WITH the Premier League fixtures for next season having been released yesterday, thoughts are turning to how the 20 top-flight teams might fare.

Newcastle United are set to be big players in the transfer market this summer - and the betting odds suggest that will result in them moving up the league and potentially challenging for a place in Europe.

Spread betting company Sporting Index have released their points predictions for the 2022-23 season, and expect Manchester City to finish with 90 points, three points less than last season, though clear of Liverpool, who are tipped to finish on 86.

Chelsea and Tottenham are predicted to battle it out for third place, with both sides forecast to finish on 70 points.

Manchester United and Arsenal are predicted to complete the top six, on 66 and 64 points respectively.

Newcastle are the side predicted to improve most dramatically on last season, with the Magpies booked for seventh place on 57 points, eight more than last season.

A total of 38 points is forecast to be enough to avoid the drop next season, but it doesn’t look good news for the newly promoted sides, with all three predicted to face relegation.

Bournemouth are expected to finish bottom on 33 points, followed by Nottingham Forest on 34, while Fulham will narrowly miss out on safety, finishing two points behind 17th placed Southampton on 37.

Neville Burdock, head of sportsbook at Sporting Index, said: "With the new Premier League season only a few months away we are sticking our necks out by predicting that the title will once again be heading to the Etihad.

"Tottenham and Chelsea are difficult to split and the race for third behind Liverpool could come down to goal difference.

"Newcastle are expected to progress most next season, and we see them finishing seventh."