ARSENAL
Last year: second
Manager: Arsene WengerKey player: Alexis Sanchez
The oil: Nothing will change at Arsenal. Will start the season with plenty of promise but it will all come undone with a couple of poor weeks in March or April. Jack Wilshere will get injured again, there will be question marks over the defence, Arsene Wenger will be defiant and Sanchez or Mesut Ozil will end up leaving.
Prediction: third
BOURNEMOUTH
Last year: 16th
Manager: Eddie Howe
Key player: Jordon Ibe
The oil: Could be the dangerous second season syndrome for Bournemouth. Over-achieved last year with wins over some big sides which are unlikely to be as charitable this season. Big pressure on Ibe, a youngster who has joined the club for a record fee.
Prediction: relegated
BURNLEY
Last year: Won championship
Manager: Sean Dyche
Key player: Andre Gray
The oil: Always hard to come up and be competitive. Burnley was promoted a couple of years ago and then went straight back down. Needs a bit more depth in the squad and to score some more goals. Never plays the most attractive stuff. Icelandic international Johann Berg Guomundsson will look to make an impact at this level.
Prediction: 16th
CHELSEA
Last year: 10th
Manager: Antonio Conte
Key player: Eden Hazard
The oil: Can only get better after a disappointing effort last year, when players failed to put in the hard yards. Conte has already banned pizza and ketchup from the players’ diet. Players may be past it but the class of guys like Eden Hazard should keep the side close. Expect plenty of new faces to arrive.
Prediction: fourth
CRYSTAL PALACE
Last year: 15th
Manager: Alan Pardew
Key player: Andros Townsend
The oil: Palace is a bit like the Christmas decorations: start coming down in January. That genuinely comes back to a lack of depth in the squad. Manager Pardew has tried to overcome this by signing a few players but much still depends on captain Scott Dann and winger Wilfried Zaha.
Prediction: 14th
EVERTON
Last year: 11th
Manager: Ronald Koeman
Key player: Romelu Lukaku
The oil: Always a seller never a contender, the men from Liverpool have lost their prized defender John Stones, who has gone to Manchester City for way too much money. May also lose striker Romelu Lukaku. New manger Ronald Koeman will instil plenty of discipline, as expected, it will be mid-table mediocrity for Everton
Prediction: 11th
HULL CITY
Last year: promoted from Championship
Manager: Mike Phelan (caretaker)
Key player: Tom Huddlestone
The oil: Hardly coming into the season full of confidence with manger Steve Bruce leaving, the club on the selling block and struggling to get enough fit players. Mike Phelan in charge, if only in a temporary basis. Gutsy side, no doubt, but will struggle away from home.
Prediction: relegated
LEICESTER CITY
Last year: Champion
Manager: Claudio Ranieri
Key player: Jamie Vardy
The oil: Can it back up the surprise title win last season? The answer is probably not but will have some real confidence coming into the season. Has not significantly strengthened its squad but why would it after a dream season? Can no longer sneak into contention.
Prediction: Seventh
LIVERPOOL
Last year: Eighth
Manager: Jurgen Kloop
Key player: Daniel Sturridge
The oil: Has introduced new names but really, the guys that are there have to do the damage, James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, need to stay on the park and play to their very best. Sturridge has the ability but there are question marks about the leaky defence.
Prediction: Ninth
MANCHESTER CITY
Last year: Fourth
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Key player: Vincent Kompany
The oil: Guardiola has been bought in and he is a born winner, although he has hardly been at the poorest clubs to win that reputation. Has plenty of talent at his disposal and has just splashed out big to get defender John Stones from Everton. But much will depend on his strike force and how they come through their summer pursuits.
Prediction: Champion
MANCHESTER UNITED
Last year: fifth
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Key player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The oil: The winds of change have blown through Old Trafford. Broke the bank in getting Paul Pogba and Pogba will have to play very well to repay that investment. Has too many players, so will have to offload some. Mourinho has plenty of detractors and one wonders how happy the supporters will be with nine straight 1-0 victories. But too much quality to not mount a challenge.
Prediction: Second
MIDDLESBROUGH
Last year: Promoted from Championship
Manager: Aitor Karanka
Key player: Stewart Downing
The oil: A sleeping giant, Middlesbrough in all its history has won only one title. Struggles with consistency and is unlikely to make much of a challenge this time around. Likely to leak a few goals.
Prediction: 17th
SOUTHAMPTON
Last year: Sixth
Manager: Claude Paul
Key player: Um, ah, is there anyone left?
The oil: Has been a big selling club over the past couple of years and the cupboard is somewhat bare. Sold striker Sadio Mane to Liverpool but welcomes Dane Pierre Emile-Hojberg. New manager, as seems the way for the Saints, but should still be competitive.
Prediction: 13th
STOKE CITY
Last year: Ninth
Manager: Mark Hughes
Key player: Joe Allen
The oil: Battler which has become a genuine threat with a gutsy display at the back and some strong midfielders. Never dies wondering. Joe Allen has arrived from Liverpool and will want a good run of games. Many players, such as Peter Crouch and Jon Walters, heading in the wrong direction.
Prediction: Eighth
SUNDERLAND
Last year: 17th
Manager: David Moyes
Key player: Jermain Defoe
The oil: With manager Sam Allardyce leaving to be England boss, the club has turned to David Moyes. Moyes has hardly put runs on the board of late. Not a lot of talent on the pitch, either. Allardyce would always just bully and bludgeon his teams to get results. Moyes might have to do the same with a team which looks to be ageing but luck has to turn for the side some time.
Prediction: 12th
SWANSEA CITY
Last year: 12th
Manager: Francesco Guidolin
Key player: Borja Batson
The oil: Swansea have been up and down for a good couple of seasons. Has had a clean-out over the summer, with eight new players coming to the club and dead wood headed out the door. The trick is whether the manager, who does not have full support, can knit it all together.
Prediction: 15th
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Last year: third
Manager: Maurico Pochettino
Key player: Harry Kane
The oil: Spurs had its chance last year and blew it. With games in hand, all it had to do was keep on winning but it could not manage to do that. That could be its chance wrecked for a good few years. Plenty of promising youngsters but one wonders if Harry Kane can find 25 goals again this year.
Prediction: fifth
WATFORD
Last year: 13th
Manager: Walter Mazzari
Key player: Isaac Success
The oil: Watford was flying high in the first half of last season but came crashing down in the second half of the season. New signing Isaac Success has come to the club and with a name like that should get among the goals. But hard to see the side making any sort of challenge.
Prediction: Relegated
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Last year: 14th
Manager: Tony Pulis
Key player: Ben Foster
The oil: Any side managed by Tony Pulis will give its all but will not overdose on excitement. Battles away hard and gritty defence. Manages to pick up a few rejects from the bigger clubs which still have plenty of ability.
Prediction: 10th
WEST HAM
Last year: Seventh
Manager: Slaven Bilic
Key player: Mark Noble
The oil: The Hammers over-achieved last season and caused some upsets. New signing Andre Ayew will be looked to for some goals. Andy Caroll will be expected to come through with some goods but how strange will it be, having the club no longer play at Upton Park.
Prediction: Sixth
