The Premier League finally returns tomorrow, with Manchester United getting their season underway on Saturday.
That means it’s time for pundits to make their predictions about how United will get on in 2021/22.
BBC Sport asked 20 of their pundits to pick who they think will win the title and the order of the top four.
Title challenge on the cards?
None of the experts think United are going to win the league this season.
Only two, former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha and ex-England Women’s international have tipped United to match last season’s achievement and come second.
That said, every one of them expect United to finish in the top four.
And Martin Keown said he wouldn’t be surprised if United did left their 21st title.
“I have United down as finishing fourth but this title race is as open as it will ever be,” he said.
“They have made two brilliant signings, and they mean business.
“I am only picking this order because I have been asked to – and if they were to win it, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Pundits were wrong last season
Let’s have a look back at how accurate the BBC’s predictions were last season.
Absolutely none of the 24 pundits asked back before the start of 2020/21 expected United to come second.
17 had them down for a fourth place finish; nine think that’s where we’ll end up this year.
Never write United off
It’s never a particularly good idea to write United off.
We came second last season and have made two huge signings to improve the first eleven.
Solskjaer would relish proving the critics wrong as a player and he’d love to do the same once again this season.
He acknowledged last week that United are one of four sides capable of winning the Premier League this term and the onus is now on him and his players to make this year’s title challenge last longer than last season’s.
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