ARSENAL The Gunners - Emirates Stadium - @Arsenal
Last season 3rd + FA Cup Winners + League Cup 3rd round + Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy FA Cup 2015
Manager: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996)
Players In: Petr Cech
Players Out: Lukas Podolski, Abou Diaby, Carl Jenkinson+, Wojciech Szczesny+
Pre-season results:
W4-0 v Singapore XI (A)
W3-1 v Everton (N)
W6-0 v Olympique Lyonnais (H)
W1-0 v Wolfsburg (H)
W1-0 v Chelsea (N) [FA Community Shield]
Prediction: Champions
Arsenal are almost ready. Winners of the FA Cup for the past two seasons, the Gunners have built on their success at Wembley with a solid pre-season featuring two minor trophies and a FA Community Shield win over Chelsea. The North Londoners will surely have enough goals from the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla to go much closer than they have in recent seasons - and, at the other end of the pitch, new signing Petr Cech will complement a defence which steadily improved last season under the leadership of Laurent Koscielny, conceding just 14 league goals after Christmas. The only major concern is over Olivier Giroud and his frustrating and unfathomable inconsistency up front.
ASTON VILLA The Villains - Villa Park - @AVFCOfficial
Last season 17th + FA Cup Runners-up + League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy League Cup 1996
Manager: Tim Sherwood (since February 2015)
Players In: Scott Sinclair, Micah Richards, Jordan Ayew, Rudy Gestede
Players Out: Christian Benteke, Fabian Delph, Darren Bent, Andreas Weimann, Matt Lowton, Shay Given
Pre-season results:
L1-3 v Fulham (N)
D0-0 v Braga (A)
W2-0 v Swindon Town (A)
D1-1 v Walsall (A)
D2-2 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
D3-3 v Nottingham Forest (A)
Prediction: 18th
Villa did well just to stay in the Premier League last season after Paul Lambert departed in February with the club in the bottom three having scored a pathetic total of 12 goals in 25 league games. There was quite a recovery under new boss Tim Sherwood but this was tempered in May by three dispiriting defeats to Southampton, already-relegated Burnley at home, and - of course, a 4-0 mauling in the FA Cup Final to Arsenal. Further bad news has followed this summer with the sale of prize assets Christian Benteke to Liverpool and Fabian Delph to Manchester City, the latter even having gone back on his word. It will be Benteke, though, who will be particularly missed having featured in almost half of Villa's goals in 2014-15 - and his replacements, Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede, are both unproven in the Premier League.
BOURNEMOUTH The Cherries - Dean Court - @afcbournemouth
Last season 1st (promoted) + FA Cup 4th round + League Cup Quarter finals
Last major trophy None
Manager: Eddie Howe (since October 2012)
Players In: Tyrone Mings, Max Gradel, Lee Tomlin, Christian Atsu, Sylvain Distin, Artur Boruc
Players Out: Brett Pitman
Pre-season results:
W4-1 v Philadelphia Union (A)
W2-1 v Exeter City (A)
L1-2 v Salisbury (A)
D0-0 v Nantes (A)
W3-0 v Yeovil Town (A)
L2-3 v Cardiff City (H)
D0-0 v Hoffenheim (A)
Prediction: 16th
Far from a completely against-the-odds underdog story, AFC Bournemouth's ascent into the elite for the first time is actually the result of substiantial backing from Russian owner Maxim Demin. It can, however, legitimately claim to be a real rags to riches fairytale, with the Cherries having started a season as recently as 2008-09 with a 17-point deduction in League Two. Demin arrived a little later, in 2011, with Bournemouth up to League One following Eddie Howe's first spell on the south coast - and, after an ill-fated spell at Burnley, the now 37-year-old manager has returned to build a hugely exciting squad graced by the talents on Matt Ritchie in midfield and Callum Wilson up front. Refreshingly, in a tight battle for promotion, Bournemouth effectively succeeded simply by outscoring their opponents, eventually hitting 98 league goals. Given the size of the club, it may still be unlikely - but, if some of that brave attacking play can be replicated this season, survival is not out of the question.
CHELSEA The Blues - Stamford Bridge - @chelseafc
Last season Champions + FA Cup 4th round + League Cup Winners + Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy Premier League 2014-15
Manager: Jose Mourinho (since June 2013)
Players In: Radamel Falcao+, Asmir Begovic
Players Out: Petr Cech, Christian Atsu, Didier Drogba, Marco van Ginkel+, Patrick Bamford+, Filipe Luis
Pre-season results:
L2-4 v New York Red Bulls (A)
D1-1 v Paris Saint-Germain (N) (won 6-5 on pens)
D2-2 v Barcelona (N) (won 4-2 on pens)
L0-1 v Arsenal (N) [FA Community Shield]
L0-1 v Fiorentina (H)
Prediction: 2nd
The defending champions begin the season as the bookmakers' favourites to win the Premier League again - and, indeed, it is difficult to see a side featuring John Terry, Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard, Oscar, and Diego Costa not going close to more silverware. One thing is for sure, though - any success in the league will be nowhere near as clear-cut this term as it was during the last campaign when the Blues led from start to finish and were able therefore to nullify their main rivals in head-to-head encounters later in the season. For a start, Costa - who enjoyed a brilliant start to his career in England - has continued to be plagued by niggly injuries which are likely to disrupt the opening weeks of his campaign. And, without so many of his goals, Chelsea are unlikely to pull away from the pack so quickly this time.
CRYSTAL PALACE The Eagles - Selhurst Park - @CPFC
Last season 10th + FA Cup 5th round + League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy None
Manager: Alan Pardew (since January 2015)
Players In: Yohan Cabaye, Connor Wickham, Alex McCarthy, Patrick Bamford+
Players Out: Shola Ameobi, Peter Ramage, Kyle da Silva, Lewis Price
Pre-season results:
W5-3 v Barnet (A)
L0-2 v Union Berlin (A)
W4-0 v Supersport United (A)
L0-2 v Sporting Lisbon (N)
D1-1 v Fulham (A)
L0-1 v Dagenham & Redbridge (A)
Prediction: 10th
Never mind the old football cliche of a game of two halves, Crystal Palace fans have now endured a season of two halves for the last two years. Having gained promotion under Ian Holloway in 2012-13, and stayed up under Tony Pulis after a difficult start to life back in the top flight under Holloway in 2013-14, the Eagles turned to Neil Warnock last summer when Pulis suprisingly left them on the eve of the season. Warnock never settled at Selhurst Park and it almost came as a blessed relief when prodigal son Alan Pardew arrived at New Year to guide the south Londoners to safety and, more still, a surprise top half finish. At least Pardew's popularity in SE25 will mean there will be no change at the top by chairman Steve Parish this time around - while canny investment in a well-balanced squad has included the astute addition of Yohan Cabaye in midfield and Patrick Bamford up front, on loan from Chelsea.
EVERTON The Toffees - Goodison Park - @Everton
Last season 11th + FA Cup 3rd round + League Cup 3rd round + Europa League Last 16
Last major trophy FA Cup 1995
Manager: Roberto Martinez (since July 2013)
Players In: Tom Cleverley, Gerard Deulofeu
Players Out: Antolin Alcaraz, Sylvain Distin
Pre-season results:
W4-0 v Swindon Town (A)
D0-0 v Stoke City (N) (won 5-4 on pens)
L1-3 v Arsenal (N)
W3-1 v Hearts (A)
W2-0 v Dundee (A)
L0-2 v Leeds United (A)
L1-2 v Villareal (H)
Prediction: 8th
Everton ensured last season's Merseyside misery was not confined only to the red half of the city after they slipped to their first bottom-half placing in nine seasons. Spanish boss Roberto Martinez, who helped the Toffees finish fifth in his first season in charge, seemed powerless to prevent a dangerous skid down the table which was only relieved by a relatively late run of 16 points out of 18 in March and April. With three further losses in the last four games at the back end of the campaign, and little improvement to the playing staff over the summer, it would appear that the Goodison Park faithful will have another testing campaign ahead. Indeed, it is perhaps only the lack of the Europa League as a distraction which could help a worryingly thin squad sneak unconvincingly back into the top half.
LEICESTER CITY The Foxes - King Power Stadium - @OfficialFOXES
Last season 14th + FA Cup 5th round + League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy League Cup 2000
Manager: Claudio Ranieri (since July 2015)
Players In: Shinji Okazaki, N'Golo Kante, Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs, Yohan Benalouane
Players Out: Chris Wood, Esteban Cambiasso, Matthew Upson, Paul Konchesky+
Pre-season results:
W3-1 v Lincoln City (A)
D1-1 v Mansfield Town (A)
W2-1 v Burton Albion (A)
W2-1 v Rotherham United (A)
W3-2 v Birmingham City (A)
Prediction: 19th
For a team which eventually avoided relegation, Leicester City spent a record 140 days on the bottom rung of the Premier League table - and yet they survived with a reasonable degree of comfort after seven wins in their last nine games. Manager Nigel Pearson led the recovery and emphasised the togetherness of his squad even in the tough times - but, strangely, he himself was responsible for much of the instability at the club following a series of high-profile run-ins. The final straw, though, came in June with the emergence of a sex tape of Pearson's son James, two other young players, and a couple of Thai prostitutes who were racially abused in the film. Subsequently, the club's Thai owners declared "fundamental differences in perspective" to Pearson - but the worry ahead of the new campaign now comes from the fact that his replacement, Claudio Ranieri, has had a patchy recent record - including a defeat to the Faroe Islands as Greece manager. If the Italian is unable to gain the same loyalty as Pearson did, there could more trouble ahead at the King Power Stadium.
LIVERPOOL The Reds - Anfield - @LFC
Last season 6th + FA Cup Semi finals + League Cup Semi finals + Champions League Group stage + Europa League Last 32
Last major trophy League Cup 2012
Manager: Brendan Rodgers (since June 2012)
Players In: Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino, Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez
Players Out: Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Brad Jones, Sebastian Coates, Rickie Lambert, Andre Wisdom+
Pre-season results:
W4-0 v Thai Premier League XI (A)
W2-1 v Brisbane Roar (A)
W2-0 v Adelaide United (A)
D1-1 v Malaysia XI (A)
W2-0 v HJK Helsinki (A)
W2-1 v Swindon Town (A)
Prediction: 5th
Brendan Rodgers must have had a wry smile when the first ever instance of a repeat Premier League fixture sent his Liverpool side back to Stoke City, the scene of their last day 6-1 humiliation which confirmed their one-year decline from title chasers to Europa League also-rans. Of course, much of the Reds' relative failure could be attributed to the big-money sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona - and the high-stakes saga was repeated this summer with the roles instead being taken by Raheem Sterling and Manchester City. At least, Liverpool will presumably see more goals for the money spent on Christian Benteke and Brazilian Roberto Firmino than they did from flop Mario Balotelli - but both arrive with the pressure of a price tag and the other signings of Danny Ings and James Milner are not particularly getting pulses racing. Whatever happens, Rodgers needs to get this season right - or else patience with him at Anfield will finally run out.
MANCHESTER CITY The Citizens - Etihad Stadium - @MCFC
Last season Runners-up + FA Cup 4th round + League Cup 4th round + Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy Premier League 2013-14
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini (since June 2013)
Players In: Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, Patrick Roberts
Players Out: Scott Sinclair, James Milner, Dedryck Boyata, Micah Richards
Pre-season results:
W2-0 v Adelaide United (A)
W1-0 v Melbourne City (A)
D2-2 v Roma (N) (won 5-4 on pens)
L1-4 v Real Madrid (N)
W8-1 v Vietnam (A)
L2-4 v VfB Stuttgart (A)
Prediction: 3rd
Manchester City may have finished last season strongly in terms of their results - winning all of their last six games - but, by then, the battle to retain the title had already long been lost. With no latter stage involvement in the FA Cup or in Europe, it can still therefore only be considered that the Citizens effectively stumbled to the line in May. Fortunately for manager Manuel Pellegrini, especially given the lofty expectations at Eastlands these days, Arab owner Sheikh Mansour has opted to keep the faith for now. Moreover, yet more moolah has been invested in the squad with £49m spent on Raheem Sterling alone following a tiresome transfer saga. However, neither Sterling nor any of the other signings so far have gone anywhere near to solving Man City's big problem at the centre of defence - and the number of goals conceded in pre-season suggests the problems which were there in the last campaign have not just disappeared overnight.
MANCHESTER UNITED The Red Devils - Old Trafford - @ManUtd
Last season 4th + FA Cup Quarter finals + League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy Premier League 2012-13
Manager: Louis Van Gaal (since July 2014)
Players In: Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Sergio Romero
Players Out: Robin Van Persie, Tom Cleverley, Nani
Pre-season results:
W1-0 v Club America (N)
W3-1 v San Jose Earthquakes (A)
W3-1 v Barcelona (N)
L0-2 v Paris Saint-Germain (N)
Prediction: 4th
Louis Van Gaal has got his eye in - and, having achieved the first target last season of restoring Manchester United to the Champions League (provide they successfully negotiate a playoff against Club Brugge), the Dutchman will now be looking at a much bigger picture. The arrivals of Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Morgan Schneiderlin will freshen up the midfield and make Man United a better watch this year - but Robin Van Persie's decline and departure puts the onus for a major goals contribution almost entirely on the shoulders of Wayne Rooney. More urgently still, weaknesses remain at the back, something which will only be exacerbated further if goalkeeper David De Gea opts to leave as seems likely. Clearly, after the dreadful David Moyes reign, the Old Trafford fans are desperate for Van Gaal and his team to succeed - and they will get closer in this season than they did in the last. Fundamental flaws cannot be ignored, however - and so a series of one-off performances in a cup run might actually be the Red Devils' best bet of ending their two-year trophy wait.
NEWCASTLE UNITED The Magpies - St James Park - @NUFC
Last season 15th + FA Cup 3rd round + League Cup Quarter finals
Last major trophy UEFA (Fairs) Cup 1969
Manager: Steve McClaren (since June 2015)
Players In: Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba
Players Out: Jonas Gutierrez, Ryan Taylor
Pre-season results:
W1-0 v Gateshead (A)
L1-2 v Club Atlas (N)
W1-0 v Sacramento Republic (A)
L3-4 v Portland Timbers 2 (A)
D2-2 v Sheffield United (A)
L1-2 v York City (A)
L0-1 v Borussia Moenchengladbach (H)
Prediction: 12th
Following last season's flirtation with disaster, Newcastle United have turned to Steve McClaren in the hope of arresting the slide - even though the former England boss had turned them down twice previously. Additionally, in a summer of much change on Tyneside, owner Mike Ashley has finally forked out some serious cash for a trio of players - creative midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and defender Chancel Mbemba. But, while the presence of Mitrovic up front and Wijnaldum's late runs into the opposition box will be a welcome sight at St James Park, the signing of just one centre-back is a hardly adequate repair job to a defence which conceded 63 league goals last season. Indeed, it is difficult to escape from the conclusion that such negligence will probably condemn the Magpies to another bottom half finish.
NORWICH CITY The Canaries - Carrow Road - @NorwichCityFC
Last season 3rd (promoted via playoffs) + FA Cup 3rd round + League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy League Cup 1985
Manager: Alex Neil (since January 2015)
Players In: Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu, Robbie Brady, Andre Wisdom+, Jake Kean
Players Out: Cameron McGeehan, Mark Bunn
Pre-season results:
W7-0 v Gorleston (A)
W10-0 v Hitchin Town (A)
W3-1 v Cambridge United (A)
L0-1 v Maccabi Haifa (N)
W2-1 v Augsburg (N)
L0-1 v West Ham United (H)
W2-1 v Brentford (H)
Prediction: 17th
Norwich City may have only made it back to the Premier League via the playoffs last season - but, in the end, their immediate return to the top flight was actually a pretty convincing one. The Canaries lost just three times in the league after the turn of the year as new manager Scotsman Alex Neil diligently cleaned up the mess of his predecessors. Neil, of course, has never managed in the Premier League - and, in fact, only had one season with Hamilton Academical in the Scottish top flight. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old possesses a squad packed full of Premier League experience - and those players are well aware themselves, for better or worse, about the rigours of a top flight campaign in England. This alone might just be enough to keep Norwich safe this time - but do not expect anything other than another season-long struggle.
SOUTHAMPTON The Saints - St Mary's Stadium - @SouthamptonFC
Last season 7th + FA Cup 4th round + League Cup Quarter finals
Last major trophy FA Cup 1976
Manager: Ronald Koeman (since June 2014)
Players In: Juanmi, Cedric Soares, Maarten Stekelenburg+, Jordy Clasie, Steven Caulker+
Players Out: Morgan Schneiderlin, Nathaniel Clyne, Dani Osvaldo
Pre-season results:
L4-5 v RB Leipzig (N)
L0-1 v Valencia (N)
L0-2 v Red Bull Salzburg (A)
W1-0 v Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
W3-0 v Groningen (A)
W10-0 v Quick 20' (A)
W3-0 v Feyenoord (A)
W3-0 v Vitesse Arnhem (H) [UEL third qualifying round, first leg]
D1-1 v RCD Espanyol (H)
W2-0 v Vitesse Arnhem (A) (won 5-0 on agg) [UEL third qualifying round, second leg]
Prediction: 11th
A disconcerting sense of deja vu is affecting Southampton this summer following the departures of Nathaniel Clyne to Liverpool and Morgan Schneiderlin to Manchester United. Last year, no fewer than four players headed to the north west as, in all, the Saints sold more than £90m worth of talent, prompting many pundits to predict they might struggle. Instead, the replacements - the likes of Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Saido Mane - did even better than their predecessors - and, while Southampton's unlikely top four challenge duly faded in the New Year, a spot in Europe via the top seven was the least they deserved. However, a second off-season of selling some of their best players might not work out so well - and it would not be a surprise, particularly with the extra games in Europe, if Southampton failed to reach anywhere near the height of last season domestically.
STOKE CITY The Potters - Britannia Stadium - @stokecity
Last season 9th + FA Cup 5th round + League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy League Cup 1972
Manager: Mark Hughes (since May 2013)
Players In: Philipp Wollscheld, Marco van Ginkel+, Shay Given, Glen Johnson, Ibrahim Afellay
Players Out: Asmir Begovic, Steven Nzonzi, Robert Huth
Pre-season results:
D0-0 v Everton (N) (lost 4-5 on pens)
W2-0 v Singapore Select XI (A)
W6-0 v Wrexham (A)
L0-2 v Brentford (A)
L1-2 v FC Koln (A)
L0-3 v Porto (N)
Prediction: 7th
Continuous improvement may be one of those horrible management buzzwords - but, if applying such tedious metrics to the Premier League, Stoke City would be hitting their goals. Freed from the shackles of potential bottom-half stagnation at best under former boss Tony Pulis, the Potters have finished ninth in successive seasons under Mark Hughes - indeed, last season, the Staffordshire club accumulated their best-ever Premier League points tally (54). This progress has not gone unnoticed - and signings for Stoke nowadays seem to be coming more easily with Ibrahim Afellay joining Bojan Krkic in swapping Barcelona for the Britannia. As such, it would be no surprise if Stoke continued to challenge even the top sides, starting with Liverpool at home on the opening day.
SUNDERLAND The Black Cats - Stadium of Light - @SAFCofficial
Last season 16th + FA Cup 5th round + League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1973
Manager: Dick Advocaat (since March 2015)
Players In: Jeremain Lens, Sebastian Coates, Younes Kaboul
Players Out: Connor Wickham, Santiago Vergini+
Pre-season results:
W4-2 v Darlington 1883 (A)
L0-1 v Sacramento Republic (A)
L1-3 v Pachuca (N)
W2-1 v Toronto (A)
L0-2 v Doncaster Rovers (A)
W1-0 v Hannover 96 (A)
Prediction: 15th
Folklore tells us that even lucky Black Cats only have nine lives - and, if so, Sunderland must surely have used most them up already. For, while this is a ninth consecutive season in the Premier League for the Wearsiders, only one of the previous eight has resulted in a top-half finish. The last two campaigns, in particular, have been plagued by a protracted battle against the drop, only for generous neighbours Newcastle United twice to turn up, gift six points and secure Sunderland their safety. But, heading into this season - and hoping to prevent a repeat performance, American owner Ellis Short made perhaps the biggest Sunderland signing in years by convincing manager Dick Advocaat to stay on at the Stadium of Light following his initial refusal. An experienced campaigner, and the oldest manager in the top flight this season, the Dutchman and his tactics may yet prove to be the difference for a squad which, Jermain Defoe aside, still looks desperately short on firepower.
SWANSEA CITY The Swans - Liberty Stadium - @SwansOfficial
Last season 8th + FA Cup 4th round + League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy League Cup 2013
Manager: Garry Monk (since February 2014)
Players In: Eder, Andre Ayew, Franck Tabanou
Players Out: Jazz Richards, Rory Donnelly, David Cornell
Pre-season results:
D1-1 v Borussia Moenchengladbach (N)
W2-1 v TSV 1860 Munich (A)
D1-1 v Reading (N)
D1-1 v Nottingham Forest (A)
D0-0 v Deportivo La Coruna (H)
Prediction: 9th
These continue to be heady times on the south Wales coast, Garry Monk having led Swansea City to eighth place and a best ever points haul via league doubles over both Arsenal and Manchester United last season. Even when Wilfried Bony made his seemingly inevitable departure to Manchester City in January, Bafetimbi Gomis stepped up and replaced the missing goals - and, better still, the Frenchman will now have welcome support in the guise of compatriot Andre Ayew, signed this summer from Marseille. With Icelander Gylfi Sigurdsson and South Korean Ki Sung-yueng continuing to pull the strings in midfield, the Swans should have no problems competing in what is a fifth consecutive top-flight season. Indeed, the celebration next May at the Liberty Stadium of another comfortable top half finish is probably the likeliest outcome.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Spurs - White Hart Lane - @SpursOfficial
Last season 5th + FA Cup 4th round + League Cup Runners-up + Europa League Last 32
Last major trophy League Cup 2008
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2014)
Players In: Tony Alderweireld, Kieran Trippier, Kevin Wimmer
Players Out: Paulinho, Lewis Holtby, Etienne Capoue, Younes Kaboul, Benjamin Stambouli
Pre-season results:
L1-2 v MLS All-Stars (A)
L0-2 v Real Madrid (N)
W2-0 v AC Milan (N)
Prediction: 6th
Having shipped more than a half-century of league goals last season, it has been no surprise to see Tottenham Hotspur reinforce their defence this summer with the signings of Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid and Kieran Trippier from Burnley. But, given the lack of activity with the rest of the squad, it can only be presumed the North Londoners are relying on Harry Kane repeating his phenomenal season from last year when he became the first Spurs striker since Gary Lineker in 1991-92 to score more than 30 goals in a season. With little in the way of support coming from the languid Emmanuel Adebayor and the struggling Roberto Soldado, Mauricio Pochettino may live to regret not yet signing more back-up for Kane. For, as talented as he has shown himself to be, there is only so much one 22-year-old can do - even if he is, to the delight of White Hart Lane, one of their own.
WATFORD The Hornets - Vicarage Road - @WatfordFC
Last season 2nd (promoted) + FA Cup 3rd round + League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy None
Manager: Quique Flores (since June 2015)
Players In: Etienne Capoue, Valon Behrami, Sebastian Prodil, Matej Vydra, Miguel Britos, Jose Manuel Jurado
Players Out: Uche Ikpeazu, Lewis McGugan
Pre-season results:
W4-0 v St Albans City (A)
D2-2 v AFC Wimbledon (A)
W4-1 v SC Verl (A)
W2-0 v Paderborn 07 (A)
W1-0 v Dundee United (A)
L1-2 v Cardiff City (A)
L0-1 v Sevilla (H)
Prediction: 19th
Credit to Watford - after all, in a season of four managers, normally downwards is the only exit route out of a division - but, rather than collapsing in turmoil, the Hornets held their nerve in a tight promotion battle to grab the second automatic spot and reach the Premier League for a third time. Of course, the Hertfordshire club's two must recent seasons at the top level - in 1999-00 and 2006-07 - both finished with the team relegated in bottom place, but the current ambitious Italian owners, the Pozzo family, would be highly disappointed if Quique Flores' men recorded an unenviable hat-trick on their watch. Unfortunately, their unpredictability makes that more likely than not - and it would be difficult to see them getting away with a second successive season of upheaval if Flores does not make the grade.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION The Baggies - The Hawthorns - @WBAFCofficial
Last season 13th + FA Cup Quarter finals + League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1968
Manager: Tony Pulis (since January 2015)
Players In: James McClean, James Chester, Rickie Lambert
Players Out: Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu, Chris Baird
Pre-season results:
L1-3 v Red Bull Salzburg (N)
L1-3 v Orlando City (A)
W2-1 v Charleston Battery (A)
W2-1 v Richmond Kickers (A)
W4-1 v Swindon Town (A)
W2-0 v Walsall (A)
Prediction 13th
To paraphrase another old cliche, the three most certain things in life are death, taxes and Tony Pulis teams keeping clean sheets. After all, only Chelsea shut out their opponents more often than West Bromwich Albion last season - and Pulis, who has famously never been relegated as a manager, has always built and rebuilt his sides from the back. Naturally, the purists among the Albion fans want the Welshman to be a little more expansive - and it did not go unnoticed that young star striker Saido Berahino sometimes cut a frustrated figure up front on his own even though he still finished the season with a highly commendable 20-goal haul. Whether Berahino stays at the Hawthorns or not, though, there is surely no chance of Pulis even slightly tweaking a set-up which has rewarded him for the last 23 years. Yes - West Brom will stay up and Pulis will keep his brilliant record - but, unfortunately for the neutrals and the Baggies' hardcore, it is unlikely to be thrill a minute stuff.
WEST HAM UNITED The Hammers - Boleyn Ground - @whufc_official
Last season 12th + FA Cup 5th round + League Cup 2nd round +
Last major trophy League Cup 1981
Manager: Slaven Bilic (since June 2015)
Players In: Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna, Pedro Obiang, Carl Jenkinson+
Players Out: Stewart Downing, Carlton Cole, Guy Demel, Jussi Jaaskelainen
Pre-season results:
W3-0 v Lusitanos (H) [UEL first qualifying round, first leg]
W1-0 v Lusitanos (A) (won 4-0 on agg) [UEL first qualifying round, second leg]
W1-0 v Birkirkara (H) [UEL second qualifying round, first leg]
L0-1 v Birkirkara (A) (drew 1-1aet on agg, won 5-3 on pens) [UEL second qualifying round, second leg]
D2-2 v Astra Giurgiu (H) [UEL third qualifying round, first leg]
L1-2 v Astra Giurgiu (A) (lost 3-4 on agg) [UEL third qualifying round, second leg]
D3-3 v Peterborough United (A)
W3-2 v Southend United (A)
D0-0 v Charlton Athletic (A)
W1-0 v Norwich City (A)
L1-2 v Werder Bremen (H)
Prediction: 14th
West Ham United bid farewell to the Boleyn Ground this season ahead of their impending move next summer to the Olympic Stadium - and the pressure is on to give the old stadium a fitting send-off. At least, in former player Slaven Bilic, the Hammers have a head coach who will appreciate the occasion, the east London club having ditched the grim architect of hoof ball Sam Allardyce at the end of his contract. Nevertheless, Bilic's own record as coach - since his infamous win with Croatia over England at Wembley in 2007 - has been patchy, and his appointment appears to be based more on sentiment than anything else, a frankly dangerous game at the best of times. Already this summer, West Ham have had to say goodbye to the Europa League after a dreadful attempt to make it through the qualifying rounds - and, whether Bilic makes it to next May or not, Hammers fans can only hope the adieu to the Boleyn is a rather more memorable experience.
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