Former Arsenal, Liverpool, Leeds & Birmingham City winger Jermaine Pennant spoke exclusively to 7bet giving his picks for the Premier League season 25/26. Plus he also answered some topical questions after the opening weekend of the season.
Give us your Premier league winner?
Jermaine: People are going to think I am biased here but I am going to have to go with Liverpool. Being the current champions, the fact that they have strengthen coming into this season must put them and favourites and in the driving seat. There is still time in the transfer window and and they may get Marc Guehi to strengthen further in defence, they may get Aleksander Isak which will even bolster their forward line. With those two you have to say they are favourites. It’s not going to be as plain saying as last season , it’s going to be more difficult and Liverpool will be the ones to beat.
Who will make up the Top 5 in the Premier League?
Jermaine: This has changed over the coming weeks, but Man City because they look really good and have a different style, so Man City in 2nd. Arsenal 3rd and Chelsea 4th and Spurs 5th
Who will make up the Top Goal scorer in Premier League?
Jermaine: I think Haaland isn’t going to be happy about last season’s performance from himself and the team, so I think he is going to come out with a massive bang and a point to prove again. He is already off the mark with two goals, so for me I think Haaland will be Top Goalscorer
Give us a team to be relegated from the Premier League?
Jermaine: For me I think Sunderland will get relegated, because they finished 24 points off Leeds, 20 points off Burnley in the Championship last season and if you are going to go into the Premier League of that basis then they are worse than Burnley and Leeds and I know they have made twelve signings, but it’s going to take time to gel, so I am going to go Sunderland.
Who is your pick to win the Champions League this season?
Jermaine: This is a tough one as I think anyone from the top 8 giants probably could win it. PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid & Barcelona, they are all even, but I am going to go with PSG.
Let’s look at Liverpool v Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday 31st August and please give us your preview and picks:
Jermaine. This is going to be a tough game. Defensively Arsenal look strong as they have been over the years. We know about Liverpool going forward, we know about Liverpool’s fire power, we know about Anfield and the effect that has. It makes for an interesting game. We look a Arsenal’s record at Anfield and they haven’t won their in years, so it’s going to be like the game at the end of the season where Liverpool got off to a flyer (I know it was at the end of the season, the League was already won and Arenal came back to draw 2-2), but I just think at Anfield, Liverpool are a different beast, so I see this is going to Liverpool and I think it will be 2-1 to Liverpool .
I am going to say Ekitike is going to score and Salah and Saka for Arsenal.
Let’s look at the game on the weekend of Saturday & Sunday 31st August and please give us your 7bet Acca
Jermaine: My 7bet Acca is Manchester United to beat Burnley, Man City to beat Brighton, I am going to go Spurs to beat Bournemouth, Chelsea to beat Fulham, Nottingham Forest to beat West Ham and Liverpool to beat Arsenal
Do you think Liverpool still need to strengthen before the window closes?
Jermaine: Yes, I would like to get Marc Guehi and Isak added to the squad before the transfer window closes. We only have two main centre halves and if any of them get injured, then we are a lot weaker. So with Liverpool looking to challenge on all fronts, Guehi would be a great singing. He showed for England he is capable of playing a the top level, so he would have no problems fitting into the Liverpool side an would make them a lot stronger.
Also, If Ekitike gets injured then Liverpool will not have a number 9 in place, so Isak is the one Liverpool need. I hope it happens, but will see how Newcastle deal with this situation. He looks like a Liverpool player, he is powerful, a top finisher and would be a massive asset to the squad. He knows the Premier League and wants to play for the club. He is the real deal and with Salah not getting any younger, would be a superstar for the club for many years.
Which new signing are you most excited about in the Premier League?
Jermaine: I have to be biased as a former Liverpool player that I am most excited about Hugo Ekitike. He took no time to get his scoring underway with an opening day goal and looked a threat all game.
He is a player to get fans off their seat and a player that is a difference maker. He can be a massive asset to Liverpool and with Arsenal and Man City strengthening, he is a player that can help Liverpool retain the title by being a difference maker in games. He is still so young and you can see he always wants the ball, he has class and composure and reads the game well. He knows how to make good runs and can finish well too. With Arsenal up next weekend, it will be great to see he performs against a top defence and I hope he can be the difference in that one. One more key asset is he is direct, he takes on defenders, and in the Premier League, you need to be a certain type of player to success and you can tell Ekitike plays with no fear and will thrive in this League, so it’s a big worry for defenders coming up against him.
Which player/team could be your surprise package of 25-26?
Jermaine: I have two teams. Firstly Crystal Palace. I like the Manager Glazner, he sets his team up so well away from home and you look at their recent results against the big 6. They played a great game in the FA Cup, they stopped Liverpool winning the community shield and should have won against Chelsea on the opening day. If they lose Guehi / Eze, then I believe they will replace them well, but it will be big loss as they are such big players fo Palace. However, you have Adam Wharton in midfield who is class, Mateta up top, who is a handful and defensively, they can play out from the back well.
My other team is Bournemouth. Although they have lost a few players, they still remain a very good outfit as they showed against Liverpool. They will continue to cause big teams problems and with their style of play will win plenty of game to push for another top 10 finish. Their attacking threat is good and have a confident team and a very astute manager who is going to go onto bigger things soon.
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