I'm still sticking with my preferred choice, which is Aston Villa.
It would be very difficult for Aston Villa to replicate their form of last season, they now play in the Champions League, thus more games, a game every 3 days means a tighter schedule, more fatigue and it is difficult for smaller teams to cope with it. In the 2022/2023 season, Newcastle were the dark horse, look what happened to them in 23/24 season when they played in the CL, i fear that's what's going to happen to Aston Villa this season. I might also add that they lost Douglas Luiz, who moved to Juventus, he was a very important player for them last season.
I'm also expecting Newcastle to have another great season same way they did during the first season of Eddie Howe in charge as head of the club. They went ahead to play a cup finals and also qualify for the Champions League Competition. I see them doing that too this season dame way Josep Pep Guardiola has also predicted.
As for Aston Villa, it'll take consistent to see them thriving back with the rest of the big four in the Champions League Competition. Despite the sale of Douglas Luiz, they did bring in a power horse and engine room Andrea Onana from Everton. Aston Villa will host Everton anyways come weekend in the Premier League Competition, I'm.sure this would be the third win of the season for them as they couldn't get what they wanted against Arsenal. It was great to see how Arsenal humbled em.