Artificial Intelligence predicts the winner of the 2023-24 Premier League season

While the table hasn’t quite settled and we really shouldn’t be looking, we’ve already witnessed a lot of drama in the opening rounds of the Premier League, which is set to return after the early season international break that everybody adores.

The first four rounds have given us plenty of pleasant surprises: both Tottenham and West Ham have shot out of the gates like greyhounds while on the other side of the coin, we’ve had some slow starts from teams like Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, which is always a shame.

And now the boffins in white coats have had their say, or rather their creation has. The Opta Supercomputer, a bigger-on-the-inside machine that can probably travel in space and time if it tried, has come up with the probabilities of where each team will finish in England’s top division.

Through simulating the season 10,000 times, the computer has given the percentage chance of every team to finish in a specific place in the league, including who is most likely to be champions come May.

Who are the favourites for the title?

In what may come as a huge surprise, Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City are the runaway favourites for the title, with a whopping 91.2% chance becoming the first team in the history of English football - even before the Premier League (yes, there was a league back then) to win the trophy 4 times in a row.

Since we’re here, five teams have won the league title three seasons in a row: Huddersfield Town (1924–1926), Arsenal (1933–1935), Liverpool (1982–1984), Manchester United twice (1999–2001 & 2007–2009) and Manchester City (2021–2023).

Which teams are favourites to get relegated?

Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal make up Opta’s top four, showing that there is indeed a while to go before robots become intelligent enough to take over the planet.

Saudi-owned Newcastle United are tipped to finish in 7th place, just outside the Champions League places but a huge 5 spots above Chelsea, proving that nice guys do indeed finish mid-table. You wouldn’t think it given how their fans go on, but Manchester United’s 5th place finish might not be so bad. It is, however, as they would say, Manchester United Football Club. Manchester United Football Club.

The relegation zone is made up of Everton in 18th, who are by rights due a relegation given how they have survived better than James Bond over recent years. Second-last place goes to Sheffield United, who romped the Championship last season but are so far struggling to make things work in the top division, and Luton Town, lest we forget, who are pipped to finish bottom. Have you seen their stadium?