Soon the weekends will be great again! The English Premier League season kicks off on Saturday, August 13, 2016. Don’t run the risk of missing a match, download your 2016-2017 Premier League Fixtures here. If this season is anything like last season, then we are in for a treat. No one could have predicted the final table would have looked like this, and that minnows Leicester City would have won the league. Somebody should put some money on Middlesbrough being champions come May, just in case.
This season there are no clear favorites, but I expect a wide point margin between the top four or five teams and the rest of the league. The traditional big clubs will be desperate to reclaim top spot, and I suspect they view Leicester winning the last campaign as an aberration.
Matchweek 1 Fixtures
The unpredictable nature of the Premier League and the fact that the transfer window closes almost three weeks after the start of the league makes forecasting the Premier League a challenging feat. Nevertheless, as an ardent football (soccer) fan and a religious supporter of the Premier League, predictions add to the entertainment value of the PL watching experience. The same can be said for Fantasy Football; it also adds another dimension for supporters. Your weekly fantasy team is your ‘prediction’ of the players’ performances for that week. Speaking of Fantasy Football, If you want a fun and interactive fantasy league and a chance to win a PL jersey, then you can join the Twitter Fantasy Premier League.
My 2015-2016 Premier League predictions went up in smoke when Roman Abramovich’s pricey ship sunk last season. I am referring to his Chelsea team and not his luxurious yacht. However, I correctly predicted Arsenal’s second placed finish and Norwich’s relegation demise. I also had Leicester City getting relegated, but they shocked everybody and won the league. I can take solace in the fact that nobody saw that one coming.
There have been some high-profile transfers in this summer’s transfer window that I am sure will add to the quality and intensity of the title race this season. The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ilkay Gundogan, N’Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, and Georginio Wijnaldum will be catalysts for their respective teams.
With the transfer window three weeks away from being closed, there might be more transfers yet. I am keeping an eye on the Paul Pogba to Manchester United transfer saga. If we are (un)fortunate enough, it might be wrapped up before the start of the season. List of 2016 Premier League transfers.
Premier League Predictions
Top Eight Teams
- Manchester United {Champions}
- Manchester City
- Chelsea
- Arsenal
- Liverpool
- Tottenham
- Leicester City
- West Ham United
Bottom Three Teams
- Sunderland
- Burnley
- Middlesbrough
Top Goalscorer
- Harry Kane
Player of The Season
- Eden Hazard
Manager of The Season
- Antonio Conte
Check out my 2016-2017 Premier League Preview for a more detailed look at the upcoming Premier League season.
Renegade Expressions 
I’ll agree because I’m biased to my team #UnitedTillIDie. Good predictions. I’d like to see Liverpool edge Arsenal out of that top 4 spot (nuh tell nuhbaddy seh mi seh so) and shake up Wenger. He’s too lackadaisical and has become complacent. The Manchester Derby days in particular should be interesting and may solidify that 1 2 position prediction and I’m waiting to see how Chelsea perform (that complete post-Mourinho about turn they made last season was something to behold).
Leicester could have made it further up the table if they hadn’t lost Kante and may still make it if any of the new players turn out to be better than anticipated. Another solid player to join Mahrez and Vardy could net a better performance for them regardless of their new CL demands.
I don’t know about Harry Kane being the top scorer though. It’s possible but he may have a fight from Aguero this season as he (mercifully) seems to have avoided injury prior to the start of the season.
I’m already counting down the days and have rearranged some of my beach days to make sure I’m home for matches (priorities!)
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I hope I am wrong, and Manchester United don’t win the league. It would be something if Manchester City managed to edge them to the title again.
Aguero would have been my pick for top goalscorer, except I can’t see him remaining fit for the entire season. Harry Kane has proved he is the real deal and with the supporting cast that Spurs have, he will be bagging goals with ease.
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No edging ’round ‘ere. #MUFC FTW mi seh. It’s going to be interesting though.
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Plus mi vex wid Harry Kane cause after mi drop him from mi Fantasy side last year him find back di net!
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You deserved everything you got. 🙂 Kane was a mainstay on my fantasy team last season.
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*sticks out tongue* That’s mean.
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He was an early pick for me as well… I see some shifting happening in my team before the season starts. I’m thinking of playing around with my defensive line and adjusting the formation to accommodate a change to my forwards.
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this is interesting.
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