Season 2017/18: For the record

(1) MANCHESTER CITY W32 D4 L2 F106 A27 +79 Pts 100
Manager Pep Guardiola (since July 2016)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Winners Champions League Quarter finals
Top scorer Sergio Agüero (21) Clean sheets 18 Failed to score 2

Manchester City secured a record 100 points with a record 32nd win of an incredible campaign on the last day of the season against Southampton - but it wasn't just one game which left Pep Guardiola's side as the best English champions in years. For the record, Man City additionally took most away points (50), finished most points ahead of second (19), gained the most away wins (16), scored the most goals (106), had the best goal difference (+79), and recorded the most consecutive victories (18) in Premier League history. Perhaps the most amazing statistic is that Guardiola's men were only behind for a total of 153 minutes all season in the league - and, only cup defeats to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup and Liverpool in the Champions League prevented this them from achieving something truly glorious. It is undoubtedly the case, though, that this team can achieve even more next year - perhaps it has been in their interests to leave us wanting more.

(2) MANCHESTER UNITED W25 D6 L7 F68 A28 +40 Pts 81
Manager José Mourinho (since May 2016)
FA Cup Runners-up League Cup Quarter finals Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Romelu Lukaku (16) Clean sheets 19 Failed to score 8
Runners-up in the league, runners-up in the FA Cup, and tactically abysmal in Europe when trying to steal their last 16 tie from under the noses of Sevilla. Yes, it hardly needs saying that this was not a particularly fun season for José Mourinho or Manchester United. In fairness, as frontrunners, the Red Devils continued to provide the stiffest of tests for their opponents - and, in fact, they won all 21 league games in which they scored first. But, despite being able to call upon the likes of Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford and Alexis Sanchez, the same Man United struggled to open up teams who were content to match Mourinho's cautious approach. Ironically, the best day of the season for the Portuguese manager came in an extraordinary 3-2 comeback victory over crosstown rivals Manchester City, a result which delayed the Blues' title celebrations. But the fact that Man City instead won the championship on the following weekend due to Man United's failure to beat bottom-placed West Brom at home could not have better summed up another frustrating campaign at Old Trafford.

(3) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR W23 D8 L7 F74 A36 +38 Pts 77
Manager Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2014)
FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Fourth round Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Harry Kane (30) Clean sheets 16 Failed to score 4
Tottenham Hotspur came, saw, but unsurprisingly did not conquer. It is now over 10 years since Spurs last won a trophy - the 2008 League Cup - and, though they have threatened ever since to win something under Mauricio Pochettino, they have never delivered. This season, for instance, Spurs were a distant third place in the league and never properly in the race after a poor autumn. In the FA Cup, they lost to a Manchester United team in the semi finals who were there for taking - and in the Champions League, they lost to a Juventus team which was also beatable. On the positive side, this is the first time Spurs had finished in the top three of the English league in three consecutive seasons since the 1960s - but a lack of trophies has undoubtedly left fans frustrated. After all, Argentine manager Pochettino must surely turn Harry Kane's outstanding goal return into some sort of tangible trophy-lifting sooner rather than later.

(4) LIVERPOOL W21 D12 L5 F84 A38 +46 Pts 75
Manager Jürgen Klopp (since October 2015)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round Champions League Runners-up
Top scorer Mohamed Salah (32) Clean sheets 17 Failed to score 7
For Liverpool in Kiev, the dream of a sixth European Cup turned into a nightmare. On a balmy night in Ukraine, the Reds best chance of winning on their seventh final appearance felt like it disappeared when top scorer Egyptian king Mo Salah went off injured on 31 minutes after a falling under a challenge by Sergio Ramos - and then it got worse just after half time as hapless goalkeeper Loris Karius literally handed the opening goal to Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema. Senegal striker Saido Mane quickly evened things up - but, in Gareth Bale, Real always had something extra up their sleeve. Welshman Bale scored perhaps the best goal ever in European Cup final history with a bicycle kick before sealing a third successive Champions League title with a 40-yard pot-shot which Karius could only palm into the net. Crestfallen Karius could not be consoled at full time - and, despite Liverpool having consolidated their position in the top four this season, another big summer awaits Anfield after yet another campaign without silverware.

(5) CHELSEA W21 D7 L10 F62 A38 +24 Pts 70
Manager Antonio Conte (since July 2016)
FA Cup Winners League Cup Semi finals Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Eden Hazard (12) Clean sheets 16 Failed to score 8

For Chelsea, this was a second lame title defence in three years as early season defeats to Burnley, Manchester City, and Crystal Palace left the  London club with next to no chance of defending their crown. From then, matters only deteriorated even further as, in interviews, Italian manager Antonio Conte did not even try to hide his dissatisfaction at what he considered to be a lack of backing from the boardroom. Naturally, the turmoil affected matters on the pitch - the Blues lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth and 4-1 at Watford amid a run of five league defeats in seven. The sequence left Chelsea in fifth place and out of the Champions League places - and, despite four wins in a row, they failed to push their way back in. Conte defiantly claimed the FA Cup Final win against Manchester United proved he was a natural-born winner. Following the last few tumultuous months, however, it really is a surprise he remains at Stamford Bridge, at least at the time of this writing.

(6) ARSENAL W19 D6 L13 F74 A51 +23 Pts 63
Manager Arsène Wenger
FA Cup Third round League Cup Runners-up Europa League Semi finals
Top scorer Alexandre Lacazette (14) Clean sheets 13 Failed to score 6

So farewell then Arsène Wenger - but sadly this was not a fairytale departure for the legendary Frenchman. The Gunners' sixth place is their lowest finish in their 22 years under Wenger and their last chance of any silverware this year was extinguished by a superior Atletico Madrid side in the Europa League semi finals. In fairness, Wenger did say adieu to the Emirates in style as a scintillating Arsenal performance crushed closest rivals Burnley in his final home league game. Then again, home form was never the problem in spite of the increasing number of empty seats - only Manchester City picked up more points on their own turf. Performances on the road, however, were another matter - and Arsenal were, in fact, the last team in England to pick up an away league win in 2018. New man Unai Emery has made all of the right noises on his arrival but the Spaniard will need to be at his inspirational best to make this team consistently competitive again. 

(7) BURNLEY W14 D12 L12 F36 A39 -3 Pts 54
Manager Sean Dyche (since October 2012)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Chris Wood (10) Clean sheets 12 Failed to score 13
Burnley qualified for Europe for the first time since 1967 following a totally unexpected but fully deserved seventh placed finish. A seemingly difficult summer saw the departure of Michael Keane to Everton and Andre Gray to Watford, and then in early September, goalkeeper Tom Heaton suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. The Clarets, to their huge credit, missed none of them. Nick Pope stepped in between the sticks with such impressive form that he has made it into the England squad for the World Cup, and defender James Tarkowski is on a stand-by for the same squad having marshalled the backline superbly. Club record signing Chris Wood chipped in with 10 goals, meanwhile, and earned his side no fewer than 12 points with his contribution - but this was a fine all-round effort from Sean Dyche's men who will certainly not be written off so quickly again in the future.

(8) EVERTON W13 D10 L15 F44 A58 -14 Pts 49
Managers Ronald Koeman (until 23 October), Sam Allardyce (from 30 November)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round Europa League Group stage
Top scorer Wayne Rooney (10) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 11
Everton have been in a mess for the last 12 months, acting like a club without any sense of direction. Last summer, Ronald Koeman splurged the £75m which he received from the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United on defender Michael Keane from Burnley, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland, and attacking midfielders Davy Klaassen and Gylfi Sigurðsson. However, the transfer activity left the squad horribly unbalanced, and young striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left filling a Lukaku-sized hole up front. Koeman could not survive - and, by the end of October, he was out, seemingly to be replaced by Watford manager Marco Silva who was courted openly by the Merseysiders. The Hornets, however, immediately blocked the move - and, after Everton's options shortened, they turned reluctantly to Sam Allardyce. In truth, the Toffees were hardly in any genuine danger of relegation - their first game under Allardyce, a 2-0 home victory over Huddersfield Town, lifted them up to 10th. Eventually, the Merseysiders finished in the even more comfortable position of eighth - but most of the fans at Goodison recognised they had achieved the position in spite of playing an awful style of football, and Allardyce was unsurprisingly dumped at the end of the campaign. Oddly enough, Silva - now relieved of his duties at Watford - is expected to be the replacement.

(9) LEICESTER CITY W12 D11 L15 F56 A60 -4 Pts 47
Managers Craig Shakespeare (until 17 October), Claude Puel (from 25 October)
FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorer Jamie Vardy (20) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 8
The shock 2016 champions returned to the top half after a one-season absence as Jamie Vardy became the first Leicester City striker since Gary Lineker to score 20+ goals in two separate top flight campaigns for the Foxes. As ever, Vardy was indebted to playmaker Riyad Mahrez for many of his chances - and, indeed, the pair were statistically the best combination in the division. Nevertheless, this was an irritatingly inconsistent campaign by the east Midlanders. Craig Shakespeare paid the price for a slow start - and, while there was early improvement under replacement Claude Puel, it did not last. Leicester lost five out of their last seven games, conceding 13 goals, as they eventually settled into ninth place. Mid-table mediocrity, however, is unlikely to satisfy the likes of Mahrez or Vardy - and, if he stays, Frenchman Puel now has a big job on his hands to keep this squad together going into the next season.

(10) NEWCASTLE UNITED W12 D8 L18 F39 A47 -8 Pts 44
Manager Rafael Benítez (since March 2016)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round
Top scorer Ayoze Pérez (8) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 14
Rafael Benitez turned Newcastle United into a quietly competent side, with an unexpectedly solid defence, as the Magpies deservedly took a top half place on their first season back in the top flight. This was, indeed, Newcastle's first visit to the top 10 since 2013-14 under Alan Pardew but, by no means, was this a comfortable ride. As a long winter came howling in, the Magpies took just one point out of a possible 27 - and, from that point until March, the bottom three were an immediate threat. Nevertheless, a 3-0 home win against Southampton eased worries massively and prompted a season-best four-match winning run. And so, while a disappointing slump of successive losses followed, there were no concerns at all ahead of a final day 3-0 beating of outgoing champions Chelsea. Now, of course, attention switches back to owner Mike Ashley in the boardroom at St James Park, as Tyneside waits with baited breath to find out if their best manager in years will be in any way backed in the transfer market.

(11) CRYSTAL PALACE W11 D11 L16 F45 A55 -10 Pts 44
Managers Frank de Boer (until 11 September), Roy Hodgson (from 12 September)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round
Top scorer Luka Milivojević (10) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 14
Palace scored their first Premier League goal on 14 October. Aptly, it was an own goal but they then scored another for a remarkable 2-1 win over defending champions Chelsea. Those three points were the Eagles' first of the campaign after a run of seven successive losses, which also featured a goal drought of 731 minutes. The statistics verged on the embarrassing - and, even early on, Palace looked like an obvious candidate for the drop. Yet they then appointed a battle-scarred Roy Hodgson to save their season. In the circumstances, Hodgson did an excellent job, and has recovered his own reputation as a manager following the debacle as England boss against Iceland at Euro 2016. In fact, since the start of October, only the top six have taken more points per game than Palace - and only seven teams have scored more times than one which failed to score in any of its first seven matches of the season. For the record, Palace eventually finished 11th, 11 points clear of the bottom three - a genuinely remarkable position considering their start.

(12) AFC BOURNEMOUTH W11 D11 L16 F45 A61 -16 Pts 44
Manager Eddie Howe (since October 2012)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorer Callum Wilson (8) Clean sheets 6 Failed to score 12

There was no top half finish for Bournemouth this season but this still modest club should hardly be judged by that standard. Instead, Eddie Howe deserves credit for securing a fourth successive top flight campaign at Dean Court, and having done so without having suffered anywhere near the same sort of stress as south coast rivals Southampton. That said, this season was not without its difficult moments for the Cherries who, in fact, fell behind in more Premier League matches (27) than any other side. On the other hand, though, Bouremouth also recovered the most points (21) from a losing position. Such statistics should perhaps come as no surprise given Howe's well-renowned open style of play - but, for now, at least, Bournemouth have shown they possess enough firepower to counter the threat.

(13) WEST HAM UNITED W10 D12 L16 F48 A68 -20 Pts 42
Managers Slaven Bilić (until 6 November), David Moyes (from 7 November)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorer Marko Arnautović (11) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 9

West Ham United have clearly still not fallen in love with the London Stadium. The 2017 World Athletics Championships in August left the Hammers without a home game until after the first international break - and so they opened with three away defeats, conceding 10 goals. The malaise continued deep into the autumn, and a heavy 4-1 home defeat against Liverpool - perhaps mercifully - brought the curtain down on the era of fan-favourite Slaven Bilić. Replacement David Moyes steadied an ailing vessel after his own poor start - but his limited expectations meant he never curried favour with an understandably frustrated set of supporters. Instead, former Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini has taken the job - but, before he achieves anything, the Chilean must instill some discipline into a defence which conceded an eye-watering 42 away goals last season - only Stoke City conceded more on the road.

(14) WATFORD W11 D8 L16 F44 A64 - 20 Pts 41
Managers Marco Silva (until 21 January), Javi Gracia (from 21 January)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round
Top scorer Abdoulaye Doucoure (7) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 14

Watford finished in 14th place, their lowest position all season - a sign that at least they got the hard work done early. Indeed, the Hornets secured a third consecutive season of top flight football - their best run since the 1980s - with six wins in their opening 13 games. From that point onwards, though, it started to go wrong. Marco Silva, with a decent record behind him at Hull City as well as at Vicarage Road, had his head turned by the vacant position at Everton - and Watford then took four points out of the next 27. Silva was sacked and, on the same day, another little-heard-of manager Javi Gracia took charge. Spaniard Gracia ensured safety with 10 points in his first five matches, including a 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea - but his subsequent sequence of only five points from the last nine games has left genuine questions over his overall quality.

(15) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION W9 D13 L16 F34 A54 -20 Pts 40
Manager Chris Hughton (since December 2014)
FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Third round
Top scorer Glenn Murray (12) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 17
Brighton & Hove Albion stayed up in their first top flight season since 1982-83 and commendably hit the magic 40 points mark. Without doubt, though, the Seagulls are home birds. Chris Hughton's men scored only seven away league goals all season and took just 11 points - and their only two away wins came in a two-week period in the autumn. Thankfully for them, though, their home form was far better - and it was no surprise that they reached their safety target at the Amex Stadium. Perhaps it was a surprise that Premier League status was secured in a match against Manchester United but such victories can only serve to encourage even better results from the likeable Hughton and his squad in 2018-19.

(16) HUDDERSFIELD TOWN W9 D10 L19 F28 A58 -30 Pts 37
Manager David Wagner (since November 2015)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Steve Mounié (7) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 21
Once again, Huddersfield Town massively defied the odds as they stayed up in their first season of top flight football since 1971-72 with a game to spare. Last year, the Terriers became the first team to be promoted to the highest level of English football in spite of holding a negative goal difference. And now, this season, David Wagner's men have survived despite scoring a paltry total of 28 goals having failed to find the net in 21 of their 38 matches. Of course, away draws at Manchester City and Chelsea inside the final week of the campaign underlined the fine job which Wagner's has done. However, the west Yorkshire club simply cannot sit back and expect to be able to rely on yet another season of statistical improbability happening again in 2018-19.

(17) SOUTHAMPTON W7 D15 L16 F37 A56 -19 Pts 36
Managers Mauricio Pellegrino (until 12 March), Mark Hughes (from 14 March)
FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Second round
Top scorer Charlie Austin (7) Clean sheets 8 Failed to score 14

Southampton scraped their way somewhat fortunately to safety after securing only seven league wins all season. The Saints - who had finished in the top eight in each of their previous four campaigns - did not appear to be in too much bother in the opening months, and in fact a 4-1 home win over Everton in late November sent them into the top half. Astonishingly, though, the south coast club then won only one of their next 21 matches. Before the end of that run, former Saints forward Mark Hughes had replaced Mauricio Pellegrino as manager - and Hughes himself similarly struggled at first to seal a leaky defence. Fortunately for Southampton, their form returned just in time, as wins against Bournemouth and at Swansea kept the bottom three at arm's length. Hughes has now signed a three-year contract at St Mary's and he will be dearly hoping to reintroduce some spark into the Saints' often tepid performances.

(18) SWANSEA CITY W8 D9 L21 F28 A56 -28 Pts 33
Managers Paul Clement (until 20 December), Carlos Carvalhal (from 28 December)
FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Fourth round
Top scorer Jordan Ayew (6) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 18

The relegation of Swansea City felt as if it became inevitable as soon as a they started messing around at the top. Indeed, the trouble for the Swans can be traced as far back at least as last season when their saviour from the 2015-16 campaign Francesco Guidolin was replaced by the hopeless Bob Bradley. The American lasted just 11 games before Paul Clement steered the South Wales club to safety. Clement, however, could not maintain Swansea's form into the new season and he left with Swansea in bottom place just before Christmas. New manager Carlos Carvalhal inspired a short-term improvement but the form failed to last and the return of Andre Ayew in January from West Ham United turned into a goalless disaster. Ultimately, the Swans picked up 14 fewer points in Carvalhal's final nine games in charge (3) compared with his first nine matches (17). However, to be fair to him, the club had badly lost its way long before the involvement of the Portuguese.

(19) STOKE CITY W7 D12 L19 F35 A68 -33 Pts 33
Managers Mark Hughes (until 6 January), Paul Lambert (from 16 January)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Xherdan Shaqiri (8) Clean sheets 6 Failed to score 13

Stoke City meekly surrendered their top-flight status after nine years following a series of terrible recruitment decisions on and off the pitch. On-loan Spanish striker Jesé was the biggest flop - and, though it became increasingly difficult to make a case for manager Mark Hughes to stay, Paul Lambert was clearly never going to be the answer to the Potters problems. Surprisingly, this was the first relegation actually suffered by Lambert as a manager. However, his unconvincing periods in charge of Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, and Wolverhampton Wanderers should have been enough warning to ward off any Stoke advances. Indeed, the Scotsman delivered just 13 points in his 15 games, and new appointment Gary Rowett now has a huge job on his hands to overhaul a squad of players largely well past their sell-by date.

(20) WEST BROMWICH ALBION W6 D13 L19 F31 A56 -25 Pts 31
Managers Tony Pulis (until 20 November), Alan Pardew (until 2 April), Darren Moore
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round
Top scorers Jay Rodriguez, Salomón Rondón (7) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 13

The Hawthorns will forever wonder what might have been. Perhaps another great Premier League escape would not have been beyond West Brom if one-man managerial disaster zone Alan Pardew had been ditched a bit earlier. Despite the best efforts of Darren Moore, though, the Baggies had left it far too late. Remarkably, Moore as a caretaker gained more points (11) in his five games than Tony Pulis (10) in his 12 games or Pardew (8) in 18, and he has now deservedly been awarded with the role permanently. A tough rebuilding job awaits but his fine late season run will give some much-needed confidence to him - and to the club as a whole.

⚽️

ROLL OF HONOUR 2017-18

ENGLAND

Premier League

Champions	Manchester City
Runners-up	Manchester United
Champions League	Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool
Europa League	Chelsea, Arsenal, Burnley
Relegation	Swansea City, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion

Championship

Champions	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Runners-up	Cardiff City
Playoff winners	Fulham (won 1-0 v Aston Villa)
Relegation	Barnsley, Burton Albion, Sunderland

League One

Champions	Wigan Athletic
Runners-up	Blackburn Rovers
Playoff winners	Rotherham United (won 2-1 v Shrewsbury Town, after extra time)
Relegation	Oldham Athletic, Northampton Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Bury

League Two

Champions	Accrington Stanley
Runners-up	Luton Town
Also promoted	Wycombe Wanderers
Playoff winners	Coventry City (won 3-1 v Exeter City)
Relegation	Barnet, Chesterfield

National League Premier

Champions	Macclesfield Town
Playoff winners	Tranmere Rovers (won 2-1 v Boreham Wood)
Relegation	Woking, Torquay United, Chester FC, Guiseley

National League North

Champions	Salford City
Playoff winners	Harrogate Town (won 3-0 v Brackley Town)
Relegation	Gainsborough Trinity, Tamworth, North Ferriby United

National League South

Champions	Havant & Waterlooville
Playoff winners	Braintree Town (won 4-3 on pens v Hampton & Richmond Borough, after 1-1 aet)
Relegation	Poole Town, Whitehawk, Bognor Regis Town

Domestic Cup Finals

FA Cup Final	Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United
League Cup Final	Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal
FA Community Shield	Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties.
EFL Trophy	Lincoln City 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
FA Trophy	Brackley Town 1-1 Bromley, aet. Brackley Town won 5-4 on penalties.
FA Vase	Thatcham Town 1-0 Stockton Town

SCOTLAND

Premiership

Champions	Celtic
Runners-up	Aberdeen
Europa League	Aberdeen (runners-up), Rangers (third place), Hibernian (fourth place)
Relegation	Partick Thistle, Ross County

Championship

Champions	St Mirren
Runners-up	Livingston
Playoff winners	Livingston (won 3-1 on agg v Partick Thistle (2-1h, 1-0a))
Relegation	Dumbarton, Brechin City

League One

Champions	Ayr United
Runners-up	Raith Rovers (not promoted)
Playoff winners	Alloa Athletic (won 2-1 on agg v Dumbarton (0-1h, 2-0a aet))
Relegation	Queen's Park, Albion Rovers

League Two

Champions	Montrose
Runners-up	Peterhead (not promoted)
Playoff winners	Stenhousemuir (won 2-1 on agg v Peterhead (2-0h, 0-1a))

Domestic Cup Finals

FA Cup Final	Celtic 2-0 Motherwell
League Cup Final	Celtic 2-0 Motherwell
Challenge Cup Final	Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 Dumbarton

WALES

Welsh Premier League

Champions	The New Saints
Europa League	Connah's Quay Nomads (third place), Bala Town (fourth place), Cefn Druids (playoff winners)
Relegation	Bangor City, Prestatyn Town

Welsh Cup Finals

FA Cup Final	Connah's Quay Nomads 4-1 Aberystwyth
League Cup Final	The New Saints 1-0 Cardiff Metropolitan University

NORTHERN IRELAND

Irish Premiership

Champions	Crusaders
Europa League	Coleraine (runners-up), Glenavon (third place), Cliftonville (playoff winners)
Relegation	Carrick Rangers, Ballinamallard United

Irish Cup Finals

IFA Cup Final	Coleraine 3-1 Cliftonville
League Cup Final	Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Ballymena United

EUROPE

UEFA Finals

Champions League	Real Madrid (Spa) 3-1 Liverpool (Eng)
Europa League	Atletico Madrid (Spa) 3-0 Marseille (Fra)
Super Cup	Real Madrid (Spa) 2-1 Manchester United (Eng)

Major European league champions

Spain	Barcelona
Italy	Juventus
Germany	Bayern Munich
France	Paris Saint-Germain
Portugal	Porto
Netherlands	PSV Eindhoven
Belgium	Club Brugge
Greece	AEK Athens
Turkey	Galatasaray

Slick Man City net century of goals

	Premier League	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
C	Manchester City	35	30	3	2	102	26	+76	93
2	Manchester United	35	24	5	6	67	27	+40	77
3	Liverpool	36	20	12	4	80	37	+43	72
4	Tottenham Hotspur	34	20	8	6	66	31	+35	68
5	Chelsea	35	20	6	9	60	34	+26	66
6	Arsenal	35	17	6	12	67	48	+19	57
7	Burnley	36	14	12	10	35	32	+3	54
8	Everton	36	13	9	14	42	54	-12	48

All final day fixtures begin at 3pm on Sunday 13th May

CHAMPIONS Manchester City equalled the Premier League record for goals scored in a season as they racked up their 30th win of an outstanding campaign.

The Blues won 4-1 against struggling West Ham United at the London Stadium yesterday to bring up their century of strikes with three games still left to play.

Pep Guardiola's men had already been crowned champions a week earlier when cross-town rivals Manchester United lost 1-0 at home against bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion.

It was hardly a glorious way for Man City to win their third Premier League and fifth English title overall.

Indeed, the best chance of unsurpassable glory came and went at the start of April when Man City unfathomably blew a dominant 2-0 half time lead to lose 3-2 to Jose Mourinho's Red Devils.

Man City also went out of the Champions League to Liverpool in the same week - but, since then, they have recovered their scoring touch and their sheer weight of goals makes them the most clear-cut title winners in many years.

Man United - who are in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea - look set to take the runners-up spot following Marouane Fellaini's stoppage time winner against Arsenal yesterday.

But the final two Champions League places are undecided as of yet.

Liverpool, in third place on 72 points, are in pole position for one of them having remained unbeaten at Anfield all season.

The Reds' 0-0 home draw against Stoke City suggested they may have other things on their mind, though.

After all, Jurgen Klopp's side - having beaten Man City in their all-English quarter final - travel to Roma in the semi finals this week with another three-goal lead to defend. An eighth European Cup final is theirs for the taking.

Of course, trophies have once again eluded Tottenham Hotspur this season - and fourth-placed Spurs must now be careful of being caught in the final Champions League place by a resurgent Chelsea.

Antonio Conte's displaced champions have won their last three games and belatedly look a threat - following their highly disappointing defence of the title.

At least Spurs can console themselves that they are guaranteed to finish above north London rivals Arsenal for a second year in a row.

Indeed, it came as no surprise when Arsene Wenger - amid growing discontent at the Gunners' away form - announced his intention to quit his post in the summer after a stunning 22 years at the club.

Defeat at Old Trafford was the Londoners' sixth away reverse in a row - and Arsenal are, in fact, the only club in the English league to fail to pick up a point on the road in 2018.

Yet, remarkably, Wenger's reign could still end in glorious fashion with victory in the Europa Cup final - and qualification for Champions League.

First, though, Arsenal will need to get past Atletico Madrid in the semi finals by repairing the damage of a disappointing 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Emirates. It looks to be a tough ask.

Meanwhile, at Turf Moor, European nights also look set to be on the menu for the first time since 1967 as Burnley pretty much sealed seventh place with a 0-0 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The point keeps the Clarets six points clear of Everton - and the Lancastrians' superior goal difference makes it highly unlikely that the eighth-placed Toffees can catch Sean Dyche's men.

The point is also likely to keep Brighton in the top flight ahead of their tough run-in as West Ham, Huddersfield Town, and Swansea City currently lie in more danger just above the drop zone.

West Ham, in 15th on 35 points, are just three clear of Southampton in 18th after consecutive 4-1 defeats have left them with the leakiest defensive record in the division.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield - also on 35 points - have won just three times in 2018 as they aim to stay up in their first top-flight season since 1971-72.

Unfortunately for David Wagner's Terriers, they face Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal in their last three games - and so there does not appear to be much opportunity for the west Yorkshire club to top up their points total.

By contrast, Carlos Carvalhal's Swansea can be more hopeful - despite them sitting 17th after a run of just one win in eight.

After all, the Swans' remaining fixtures include home games against the two sides - Southampton and Stoke - who are immediately below them.

Naturally, those matches will be looked upon as big opportunities by the Saints and the Potters as well.

But Stoke know that, to get out of trouble, they will need at least four points - and probably all six - from their last two games because of their dreadful goal difference.

For West Brom, rock bottom since the end of January, the scenario is even simpler - only six points will do.

Even then the Baggies are reliant on a silly number of results somehow working in their favour - and all of this comes in spite of a decent late run under caretaker manager Darren Moore.

Two wins and two draws - including a victory at Old Trafford - have sent eight points to the Hawthorns since the start of April.

Unfortunately, the upsurge has also left fans wondering just what might have been if one-man managerial disaster Alan Pardew had been jettisoned sooner.

14	Brighton & Hove Albion	35	8	13	14	32	47	-15	37
15	West Ham United	35	8	11	16	43	67	-24	35
16	Huddersfield Town	35	9	8	18	27	56	-29	35
17	Swansea City	35	8	9	18	27	52	-25	33
18	Southampton	35	6	14	15	35	54	-19	32
19	Stoke City	36	6	12	18	32	65	-33	30
20	West Bromwich Albion	36	5	13	18	30	54	-26	28

⚽

	Championship	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
C	Wolverhampton Wanderers	45	30	9	6	82	36	+46	99
2	Cardiff City	45	27	8	10	69	39	+30	89
3	Fulham	45	25	13	7	78	43	+35	88
4	Aston Villa	45	24	11	10	72	41	+31	83
5	Middlesbrough	45	22	9	14	65	43	+22	75
6	Derby County	45	19	15	11	66	47	+19	72
7	Preston North End	45	18	16	11	55	45	+10	70
8	Millwall	45	18	15	12	55	45	+10	69

All final day fixtures begin at 12.30pm on Sunday 6th May

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS turned on the style last Saturday as they beat struggling Bolton Wanderers 4-0 to seal the Championship title.

The Old Gold had already been promoted a week earlier when third-placed Fulham failed to beat Brentford.

And their only remaining aim now is to see whether they can top the 100 points mark in their final match against already-relegated Sunderland.

For Cardiff City and Fulham, however, the last day on Sunday promises to be a far more tension-filled affair.

The Cottagers have produced an extraordinary unbeaten run of 23 games to put behind their customary early season slumbers and rise from 17th in November to third place.

By contrast, the Bluebirds started brilliantly, winning their opening five games and losing just three times prior to the weekend before Christmas.

Since then, the pressure on Neil Warnock's unfancied side has told at times - but three wins out of the last four have kept the Welsh club's noses in front ahead of the final day.

Cardiff face Reading at home while Fulham travel to Birmingham City - and notably both of the promotion candidates' opponents have their own concerns at the other end of the table.

Aston Villa, in fourth, and Middlesbrough, in fifth, have already confirmed their places in the playoffs - but that will come as a disappointment in some ways for Villa considering their run of seven successive wins in the New Year.

Inconsistency either side of that sequence has prevented Steve Bruce's side from mounting a more serious challenge on the automatic promotion places, and a similar failure to string results together could also cost Boro.

At least, Villa and Boro already know that they have extra fixtures to fulfill.

Derby County remain on tenterhooks, as usual, ahead of their final game at home to Barnsley - for defeat could let in Preston North End if the Lilywhites win at home against Burton Albion.

Once again, both of these contenders' opponents have their own issues to sort out in an almighty scramble to avoid the two remaining relegation places.

Reading and Birmingham appear to be in easily the best positions as both effectively need just a point due to Burton's horrendous goal difference.

Unfortunately for them, though, they play the two automatic promotion contenders Cardiff and Fulham respectively.

Instead, Barnsley are first in line to be caught - the Tykes are currently outside the bottom three only on goal difference and, as mentioned, face playoff chasing Derby on the last day.

Not that it will be any easier for Burton away at Preston - though at least the Brewers can point to an extraordinary turnaround in recent form.

Three wins on the spin - including two against rivals Sunderland and Bolton - have provided genuine hope of this Championship odyssey earning a third chapter.

For Bolton, however, hope is receding fast. Defeat at Burton was the Trotters' sixth in their last seven matches and their poor goal difference means only a win against Nottingham Forest will be good enough.

Whatever happens on Sunday, one thing is certain - Sunderland are down and finishing rock bottom, having become only the third team in history to finish bottom of the top two tiers in successive seasons.

Of course, the Black Cats have been in the third tier before - for one season in 1987-88.

But, despite a backdrop of dwindling attendance, this has been an unexpected demise for many at a club whose players remain on Premier League wages.

The Mackems indeed only have themselves to blame having previously thrown bad money after worse in an attempt to stay on the top flight gravy train. They even resorted to playing a known child sex offender in their desperation to stay up.

Yesterday, former Wales boss Chris Coleman was the latest manager to depart from the pit of misery on Wearside with his reputation tarnished.

Coleman's departure came as American owner Ellis Short finally sold the club to Eastleigh chairman Stewart Donald.

And, indeed, it could well be that this ailing club has finally bottomed out.

Debt-free, Sunderland will be hoping to start afresh under new ownership and with a new manager and a more committed set of players. One thing for sure, though, is that it is a long way back. 

19	Reading	45	10	13	22	48	70	-22	43
20	Birmingham City	45	12	7	26	35	67	-32	43
21	Barnsley	45	9	14	22	47	68	-21	41
22	Burton Albion	45	10	11	24	37	79	-42	41
23	Bolton Wanderers	45	9	13	23	36	72	-36	40
R	Sunderland	45	6	16	23	49	80	-31	34

⚽

	League One	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
P	Wigan Athletic	45	28	11	6	88	29	+59	95
P	Blackburn Rovers	45	27	12	6	80	39	+41	93
3	Shrewsbury Town	45	25	12	8	60	38	+22	87
4	Rotherham United	45	23	7	15	72	53	+19	76
5	Charlton Athletic	45	20	11	14	58	50	+8	71
6	Scunthorpe United	44	18	16	10	62	49	+13	70
7	Plymouth Argyle	44	19	11	14	56	52	+4	68

All final day fixtures begin at 5.30pm on Saturday 5th May

WIGAN ATHLETIC and Blackburn Rovers will battle it out for the League One title with both clubs having already sealed an immediate return to the Championship.

The Latics won promotion on 21 April after their 4-0 thumping of Fleetwood Town made it a remarkable fifth end-of-season change of division in the last six years.

Meanwhile, Rovers' return to the second tier was confirmed three days later in a 1-0 midweek win at Doncaster Rovers.

At the weekend, both clubs surprisingly failed to win. Wigan may have felt they had messed up by only taking a point at home to AFC Wimbledon - but Blackburn suffered just their sixth defeat of the season at playoff chasers Charlton Athletic.

Wigan, now with a two-point advantage and better goal difference, travel to Doncaster on the final day effectively in need of just a single point for the title.

Blackburn, however, should take advantage of any slip ups at home to mid-table Oxford United.

Of course, for much of the season, there was a three-horse race at the top of the division - but inconsistent form since March has left long-time leaders Shrewsbury Town out of the running.

Nevetherless, this has still been an excellent campaign for the Shropshire club - and they could yet reach the second tier for the first time since 1989 through the playoffs.

Fourth-placed Rotherham United have also already confirmed their place in the top six, something which represents a decent recovery by Paul Warne's men following their own tough relegation last year.

However, the last two playoff places remain up for grabs. Charlton - currently in fifth - did their chances the world of good with that win over Blackburn and the Addicks probably need just a point at Rochdale to be sure.

After all, Lee Bowyer's men can only benefit from the fact that their two closest rivals Scunthorpe United and Plymouth Argyle actually face each other in a vital clash on Tuesday.

At the bottom, Bury have long been consigned to their fate, becoming the team in the top four divisions to go down after their 3-2 home defeat by Northampton Town on 14 April.

The Cobblers followed up that result with an impressive victory against Plymouth - but defeat on Saturday at Walsall has left them three points adrift heading into the final day.

Northampton have the worst defence and by far the worst goal difference in the division - and therefore only hold a technical chance of retaining League One status.

But not even that applies to controversial Buckinghamshire side Milton Keynes Dons who return to the basement league for the first time in 10 years following a sixth successive defeat.

Effectively then, there is just one more place left to be decided - and Rochdale, who have now used up a series of games in hand, suffered a highly damaging defeat on Saturday at Oxford to drop into the bottom four.

The Dale replaced Oldham Athletic in the relegation places after the Latics secured a 0-0 draw against Doncaster.

Oldham, looking to secure a 22nd consecutive season at the third level of English football, travel to Northampton on the final day - and, while Rochdale are at home, their task against in-form Charlton appears much tougher.

AFC Wimbledon and Walsall are not yet mathematically safe - but both could secure their League One status on Tuesday in their games in hand against Bradford City and Doncaster respectively.

As such, it seems certain that the real scramble to survive will be between the two Greater Manchester clubs below them.

18	Walsall	44	13	12	19	52	63	-11	51
19	AFC Wimbledon	44	13	12	19	45	56	-11	51
20	Oldham Athletic	45	11	16	18	56	73	-17	49
21	Rochdale	45	10	18	17	48	57	-9	48
22	Northampton Town	45	12	10	23	41	75	-43	46
R	Milton Keynes Dons	45	10	12	23	42	69	-27	42
R	Bury	45	8	11	26	39	69	-30	32

⚽

	League Two	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
C	Accrington Stanley	45	29	6	10	76	43	+33	93
P	Luton Town	45	25	12	8	94	46	+48	87
P	Wycombe Wanderers	45	23	12	10	78	60	+18	81
4	Exeter City	45	23	8	14	63	54	+9	77
5	Notts County	45	21	13	11	71	48	+23	76
6	Coventry City	45	22	8	15	64	47	+17	74
7	Lincoln City	45	20	14	11	63	47	+16	74
8	Mansfield Town	45	18	17	10	66	51	+15	71

All final day fixtures begin at 3pm on Saturday 5 May

ACCRINGTON STANLEY achieved their first ever promotion to the third tier of English football - and sealed the League Two title on Saturday with a 1-0 win over playoff contenders Lincoln City.

Stanley - once derided in a 1980s milk advert - only returned to the Football League in 2006 following the collapse of the original league club in the 1960s.

But every club deserves a day in the sun - and the Lancastrians certainly got theirs when Jordan Clark scrambled the winner in front of a record 4,753 fans at the Crown Ground.

Free-scoring Luton Town also comfortably gained promotion, scoring four or more goals on no fewer than seven occasions across the season.

The Hatters had to settle for three on Saturday against Forest Green Rovers but that was still enough to secure the runners-up spot, as all of automatic promotion places were decided ahead of the final day.

Wycombe Wanderers took the third spot as their 2-1 win over relegated Chesterfield and a shock defeat for Exeter City at Stevenage combined to leave the Chairboys four points clear.

Exeter remain in fourth place - and guaranteed of a playoff place - as Notts County also suffered an unexpected defeat at Grimsby Town, a result which secured the Mariners' League Two status.

And so it was left to the biggest club in the division - Coventry City - to produce the performance of the day with a 6-1 thumping of Cheltenham Town.

The Sky Blues' biggest win of the season increased the prospect of the club finishing in the top six of a division for the first time since 1969-70 and notably pushed their goal difference past their playoff rivals.

Lincoln are currently in the lowest playoff spot, level on points with Coventry, as the Imps aim for a second successive promotion having already tasted Wembley success this season in the EFL Trophy Final.

Mansfield Town are the only other club in contention - and the Stags need to beat Crawley and hope either Lincoln or Coventry lose home games against Yeovil or Morecambe respectively.

Interestingly, the Coventry-Morecambe match is also a massive match for the Shrimps following their awful 1-0 defeat at home to Barnet.

Jim Bentley's men started the day five points clear - and could have killed off the Bees' hopes even with just a draw.

But Alex Nicholls's late winner was enough to push Martin Allen's side to within two points of safety.

Furthermore, Barnet's last fixtures comes against rock-bottom Chesterfield who have fallen out of the Football League for the first time since 1921 amid a sequence of four successive defeats.

The Spireites may have a game in hand against mid-table Newport County on Tuesday but the fate of the Midlands' club - a second successive relegation - has already been sealed.

22	Morecambe	45	9	18	18	41	56	-15	45
23	Barnet	45	11	10	24	43	65	-22	43
R	Chesterfield	44	9	8	27	46	80	-34	35

⚽

	National League	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
C	Macclesfield Town	46	27	11	8	67	46	+21	92
2	Tranmere Rovers	46	24	10	12	78	46	+32	82
3	Sutton United	46	23	10	13	67	53	+14	79
4	Boreham Wood	46	20	15	11	64	47	+17	75
5	Aldershot Town	46	20	15	11	64	52	+12	75
6	Ebbsfleet United	46	19	17	10	64	50	+14	74
7	AFC Fylde	46	20	13	13	82	56	+27	73
8	Dover Athletic	46	20	13	13	62	44	+18	73

MACCLESFIELD TOWN returned to the Football League after an absence of six seasons following a 2-0 win away at Eastleigh on 21 April.

The Silkmen had been top of the division since December - and, though Aldershot Town closed to within a point of them in January, the Cheshire club lost just once after that to pull away again.

Wirral club Tranmere Rovers finished in second place - and, along with Sutton United, have qualified automatically for a home playoff semi final.

Before then, though, there will be two one-legged qualifiers between the teams who finished between fourth and seventh.

Boreham Wood host AFC Fylde while Aldershot take on Ebbsfleet United - with Dover Athletic having just missed out in eighth place.

The Whites' final day win over Woking was rendered irrelevant as Fylde played out a 0-0 draw at Wrexham.

However, it would have been harsh on the divisional top scorers Fylde if they had missed out on these revamped playoffs - especially as it is the Coasters' first season at this level.

Ultimately then, the result at the Dover-Woking meant far more to the latter as they were relegated following a six-year stay in the non league top division.

Meanwhile, the fate of Guiseley, fan-owned Chester, and Torquay United had all already been determined in advance of the final day.

Salford City - champions of the National League North - and Havant & Waterlooville - champions of the National League South - are two of teams promoted to replace them.

The other two places will again be decided by playoffs in the respective North and South divisions.

20	Barrow	46	11	16	19	51	63	-12	49
R	Woking	46	13	9	24	55	76	-21	48
R	Torquay United	46	10	12	24	45	73	-28	42
R	Chester FC	46	8	13	25	42	79	-37	37
R	Guiseley	46	7	12	27	44	89	-45	33

⚽

Premier League preview 2017/18: Can Chelsea defend the title successfully?

ARSENAL The Gunners - Emirates Stadium - @Arsenal
Last season 5th ▪️ FA Cup Winners ▪️ League Cup Quarter finals ▪️ Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy FA Cup 2017 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26
Manager Arsène Wenger (since October 1996)
Players In Sead Kolasinac, Alexandre Lacazette
Players Out Yaya Sanogo, Wojciech Szczesny
So, it finally happened. For the first time in 20 years under Arsène Wenger, Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League. Worse still, the Gunners also finished below north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the first time since 1995. That appeared as if it was going to be enough to bring the Wenger era to an end but a customary late rally included a third FA Cup Final win in four seasons, and the Frenchman subsequently signed a two-year extension. For some fans, the damage has already been done and Wenger's position remains untenable. Others are more charitable - but, despite the big money arrival of striker Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon, Arsenal simply lack enough quality overall to become serious title challengers once again.
Prediction: 5th

AFC BOURNEMOUTH The Cherries - Dean Court - @afcbournemouth
Last season 9th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 3
Manager Eddie Howe (since October 2012)
Players In Nathan Ake, Asmir Begovic, Jermain Defoe, Connor Mahoney, Frankie Vincent
Players Out None
This remarkable south coast odyssey continued last season as Bournemouth outscored Manchester United and finished inside the top half of the Premier League. The Cherries remained true to their attack-first style which has served them so well in recent years, and their approach was summed up perfectly by their 4-3 win against Liverpool at Dean Court in December. At the other end of the pitch, things were not so clever as Eddie Howe's men shipped 67 goals for the second season in a row. Experienced goalkeeper Asmir Begovic should help out in this regard while centre back Nathan Ake has now been taken on permanently. Of course, the main focus will still be in attack where - 16 years on from his previous appearance at the club - Jermain Defoe will line up alongside the impressive Joshua King.
Prediction: 11th 

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION The Seagulls - Falmer Stadium - @OfficialBHAFC
Last season 2nd (promoted) ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 1
Manager Chris Hughton (since December 2014)
Players In Paschal Gross, Mathew Ryan, Markus Suttner, Mathias Normann, Steven Alzate, Ales Mateju, Davy Propper, Soufyan Ahannach, Josh Kerr, Izzy Brown
Players Out Chris O'Grady, David Stockdale, Elvis Manu, Rob Hunt
Last season, Brighton reached the top flight for the first time since 1983 with a points total (93) which would have often been enough to win the Championship. Indeed, the Seagulls themselves probably should have won the title - but Chris Hughton's men uncharacteristically took their eye off the ball and, by taking only one point out of their last three games, allowed Newcastle United to steal in. The giveaway tempered the celebrations in East Sussex somewhat and, subsequently, the incomings this summer have done little to allay fears that Brighton simply will not have enough quality up front for the top level. At least, in manager Hughton though, they have someone used to the stresses of battling at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
Prediction: 17th

BURNLEY The Clarets - Turf Moor - @BurnleyOfficial
Last season 16th ▪️ FA Cup Fifth round ▪️ League Cup Second round
Last major trophy First Division 1959-60 ▪️ Premier League seasons 4
Manager Sean Dyche (since October 2012)
Players In Charlie Taylor, Jonathan Walters, Jack Cork, Phil Bardsley, Adam Legzdins
Players Out Joey Barton, Michael Kightly, George Boyd, Michael Keane, Rouwen Hennings, Paul Robinson, Tendayi Darikwa, Andre Gray
Burnley avoided immediate relegation for the first time in the Premier League era last season, mainly on the strength of their form at Turf Moor where they took 33 of their 40 points. By contrast, the Clarets struggled badly on the road, winning just once - at Crystal Palace in April - and, at one stage, lost seven consecutive away games. Yet more travel sickness this season can only result in one outcome as it hardly seems reasonable to expect that such outstanding home form will be maintained, especially following the loss of their best player, Michael Keane, to Everton. Manager Sean Dyche will once again attempt to extract a level of performance from his team which is greater than the sum of its parts - but, even still, this might not be enough.
Prediction: 19th

CHELSEA The Blues - Stamford Bridge - @ChelseaFC
Last season Winners ▪️ FA Cup Runners-up ▪️ League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy Premier League 2016-17 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26
Manager Antonio Conte (since July 2016)
Players In Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Alvaro Morata
Players Out Asmir Begovic, Dominic Solanke, Juan Cuadrado, Christian Atsu, Bertrand Traore, Nathan Ake, John Terry, Nathaniel Chalobah, Nemanja Matic, Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kurt Zouma, Izzy Brown, Kasey Palmer
Chelsea stormed their way to a sixth English league title in May, and a fifth of the Premier League era, with a points total (93) bettered only by themselves in 2004-05. Italian coach Antonio Conte switched to a three-man defence and, with N'Golo Kante offering protection in midfield, the likes of Willian, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses supported Diego Costa as his goals fired the Blues to glory. Unfortunately for Chelsea, Costa now no longer wants to play ball and is holding out for a move elsewhere. Big signing Alvaro Morata has come in from Real Madrid as Costa's replacement - but he may take time to adapt to the league - and the squad as a whole could easily be distracted by the Champions League, which is back on the agenda. So, while Chelsea undoubtedly have the tools to become the first team this decade to defend their title successfully, it is no sure thing.
Prediction: 2nd

CRYSTAL PALACE The Eagles - Selhurst Park - @CPFC
Last season 14th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 9
Manager Frank de Boer (since June 2017)
Players In Jairo Riedewald, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Players Out Kwesi Appiah, Fraizer Campbell, Mathieu Flamini, Zeki Fryers, Joe Ledley, Steve Mandanda
Spot the odd one out: Ian Holloway, Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock, Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce, Frank de Boer. Yes, after half a decade of old-school British bosses in the dugout at Selhurst Park, chairman Steve Parish has opted instead to go Dutch. De Boer arrives having won four league titles in his native Netherlands with Ajax and he will favour a classic possession-based game. Ruben Loftus-Cheek arrives on loan from Chelsea looking to convert his potential into something more - and, with Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend on the wings and Christian Benteke up front, Crystal Palace should not struggle for goals, regardless of their style of play. But de Boer will also need to tighten up a defence which conceded 63 times - which was the most the Eagles' have conceded in a top-flight season since 1997-98.
Prediction: 13th

EVERTON The Toffees - Goodison Park - @Everton
Last season 7th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1995 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26
Manager Ronald Koeman (since June 2016)
Players In Davy Klaassen, Henry Onyekuru, Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Sandro Ramirez, Boris Mathis, Josh Bowler, Wayne Rooney, Cuco Martina
Players Out Romelu Lukaku, Tom Cleverley, Gerard Deulofeu, Arouna Kone, Conor McAleny, Aiden McGeady
Big-spending Everton have splurged more than £100m on seven players - and there could yet be more to come as manager Ronald Koeman sets about moulding his own squad after taking over last summer. The Toffees, nevertheless, remain in the black with significant funds from the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United further augmented by the departures of Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu. The question then that must be asked is if Everton are any closer to breaking into the top six as a result of this busy transfer window - and the answer, unfortunately for them, is probably not. A player like Lukaku is a rare beast indeed, and there will surely be occasions in this coming campaign that the Merseysiders miss his lethal finishing.
Prediction: 8th

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN The Terriers - John Smith's Stadium - @htafcdotcom
Last season 5th (promoted via playoffs) ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup First round
Last major trophy First Division 1925-26 ▪️ Premier League seasons 1 
Manager David Wagner (since November 2015)
Players In Elias Kachunga, Laurent Depoitre, Aaron Mooy, Tom Ince, Danny Williams, Steve Mounie, Scott Malone, Mathias Jorgensen, Jonas Lossl, Kasey Palmer
Players Out Flo Bajaj, Kyle Dempsey, Joe Murphy, Harry Bunn, Mark Hudson
Huddersfield Town created history in May by becoming the first ever team to be promoted to the English top flight with a negative goal difference - and anyone who had the misfortune of watching the playoff final will know that the squad, as it existed then, would need to be hugely improved. A defence - which conceded 58 goals in the Championship - will surely need more reinforcement than it has received to date - but, instead, the signing of winger Tom Ince rather typifies the Terriers' summer business. The jury out on whether the 25-year-old will ever make it at the top level and the same can only be said for Huddersfield as a whole. Of course, it is not unusual for the playoff winners to be tipped to go straight back down - but then these Terriers are probably the biggest Premier League underdogs since Blackpool in 2010-11.
Prediction: 20th

LEICESTER CITY The Foxes - King Power Stadium - @LCFC
Last season 12th ▪️ FA Cup Fifth round ▪️ League Cup Third round ▪️ Champions League Quarter finals
Last major trophy Premier League 2015-16 ▪️ Premier League seasons 12
Manager Craig Shakespeare (since February 2017)
Players In Harry Maguire, Vicente Iborra, Eldin Jakupovic, Kelechi Iheanacho, George Thomas
Players Out Marcin Wasilewski, Ron-Robert Zieler
After a league title win and a Champions League quarter final in the last two seasons, this campaign for Leicester City may seem rather dull by contrast. A steady midtable place should be expected as the Foxes readjust to life in the middle lane following a whirlwind period. Kelechi Iheanacho had a decent goal record at Manchester City, despite his limited opportunity at Eastlands, and his signing should ease the weight off Jamie Vardy's shoulders. Additionally, Harry Maguire and Vicente Iborra will go some way to freshening what turned into a creaky defence, with 63 league goals conceded in 2016-17.
Prediction: 10th

LIVERPOOL The Reds - Anfield - @LFC
Last season 4th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Semi finals
Last major trophy League Cup 2012 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26  
Manager Jürgen Klopp (since October 2015)
Players In Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke, Andrew Robertson
Players Out Andre Wisdom, Lucas Leiva, Kevin Stewart
Liverpool took advantage last season of a lack of midweek football to regain their place in the top four - but now manager Jürgen Klopp must defy a recent trend. Not since 2009 have the Reds finished in the top four in consecutive seasons - they followed their runners-up placing in 2009 with league finishes of 7th, 6th, 8th and 7th. Meanwhile, the runners-up place in 2014 was followed by 6th and 8th-placed finishes before last year. After five trophyless seasons at Anfield, there is also pressure on the German to bring in some sort of silverware - but, with most of their rivals around them having strengthened, Liverpool will have to prioritise once the injuries and suspensions begin to take their toll.
Prediction: 6th 

MANCHESTER CITY The Blues - Etihad Stadium - @ManCity
Last season 3rd ▪️ FA Cup Semi finals ▪️ League Cup Fourth round ▪️ Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy League Cup 2016 ▪️ Premier League seasons 21 
Manager Pep Guardiola (since July 2016)
Players In Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy, Douglas Luiz, Uriel Antuna
Players Out Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas, Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta, Bruno Zuculini, Nolito, Aleksandar Kolarov, Kelechi Iheanacho, Fernando, Aaron Mooy, Joe Hart
Pep Guardiola has sought to rectify the holes in his squad following a disappointing campaign in which Manchester City failed to feature in any finals and finished well off the pace in the title race. The Spanish boss identified the goalkeeping position and his defence as being in need of most repair following costly mistakes at the back throughout 2016-17 - and a £150m outlay on Ederson, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker will surely lead to an improvement, even if the amount splashed on Walker in particular is eye-wateringly high. With attackers Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus backed up by Kevin De Bruyne, an evergreen David Silva, and a maturing Leroy Sane, the Blues appear well-placed to make a full challenge this time.
Prediction: Champions 

MANCHESTER UNITED The Red Devils - Old Trafford - @ManUtd
Last season 6th ▪️ FA Cup Quarter finals ▪️ League Cup Winners ▪️ Europa League Winners
Last major trophy Europa League 2017 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26 
Manager José Mourinho (since May 2016)
Players In Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Victor Lindelof
Players Out Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Josh Harrop, Wayne Rooney, Adnan Januzaj, Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Manchester United made a return to the winners' enclosure last season with victory in the finals of the League Cup and the Europa League. Additionally, the Red Devils' enjoyed an unbeaten league run of 25 games from October to April - but no fewer than 10 draws at home undermined their challenge for the top four, and eventually Mourinho favoured the Europa League route as a way of getting back into the Champions League. This term, the Old Trafford faithful will expect far more from their side in the Premier League - and Mourinho cannot say that he has not been backed. Big signing Romelu Lukaku provides a longer term solution up front than Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the arrival of Nemanja Matic could prove just as important if it allows Paul Pogba to play further forward and with more freedom.
Prediction: 3rd 

NEWCASTLE UNITED The Magpies - St James Park - @NUFC
Last season 1st (promoted) ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Quarter finals
Last major trophy Fairs Cup 1969 ▪️ Premier League seasons 23 
Manager Rafael Benítez (since March 2016)
Players In Christian Atsu, Florian Lejeune, Jacob Murphy, Javier Manquillo, Mikel Merino
Players Out Kevin Mbabu, Lubo Satka, Florian Thauvin, Haris Vuckic, Vurnon Anita, Sammy Ameobi, Yoan Gouffran, Daryl Murphy
The Rafalution at St James Park truly took flight last season as Newcastle United overcame an early wobble and an April wobble to win the league title in dramatic fashion on the final day. The signings of Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie from Premier League clubs were as vital as they were unlikely if Rafael Benítez had decided to leave following relegation at the end of 2015-16 - and the successful Spaniard is understandably the Magpies' most popular manager in years. However, this summer, the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss has expressed his frustration at the club's transfer dealings - and there is undoubtedly a lack of Premier League experience throughout the squad. The belief on Tyneside, though, is that, as long as Benítez remains in the post, he will be able to cajole enough from this group of players to ensure a safe enough first season back in the Premier League.
Prediction: 14th

SOUTHAMPTON The Saints - St Mary's Stadium - @SouthamptonFC
Last season 8th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Runners-up ▪️ Europa League Group stage
Last major trophy FA Cup 1976 ▪️ Premier League seasons 19 
Manager Mauricio Pellegrino (since June 2017)
Players In Jan Bednarek, Mario Lemina
Players Out Jay Rodriguez, Cuco Martina, Martin Caceres
Southampton finished in the top eight for a fourth successive season - and reached the League Cup Final - but that was still not enough to save Claude Puel from the sack. A strange decision on the surface but Saints fans can point to a series of turgid displays, with only 17 goals scored in their 19 home league games. Unfortunately for new manager Mauricio Pellegrino, the summer has been dominated by the demands of wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk, and the Dutchman will surely now move on to new pastures. However, the loss of a big player is nothing new for Southampton as a club - they have coped with worse before - and if Italian striker Manolo Gabbiadini picks up where he left off at the back end of last season, the south coast club will once again do more than just cope.
Prediction: 9th
 

STOKE CITY The Potters - bet365 Stadium - @stokecity
Last season 13th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy League Cup 1972 ▪️ Premier League seasons 10 
Manager Mark Hughes (since May 2013)
Players In Darren Fletcher, Josh Tymon, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Joe Bursik, Tre Pemberton, Kurt Zouma
Players Out Marko Arnautovic, Phil Bardsley, Glenn Whelan, Jonathan Walters, Shay Given, Daniel Bachmann
Stoke City suffered their worst season under Mark Hughes in 2016-17, dropping back to 13th, the equivalent of which was enough to see Tony Pulis moved on back in 2013. Never in serious trouble despite a slow start, the Potters' failure to push on in the second half of the campaign has left Hughes under pressure going into this term. Indeed, the Welshman is as short as 4/1 with some bookmakers to be the first manager to leave his post - and he was certainly not been helped by the decision of Marko Arnautovic to move to West Ham United. With only Darren Fletcher and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as major incoming signings so far, it might just be that - after almost a decade of midtable serenity - this is the year Stoke start to struggle.
Prediction: 15th

SWANSEA CITY The Swans - Liberty Stadium - @SwansOfficial
Last season 15th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy League Cup 2013 ▪️ Premier League seasons 7 
Manager Paul Clement (since January 2017)
Players In Erwin Mulder, Roque Mesa, Cian Harries, Tammy Abraham
Players Out Marvin Emnes, Bafetimbi Gomis, Gerhard Tremmel, Jack Cork, Modou Barrow
The suggestion that Swansea City fans are happy simply still just to be in the Premier League is surely no exaggeration after a traumatic last 12 months. The Swans looked as if they might go down even as late as April until 13 points out of the last 15 secured a final place of 15th which belied their earlier struggles. Manager Paul Clement can take much credit for the Swans' survival - the former Derby County manager tightened up a defence which had conceded 44 goals in the first half of the campaign - but the holes in the squad remain. Indeed, the situation could yet get worse if Gylfi Sigurdsson is lured elsewhere - and, while young striker Tammy Abraham - on loan from Chelsea - has potential, he may find it difficult to plough a lone furrow up front.
Prediction: 18th

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Spurs - Wembley Stadium - @SpursOfficial
Last season Runners-up ▪️ FA Cup Semi finals ▪️ League Cup Fourth round ▪️ Champions League Group stage ▪️ Europa League Last 32
Last major trophy League Cup 2008 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26 
Manager Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2014)
Players In None
Players Out Kyle Walker, Federico Fazio, Clinton N'Jie, Filip Lesniak
It has been a quiet summer at Tottenham Hotspur as manager Mauricio Pochettino puts his trust firmly in the squad which took the club to their highest league finish since 1962-63. Last season was also the first time since 1964-65 that Spurs remained unbeaten at home throughout a campaign - and it was memorably their first finish above rivals Arsenal for 22 years. But this season looks tougher - due to the construction of their new ground, Spurs' home games have been moved to Wembley, a venue at which they have struggled. Meanwhile, the loss of Kyle Walker to Manchester City has been exacerbated by injury to his replacement Kieran Trippier. On the plus side, Harry Kane will ensure Pochettino's men continue to carry plenty of threat - and there are few centre-back partnerships in the Premier League as reliably solid as Belgian pair Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.
Prediction: 4th 

WATFORD The Hornets - Vicarage Road - @WatfordFC
Last season 17th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Second round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 5
Manager Marco Silva (since May 2017)
Players In Daniel Bachmann, Tom Cleverley, Kiko Femenia, Will Hughes, Nathaniel Chalobah, Richarlison, Andre Grey
Players Out Mathias Ranegie, Mario Suarez, Steven Berghuis, Juan Carlos Paredes, Rene Gilmartin
Another season, another new manager - Portuguese Mario Silva became Watford's eighth boss since the Italian Pozzo family took over in 2012 when he joined in May. Not that the regular changes have done the Hertfordshire club too much harm - a third successive year in the top flight was secured in early April - although late-season performances then left previous manager Walter Mazzarri with an increasingly disenchanted squad and nowhere to turn. Silva himself, of course, arrived in English football only in January, making an ultimately failed attempt at keeping Hull City in the Premier League. That experience, though, should at least prepare him for what could be another tough next 10 months at Vicarage Road.
Prediction: 16th

WEST BROMWICH ALBION The Baggies - The Hawthorns - @WBA
Last season 10th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Second round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1968 ▪️ Premier League seasons 12 
Manager Tony Pulis (since January 2015)
Players In Jay Rodriguez, Zhang Yuning, Ahmed Hegazy
Players Out Darren Fletcher
West Bromwich Albion begin an eighth-successive top-flight season, the Baggies' best run since the late 1970s and early 1980s - but the fact remains that they have never won more than 50 points in a single Premier League campaign. It looked for certain as if that duck was going to be broken last time out - but, having reached 40 points in February, Tony Pulis' men left for the beach and took only five points out of their last 36. In fact, West Brom lost seven out of their last eight and so carry no momentum into the new season. Regardless, Pulis will set his team up, as he always does - to survive and pinch a goal from a set-piece, an area in which they undoubtedly excel. While it is not pretty, it is effective - and should ensure West Brom celebrate a ninth-successive top-flight season next summer.
Prediction: 12th

WEST HAM UNITED The Hammers - London Stadium - @WestHamUtd
Last season 11th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Quarter finals ▪️ Europa League Playoff
Last major trophy FA Cup 1980 ▪️ Premier League seasons 22
Manager Slaven Bilić (since June 2015)
Players In Javier Hernandez, Marko Arnautovic, Pablo Zabaleta, Anouar El Mhassani, Sead Haksabanovic, Joe Hart
Players Out Alvaro Arbeloa, Havard Nordtveit, Enner Valencia, Darren Randolph, Ashley Fletcher
Moving house is never easy - but, for West Ham United, last season was especially tough. It would be fair to say that many supporters are still not comfortable in their surroundings at the London Stadium - and the fact that the Hammers start this term with three away games because the arena is being used for athletics reinforces the belief that the arena is simply not suited for football. Slaven Bilić's men may be playing catch up then - but the Croatian boss, who is in need of a good season, appears to have recruited well. Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic will add bite to an attack which was previously far too reliant on Andre Ayew and the oft-injured Andy Carroll. Meanwhile, further solid Premier League experience has been recruited as former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta is reunited with the on-loan Joe Hart.
Prediction: 7th

All information correct at time of publication. Players In includes all first-team incoming permanent and loan moves. Players Out includes all first-team outgoing permanent moves and loans to other Premier League teams.