed to completely change the identity of Burnley’s playing style in his first season in charge, helping them hit 100+ points on their way to bouncing back from the Championship at the first attempt.

Continuing that playing style at the top level will be a much more difficult challenge, of course. Zeki Amdouni was the overall top goalscorer in the UEFA Conference League last season and the 22-year-old will bring more quality in attack for the Clarets, but some further additions are still required if they are to have genuine belief of anything beyond battling against relegation.

Still, they should have more than enough about them to finish above their fellow two promoted sides, meaning they just need to find one other team worse than them. We believe there will be.

Chelsea

Last season: 12th

Key signing: Christopher Nkunku (£52m, RB Leipzig)

Prediction: 5th

Chelsea finished outside the top half for the first time in over 25 years last season, with the club’s new owner Todd Boehly lavishly spending his way to mid-table obscurity and general chaos on and off the pitch.

However, the American has made the shrewd move to appoint former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, while plenty of their acquisitions have been signed for the future and should significantly improve with better coaching and more time to adapt to their new environment.

The Blues are desperately lacking numbers in central midfield at present but they will hope to get the purchase of Moises Caicedo over the line between now and the end of the transfer window, while France forward Nkunku could galvanise them to a much stronger domestic season in the absence of competing in Europe. However, we think they may fall just short of qualifying for the Champions League.

23/24 – Chelsea Points

Chelsea to get 75+ points in EPL 23/24
Odds: 
3.50
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Crystal Palace

Last season: 11th

Key signing: Jefferson Lerma (free, Bournemouth)

Prediction: 11th

Palace have turned back time to re-appoint Roy Hodgson on a permanent basis, with the former England manager earning himself a one-year contract after guiding the Eagles away from relegation danger by collecting 18 points from 10 league games from April onwards.

The sale of Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray and potentially serious injury to Michael Olise has left them a little light in attack, although 19-year-old Matheus Franca has joined from Flamengo for around £20m. Jefferson Lerma should prove to be a shrewd signing on a free transfer, with the Colombia international set to provide much more steel in the engine room, taking the load off Cheick Doucoure in that area of the pitch.

Ultimately there is little reason to believe Palace will become anything different to the mid-table team that they have consistently been across the last decade, with Hodgson’s side unlikely to be involved in the European or relegation picture.

Everton

Last season: 17th

Key signing: Arnaut Danjuma (loan, Villarreal)

Prediction: 14th

After surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth in each of the last two seasons, Everton fans will desperately be hoping to avoid becoming embroiled in another bitter battle this time around.

Sean Dyche struggled to achieve the impact which he would have hoped for after replacing Frank Lampard as manager in late January, but ultimately the Toffees did just about enough to preserve their ever-present Premier League status.

Only Ashley Young has been recruited on a permanent basis during the summer window so far, with the former Manchester United man set to provide invaluable experience as a utility man. Arnaut Danjuma will offer invaluable star quality in attack having belatedly moved to Merseyside on loan after rejecting them in favour of Tottenham in January. They should have enough to stay up, but it’s unlikely to be pretty.

Fulham

Last season: 10th

Key signing: Raul Jimenez (£5.5m, Wolves)

Prediction: 12th

Having been relegated in each of their previous three Premier League campaigns, even the most ardent Fulham fan would not have predicted the Cottagers finishing in the top half for the first time since 2012.

Marco SIlva’s side started the season like a house on fire, though, with relegation never looking likely after their impressive opening day draw against Liverpool. However, they tailed off towards the end of the campaign after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s lengthy suspension, and they have had a tumultuous summer so far, with Mitrovic, Joao Palhinha and head coach Silva all attracting plenty of interest from elsewhere.

Raul Jimenez has been signed as Mitrovic’s deputy – or potential replacement – but the Mexico forward has been a shadow of his former self since his serious head injury almost three years ago. At the moment it is difficult to gauge Fulham’s potential position given the uncertainty surrounding them, with another top half push looking just as likely as a relegation battle depending on how certain situations unfold.

You can read our first batch of Premier League previews here, including our prediction for where Arsenal will finish after coming so close to ending almost two decades of hurt last time out.

Have you checked out our ‘From The Streets’ campaign? We have teamed up with Premier Bet Brand Ambassador and former Ivory Coast & Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and a local community to work on a promotional video, helping connect us with our valued players. Click here to read more.

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