Our 40/1 Sky Bet Fan Hope Survey RAB

Ahead of the new Premier League season, Sky Bet have been surveying fans of each club over their chances in the 2022/23 campaign.

Inevitably following last season’s successes, the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool rank the highest, whilst Newcastle United are still on the feel-good factor following a strong finish to the 2021/22 season.

Meanwhile, following negative seasons last time out, Everton, Southampton and Manchester United fans are fearing the worst according to the survey, with newly promoted Fulham also amongst the most pessimistic fan bases having been relegated in each of their last two Premier League campaigns.

Manchester City

Manchester City have won four of the last five Premier League titles, with the only anomaly being Liverpool’s 2019/20 triumph.

Pep Guardiola’s side were pushed all the way by Jurgen Klopp’s men last time out, but following the recent arrivals of Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips, they look to have further improved their already world-class squad. Many of their fans will be expecting them to strongly compete in every competition that they take part in.

City managed to score 99 Premier League goals last time out without a natural striker, with Haaland added to their ranks, can they break the all-time Premier League goalscoring record that they set of 106 in 2017/18?

Brighton & Newcastle

Brighton and Newcastle both had positive seasons last time out, with Graham Potter and Eddie Howe both earning plaudits for their results and styles of play.

At present, Newcastle rank as the third most optimistic club, having finished 11th in the top-flight after earning 39 points from their last 20 matches, with only Liverpool and Manchester City having better records over that timescale. Having acquired quality players such as Nick Pope and Sven Botman, there is no reason as to why the Magpies can’t push on.

Meanwhile, Brighton are seventh on the Fan Hope Survey following a ninth-place finish in 2021/22 - the highest in the club’s Premier League history. Their top-half status was confirmed via their memorable 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United at the Amex Stadium last season and a hard-earned 3-1 victory over West Ham on the last day.

German striker Deniz Undav could be one to look out for this season, with the Seagulls snapping him up from Belgian Pro League outfit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise after managing 25 goals and 10 assists in the Belgian top-flight as his former side finished second.

Fulham & Southampton

Fulham and Southampton rank as the third and second least optimistic fan bases in the Premier League ahead of the 2022/23 season and it’s easy to see why, with the Cottagers being relegated in each of their last two Premier League seasons, whilst Southampton’s dwindling form saw them dragged into an end of the season relegation scrap following an accumulation of just five points from their last 10 matches at the tail end of last campaign.

Marco Silva’s men have made just two additions to their squad so far in the shapes of Joao Palhinha and Andreas Pereira from Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United, perhaps contributing to the lack of optimism as Fulham will want some extra defensive recruitments.

Southampton’s recruits are somewhat of a gamble in youngsters such as Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia from Manchester City, as well as Armel Bella-Kotchap of VFL Bochum. Joe Aribo of Rangers is their oldest signing at the age of 25. With Armando Broja looking unlikely to re-sign, will the Saints have enough goals in their side?