BBC Sport pundit predictions - 'Pressure on Maresca from the off'

[Getty Images] Manchester City were the BBC predictors' pre-season favourites in eight out of their 10 seasons under Pep Guardiola from 2016 onwards, and were champions six times during that period. But before their first campaign with Enzo Maresca in charge, only 12% (3/26) think they will reclaim the title. Shay Given - Prediction: 1st I don't think Pep leaving means we will see what happened when Sir Alex Ferguson left United. Instead, I am expecting the opposite, because of a fresh voice in the dressing room. These players have not won the Premier League in two years so they will be hungry for success. City will be number one. Chris Sutton - Prediction: 2nd There's no doubt the pressure will be on Maresca from the off, and replacing Rodri is nigh on impossible. They are in for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is a talented player but he is 18, and would be a massive gamble. Troy Deeney - Prediction: 3rd. My prediction for City is not based off what happened in the Community Shield, it is based off what I saw with Enzo Maresca at Leicester and Chelsea . I am not sure he has got that ability to really demand what he wants. Pep has taught all these coaches, but only Mikel Arteta has tweaked it and kind of said: "I am going to use all the principles, but this is my way of doing it." I don't want to be disrespectful, but Maresca is a BTEC version of Guardiola. He plays a certain way and has no other way of dealing with it. You saw on Sunday how bad City were defensively, but all of his teams are wide open, and he is still doing that now, even with better players - top-class players. Premier League predictions 2026-27: BBC Sport pundits pick their top four