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So, here we are again. When Leicester City travel to Arsenal on Friday night to open the 2017-18 Premier League season, it’ll be the first of 380 league matches that stretch over ten months and determine the fates of\u00a0twenty topflight\u00a0clubs. <\/strong>Win roughly 25 of your 38 matches and you’ll be in with a shout of the title; avoid losing more than 20 times and you should, in theory, stay up. It’s as simple as that, right?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, not quite. This is, after all, one of the most unforgiving leagues in all of world football. It’s a division in which the title defence of the two previous champions ended in finishes of\u00a010th and 12th respectively. Where a team with five UEFA Champions League winners amongst\u00a0its ranks could only muster a measly 13th place in 2016-17. And where a side who finished some 32 points shy of last season’s champions have\u00a0spent nearly \u00a3100million on new recruits over the summer.<\/p>\n This is indeed a brutal league. But that’s exactly why it attracts the biggest audiences, a number of the biggest stars and most certainly the biggest names in management. For the likes of Mourinho, Conte, Pochettino, Klopp, Wenger and Guardiola,\u00a0this weekend’s action offers\u00a0the potential first step towards the ultimate glory. But to whom the trophy will go\u00a0is anyone’s guess.<\/p>\n Giving it our best shot, we, the staff and partners of Icons.com<\/a>, are back again to answer (or at least attempt to answer) the burning questions on everyone’s minds ahead of the big kick-off. But don’t just take our word,\u00a0get involved on our Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> pages by giving us your predictions for the season ahead. You can hardly do much worse.<\/p>\n And, of course, be sure to check out our fantastic range of signed items from\u00a0Premier League<\/a>\u00a0stars\u00a0past and present \u2013 available right now on\u00a0Icons.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n It’s make or break time for Pep Guardiola in Manchester<\/p><\/div>\n Premier League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a> FA Cup<\/a>\u00a0winners: <\/strong>Chelsea<\/a> UEFA Champions League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>FC Barcelona<\/a> Random prediction:\u00a0<\/strong>Lionel Messi<\/a>\u00a0will become only the fifth player ever to have won five Pichichi trophies after\u00a0he finishes the season as La Liga’s top scorer.<\/p>\n Premier League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a> FA Cup<\/a>\u00a0winners: <\/strong>Chelsea<\/a> UEFA Champions League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Liverpool<\/a>. Come on, we can all dream! Random prediction:\u00a0<\/strong>Barcelona<\/a>\u00a0will improve despite the departure of Neymar Jr<\/a>. They’ll wrestle\u00a0the Spanish\u00a0title back from Real Madrid<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Wayne Rooney has returned to Everton \u2013 could his experience bring success to Goodison?<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Premier League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester United<\/a> FA Cup<\/a>\u00a0winners: <\/strong>Liverpool<\/a> UEFA Champions League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Neymar Jr<\/a>\u00a0will take the Parisians that one step further they need this year. Random predictions:<\/strong> Dele Alli<\/a>‘s rise to superstardom continues, earning him a big money move at the end of the season for, let’s say, \u00a3200million. From March onwards, a number of players will feign and\/or elongate injuries in order to be fresh for the 2018 FIFA World Cup<\/a>. One of Nathan Redmond or Tom Davies sneaks onto England<\/a>‘s plane for Russia.<\/p>\n Premier League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a> FA Cup<\/a>\u00a0winners: <\/strong>West Ham United<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Slaven Bilic’s side overcome\u00a0Championship opposition in the Final. UEFA Champions League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Real Madrid<\/a> \u2013 No-one thought back-to-back titles could be done. Why can’t they make it three-in-a-row with Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> and Gareth Bale<\/a> at the top of their\u00a0game? Random prediction:\u00a0<\/strong>A goalkeeper will get on the scoresheet at some stage this season.\u00a0Liverpool<\/a>\u00a0sacrifice the topflight\u00a0for a deep run in the\u00a0UEFA Champions League<\/a>\u00a0as they\u00a0reach the semi-finals. Cambridge United win\u00a0automatic promotion from\u00a0League Two.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Icons favourite Dele Alli: world football’s next \u00a3200million player?<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Premier League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a> FA Cup<\/a>\u00a0winners: <\/strong>Liverpool<\/a> UEFA Champions League<\/a> winner:\u00a0<\/strong>Bayern Munich<\/a> Random prediction:\u00a0<\/strong>Neymar Jr<\/a>\u00a0carries\u00a0Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>\u00a0all the way to the Final but they come up just short to Carlo Ancelotti’s men.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Premier League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Chelsea<\/a> FA Cup<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Arsenal<\/a> UEFA Champions League<\/a> winner:\u00a0<\/strong>Real Madrid<\/a> Random prediction: <\/strong>Pep Guardiola will resign\u00a0at the end of the season, following a failure to land the league\u00a0or\u00a0UEFA Champions League<\/a>. Nathaniel Chalobah will be on that plane to Russia next year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Italian giants AC Milan are well fancied for UEFA Europa League glory<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Premier League<\/a>\u00a0winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Arsenal<\/a> FA Cup<\/a>\u00a0winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Chelsea<\/a>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/GettyImages-545519086-1024x667.jpg\"){kind=icon}
Edward Freedman, Chairman<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nTop four:\u00a0<\/strong>Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0(2nd),\u00a0Liverpool<\/a>\u00a0(3rd),\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0(4th)
\nRelegated:\u00a0<\/strong>Huddersfield Town, Watford, Brighton & Hove Albion
\nOverachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Everton<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The Toffees have spent big but have invested well\u00a0this summer. Wayne Rooney<\/a>‘s return brings valuable\u00a0experience to a\u00a0dressing room packed with new and exciting faces.
\nUnderachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Last year I predicted that because the Gunners had spent nothing they would falter. This year, despite the purchase of Alexandre Lacazette, the same problems will persist. Wenger should have left years ago.
\nGolden Boot:\u00a0<\/strong>Sergio Aguero<\/a>\u00a0(Manchester City<\/a>)
\nSigning of the season:\u00a0<\/strong>Ederson\u00a0(Manchester City<\/a>) \u2013\u00a0The Brazilian<\/a> youngster is an improvement on former\u00a0keepers at the Etihad.<\/p>\n
\nLeague\u00a0Cup winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Liverpool<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUEFA Europa League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>AC Milan<\/a><\/p>\nDan Jamieson,\u00a0CEO<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nTop four:\u00a0<\/strong>Liverpool<\/a>\u00a0(2nd), Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(3rd),\u00a0Manchester United<\/a>\u00a0(4th)
\nRelegated:\u00a0<\/strong>Brighton &\u00a0Hove Albion, Watford, Huddersfield Town
\nOverachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>West Ham United<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The Hammers have finally bought a striker\u00a0with bags of\u00a0Premier League<\/a> experience.
\nUnderachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Southampton<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0After years of gradual progress,\u00a0decline will finally set in at St Mary’s.
\nGolden Boot:\u00a0<\/strong>Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City<\/a>)
\nSigning of the season:\u00a0<\/strong>Mohamed Salah\u00a0(Liverpool<\/a>) \u2013 I always go for\u00a0Liverpool<\/a>‘s big money signing…<\/p>\n
\nLeague\u00a0Cup winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Tottenham Hotspur<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUEFA Europa League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester United<\/a>\u00a0will retain the trophy after dropping out of the\u00a0UEFA Champions League<\/a>\u00a0at the group stages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/GettyImages-823614264-1024x683.jpg\"){kind=icon}
Ben Soley,\u00a0Sales and Marketing Manager<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nTop four:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a>\u00a0(2nd),\u00a0Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0(3rd),\u00a0Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>\u00a0(4th)
\nRelegated:\u00a0<\/strong>Brighton & Hove Albion,\u00a0Swansea City, Huddersfield Town
\nOverachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0A paper thin squad coupled with\u00a0the return of\u00a0UEFA Champions League<\/a>\u00a0football should\u00a0make life tough for the Blues but Eden Hazard<\/a> will keep them winning.
\nUnderachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a>‘s backline\u00a0\u2013 Pep’s back four will improve on last season but they’ll still leak plenty of goals.
\nGolden Boot:\u00a0<\/strong>Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United<\/a>)
\nSigning of the season: <\/strong>Nemanja Matic\u00a0<\/strong>(Manchester United<\/a>)\u00a0\u2013 The Serbian will make a big difference for United but if\u00a0Liverpool<\/a>\u00a0can sign a central defender the title is in the bag.<\/p>\n
\nLeague\u00a0Cup winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Liverpool<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUEFA Europa League<\/a> winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Villarreal \u2013 Though\u00a0Arsenal<\/a> will surely walk it if only they try.<\/p>\nAlistair Hunter,\u00a0Senior Editor<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nTop four:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester United<\/a>\u00a0(2nd),\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0(3rd),\u00a0Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0(4th)
\nRelegated: <\/strong>Burnley, Huddersfield Town,\u00a0Stoke City
\nOverachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Newcastle United<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The Rafa Revolution rolls on. In fact, he even manages to take a handful of points from\u00a0former employers\u00a0Liverpool<\/a> and\u00a0Chelsea<\/a>.
\nUnderachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Stoke City<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Mark Hughes wins the sack race feeling the absence of the brilliant Marko Arnautovic. The rest of the bottom half chews them up and spits them out.
\nGolden Boot: <\/strong>Harry Kane<\/a>\u00a0(Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>)
\nSigning of the season: <\/strong>Kelechi Iheanacho\u00a0(Leicester City) \u2013\u00a0Manchester City<\/a>\u00a0fans will thank their lucky stars for that buy-back clause as the exciting young forward links up with Jamie Vardy<\/a> to devastating effect.<\/p>\n
\nLeague\u00a0Cup winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Cambridge Unit- ah, no, we’re out already. Okay, let’s go with\u00a0Manchester City<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nUEFA Europa League<\/a> winners: <\/strong>Lyon \u2013 The French side weren’t too far off last season and this year the Final takes place in their own back yard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/GettyImages-824351132-1024x683.jpg\"){kind=icon}
\nJoe Turnbull,\u00a0Editorial Intern<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nTop four:\u00a0<\/strong>Liverpool<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(2nd),\u00a0<\/strong>Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>\u00a0(3rd),\u00a0Manchester United<\/a>\u00a0(4th)
\nRelegated: <\/strong>Brighton & Hove Albion, Stoke City,\u00a0Huddersfield Town
\nOverachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Newcastle United<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Rafa Benitez is experienced at\u00a0Premier League<\/a>\u00a0level. I wouldn’t bet against him taking the Toon into the top ten.
\nUnderachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Friction between Antonio Conte and the board will be their downfall. New boy Alvaro Morata won\u2019t click and injuries will deplete their squad, leaving the Stamford Bridge side\u00a0languishing in sixth.
\nGolden Boot:\u00a0<\/strong>Harry Kane<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>)
\nSigning of the season:\u00a0<\/strong>Romelu Lukaku\u00a0(Manchester United<\/a>) \u2013 Though he cost a lot of money, the Belgian brings guaranteed goals. Lukaku is a fantastic player who will step up to the plate and may even give Jose\u00a0a long run in the\u00a0UEFA Champions League<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nLeague\u00a0Cup winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Tottenham Hotspur<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUEFA Europa League<\/a> winner:\u00a0<\/strong>AC Milan<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 After\u00a0the summer the Rossoneri have had, it’s difficult to see past them. The English clubs will represent themselves well.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\nMatt Sheppard,\u00a0Editorial Intern<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nTop four:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a>\u00a0(2nd),\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0(3rd),\u00a0Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>\u00a0(4th)
\nRelegated:\u00a0<\/strong>Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City,\u00a0Huddersfield Town
\nOverachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Newcastle United<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Rafa will finally get to show exactly why he decided to stick by the Toon Army following their relegation the season before last.
\nUnderachievers:<\/strong>\u00a0West Ham United<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 There’s lots of hype around the Hammers’\u00a0big-name signings but most of them will prove\u00a0well past their sell-by date.
\nGolden Boot:\u00a0<\/strong>Harry Kane<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>)
\nSigning of the season:\u00a0<\/strong>Bernardo Silva\u00a0(Manchester City<\/a>) \u2013 The Portuguese international will form a partnership with Kevin de Bruyne that turns into quite something.<\/p>\n
\nLeague\u00a0Cup winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUEFA Europa League<\/a> winner:\u00a0<\/strong>AC Milan<\/a><\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.icons.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/GettyImages-826160688-1024x575.jpg\"){kind=icon}
\nChris Jinks,\u00a0A1 Sporting Memorabilia<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nTop four:\u00a0<\/strong>Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(2nd),\u00a0<\/strong>Manchester City<\/a>\u00a0(3rd),\u00a0<\/strong>Liverpool<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(4th)
\nRelegated:\u00a0<\/strong>Burnley, Swansea City,\u00a0Huddersfield Town
\nOverachievers:\u00a0<\/strong>Arsenal<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0Without the distraction of trying (and repeatedly hopelessly\u00a0failing) to win the\u00a0UEFA Champions League<\/a>, the Gunners\u00a0focus on domestic matters. Momentum stays with the team early in 2018 when they would usually falter.
\nUnderachievers:<\/strong> Manchester United<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Mourinho has made a number of big money signings but The Special One will be\u00a0unable to get the team to gel. Without a trophy, Jose gets grumpier by the day.
\nGolden Boot:\u00a0<\/strong>Alvaro Morata\u00a0<\/strong>(Chelsea<\/a>)
\nSigning of the season: <\/strong>Sead Kolasinac\u00a0(Arsenal<\/a>) \u2013 In a time when we have \u00a3200million players, Wenger still finds a bargain in this free transfer.<\/p>\n
\nLeague\u00a0Cup winners:\u00a0<\/strong>Tottenham Hotspur<\/a><\/p>\n