5 Bold Premier League Predictions For The Remainder Of The 2022/23 Season

After the first-ever midseason World Cup break, club football is back with the Premier League set to resume on Boxing Day. Harry Kane’s skyward penalty might have meant England would not be bringing it home, but the return of top-flight football is sure to be something fans can turn their attention to in order to get their excitement levels back up again. Get ready for club football with our 5 bold Premier League predictions for the remainder of the 2022/23 season at SinkorSwimSports!

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5. David Moyes Will Be Sacked Before The End Of The Season 

David Moyes has done a stellar job since returning to the helm at West Ham United back in January 2020. In his first full season, he led the Hammers to their record Premier League points tally, before making it consecutive finishes in the Europa League again in 2021/22. 

The Scot signed a three-year contract in June 2021, but it looks like things are in danger of being curtailed sooner rather than later. 

Despite a slew of statement signings in the summer transfer window, there’s a palpable sense of things meandering to a turgid end at the London Stadium. Frustrations over selections from the fanbase, visual disagreements between players and staff and a disappointing first half of the season have put pressure on Moyes. West Ham will restart the season 16th in the table, one point above the drop-zone, operating with the worst xG tally in the entire division (+7.59). It could be a long second half of the season for West Ham, and we’re not expecting Moyes to see it out.

4. Spurs Will Miss Out On The Top Four 

Antonio Conte guided Spurs back into the Champions League in less than a full season in charge of the club across 2021/22. However, despite reasonable preseason expectations, this campaign has been far more ‘stop-start’ than most were probably expecting. 

Spurs are already 8 points behind Arsenal and closed out their first half of the season with three losses in their final five games. Conte has frequently cut a frustrated figure on the touchline and in the interview rooms, and the side’s leaky defense have already conceded 21 goals from an xGA of -2.93, the most of any team in the current top eight in the table. 

But, what could also prove to be a decisive cog in Spurs’ hopes this season could be the effect of the World Cup on the squad. Tottenham had the fourth-most amount of players at the World Cup, and the dramatic defeats for their star men Heung-min Son and Harry Kane could prove to be a bit of a stumbling block for Conte and co. coming back into the action.

3. Bournemouth Will Be Relegated

Bournemouth returned to the Premier League in 2022, and have made a solid start to life back in the big time. After their 9-0 piping at Anfield, the Cherries swiftly took the decision to get rid of Scott Parker, but things have steadied quite nicely in the months since. Bournemouth currently sits 14th, three points clear of the relegation zone, having gone into the World Cup break by ending a run of four straight league losses with a 3-0 triumph over Everton. 

Speculation around whether interim boss Gary O’Neil was ended in late November when he was given the full-time position, but there are plenty of challenges waiting for the team in the second half of the season that could make things quite messy. 

With teams around them boasting more quality in their ranks and equipped with proven continental managers, we can see Bournemouth falling beneath the dropzone before the end of the season. No team has conceded more goals than the Cherries’ 32 this season, only keeping four clean sheets so far. 

2. Graham Potter Will Come Good

If the Premier League is just a collection of twenty different soap operas, Graham Potter provided the most dramatic storyline with his mid-season switch from Brighton to Chelsea. But, after a promising start, the heat was beginning to rise on the back of a five-game winless run, including three straight losses going into the World Cup. 

With this being Graham Potter’s biggest step up to date, it’s safe to say the respect from Chelsea fans isn’t quite as far-reaching as with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Antonio Conte, or Jose Mourinho. 

Starting with his first loss as Chelsea manager at his previous club, the Blues have started to look more and more like Brighton under his watch. The biggest problem has been how Chelsea operates in the final third and take advantage of chances with a clinical edge. The Blues have scored the fewest goals in the top ten, with their 17 goals scored, twenty-three behind Man City so far. 

But, this was to be expected with a project-based manager like Potter. Todd Boehly spent a lot of money getting his man from Brighton, so one would think he’s in this one for the long haul. Wherever he’s been backed, he’s done the job so there’s no reason to think the same won’t be the case if patience can be afforded at Stamford Bridge.

1. Southampton Will Also Go Down 

Southampton sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl in November after the side only took 12 points from their first 14 games. The Austrian had been at the helm since 2018, had always steered the Saints away from danger, and has come into the season with the youngest squad in the division. 

The club have struggled to match the spending of other sides around them, and the fact their side is so young is a testament to the refresh they’ve been attempting to usher in this year to eventually bridge the gap. It’s a slow process, so the decision to sack a manager with a track record of developing youth doesn’t seem like the smartest of decisions. 

Southampton have only won three times in the league all season so far, coming out of the World Cup break second from bottom. Only Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have conceded more than the Saints’ 27 this season, shipping eight goals during their three consecutive losses before the break.