Ahead of the new Premier League season we asked the This Is Anfield writers to predict how they think the season will play out for the 20 teams. Last year we didn’t do too well, can we do better this year?
The 2016/17 campaign kicks off with champions Leicester City against relegation favourites Hull City on Saturday lunchtime. Hardly the blockbuster game you’d be looking forward to in years past.
Arsenal vs. Liverpool is the headline game on the opening weekend, with the Reds at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
With big name signings and world class managers dominating the off-season arrivals in England, it’s set to be an intriguing and competitive year in the Premier League.
But surely it won’t be as unpredictable as Leicester winning the title last season?
Here’s what the This Is Anfield writers are predicting for 2016/17:
NEIL POOLE
Top Four:
1. Man United
2. Man City
3. Tottenham
4. Chelsea
Relegated: Hull, Burnley, Crystal Palace
First manager to be sacked: Whoever Hull appoint
Surprise team: Stoke City
Best new signing: Henrikh Mkhitarayan
EMMA SANDERS
Top Four:
1. Man United
2. Tottenham
3. Man City
4. Chelsea
Relegated: Hull City, Burnley, Watford
First manager to be sacked: David Moyes
Surprise team: Middlesbrough
Best new signing: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
KARL MATCHETT
Top Four:
1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man United
4. Arsenal
Relegated: Hull, Burnley, Bournemouth
First manager to be sacked: Whoever Hull eventually get around to appointing
Surprise team: West Ham
Best new signings: Leroy Sane
HENRY JACKSON
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Man United
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
Relegated: Hull, Burnley and Watford
First manager to be sacked: Actually a really difficult question. Maybe Aitor Karanka, considering he seems quite hard work.
Surprise team: For all the jokes at his expense, I think David Moyes could make Sunderland a bit of a surprise package.
Best new signing: Henrikh Mkhitaryan. All the headlines at Man United will revolve around Mourinho, Ibrahimovic and Pogba, but the former Borussia Dortmund man is a fantastic player who will score and assist at a similar rate to Kevin De Bruyne.
AARON CUTLER
Top Four:
1. Man United
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Man City
Relegated: Hull City, Burnley, Bournemouth
First manager to be sacked: Walter Mazarri
Surprise team: Middlesbrough
Best new signing: Sadio Mane
SACHIN NAKRANI
Top Four:
1. Man United
2. Man City
3. Tottenham
4. Liverpool
Relegated: Watford, Burnley, Hull
First manager to be sacked: Tony Pulis. The takeover of West Brom by a Chinese investment group spells disaster for their capped gaffer.
Surprise team: Stoke City. They’ll finish sixth. You heard it here first.
Best new signing: Mkhitaryan. Pains me to say it but I think United will win the title this season and he’ll play a key part in that success.
JACK LUSBY
Top Four:
1. Man United
2. Chelsea
3. Man City
4. Spurs
Relegated: Sunderland, Burnley and Hull
First manager to be sacked: Alan Pardew
Surprise team: Middlesbrough
Best new signing: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
MATT LADSON
Top Four:
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Man United
Relegated: Watford, Burnley and Hull
First manager to be sacked: Claude Puel
Surprise team: Stoke City
Best new signing: Leroy Sane
JEFF GOULDING
Top Four:
1. Liverpool
2. Man City
3. Tottenham
4. Arsenal
Relegated: Hull City, Middlesborough, Sunderland
First manager to be sacked: David Moyes – it’s what he does now.
Surprise team: I guess if I’m predicting a league win, then I’d have to acknowledge that we would be the surprise team.
Best new signing: Granit Xhaka. Capped 41 times for his country, 23 years old and captained his club to a top four finish, Xhaka looks like an inspired capture for an Arsenal team who looked soft at the back last term. I’d hoped Liverpool would have been in for him, but the Gunners look like they’ve got themselves a great player.
BEN TWELVES
Top Four:
1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man United
4. Tottenham
Relegated: Hull, Burnley, Swansea
First manager to be sacked: Alan Pardew
Surprise team: Middlesbrough
Best new signing: Hard to say it, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan
MAX MUNTON
Top Four:
1. Liverpool
2. Man City
3. Man United
4. Arsenal
Relegated: Sunderland, Hull City, Watford
First manager to be sacked: Walter Mazzarri
Surprise team: Middlesbrough
Best new signing: N’Golo Kante
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