We Asked UK Music’s Biggest Football Fans for Their Premier League ‘Project Restart’ Predictions
To celebrate the Premier League's return, we got a mix of MCs and DJs to hit us with their shouts for the rest of the season.
The football season is well and truly back, with The Barclays already showcasing why it remains goated by simultaneously being both the most easy to read and chaotically unpredictable league in the world in equal measure.
First, came the unpredictable. The first 15 seconds of Project Restart kicked off with both Aston Villa and Sheffield United players unified in taking the knee to support Black Lives Matter; a wholly unexpected but much welcome gesture that will mean so much to so many. That game, despite the dull scoreline, also provided a ridiculous refereeing horror show that saw Hawk-Eye issuing a public apology on behalf of its goal-line technology. Despite everyone in the ground and everyone around the world watching the game seeing that Ørjan Nyland carried the ball over the line after a Sheffield United free kick, the officials didn't intervene due to a mistake from the "near-faultless" technology, leaving Chris Wilder saying "I didn't know whether to laugh or cry."
Then came the predictable. Kevin De Bruyne remains extremely good at football, Raheem Sterling continued to do his talking on the pitch as much as he does off it, and Arsenal continue to be completely shambolic at the back, with David Luiz picking up exactly where he left off before we went into lock down in putting in one of the most calamitous disasterclasses in recent memory. Time is a flat circle: the best league in the world is back.
With null and voiders in the mud and the Prem finally being back on the menu, we took the opportunity to hit up some of UK music's biggest football fans to get their perspectives on what we're going to be seeing in The Barclays before the end of the season.
Blanco
Supports: Manchester City
Who makes Top 4?
Liverpool and Manchester City of course, and then it’s gonna be Leicester and Chelsea.
Who gets relegated?
I personally think there’s no doubt about Norwich going down. Then probably Brighton and Watford.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
Kevin De Bruyne. This doesn’t need an explanation.
Who does your team need to buy this summer?
I support Manchester City (to the death) – we need a CB! Actually, we need two…
Kenny Allstar
Supports: Chelsea
Who makes Top 4?
Liverpool have ran away with it. Man City comfortably 2nd. In terms of 3rd place, I think Leicester City will drop below Chelsea, and Chelsea slot straight into that 3rd place. Obviously me being a Blue myself, I’m gonna be a bit biased – but the Foxes will get fourth.
Who gets relegated?
Brighton and Norwich are both going down. For that third spot, it’s a toss up between Villa and Bournemouth for me…but i’d say on goal difference, it’s gonna be Bournemouth that stay up and Villa go down.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
I’m a forward guy. I love strikers! Anyone that’s been banging the goals I’m rating the most. So I love Raul Jimenez for what he’s been doing for Wolves – he should be snapped up by one of the Top 4 clubs. Vardy could be in with a shout if he gets the Golden Boot. But again, because I’m a Blue, it’s got to be our guy Matteo Kovacic for POTS. He’s one of the most underrated ballers in the Prem, and he’s got everything in his locker. Definitely our most improved player. I know it’s probably not gonna be him though!
Who does your team need to buy this summer?
I’m definitely a big fan of Kai Havertz. After wrapping up Werner and Ziyech, I would go for him. We’re gonna have an amazing front three now, with Tammy leading the line. We could see Timo and Tammy up top too…but Havertz coming in as this number 10 would be mad. His passing and moving and all around build up play is just ridiculous. But even if it ain’t Kai, it’s cool. I’m hearing Benrahma might be coming up from Brentford – again someone who is mad talented – his dribbling and his skills would be sick to add to the squad. A left back in Ben Chilwell or Tagliafico would also be good to wrap up the spending.
Don E
Supports: Arsenal
Who makes Top 4?
Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Leicester City. In that order.
Who gets relegated?
Norwich, Bournemouth and Brighton go down.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
It’s got to be Sadio Mané! If not him, then it’s probably got to be KDB.
Who does your team need to buy this summer?
I’m an Arsenal fan, and I want to see us sign Thomas Partey and Wilfred Zaha – as we need someone who can really get at defenders. Of course, we need a centre back too. 3 good signings will be enough for us for next season.
Yizzy
Supports: Arsenal
Who makes Top 4?
Firstly, I’m so glad football’s back! Top 4 is pretty straightforward for me: it’s got to be Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, then Leicester. It would properly hurt to see United get Top 4, though.
Who gets relegated?
Norwich are definitely down. They just seem to be this team that, traditionally, just live between the Prem and the Championship. They’ve got some good players, but they just don’t have the presence required to stay up. Villa and Bournemouth are my two other teams to go down… but to be honest, I don’t really check the bottom of the table like that. Newcastle will kick on next season too though, by the way. Bring Mbappé to the Toon!
Who wins Player Of The Season?
I would love to see Sadio Mané win it. He’s a good guy, and if you take him away, that front 3 crumbles. He’s the most clinical of Liverpool’s forward line. So it’s either him, or Trent – the best right back in the world. He has an absolutely unreal attacking mindset, and always picks out the right man.
Personally, I don’t get the Kevin De Bruyne hype at all. He doesn’t even stand up to prime Özil for me, so he shouldn’t be in with a sniff. It’s got to be a Liverpool player for me.
Who does your team need to buy this summer?
Arsenal need Upamecano, or someone like Thiago Silva – who is not renewing his deal at PSG. Our defence needs sorting out, full stop.
Kamakaze
Supports: Leicester City
Who makes Top 4?
Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester City, Manchester United.
Who gets relegated?
Brighton, Villa and Norwich.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
Mané.
Who does your team need to buy this summer?
Richarlison or Marcus Thuram would be unreal for Leicester.
Smoke Boyz
Supports: Arsenal
Who makes Top 4?
Liverpool, Man City, Leicester, Man United – in that order.
Who gets relegated?
Norwich, Villa and West Ham.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
Kevin de Bruyne.
Who does your club need to sign?
Arsenal need a centre back – Koulibaly or Ake would be great – then a baller like Havetz, Partey or Saul.
Blasé & Luxo
Luxo supports: Manchester United
Who makes Top 4?
Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester, United. I (Luxo) think United grab that 4th spot late on.
Who gets relegated?
Villa to survive. Mings stays solid in defence and Grealish stays running things all over the pitch. I think Watford, Bournemouth and Norwich go down.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
Sadio Mané. Dope player.
Who does your team need to buy this summer?
United need to give Borussia whatever they want. Get the jet and go and collect Sancho ASAP!
Tommy B
Supports: West Ham
Who makes Top 4?
For me, I think it will be Liverpool top, Man City 2nd, Chelsea 3rd and Leicester 4th. I don’t believe Man United have enough to make the final top 4 however it’s really tough to predict because what we have seen is more or less a summer break & as you well know plenty of teams come back after breaks totally different! It will be interesting to see, especially as they are playing in silence as well.
Who gets relegated?
This is another really tough question for the same reason as I just said before. I think Norwich are long gone, I would like to see Villa go down as there is only room for one team in Claret & Blue in the Prem! And thirdly I think Brighton may slip up. So that’s my 3 teams. Really really hard to predict with nine games still to play. All I know is we (West Ham) cant afford to go down so I am hoping and praying we hit some form.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
It has to go to Sadio Mané, surely?! Is it even up for debate? The man has been an unstoppable force for Liverpool this year. I mean you could arguably give it to a number of players in that team but I think Mane has got that award in the bag. He has been amazing this year and on top of that I read recently how generous he is with his wealth and how he likes to help those less fortunate than him. Top footballer and a top man to match.
Who does your team need to buy this summer?
I would say that West Ham needs to invest in a quality central midfielder because I am beginning to question how much Noble has left in the tank. Also with Jack Wilshere’s injury problems I think we really need to cover ourselves in the middle. I have always said this and I would still love to see us sign Jonjo Shelvey, he is a local lad with the right attitude and brilliant technical ability. I think him and Rice in the middle could work wonders for us. Aside from Shelvey, I have seen Ramsey has become available from Juventus – but that’s always a long shot. We can’t even fork out the money to keep Ngakia so I doubt we can meet Ramsey’s demands!
Conducta
Supports: Arsenal
Who makes Top 4?
Obviously Liverpool and City for the top two spots, then it’s gonna be Leicester and Chelsea.
Who gets relegated?
Norwich, Bournemouth and Brighton will be going down.
Who wins Player Of The Season?
My player of the season would be Jack Grealish or James Maddison to be honest, I really rate them highly. I think Grealish is gonna be a top, top player.
Who does your club need to buy this summer?
I want Arsenal to sign Thomas Partey so badly. Jack Grealish would be a dream signing too, as would Benrahma from Brentford…but I don’t think any of those are gonna happen.
