The Season 2015/16: Leicester City - from 5000/1 to number one

Premier League

	Full table as it stands	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
C	Leicester City	22	11	3	64	34	+30	77
2	Tottenham Hotspur	19	13	4	67	28	+39	70
3	Arsenal	19	10	7	59	34	+25	67
4	Manchester City	19	7	10	68	38	+30	64
5	Manchester United	17	9	9	43	31	+12	60
6	West Ham United	15	14	6	60	43	+17	59
7	Southampton	16	9	11	53	39	+14	57

LEICESTER CITY will celebrate their remarkable Premier League title triumph when they take on Everton at the King Power Stadium tonight.

The Foxes are seven points clear of Tottenham Hotspur so cannot be caught after Spurs dropped points in both of their last two games.

Leading 2-0 against Chelsea with just over half an hour to play, it looked as if the North London club would test Leicester's mettle by extending the title chase for another week.

But the Blues were always bound to raise their game for Spurs - and Gary Cahill pulled one back before Eden Hazard equalised with just seven minutes left on the clock.

Cue pandemonium in Leicester - the first English first-time champions since their East Midlands neighbours Nottingham Forest in 1978.

Tipped for relegation in some places at the start of the season, having survived late on last year, Claudio Ranieri's men defied odds of 5000/1 to achieve this fairytale title win.

But, in hindsight, those odds were terribly unfair on a team which the goal-scoring threat of Jamie Vardy, the creativity of Riyad Mahrez, and the steel of N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater in midfield.

Early on in the season, Leicester struggled for clean sheets - but, as the campaign has worn on, the Foxes have tightened up.

Since Christmas, they have conceded just 10 league goals and a series of 1-0 wins in March and April ensured they have always kept their title rivals at arm's length.

As mentioned, Spurs have come closest to matching Leicester. Indeed, Mauricio Pochettino's men have scored more and conceded fewer goals than any other team in the division this season.

Harry Kane has another good year with 28 goals in all competitions and, though they have failed to land a first championship since 1961, Spurs could finish above Arsenal for the first time since 1995.

The Gunners were top on New Year's Day but their bid for a first title since 2004 suffered in a habitual springtime collapse in defeats away to Manchester United and at home to Swansea City.

Without the FA Cup to fall back on this season, Arsene Wenger's position at the Emirates has never looked more shaky.

Of course, Manuel Pellegrini's fate at Manchester City has already been determined with Pep Guardiola having been signed up to replace him.

The mid-season announcement of this end-of-season change has definitely affected Man City's form - and a limp defeat in the Champions League semi finals to Real Madrid leaves them only with a top-four finish to play for.

City rivals Man United are at the front of the chasing group, four points behind in fifth but with a game in hand next week having qualified for an FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace.

That game in hand is against West Ham United and it will be the last ever match at the Boleyn Ground before the Hammers take over the Olympic Stadium.

West Ham have seen off their old ground in some style, losing their opening two home games in August but not since.

Slaven Bilic's men currently sit in sixth, just a point behind Man United, and looking good for a European place.

Southampton, a further three points behind in seventh, have had another steady season under Ronald Koeman and cannot be discounted when considering the European spots either following successive 4-2 wins over Aston Villa and Man City.

Villa, of course, have endured a nightmare season with indiscipline occurring on and off the pitch from a squad of players not fit for purpose.

Currently on a sequence of 11 successive Premier League defeats - a run which began with a 6-0 home defeat to Europa League finalists Liverpool - the season's end cannot come quick enough for the second city's fallen giants.

Otherwise, the relegation battle looks set to go to the wire. Norwich City are now second bottom, two points adrift of 17th-placed Newcastle United, after a damaging run of three consecutive defeats.

Sunderland are third bottom and need to pull off another of their notorious late-season escapes. Currently sitting a point behind rivals Newcastle, the Black Cats still have a game-in-hand to play against Everton next week.

Newcastle only have two games left - away to Aston Villa and at home to Tottenham - but have gone unbeaten in four Premier League games for the first time since 2014.

Rafa Benitez certainly looks to have worked some magic with what previously looked like a demoralised squad under Steve McClaren.

But the fear remains on Tyneside that owner Mike Ashley may have ultimately left it too late.

16	Crystal Palace	10	9	17	36	46	-10	39
17	Newcastle United	8	9	19	39	64	-25	33
18	Sunderland	7	11	17	40	58	-18	32
19	Norwich City	8	7	20	35	61	-26	31
R	Aston Villa	3	7	26	27	72	-45	16

Championship

	Full table as it stands	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
P	Burnley	25	15	5	69	35	+34	90
2	Middlesbrough	26	10	9	62	30	+32	88
3	Brighton & Hove Alb	24	16	5	71	41	+30	88
4	Hull City	23	11	11	64	34	+30	80
5	Derby County	21	15	9	66	42	+24	78
6	Sheffield Wednesday	19	17	9	65	43	+22	74
7	Cardiff City	17	16	12	55	50	+5	67

BURNLEY bounced back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as Sam Vokes' strike was enough to beat Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 1-0 win extended the Clarets' unbeaten run to 22 games - Sean Dyche's men last lost on Boxing Day - and, after a relatively slow start, they have shown the benefits of retaining a settled squad.

Middlesbrough and Brighton are just two points behind so either of them could feasibly still pip Burnley to the Championship.

Only one can go up, though - for, in a quirky twist of fate determined by the fixtures computer last year, they play each other on the final day in what has been billed as a £170m clash.

Boro hold the nominal advantage of playing at home and they also have a better goal difference so a fourth-successive league draw for the Teessiders would be enough.

Indeed, Aitor Karanka's men could perhaps have been promoted by now - but, despite still being unbeaten in nine, have lost their way somewhat. Will that pressure tell?

Certainly, Boro will not want to take on the playoffs again. Although last season's travails resulted in a first trip to the new Wembley, the final ended in a limp 2-0 defeat to Norwich City.

Brighton, by contrast, just about did enough to stay in the division last season, finishing down in 20th.

But, under the tutelage of former Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton, the Seagulls have soared this season - they are unbeaten in their last 13 matches, and have won their last four away.

The atmosphere at the Riverside Stadium promises to be tense - but, for the losers, the season will not be over.

Instead, they will have to lick their wounds and prepare for a playoff match against a buoyant Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls have reached the Championship top six for the first time since relegation from the top flight in 2000, and confirmed their place with a dominant 3-0 win over nearest rivals Cardiff City last weekend.

The other playoff places are also already determined with Hull City and Derby County assured of taking each other on.

Both the Tigers and the Rams have led the division at one point in the campaign so, like the runner-up in the Middlesbrough-Brighton match, will be disappointed at having dropped into the playoffs.

But, at least for Hull and Derby, the playoffs have looked inevitable for some time after both suffered poor runs of form in the early part of the second half of the season.

Also already confirmed in the Championship are the relegation places.

Bolton Wanderers, who have failed to pay their staff on time at various points of the season, and Charlton Athletic - who have suffered under their uncaring Belgian owner - have both been relegated as a result of off-field issues.

For Milton Keynes Dons, it was a simply a step up too far. This was the Dons' first season in the second flight since they stole their way into the Football League in 2004 - and it showed.

Incidentally, Karl Robinson's men could end up playing AFC Wimbledon - the phoenix club which developed from the club MK replaced - if the latter are successful in the League Two playoffs.

21	Fulham	11	15	19	65	79	-14	48
R	Charlton Athletic	9	13	23	40	77	-37	40
R	Milton Keynes Dons	9	12	24	38	67	-29	39
R	Bolton Wanderers	5	15	25	41	80	-39	30

League One

	Full table as it stands	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
P	Wigan Athletic	24	15	6	81	41	+40	87
2	Burton Albion	25	9	11	57	37	+20	84
3	Walsall	23	12	10	66	49	+17	81
4	Millwall	23	9	13	71	48	+23	78
5	Bradford City	22	11	12	53	40	+13	77
6	Barnsley	21	8	16	66	53	+13	71
7	Scunthorpe United	20	11	14	58	47	+11	71
8	Gillingham	19	12	14	70	54	+16	69

WIGAN ATHLETIC reversed a couple of seasons of decline with promotion back to the Championship after a 4-0 win at Blackpool.

The Latics, who won the FA Cup in 2013 but were relegated from the Premier League in the same year, suffered a second demotion from the Championship last year.

But, after a slow start to this campaign, Gary Caldwell's men have lost just once since mid-December and they are almost assured of the divisional title given their goal difference advantage over Burton Albion.

For Burton, just being in promotion contention is a remarkable achievement in itself.

Back in 2002, the Brewers won the Northern Premier League title at level six of the English football league pyramid, beginning a journey which could take them to Villa Park next season.

Indeed, just avoiding defeat against Doncaster Rovers will be enough to finish ahead of Walsall who would compete in the playoffs along side Millwall, Bradford City and another team.

The identity of that final team will also be decided on the last day with Barnsley currently in sixth but facing an away game at Wigan.

Scunthorpe United, level on points with the Tykes and only with a slightly inferior goal difference, will look to take advantage of any slip-up in their match away at Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, Gillingham - in poor form at the worst time - could still feasibly make it into the top six but they would need a win at home to Millwall and hope the two other results go their way.

At the bottom, Crewe Alexandra and Colchester United are already down having both looked a long way short this season - while Doncaster are effectively down as they need an unlikely goal difference swing in their favour.

The last relegation place will be taken by Fleetwood Town or, shamefully, their bigger Fylde coast neighbours Blackpool.

The Tangerines were in the Premier League as recently as 2011 and only went down after a last-day defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But, since then, the Tangerine dream has turned into a nightmare. Chairman Karl Oyston has bled the club dry of funds - and only victory against Peterborough United will give Blackpool any hope of staying up.

Even then, a draw for Fleetwood - at home to relegated Crewe - would surely be enough, considering their goal difference advantage.

20	Fleetwood Town	11	15	19	50	56	-6	48
21	Blackpool	12	10	23	39	58	-19	46
22	Doncaster Rovers	11	12	22	48	64	-16	45
R	Colchester United	9	13	23	56	97	-41	40
R	Crewe Alexandra	7	13	25	46	81	-35	34

League Two

	Full table as it stands	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
C	Northampton Town	28	12	5	80	45	+35	96
2	Accrington Stanley	24	12	9	74	48	+26	84
3	Oxford United	23	14	8	81	41	+40	83
4	Bristol Rovers	25	7	13	75	45	+30	82
5	Portsmouth	21	15	9	74	42	+32	78
6	Plymouth Argyle	23	9	13	67	46	+21	78
7	AFC Wimbledon	20	12	13	63	50	+13	72
8	Cambridge United	18	13	14	66	55	+11	67

NORTHAMPTON TOWN were the first English team in professional football to secure promotion, doing so all the way back on 9 April after a 2-2 draw against Bristol Rovers.

A week later, a goalless draw at Exeter City secured the League Two title - and, since then, the Cobblers have extended their impressive unbeaten run to 23 matches. In fact, they have lost just once since October.

Nevertheless, the rest of the promotion race is still very much alive. Three teams - Accrington Stanley, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers - are bidding for the two remaining automatic places.

Stanley currently sit second going into their final game at home to Stevenage - and victory there would ensure a first promotion for the Lancastrians since they regained their place back in the Football League in 2006.

Otherwise, it is Oxford who also start the day in a promotion place, one point behind Accrington but one point ahead of Rovers. The Us, the top scorers in League Two, host Wycombe Wanderers on the final day.

Rovers are also at home and will be expected to take advantage of any slip-ups from the others against relegated Dagenham & Redbridge.

The team that does not make it will at least have a playoff place to fall back upon - with Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle and AFC Wimbledon already assured of their top-seven slots.

The bottom of the table has also been decided in advance of the final day. The aforementioned Dagenham depart the Football League after nine seasons, one of which was spent in League One.

Finally, York City were relegated a fortnight ago and lose their Football League status for the second time in 12 years.

The Daggers and the Minstermen must look to Cheltenham Town for inspiration next season. The Robins secured a rare immediate return from the National League after beating Halifax 2-0 on 16 April.

That win pushed them clear of local rivals Forest Green Rovers with whom they engaged in a promotion tussle lasting most of the season.

Forest Green still have a chance of winning a place in the Football League for the first time through the playoffs, and they hold a 1-0 lead over Dover Athletic heading into the home leg.

Braintree Town - another team looking to gain Football League status for the first time - lead Grimsby Town by the same score in the other semi final.

22	Newport County	10	13	22	43	63	-20	43
R	Dagenham & Redbridge	8	10	27	45	79	-34	34
R	York City	7	12	26	50	86	-36	33

The Season 2015/16: Arsenal lead Leicester at the halfway stage

SEASON 2015/16

Preview - Halfway

1 ARSENAL (P19 W12 D3 L4 F33 A18 Pts 39)
Premier League: LWDWWLWWWWWDLDWWWLW
FA Cup: 3R v Sunderland (H) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 0-3 v Sheffield Wednesday (A) in fourth round
Europe: UCL Last 16 v Barcelona (H) on 23 February/(A) on 16 March
Manager: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996) Top scorer: Olivier Giroud (15)
As ever, it has been a bit of a bumpy ride at the Emirates - but Arsenal find themselves top heading into the New Year after four wins in their last five league games. The Gunners' customary November wobble threatened once again to derail their title challenge before it had even properly begun - but the goalscoring form of Olivier Giroud and the mountain of assists from Mesut Ozil have both made Arsene Wenger a sanguine man this Christmas. Ozil, especially, has been brilliant in this campaign, and his total of 16 assists at the halfway stage is just four behind the full-season Premier League record already held in Arsenal colours by Thierry Henry in 2002-03. 
Meanwhile, a scramble through the Champions League group after defeats in three of their first four games only brought the reward of Barcelona in February. Instead then, minds may be forced to focus on delivering a first Premier League title in 12 years - and that, of course, would represent the culmination of what had previously seemed to be a never-ending rebuild job.

2 LEICESTER CITY (P19 W11 D6 L2 F37 A25 Pts 39)
Premier League: WWDDWDLWDWWWWDWWWLD
FA Cup: 3R v Tottenham Hotspur (A) on 10 January at 4pm
League Cup: lost 4-5 on pens (after 1-1 aet) v Hull City (A) in fourth round
Manager: Claudio Ranieri (since July 2015) Top scorer: Jamie Vardy (15)
Long-time pace-setters Leicester City are still only kept off the top on goal difference, a phenomenal achievement at the halfway stage by the East Midlands club. Unsurprisingly, most of the headlines have deservedly gone to striker Jamie Vardy after he scored in 11 consecutive Premier League matches to break Ruud van Nistelrooy's record - but the fine contributions elsewhere of playmaker Riyad Mahrez and midfielder N'Golo Kante have not gone unnoticed. Looking ahead, the Foxes have given themselves a hell of a chance at least of a top four finish if they continue to ally their no-fear attitude to their pacy counter-attacking style. But a few more clean-sheets, like that achieved on Tuesday in a 0-0 draw against Manchester City, will be required for Claudio Ranieri's men to realise their dream.

3 MANCHESTER CITY (P19 W11 D3 L5 F37 A20 Pts 36) 
Premier League: WWWWWLLWWDWDLWLWLWD
FA Cup: 3R v Norwich City (A) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: SF v Everton (A) on 6 January/(H) on 27 January
Europe: UCL Last 16 v Dinamo Kiev (A) on 24 February/(H) on 15 March
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini (since June 2013) Top scorer: Kevin De Bruyne (10)
Five games into the season, Manchester City were sitting top with a perfect record having not conceded a goal - but, since then, things have not gone to plan at all. While home form - excepting the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool - has remained strong, the Blues have looked massively vulnerable on the road. Away defeats have come against Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City and Arsenal, while matches at Manchester United, Aston Villa and, most recently, Leicester City have all ended in 0-0 stalemates. Despite the efforts of Kevin De Bruyne to fill in, the lack of goals in these games has not been helped by the long absence of Sergio Aguero through injury with Wilfried Bony not looking like a particularly worthy understudy most of the time.
At least City broke through a glass ceiling in winning their Champions League group for the first time this season. Their reward is an eminently winnable tie against Dynamo Kiev - and with a League Cup semi final against Everton also to come in the New Year, Manuel Pellegrini's men actually remain in the hunt for all four major trophies. It would be a major surprise, though, if they pulled anything like that off as regular speculation over Pellegrini's fate in May will surely lead to continued uncertainty on the pitch. This team, at its best, undoubtedly has the talent to win another Premier League title - but does it have the will?

4 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (P19 W9 D8 L2 F33 A15 Pts 35)
Premier League: LDDDWWWDDWWDWDDLWWW
FA Cup: 3R v Leicester City (H) on 10 January at 4pm
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Arsenal (H) in third round
Europe: UEL Last 32 v Fiorentina (A) on 18 February/(H) on 25 February
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2014) Top scorer: Harry Kane (13)
Tottenham Hotspur are the team which, this season, holds the longest sequence for unbeaten Premier League games. Spurs went 14 matches without defeat between an unfortunate opening day loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford and a shock 2-1 home reversal to Newcastle United halfway through last month. Irritatingly for the White Hart Lane faithful, though, only six of the 14 games ended in victory, and that tendency to draw matches - while showing a new-found defensive steel - was effectively depriving Pochettino's men from a place in the top four. Nevertheless, an excellent Christmas period - featuring two away wins at Southampton and Watford, and an easy 3-0 home win over Norwich City - has now put Tottenham in the Champions League spots. In fact, they are a whole four points clear of fifth-placed Crystal Palace and look as if they are only going to get stronger.

5 CRYSTAL PALACE (P19 W9 D4 L6 F23 A16 Pts 31)
Premier League: WLWWLLWWLLDWLWDWWDD
FA Cup: 3R v Southampton (A) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 1-5 v Manchester City (A) in fourth round
Manager: Alan Pardew (since January 2015) Top scorer: Yohan Cabaye (5)
Manager Alan Pardew continues to do an impressive job at Crystal Palace and looks set to be rewarded with a new contract at Selhurst Park by chairman Steve Parish. Heading into the New Year with just one defeat since October - although that was a shocker at home to Sunderland - the Eagles can soar into 2016 with an optimistic mindset. Of their five other league defeats this season, one has come at home to West Ham United and the other four have been to each of the sides above them, meaning it would be a surprise if Palace climbed any higher than fifth. Indeed, with a lack of goals up front - midfielder Yohan Cabaye is top scorer - and the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool lying in wait just behind the south Londoners in the table, the continued stability of a place in the top-half should remain the aim. 

6 MANCHESTER UNITED (P19 W8 D6 L5 F22 A16 Pts 30)
Premier League: WWDLWWWLWDDWWDDLLLD
FA Cup: 3R v Sheffield United (H) on 9 January at 5.30pm
League Cup: lost 1-3 on pens (after 0-0 aet) v Middlesbrough (H) in fourth round
Europe: UEL Last 32 v Midtjylland (H) on 18 February/(A) on 25 February. Knocked out of UCL group stage (W2 D2 L2 F7 A7)
Manager: Louis Van Gaal (since July 2014) Top scorer: Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney (7)
First, the good news for Manchester United fans - their team has kept more clean sheets than any other side in the Premier League this season. Now, the bad news - a run of eight games without a win in all competitions is the Red Devils' worst in 25 years. Worse still, it has dropped them well away from a title chase in which they were only previously hanging on by their fingertips. Louis Van Gaal may have achieved his aim of bringing back Champions League football to Old Trafford with a fourth-placed finish last season but a lot more progress was expected in this campaign. 
French signing, 20-year-old Anthony Martial, started brightly but has faded - and, with Wayne Rooney unable to pick up the slack, the team has struggled badly for goals and even, at times, any sort of threat or inspiration. It was quite appropriate that two 0-0 home draws in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven and the League Cup against Middlesbrough have ultimately cost Van Gaal's men their place in both competitions. And, while the Dutchman hangs on to his position for now, patience with him is growing ever thinner.

7 LIVERPOOL (P19 W8 D6 L5 F22 A22 Pts 30)
Premier League: WWDLLDWDDDWLWWLDLWW
FA Cup: 3R v Exeter City (A) on 8 January at 7.55pm
League Cup: SF v Stoke City (A) on 5 January/(H) on 26 January
Europe: UEL Last 32 v Augsburg (A) on 18 February/(H) on 25 February
Manager: Jurgen Klopp (since October 2015) Top scorer: Christian Benteke (6)
Such was the pressure he was under at the start of the season, the reign of Brendan Rodgers was never going to last more than a few more weeks. As it happens, the final game for the Northern Irishman was a 1-1 draw in the 225th Merseyside derby against Everton in early October - at the time, a fifth occurrence in six matches of the Reds taking a 1–0 lead, only for the contest to end in a stalemate. The giveaways were becoming just far too frequent. 
Not that the short reign so far of new boss Jurgen Klopp has been entirely without its hiccups - defeats away at Newcastle United and Watford sandwiched a bizarrely celebrated 2-2 home draw with West Bromwich Albion. And, while two narrow 1-0 wins over Leicester City and Sunderland have got Liverpool turned back in the right direction for now, the inconsistency of an unbalanced squad confirms the problems at Anfield always ran deeper than Rodgers solely.

8 WEST HAM UNITED (P19 W7 D8 L4 F28 A23 Pts 29)
Premier League: WLLWWWDDWWLDLDDDDDW
FA Cup: 3R v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Leicester City (A) in third round
Europe: lost 3-4 on agg v Astra Giurgiu (2-2h, 1-2a) in third qualifying round
Manager: Slaven Bilic (since June 2015) Top scorer: Dimitri Payet (5)
Stunning away wins against Arsenal (2-0), Liverpool (3-0), Manchester City (2-1) and Crystal Palace (3-1) as well as a home win over struggling Chelsea - all by the end of October - gave rise to the hope that this was going to be a rather special season for West Ham United. But, since then, the Hammers have treaded water - and their comeback win against Southampton on Monday was their first league victory in nine games. Not that Slaven Bilic's men have been plummeting down the table - six of those previous eight matches ended level including a sequence of five successive draws featuring three consecutive 0-0s. Yes, the loss of the excellent Dimitri Payet has been keenly felt but the French playmaker is back for the visit of Liverpool to the Boleyn Ground today, as the east Londoners begin their final five months in that ground.

9 WATFORD (P19 W8 D5 L6 F24 A20 Pts 29)
Premier League: DDDLWWLDLWWLLWWWWDL
FA Cup: 3R v Newcastle United (H) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Preston North End (A) in second round
Manager: Quique Sanchez Flores (since June 2015) Top scorer: Odion Ighalo (14)
Watford dipped their toe in the water as they began life back in the Premier League with three draws - but, thanks to the Troy Deeney-Odion Ighalo strike partnership, the Hornets have now won eight of their last 15 games and look very comfortable indeed at this level. Ighalo, in particular, has enjoyed an annus mirabilis, scoring 30 goals in the calendar year of 2015 - more than any other player in England's top four divisions. It meant promotion in May, of course - and now means Quique Flores' vintage already have more points from the first half of the campaign than Watford's two previous Premier League teams finished with in 2000 and 2007. Will there be an unlikely push for a European spot in the second half?

10 STOKE CITY (P19 W8 D5 L6 F20 A19 Pts 29)
Premier League: LDDLLDWWWLDWWLWDLWW
FA Cup: 3R v Doncaster Rovers (A) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: SF v Liverpool (H) on 5 January/(A) on 26 January
Manager: Mark Hughes (since May 2013) Top scorer: Marko Arnautovic (7)
Despite a slow start, solidly midtable Stoke City will be pleased with their campaign so far having reached a cup semi final and collected 29 points. Winless in their first six league games, the Potters seemed to revert to a back to basics approach in a series of one-goal victories in a seven week period over Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Swansea City, Chelsea, and Southampton. However, in more recent wins at home to both Manchester clubs and away to Everton, Mark Hughes' men have played far more expansively, even earning the nickname Stokelona for the presence of a clutch of players who once plied their trade at the Camp Nou. Star of the show at the Britannia, though, has been former Twente and Werder Bremen forward Marko Arnautovic - he already has his own highest Premier League return of seven goals this season.

11 EVERTON (P19 W6 D8 L5 F35 A28 Pts 26)
Premier League: DWLDWDWDLLWDWDDDLWL
FA Cup: 3R v Dagenham & Redbridge (H) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: SF v Manchester City (H) on 6 January/(A) on 27 January
Manager: Roberto Martinez (since July 2013) Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku (18)
On the face of it, Everton are a bit of an enigma this season - they are the division's third-top scorers with more goals than leaders Arsenal - and yet they remain locked in midtable with their only league victories since September coming against the current bottom three. Looking more closely, though, it is not that much of a mystery - for, while hot-shot Romelu Lukaku has been adeptly assisted by Gerard Deulofeu and Ross Barkley in midfield, the backline has creaked over and over again. The Toffees have, in fact, conceded the most home goals in the league this season - and, more than two years into the job, the defence is a deficiency which Roberto Martinez has never looked like dealing with.

12 SOUTHAMPTON (P19 W6 D6 L7 F26 A23 Pts 24)
Premier League: DLDWDLWWDDWWLLDLLWL
FA Cup: 3R v Crystal Palace (H) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 1-6 v Liverpool (H) in QF
Europe: lost 1-2 on agg v Midtjylland (1-1h, 0-1a) in qualifying playoff round
Manager: Ronald Koeman (since June 2014) Top scorer: Graziano Pelle (7)
Ronald Koeman's second season at Southampton always looked like being tougher than his first after yet more high profile summer departures and, considering all of their efforts last year, a disappointingly early exit from Europe. There was also a slow start in the league with just one win in the first six games - however, this was alleviated by a run of 14 points out of 18 in which Graziano Pelle once again found his best form. Another poor run in the run-up to Christmas has followed - but a 4-0 thrashing of leaders Arsenal on Boxing Day suggests that, while this campaign is nowhere near as spectacular as the last overall, the Saints are simply far too good to be involved in the worst of the relegation scrap.  

13 WEST BROMWICH ALBION (P19 W6 D5 L8 F18 A24 Pts 23)
Premier League: LDLWDWLLWWLLWDDDLLW
FA Cup: 3R v Bristol City (H) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 0-3 v Norwich City (A) in third round
Manager: Tony Pulis (since January 2015) Top scorer: Saido Berahino, James Morrison, Salomon Rondon (3)
Darren Fletcher's late header gave West Bromwich Albion a 1-0 win at the Hawthorns over Newcastle United on Monday, their sixth league success of the season and their fifth by that same scoreline, a divisional record shared equally with Liverpool. The victory spoke volumes about the Baggies under Tony Pulis who only arrived in January - but who has already shaped this team to be his. Yes, there is not always room in the first XI for flair players like Saido Berahino and Salomon Rondon and, consequently, it is not always too pretty to watch. So far, though, it has been effective - and, even though the Midlanders are still only six points above the bottom three, Pulis now looks well set to extend his record of having never been relegated as a manager to 24 years. 

14 CHELSEA (P19 W5 D5 L9 F23 A29 Pts 20)
Premier League: DLWLLWDLWLLLWDLLWDD
FA Cup: 3R v Scunthorpe United (H) on 10 January at 2pm
League Cup: lost 4-5 on pens (after 1-1 aet) v Stoke City (A) in fourth round
Europe: UCL Last 16 v Paris Saint-Germain (A) on 16 February/(H) on 9 March
Interim manager: Guus Hiddink (since December 2015) Top scorer: Willian (7)
Rather than just a few lines on a blog, a whole book could probably be written about how Jose Mourinho's seemingly imperious champions of last season have fallen apart in this campaign. From the moment Mourinho wrongly complained about his medical staff entering the field to treat stricken Eden Hazard in the season opener against Swansea City, hardly anything has gone right. Mourinho clearly fell out with some of his senior players - most notably the likes of Diego Costa and Hazard - and he always looked on uncertain ground once he suggested he had been betrayed by members of squad. 
A ninth league defeat of the season to then-leaders Leicester City just over two weeks ago effectively cut off any slim hopes of a top four place - and it was ultimately no surprise to see owner Roman Abramovich sack the Portuguese coach and bring in Guus Hiddink for a second brief spell. Even accounting for the inconsistency of the teams above them, though, it seems unlikely the Blues will be anything other than midtable this time around.

15 NORWICH CITY (P19 W5 D5 L9 F22 A32 Pts 20)
Premier League: LWDLWDDLLLLWLDLDWLW
FA Cup: 3R v Manchester City (H) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 3-4 on pens (after 1-1 aet) v Everton (A) in fourth round
Manager: Alex Neil (since January 2015) Top scorer: Nathan Redmond (4)
Norwich City are gradually getting to grips with life in the top flight, and their 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Monday was enough to keep the Canaries unbeaten at Carrow Road since October. Importantly, it also took them three points clear of the relegation zone. Actually, Alex Neil's men have so far stayed out of bottom three all season - but, prior to a momentous win at Old Trafford and that win against doomed Villa, they had only tasted victory once in 11 previous league games. Still yet to enjoy consecutive league victories all season, Neil knows there is much work to be done to make sure Norwich avoid a repeat of their 2014 relegation. 

16 AFC BOURNEMOUTH (P19 W5 D5 L9 F22 A34 Pts 20) 
Premier League: LLWDLWLDLLLLDDWWWDL
FA Cup: 3R v Birmingham City (A) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Liverpool (A) in fourth round
Manager: Eddie Howe (since October 2012) Top scorer: Junior Stanislas, Callum Wilson (5)
Three successive wins in December - against Chelsea, Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion - have helped Bournemouth recover their position outside of the bottom three having briefly dropped into the relegation zone on the back of just three points from the previous 24. That disappointing streak came amid in an injury crisis which seemed to crush the Cherries' confidence after what had been reasonable start. But, now having regained their self-belief, Eddie Howe's men can approach the New Year with a cautious optimism that the Premier League big boys might just be getting welcomed back down to Dean Court next season too.

17 SWANSEA CITY (P19 W4 D7 L8 F16 A24 Pts 19)
Premier League: DWDWLDLDLWLLDLLLDWD
FA Cup: 3R v Oxford United (A) on 10 January at midday
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Hull City (A) in third round
Caretaker manager: Alan Curtis (since December 2015) Top scorer: Andre Ayew (6)
With no end yet in sight in the search for a new permanent manager, Swansea City are the side providing the bottom three with the greatest hope of an escape from their predicament. True, results under Garry Monk had deteriorated to such an extent that his departure ended up being no great surprise - and it is equally true that caretaker boss Alan Curtis has subsequently overseen a modest improvement over the Christmas period. It remains the case, though, that the Swans are still not scoring enough goals to drag themselves properly away from the dogfight. And so, the lack of a stable presence in the dugout needs to be sorted sharpish to allow a freshening up of the squad in the January sales, most desperately up front.

18 NEWCASTLE UNITED (P19 W4 D5 L10 F19 A34 Pts 17)
Premier League: DLDLLLDLWLDWLLWWDLL
FA Cup: 3R v Watford (A) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Sheffield Wednesday (H) in third round
Manager: Steve McClaren (since June 2015) Top scorer: Georginio Wijnaldum (7)
Another nightmare season on Tyneside sees Newcastle United occupying a bottom three place at the halfway stage for the first time since 1988, a campaign which ended in relegation. Slow-starters again this time, the Magpies finally got off the mark at the ninth attempt - though did it in style as Gini Wijnaldum hit four in a 6-2 thrashing of Norwich City. McClaren's men, however, were brought back down to earth on the following weekend after a sixth consecutive derby defeat to Sunderland. And, since then, Newcastle have, as usual, delivered both the sublime - with wins against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur - and the ridiculous in heavy defeats to Leicester City and Crystal Palace. Ultimately, though, it is the collection of just one point from nine available at Christmas which has kept the black-and-whites deep in trouble as a lack of goals, an unbalanced midfield, and a slow defence all take their toll.
 
19 SUNDERLAND (P18 W3 D3 L12 F19 A37 Pts 12)
Premier League: LLDDLLLDLWLLWWLLLLL
FA Cup: 3R v Arsenal (A) on 9 January at 3pm
League Cup: lost 1-4 v Manchester City (H) in third round
Manager: Sam Allardyce (since October 2015) Top scorer: Jermain Defoe (7)
Except for their customary derby win over neighbours Newcastle United - and one solitary other good week in November against Crystal Palace and Stoke City - there has been little cheer again this season so far in Sunderland. The Wearsiders find themselves rooted in a fourth successive relegation fight and heading into 2016 on the back of five consecutive defeats with the brief bounce from the appointment of Sam Allardyce having already rather faded. True, the fixtures over the festive period have been hellish - and Aston Villa at home looks as if it might just be a New Year's treat - but, in lying more than two wins adrift of safety, the Black Cats' continued top-flight survival is once again under massive threat.

20 ASTON VILLA (P19 W1 D5 L13 F15 A34 Pts 8)
Premier League: WLLDLLLLLLLDLLDLDDL
FA Cup: 3R v Wycombe Wanderers (A) on 9 January at 12.45pm
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Southampton (A) in fourth round
Manager: Remi Garde (since November 2015) Top scorer: Scott Sinclair (6)
For desperate Aston Villa, the warning signs were there. Tim Sherwood may have helped the second city club stave off the drop last season - but, having replaced Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph with a raft of unproven players in the summer, another struggle always looked likely. It was surely never meant to be as bad as this, though - Villa head into the New Year still in a single figures, and indeed still three points off the lowest points record held by Derby County. New manager Remi Garde may have seen his side graft out a few draws recently but pride is pretty much all that is left to play for.

• All statistics correct at publishing time. Top scorer stats refer to all competitions.

Can Newcastle United banish their derby woes?

PREMIER League stragglers Newcastle United and Sunderland face each other tomorrow at noon in the most important and eagerly anticipated Wear-Tyne derby in years.

The bottom-placed Black Cats, on three points, are without a league win all season while Steve McClaren's visiting Magpies are only slightly better off on six points.

Newcastle did get off the mark in some style last weekend, however - beating Norwich City 6-2 at St James Park thanks to four goals from Georginio Wijnaldum. Nevertheless, this derby match will surely be a different sort of game to that open encounter.

Undoubtedly adding further spice to the proceedings is the recent appointment to the hot-seat at the Stadium of Light of Sam Allardyce.

The self-styled Big Sam - who played on Wearside in the 1980-81 season - actually becomes Sunderland's fourth 'permanent' appointment in 30 months.

Previously, of course, Allardyce also managed Newcastle for an eighth-month period in 2007 and 2008.

But he was dismissed from Gallowgate when a run of poor results could no longer absolve his horrendous style of football - so it is fair to say there is plenty of recent history then.

Moreover, Allardyce would love to extend the bizarre sequence in this fixture which has seen Sunderland, despite all their instability, reel off their all-time best run of five wins in a row.

Most recently, the Mackems prevailed on Easter Sunday this year when Jermain Defoe scored the only goal with a fine volley just before half time.

Yes, that victory equalled the all-time record held by Newcastle when the black-and-whites had the fortune of taking on two embarrassingly poor teams from Wearside between 2002 and 2006.

This time, on home turf - and with a potential new manager bounce - bookmakers' favourites Sunderland will strongly favour themselves to break the record.

For there can be no doubt that a new manager has assisted the Black Cats in their recent run of derby success.

Incredibly, Allardyce's predecessors Paulo di Canio, Gus Poyet, and Dick Advocaat all beat Newcastle in only their second respective games in charge of Sunderland - and this will also be Allardyce's second match.

A proud man - though many would say an equally vainglorious one - he would dearly love to be added to that list, and use it as a springboard to guide Sunderland to safety.

After all, he has his own record to protect - that of having never been relegated in more than 20 years of management.

Indeed, he retains a very high opinion of himself, claiming he still envisages himself one day taking charge of England, a position which was denied to him in 2006.

Coincidentally, it was McClaren who got the nod as national team boss instead - though his reign ended in defeat and humiliation, with a failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Now, McClaren - via Holland, Germany, Nottingham Forest, Holland again, and Derby County - has arrived at Newcastle and prepared for his first Wear-Tyne derby by sending an email to supporters.

"I don't need reminding that we have lost the last five derbies and for everyone associated with the club that is simply unbearable," McClaren wrote. 

"It wasn't so long ago that we won five in row and we are desperately keen and hugely motivated to turn the tide and bring the points back to Tyneside. 

"The atmosphere is always incredible and I think unique to the North East and we have to go there, stand up and be counted. There’s no question that our players understand what it means to win the derby."

Of course, McClaren has been able to approach the build-up to this match from an unfamiliar position of strength following the performance last Sunday.

For, while the three points against the Canaries did not take Newcastle out of the bottom three, the six goals tempered a swirling sense of discontent which a winless run inevitably brings. 

Additionally, McClaren seems to be settling on a more consistent selection, particularly up front where new signing Aleksandr Mitrovic and Spanish whizz-kid Ayoze Perez look a troublesome pairing. 

Indeed, Mitrovic could end up being the most important player on the pitch - but only provided he stays on it, of course. 

Unfortunately, for Newcastle, there can be no guarantee of that especially if the Serbian is as easily wound up in a hostile atmosphere as he was in his first few games in England which included a sending off against Arsenal. 

He has given his assurances, though - and so Sunderland may have to look elsewhere if they are to damage Newcastle 

That will likely mean targeting a shaky defence with Allardyce-style direct play - for, even in the fine win against Norwich, the Magpies' rearguard struggled at times. 

Also, Dutch keeper Tim Krul has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a severe knee injury sustained on international duty leaving Rob Elliott between the sticks. 

But, equally, Sunderland have struggled at the back this term, both teams having conceded 19 times in their nine games so far. 

Goals should be expected then - however, this will surely be a tighter, scrappier affair with the winning team, if there is one, succeeding only by a single goal.

It promises, as ever, to be a tense - though hopefully trouble-free - couple of hours.

ALL-TIME RECORD

Goals		Draws		Goals
224	Sunderland 50	49	53 Newcastle United	222

AT SUNDERLAND

Goals		Draws		Goals
104	Sunderland 25	28	21 Newcastle United	97

FIVE IN A ROW

	SUNDERLAND					NEWCASTLE UNITED
14-Apr-2013	won 3-0 (a) (Sessegnon, Johnson, Vaughan)				24-Feb-2002	won 1-0 (a) (Dabizas)
27-Oct-2013	won 2-1 (h) (Fletcher, Borini)				21-Sep-2002	won 2-0 (h) (Bellamy, Shearer)
01-Feb-2014	won 3-0 (a) (Borini (p), Johnson, Colback)				26-Apr-2003	won 1-0 (a) (Solano (p))
21-Dec-2014	won 1-0 (a) (Johnson)				23-Oct-2005	won 3-2 (h) (Ameobi 2, Emre)
05-Apr-2015	won 1-0 (h) (Defoe)				17-Apr-2006	won 4-1 (a) (Chopra, Shearer (p), N'Zgobia, Luque)

SEASON 2015/2016 SO FAR

	SUNDERLAND P9 W0 D3 L6 F8 A19 Pts 3 Top scorer: Defoe, Fletcher, Lens (2)					NEWCASTLE UNITED P9 W1 D3 L5 F12 A19 Pts 6 Top scorer: Wijnaldum (6)
08-Aug	Leicester City (A)	2-4	19th		09-Aug	Southampton (H)	2-2	7th
15-Aug	Norwich City (H)	1-3	20th		15-Aug	Swansea City (A)	0-2	15th
22-Aug	Swansea City (H)	1-1	20th		22-Aug	Manchester United (A)	0-0	16th
29-Aug	Aston Villa (A)	2-2	20th		29-Aug	Arsenal (H)	0-1	18th
13-Sep	Tottenham Hotspur (H)	0-1	20th		14-Sep	West Ham United (A)	0-2	20th
19-Sep	AFC Bournemouth (A)	0-2	20th		19-Sep	Watford (H)	1-2	19th
26-Sep	Manchester United (A)	0-3	20th		26-Sep	Chelsea (H)	2-2	19th
03-Oct	West Ham United (H)	2-2	19th		03-Oct	Manchester City (A)	1-6	20th
17-Oct	West Bromwich Albion (A)	0-1	20th		18-Oct	Norwich City (H)	6-2	18th

Premier League preview 2015/16: Arsenal close in on Chelsea crown

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.

+Loan signing