PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
THE FACT THAT the Tigers are in dire straights even before the season has started does not bode well for the coming campaign. They are still without a manager and have signed just one player — goalkeeper Will Mannion from AFC Wimbledon. They could be this season’s Aston Villa.
Key player: Michael Dawson - Earned a place in the Championship Team of the Season last year, Dawson’s leadership and experience will be crucial in Hull’s bid for survival.
Possible weakness: Jake Livermore - Hard working, but little in the way of technical ability. You get the feeling the Championship is his level.
Another team fresh from the Championship with a lack of eye-catching transfers who look set to struggle, Burnley face an uphill task to survive.
Key player: Andre Gray - Named in the Championship Team of the Season, Gray was one of the main reasons for Burnley’s promotion with 23 goals in 41 games.
Possible weakness: Sam Vokes - A decent striker at Championship level, but scored 0 goals in 15 appearances the last time Burnley were in the Premier League.
Often looked like strong relegation candidates last year, the club aren’t exactly flush with cash despite all the talk of luxurious TV deals. They managed to stay up last season through grit and determination more so than quality, though second-season syndrome could be about to hit Dean Court.
Key player: Harry Arter - The heartbeat of the team, Arter struggled with injuries last season and Bournemouth will be desperate to keep the technically accomplished Irish midfielder fit.
Possible weakness: Lewis Grabban - Simply not a Premier League-quality striker, as 0 goals in 15 appearances indicated last season.
Likely Starting XI: Boruc; Daniels, S Cook, Francis, A Smith; Gradel, Arter, Surman, Ibe; King, Wilson.
17. Middlesbrough
Life in the Premier League is rarely made easy for promoted teams, though Boro appear the best equipped of the newcomers to deal with the pressures of the top flight.
Key player: Daniel Ayala - Came seventh in the voting for Championship Player of the Year last season, the 25-year-old former Liverpool youngster looks good enough to play regularly at Premier League level.
Possible weakness: Fábio - Recently signed from Cardiff, Fabio is excellent on the ball, but as a defender, he can be nervy and error-prone.
A club that has long seem doomed to relegation dogfights, David Moyes will find this trend difficult to reverse, though outgoing boss Sam Allardyce unquestionably left the squad in a better state than he found it.
Key player: Jan Kirchhoff - Brought in from Bayern Munich last season, the 25-year-old defensive midfielder was hugely influential as Sunderland pulled off an unlikely survival bid.
Possible weakness: Younes Kaboul - Can look imperious at times and a disaster waiting to happen on other occasions, the former Spurs centre-back is not the most reliable defender in the world.
Arguably the most technically limited team in the Premier League last year — they were frequently bottom of the possession stats — Tony Pulis’ excellent motivational skills and their group of honest, hard-working players will ensure they remain safe for another season.
Key player: Jonny Evans - Named WBA Player of the Season last year, the former United player was one of Tony Pulis’ smartest acquisitions as Baggies coach, signing for the club in August 2015 and taking little time to become a key player.
Possible weakness: Rickie Lambert - Has never really recovered from a disastrous Liverpool spell, Lambert managed just one goal in 19 appearances for West Brom last season.
Came 13th last year, and with few exciting purchases in the summer, expect Watford’s solid but unspectacular crop of players to finish in a similar position again come May.
Key player: Odion Ighalo - Was one of the Premier League’s top scorers last season, contributing 15 goals and three assists to boot.
Advertisement
Possible weakness: Valon Behrami - Came with a big reputation having played for Lazio, Napoli and Fiorentina among others, yet the Swiss midfielder struggled to make an impact in his 21 appearances for Watford last season.
Boast some excellent players, such as Sigurðsson, but also have a number of average footballers likely set to keep them in the bottom half this season.
Key player: Gylfi Sigurðsson - Was hugely influential for the Welsh side last season, contributing 11 goals and three assists.
Possible weakness: Wayne Routledge - One of those players who is probably overachieving even by playing at a mid-table Premier League club, Routledge works hard but his performances are rarely significantly above average.
Extremely inconsistent last season, Palace are solid at the back and possess players who can hurt the opposition on the counter attack, but will rarely dominate games and are technically and tactically limited. Consequently, it’s difficult to see them going far beyond their current level anytime soon.
Key player: Scott Dann - Has been linked with both Everton and Chelsea in recent times, Dann is a key part of Palace’s defence.
Possible weakness: Connor Wickham - Has long been dubbed a player with ‘potential,’ yet at 23, you start to wonder if he’s ever going to fulfill it. Wickham’s tally of five goals in 21 appearances last season was not good enough for a Premier League striker.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite the signings of exotic players such as Bojan and Shaqiri, Stoke remain a mid-table side with a tendency to play very direct football when the going gets tough. There is little to suggest the coming season will be any different.
Key player: Jack Butland - A revelation in goals last year before picking up a season-ending injury on England duty, Butland is likely to be key to Stoke’s hopes again this campaign.
Possible weakness: Glen Johnson – Can be excellent going forward, but as Liverpool fans will know, Johnson is all too often a liability at the back.
Will probably find it tough without the influential Koeman in charge in addition to the departures of Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane, but the Saints still have most of the side that finished sixth last season.
Key player: Jose Fonte - Starred as Portugal won Euro 2016, Fonte has been linked with a move away from Southampton, and if he was a couple of years younger, the 32-year-old centre-back would surely be destined for a move to a top-tier club.
Possible weakness: Jordy Clasie - Came to Southampton last year from Feyenoord, with a big reputation, but the 25-year-old midfielder’s 15 Premier League performances were largely underwhelming.
It seems fair to expect Everton to improve on last season’s 11th place under the guidance of the tactically astute Ronald Koeman — they have already made one or two smart signings ahead of the new season.
Key player: Romelu Lukaku - One of the best strikers in Europe, Lukaku managed 18 goals in 37 appearances in a poor Everton side last year. Unless the Toffees can drastically improve their form this season, the Belgian international may not stick around much longer.
Possible weakness: Gareth Barry - At 35, you get the sense that Barry’s powers are declining substantially. A leader in the dressing room, Koeman would be wise to reduce his first-team involvement going by last season’s often sluggish and inept performances.
A solid defence and the brilliance of Payet will get them to a certain level and make the Hammers the type of side that everyone dreads playing, but they have too many second-tier players to seriously trouble the big boys.
Key player: Dimitri Payet - Comfortably West Ham’s best player last season, as 12 assists and nine goals earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Possible weakness: James Collins - At 32, Collins has seen better days. Moreover, he often struggles for pace and there’s a mistake in him. Not quite good enough for a club who claim to have Champions League aspirations.
Without Kante — surely the best midfielder in the Premier League last year — and with the added burden of Champions League football, it seems unlikely that Leicester will even come close to retaining their title this season.
Key player: Riyad Mahrez - Key to Leicester’s title challenge last season with 17 goals and 11 assists.
Possible weakness: Danny Simpson - A decent player, but there are a number of better Premier League full-backs.
The Reds will surely benefit from no European football and Klopp’s growing familiarity with the Premier League, but there are a number of superior squads on paper.
Key player: Philippe Coutinho - The Brazilian is wonderfully creative, chipping in with eight goals and five assists in 26 appearances last season. If he continues to progress, he’s the type of player you could imagine playing for a Barcelona or Real Madrid in years to come.
Possible weakness: Simon Mignolet - Has been regularly at fault for goals in recent times, it was no surprise to see Liverpool sign a new stopper (23-year-old German Loris Karius) to challenge the Belgian.
Another side whose recruitment has been far from spectacular, with their rivals all improving, Tottenham will find it tough to repeat the heroics of last year.
Key player: Harry Kane - The Premier League’s top scorer last season with 25 goals in 38 appearances, Kane turned Tottenham from top-four outsiders to genuine title contenders.
Possible weakness: Kyle Walker - Another full-back who is often excellent going forward but defensively suspect.
Arsenal fans will surely be forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed by their side’s lack of transfer activity, even if Xhaka should add some much-needed steel to the midfield. That said, they remain a solid bet to qualify for Champions League football for the 19th consecutive year.
Key player: Alexis Sanchez - With Olivier Giroud often flattering to deceive and Danny Welbeck similarly inconsistent, Alexis Sanchez is Arsenal’s one truly world-class attacker.
Possible weakness: Per Mertesacker - Too slow and tends to be caught out whenever Arsenal play a top team.
Chelsea have the distinct advantage of no European football to worry about and still have the core of the team that won the title two seasons ago, in addition to the impressive likes of N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi.
Key player: N’Golo Kante - Made more tackles and assists than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues last season, his energy is likely to ensure Chelsea improve considerably on last year’s dire showing.
Possible weakness:Branislav Ivanovic - Was one of the serial offenders as Chelsea conceded some really poor goals last season, and at 32, he looks past his best.
Pogba and Ibrahimovic will ensure United are no longer the boring side they became under Van Gaal, while Bailly and Mkhitaryan are also likely to improve the Red Devils considerably. Expect them to seriously challenge for the title.
Key player: Paul Pogba - Established himself as one of the top midfielders in Europe at Juventus, Pogba is undoubtedly good enough to live up to his €105 million price tag.
Possible weakness:Marcos Rojo - Looked defensively vulnerable on more than one occasion last season and has never really justified the €20 million United paid for him in August 2014.
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
With Pep Guardiola at the helm, and a second XI that’s probably better than most Premier League sides, it’s hard to look past City for the title this season.
Key player: Sergio Aguero - There is simply no more reliable goalscorer in England than the Argentine international, who is bidding to score 20-plus goals for the third consecutive season.
Potential weakness: Yaya Toure - At 33, Toure no longer possesses the pace and engine he utilised so superbly at his best. Due to his technical excellence, the Ivory Coast native remains a useful player, but he is no longer an indispensable one as far as City are concerned.
Ranking all 20 Premier League teams from worst to best
Updated at 13.31
20. Hull
THE FACT THAT the Tigers are in dire straights even before the season has started does not bode well for the coming campaign. They are still without a manager and have signed just one player — goalkeeper Will Mannion from AFC Wimbledon. They could be this season’s Aston Villa.
Key player: Michael Dawson - Earned a place in the Championship Team of the Season last year, Dawson’s leadership and experience will be crucial in Hull’s bid for survival.
Possible weakness: Jake Livermore - Hard working, but little in the way of technical ability. You get the feeling the Championship is his level.
Likely Starting XI: McGregor; Odubajo, Dawson, Davies, Robertson; Huddlestone, Livermore; Elmohamady, Meyler, Snodgrass; Hernandez.
19. Burnley
Another team fresh from the Championship with a lack of eye-catching transfers who look set to struggle, Burnley face an uphill task to survive.
Key player: Andre Gray - Named in the Championship Team of the Season, Gray was one of the main reasons for Burnley’s promotion with 23 goals in 41 games.
Possible weakness: Sam Vokes - A decent striker at Championship level, but scored 0 goals in 15 appearances the last time Burnley were in the Premier League.
Likely Starting XI: Heaton; Flanagan, Keane, Tarkowski, Mee; Boyd, Jones, Marney, Arfield, Vokes, Gray.
18. Bournemouth
Often looked like strong relegation candidates last year, the club aren’t exactly flush with cash despite all the talk of luxurious TV deals. They managed to stay up last season through grit and determination more so than quality, though second-season syndrome could be about to hit Dean Court.
Key player: Harry Arter - The heartbeat of the team, Arter struggled with injuries last season and Bournemouth will be desperate to keep the technically accomplished Irish midfielder fit.
Possible weakness: Lewis Grabban - Simply not a Premier League-quality striker, as 0 goals in 15 appearances indicated last season.
Likely Starting XI: Boruc; Daniels, S Cook, Francis, A Smith; Gradel, Arter, Surman, Ibe; King, Wilson.
17. Middlesbrough
Life in the Premier League is rarely made easy for promoted teams, though Boro appear the best equipped of the newcomers to deal with the pressures of the top flight.
Key player: Daniel Ayala - Came seventh in the voting for Championship Player of the Year last season, the 25-year-old former Liverpool youngster looks good enough to play regularly at Premier League level.
Possible weakness: Fábio - Recently signed from Cardiff, Fabio is excellent on the ball, but as a defender, he can be nervy and error-prone.
Likely Starting XI: Valdes; Barragan, Gibson, Ayala, Friend; Clayton, de Roon, Downing, Ramirez, Fischer; Negredo.
16. Sunderland
A club that has long seem doomed to relegation dogfights, David Moyes will find this trend difficult to reverse, though outgoing boss Sam Allardyce unquestionably left the squad in a better state than he found it.
Key player: Jan Kirchhoff - Brought in from Bayern Munich last season, the 25-year-old defensive midfielder was hugely influential as Sunderland pulled off an unlikely survival bid.
Possible weakness: Younes Kaboul - Can look imperious at times and a disaster waiting to happen on other occasions, the former Spurs centre-back is not the most reliable defender in the world.
Likely Starting XI: Mannone; Jones, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; M’Vila, Kirchhoff, Cattermole; Khazri, Januzaj, Defoe.
15. West Brom
Arguably the most technically limited team in the Premier League last year — they were frequently bottom of the possession stats — Tony Pulis’ excellent motivational skills and their group of honest, hard-working players will ensure they remain safe for another season.
Key player: Jonny Evans - Named WBA Player of the Season last year, the former United player was one of Tony Pulis’ smartest acquisitions as Baggies coach, signing for the club in August 2015 and taking little time to become a key player.
Possible weakness: Rickie Lambert - Has never really recovered from a disastrous Liverpool spell, Lambert managed just one goal in 19 appearances for West Brom last season.
Likely Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Olsson; Phillips, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison; Berahino, Rondon.
14. Watford
Came 13th last year, and with few exciting purchases in the summer, expect Watford’s solid but unspectacular crop of players to finish in a similar position again come May.
Key player: Odion Ighalo - Was one of the Premier League’s top scorers last season, contributing 15 goals and three assists to boot.
Possible weakness: Valon Behrami - Came with a big reputation having played for Lazio, Napoli and Fiorentina among others, yet the Swiss midfielder struggled to make an impact in his 21 appearances for Watford last season.
Likely Starting XI: Gomes; Kabasele, Cathcart, Britos; Nyom, Capoue, Doucoure, Watson, Holebas; Deeney, Ighalo.
13. Swansea
Boast some excellent players, such as Sigurðsson, but also have a number of average footballers likely set to keep them in the bottom half this season.
Key player: Gylfi Sigurðsson - Was hugely influential for the Welsh side last season, contributing 11 goals and three assists.
Possible weakness: Wayne Routledge - One of those players who is probably overachieving even by playing at a mid-table Premier League club, Routledge works hard but his performances are rarely significantly above average.
Likely Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Amat, Kingsley; Routledge, Fer, Cork, Barrow; Sigurdsson; Llorente
12. Crystal Palace
Extremely inconsistent last season, Palace are solid at the back and possess players who can hurt the opposition on the counter attack, but will rarely dominate games and are technically and tactically limited. Consequently, it’s difficult to see them going far beyond their current level anytime soon.
Key player: Scott Dann - Has been linked with both Everton and Chelsea in recent times, Dann is a key part of Palace’s defence.
Possible weakness: Connor Wickham - Has long been dubbed a player with ‘potential,’ yet at 23, you start to wonder if he’s ever going to fulfill it. Wickham’s tally of five goals in 21 appearances last season was not good enough for a Premier League striker.
Likely Starting XI: Mandanda; Ward, Dann, Tomkins, Souare; Cabaye, McArthur; Townsend, Puncheon, Zaha; Wickham.
11. Stoke
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite the signings of exotic players such as Bojan and Shaqiri, Stoke remain a mid-table side with a tendency to play very direct football when the going gets tough. There is little to suggest the coming season will be any different.
Key player: Jack Butland - A revelation in goals last year before picking up a season-ending injury on England duty, Butland is likely to be key to Stoke’s hopes again this campaign.
Possible weakness: Glen Johnson – Can be excellent going forward, but as Liverpool fans will know, Johnson is all too often a liability at the back.
Likely Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Allen, Imbula; Shaqiri, Bojan, Arnautovic; Diouf.
10. Southampton
Will probably find it tough without the influential Koeman in charge in addition to the departures of Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane, but the Saints still have most of the side that finished sixth last season.
Key player: Jose Fonte - Starred as Portugal won Euro 2016, Fonte has been linked with a move away from Southampton, and if he was a couple of years younger, the 32-year-old centre-back would surely be destined for a move to a top-tier club.
Possible weakness: Jordy Clasie - Came to Southampton last year from Feyenoord, with a big reputation, but the 25-year-old midfielder’s 15 Premier League performances were largely underwhelming.
Likely Starting XI: Forster; Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Davis, Hojbjerg, Romeu; Tadic, Long, Redmond.
9. Everton
It seems fair to expect Everton to improve on last season’s 11th place under the guidance of the tactically astute Ronald Koeman — they have already made one or two smart signings ahead of the new season.
Key player: Romelu Lukaku - One of the best strikers in Europe, Lukaku managed 18 goals in 37 appearances in a poor Everton side last year. Unless the Toffees can drastically improve their form this season, the Belgian international may not stick around much longer.
Possible weakness: Gareth Barry - At 35, you get the sense that Barry’s powers are declining substantially. A leader in the dressing room, Koeman would be wise to reduce his first-team involvement going by last season’s often sluggish and inept performances.
Likely Starting XI: Robles; Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Deulofeu, McCarthy, Gueye; Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku.
8. West Ham
A solid defence and the brilliance of Payet will get them to a certain level and make the Hammers the type of side that everyone dreads playing, but they have too many second-tier players to seriously trouble the big boys.
Key player: Dimitri Payet - Comfortably West Ham’s best player last season, as 12 assists and nine goals earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Possible weakness: James Collins - At 32, Collins has seen better days. Moreover, he often struggles for pace and there’s a mistake in him. Not quite good enough for a club who claim to have Champions League aspirations.
Likely Starting XI: Adrian; Masuaku, Reid, Ogbonna, Antonio; Noble, Kouyate, Payet; Ayew, Feghouli, Carroll.
7. Leicester
Without Kante — surely the best midfielder in the Premier League last year — and with the added burden of Champions League football, it seems unlikely that Leicester will even come close to retaining their title this season.
Key player: Riyad Mahrez - Key to Leicester’s title challenge last season with 17 goals and 11 assists.
Possible weakness: Danny Simpson - A decent player, but there are a number of better Premier League full-backs.
Likely Starting XI: Schmeichel; Fuchs, Huth, Morgan, Simpson; Mahrez, Mendy, Drinkwater, Gray; Vardy, Musa.
6. Liverpool
The Reds will surely benefit from no European football and Klopp’s growing familiarity with the Premier League, but there are a number of superior squads on paper.
Key player: Philippe Coutinho - The Brazilian is wonderfully creative, chipping in with eight goals and five assists in 26 appearances last season. If he continues to progress, he’s the type of player you could imagine playing for a Barcelona or Real Madrid in years to come.
Possible weakness: Simon Mignolet - Has been regularly at fault for goals in recent times, it was no surprise to see Liverpool sign a new stopper (23-year-old German Loris Karius) to challenge the Belgian.
Likely Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Henderson; Mane, Firmino, Coutinho; Sturridge.
5. Tottenham
Another side whose recruitment has been far from spectacular, with their rivals all improving, Tottenham will find it tough to repeat the heroics of last year.
Key player: Harry Kane - The Premier League’s top scorer last season with 25 goals in 38 appearances, Kane turned Tottenham from top-four outsiders to genuine title contenders.
Possible weakness: Kyle Walker - Another full-back who is often excellent going forward but defensively suspect.
Likely Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Veronghen, Alderweireld, Rose; Dier, Wanyama, Alli, Eriksen; Kane, Janssen.
4. Arsenal
Arsenal fans will surely be forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed by their side’s lack of transfer activity, even if Xhaka should add some much-needed steel to the midfield. That said, they remain a solid bet to qualify for Champions League football for the 19th consecutive year.
Key player: Alexis Sanchez - With Olivier Giroud often flattering to deceive and Danny Welbeck similarly inconsistent, Alexis Sanchez is Arsenal’s one truly world-class attacker.
Possible weakness: Per Mertesacker - Too slow and tends to be caught out whenever Arsenal play a top team.
Likely Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Xhaka, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud.
3. Chelsea
Chelsea have the distinct advantage of no European football to worry about and still have the core of the team that won the title two seasons ago, in addition to the impressive likes of N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi.
Key player: N’Golo Kante - Made more tackles and assists than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues last season, his energy is likely to ensure Chelsea improve considerably on last year’s dire showing.
Possible weakness: Branislav Ivanovic - Was one of the serial offenders as Chelsea conceded some really poor goals last season, and at 32, he looks past his best.
Likely Starting XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Kante, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa.
2. Man United
Pogba and Ibrahimovic will ensure United are no longer the boring side they became under Van Gaal, while Bailly and Mkhitaryan are also likely to improve the Red Devils considerably. Expect them to seriously challenge for the title.
Key player: Paul Pogba - Established himself as one of the top midfielders in Europe at Juventus, Pogba is undoubtedly good enough to live up to his €105 million price tag.
Possible weakness: Marcos Rojo - Looked defensively vulnerable on more than one occasion last season and has never really justified the €20 million United paid for him in August 2014.
Likely Starting XI: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Pogba; Mkhitaryan, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic.
1. Man City
With Pep Guardiola at the helm, and a second XI that’s probably better than most Premier League sides, it’s hard to look past City for the title this season.
Key player: Sergio Aguero - There is simply no more reliable goalscorer in England than the Argentine international, who is bidding to score 20-plus goals for the third consecutive season.
Potential weakness: Yaya Toure - At 33, Toure no longer possesses the pace and engine he utilised so superbly at his best. Due to his technical excellence, the Ivory Coast native remains a useful player, but he is no longer an indispensable one as far as City are concerned.
Likely Starting XI: Hart; Sagna, Stones, Kompany, Clichy; Gundogan, Fernandinho; Sane, De Bruyne, Silva; Aguero.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Join The42’s Premier League Fantasy Football League using this code: 1822511-443420
Worst signing? Top-four predictions? Our writers on the 2016-17 Premier League season>
The 25 most important players in the Premier League this season>
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Premier League Preview Soccer Arsenal Chelsea Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United