The three newly-promoted Premier League clubs are understandably favourites to go straight back down, but do their own supporters feel the same way?
The new season is close, with fans of all 20 top-flight clubs expectant ahead of a fresh campaign of highs and lows.
Coventry, Ipswich and Hull all battled their way out of the Championship last term – here’s the trio’s season preview.
Coventry
Last season: Championship winners
TIA predicted finish: 16th
Best XI: Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva; Onyeka, Yirenkyi; Tchaouna, Hamer, Mason-Clark; Awoniyi
THE VIEW FROM COVENTRY
Simon Lillibury (@ThatCovPod)
Where will Coventry finish? Very very hard to say. I know how tough it is for new sides coming up, and we haven’t been at this level for 25 years.
I’ll say 17th.
Where will Liverpool finish? 3rd
Who will win the title? Arsenal
Favourite and least favourite Liverpool player: Current, or can I say Gary McAllister for favourite?
If it’s current, I quite like Hugo Ekitike. I don’t have a least favourite.
One player you wish Coventry would sign realistically: All my wildest dreams have come true with Gus Hamer’s return.
We could do with a left-back, but I will go with Fikayo Tomori.
How’s your optimism for the season ahead? Very excited. Great transfer window so far and a quarter of a century away from the big time.
Advice for visiting fans: Leave plenty of time to get away from the ground. The road closure is no joke.
Ipswich Town
Last season: 2nd in the Championship
TIA predicted finish: 19th
Best XI: Scherpen; Furlong, O’Shea, Diop, Davis; Matusiwa, Lukic; Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda, Emersonn
THE VIEW FROM IPSWICH
Blue Monday: An Ipswich Town Podcast (@BlueMondayITFC)
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 17, 2024: A general view of Portman Road ahead of the FA Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Liverpool FC. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 17, 2024: A general view of Portman Road ahead of the FA Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Liverpool FC. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Where will Ipswich finish? I’ll go 17th. I expect a real struggle to avoid relegation, but with the recruitment so far (and promises of further signings), I think we have a chance!
Where will Liverpool finish? Third. As an outsider, it feels like you’ve made a fantastic managerial appointment, but you still have a fair bit of work to do in the transfer market.
Who will win the title? Arsenal. Going back-to-back is tough, but I think in the absence of an exceptionally strong rival, they will have enough this time.
Favourite and least favourite Liverpool player: My favourite of all-time is the perennially moustachioed John Wark and big Sami Hyypia.
In the current team, I like Dominik Szoboszlai.
Least Favourite is Craig Bellamy. I don’t have strong negative feelings about any of your current team.
One player you wish Ipswich would sign, realistically: At the time of writing, we’re still very light on centre forwards.
Breel Embolo would continue the theme of signing players who scored in the World Cup. That’s always a sound approach, right?
How’s your optimism for the season ahead? Initially, when our legendary manager Kieran McKenna stepped down and was replaced by an ex-Norwich captain, the mood was understandably pretty low!
But now the dust has settled, and some decent signings have been made, there is a feeling that we should be better equipped to at least put up a decent fight for survival.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil before the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. Picture date: Saturday December 14, 2024.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil before the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. Picture date: Saturday December 14, 2024.
And while I admittedly found Gary O’Neil’s appointment underwhelming, he has the tools to make us competitive in this league.
Advice for visiting fans: Travel by rail if you can. Ipswich station and its neighbouring away pub are only a five-minute stumble from the away ‘end’.
There are also a number of fantastic pubs/bars in the town centre and beyond which don’t discriminate against away fans and will be happy to have you.
And so long as you’re not right near the back of the stand, you can enjoy one of the best vantage points for watching football in the league from the Upper Cobbold.
Hull City
Last season: 6th in the Championship and promoted via the play-offs
TIA predicted finish: 20th
Best XI: Tzolakis; Coyle, Herrington, Mendy, Giles; Hjerto-Dahl, Morita, Slater; Belloumi, McBurnie, Millar
THE VIEW FROM HULL
Ryan Frankish (@FrankishRyan)
KINGSTON-UPON-HULL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 28, 2015: The KC Stadium ahead of Liverpool against Hull City in the Premier League. (Pic by Gareth Jones/Propaganda)
KINGSTON-UPON-HULL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 28, 2015: The KC Stadium ahead of Liverpool against Hull City in the Premier League. (Pic by Gareth Jones/Propaganda)
Where will Hull finish? 16th
Where will Liverpool finish? 5th
Who will win the title? Arsenal
Favourite and least favourite Liverpool player: Favourite – Alisson. Least favourite – Gakpo.
One player you wish Hull would sign, realistically: Give us Elliott for STEALING Robbo!
How’s your optimism for the season ahead? Very optimistic.
I’m trying to stay realistic, but we’re already very well equipped, so we don’t have a huge culture shock in changing our style of play.
We’re being pretty smart with transfers.
Advice for visiting fans: Make sure you get scran at our place, best food in the 92.