TIA Writers Season Preview 2016/17: Premier League Predictions

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

OPPOSITION PREVIEW: Chelsea

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.

OPPOSITION PREVIEW: Arsenal

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

OPPOSITION PREVIEW: Man City

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.