Michael Owen fears Chelsea 'might be back to square one' under new boss Maresca

Michael Owen has revealed his top-four picks ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

The new top-flight campaign gets underway in less than a month with Manchester United welcoming Fulham to Old Trafford. Liverpool travel to Portman Road to take on newly-promoted Ipswich on Saturday afternoon.

Before the opening weekend swings into gear with a slate of 3pm fixtures. Teams are only just beginning to put their squads together following the conclusion of international competitions.

But that hasn't stopped Owen from tipping Manchester City to win a record-extending fifth-straight Premier League title.

The former Liverpool striker expects his old club - under new head coach Arne Slot - as well as Arsenal to be City's nearest challengers.

The three sides were locked in a three-way race for much of the last campaign before the Reds fell away in the closing stages.

Mikel Arteta's side finished just two points off top spot after producing an extraordinary run of form after the turn of the year. The Gunners are heading into the 21st season since their last lifted the league title.

Elsewhere, Owen could not chose between Aston Villa and Tottenham for the final Champions League spot. Unai Emery's side shocked everyone by achieving the feat last term and booking their place in the competition for the first time since 1983.

Spurs meanwhile, will be keen to show the form displayed in the early weeks under Ange Postecoglou. A combination of injuries and poor form saw the north London outfit plummet from the heady positions they occupied in October and November.

Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea are notable absentees from Owen's predications. Both team are expected to improve on their performances from last term.

United have crafted a new footballing structured and backed Erik ten Hag with a one-year extension, after the Red Devils' stunning FA Cup success. Though, their Wembley win does not cover up a woeful league campaign that saw them finish in a lowly eighth-place.

Chelsea are also hoping for improvement in the upcoming term as they begin life under former Leicester manager Enzo Maresca. The Blues rallied in the final weeks of the season to claim a top-six spot, having looked more likely to be drawn into a relegation battle for much of the season.

'I don’t fancy Manchester United and Chelsea might be back to square one with a new manager so it might be Tottenham or even Aston Villa again.' he told Prime Casino.

He added: ‘But it won’t be long until Pep Guardiola leaves and that might change things in the Premier League once he leaves because he’s so bloody good, it’s hard to win anything with him in charge at the moment.’