EPL Predictions 2015-16

2015/16 Predictions

Good news, football fans! Less than 3 weeks until the 2015/16 season kicks off! This season is bound to be one of the best of all time, as the fight for Champions League football heats up, and Premier League survival is even tougher! Here, I am going to give you my predictions on the top club’s coming season.

• Chelsea – Chelsea dominated the Premier League last term, and most people knew from the start that they were probably going to run away with it. The question is, however, can they do it again? 

Chelsea FC

Well, Mourinho is left with the crisis of “How can you improve on perfection?” Mourinho has already made multiple changes, but none seem to be seriously regarding the first team. At the time of writing this, Chelsea have sent six players out on loan for the season, including Christian Atsu and Marco van Ginkel, and has also sold and released a few players, most notably Petr Cech and Didier Drogba. The Special One has sought out to get replacements, signing Begovic and Falcao. It will be interesting to see if Falcao can do any better at Stamford Bridge than he did at Old Trafford.

For me, I’ve got to say Chelsea will finish champions again, but it won’t be anywhere near as easy as it was last time out.

• Manchester City – City were distraught after their performance last term. They were the reigning champions heading into the season, and although Chelsea were favourites, City were expected to put up a fight for the title. No fight of any sort came from Man City, and they quietly went about their business, and came to finish in an unchallenged second place.

Raheem Sterling has signed for Manchester City

Pellegrini has already signalled his intent for the coming season, signing Raheem Sterling and being heavily linked with Wolfsburg’s De Bruyne. Furthermore, linking in with the Sterling deal, City have signed a number of English players to help with the Financial Fairplay rules regarding home-grown players. As well as Sterling, Patrick Roberts and Fabian Delph have both moved over to the Etihad Stadium. As far as departures are concerned, no big deals have really occurred.

With regards to the final table, I’m actually going to predict that City will struggle. All their players are slowly ageing, and getting worse, and they are making few signings to make up for that. Personally, I believe that the huge £49 million fee for Sterling will add pressure, and he might crumble along with the rest of the team. I predict they will finish third at the end of the season.

• Arsenal – There is lots of hype surrounding the Gunners going into the 2015/16 season, as a number of the players have come out and said that they’re targeting the league title. I believe there is a huge possibility of them going the distance, but they need to make a few improvements on last season’s performance.

Arsenal FC

These improvements aren’t major, but still need to occur. Regarding transfers, they have sorted out the issue that has been bothering Wenger for years now, and have finally signed a good goalkeeper in Petr Cech. Cech’s former teammate John Terry said that he thinks Cech will “save them 12-15 points a season”. At the other end, Arsenal need to strengthen a bit as well, and they have been heavily linked with the signing of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon. If they were to sign Lacazette, I might change my mind and tip them for the league table.

In summary, I think the transfers will greatly influence Arsenal’s season, but for now I’m going to predict that they finish second.

• Manchester United – Last season was a big step up for the Red Devils. LVG splashed the cash at the start of the season, and he has done so again this time out. People like Shaw and Hererra didn’t have an immediate impact on the side last year, but they will be hoping to impress this time, alongside United’s new signings.

Manchester United's new signings

Mephis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Darmian are the players signed by van Gaal so far this summer. These signings are all surely going to have a positive effect on the rest of the squad. These signings are all good enough to help a team transform from a fourth place team back to a top three team. The transition period is nearly over for United, with dead wood such as nani and van Persie leaving the club to make way for younger talent.

I may have stated that United have improved rapidly over the summer, but I don’t believe they will get top three next season. There is too much quality from City, Arsenal and Chelsea, but expect United to challenge for third. I predict LVG’s men will finish fourth again.

• Liverpool – I’ve purposely chosen not to talk about Spurs, as I don’t believe many changes will be made at White Hart Lane, whereas there are changes everyday at Anfield. At the time of writing, Christian Benteke is undergoing his medical, but Clyne, Milner, Ings, Bogdan, Gomez and Firmino have already put pen to paper with the Reds.

James Milner will play for Liverpool this season

It will be a season of change for Liverpool, having said goodbye to their captain Gerrard, as well as selling Sterling for £49 million, and signings coming through as well. The signings made this year are much less than the overpriced fees from last summer, and I can see these new signing clicking in under new captain Jordan Henderson. Emre Can made his debut season for the Reds last term, and he is expected to fill the void left by the legendary Gerrard at defensive midfield, but what is really making Liverpool fans’ minds whirl is the idea of Coutinho, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge and Benteke as attacking options. With Clyne coming in at right-back I can see Liverpool improving up front and at the back.

Here we have a similar situation to the one with Manchester United, as they have quality, but so do the top teams in the league. It is hard to see Liverpool making top three, but they will surely put up a fight for the Champions League spots. Unfortunately, I think Liverpool will finish fifth and Tottenham will come close and finish sixth.

Article contributed by: Sam Kendall

Twitter: @SammyK2000