2016-2017 Premier League Preview

Saturday will mark the start of the new English Premier League. Last season was one full of unforeseen surprises. 

Underdogs Leicester City lifted the silver trophy overtaking the favourites. Since then, the scorned big four have been powering up their arsenal alongside Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City. So what is to be expected from the upcoming season? Will Jamie Vardy be still having a party? Will Nike's Ordem 4 make Dimitri Payet's free kicks defy the laws of physics further and lead to the collapse of the Standard Model? We shall embark on the journey for these answers soon enough.

Unlike any other season before, the cameras are expected to be focused on the side lines for an abnormally high amount of time. With names like Jürgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Arsene Wenger, Antonio Conte and of course, Claudio Ranieri - this premier league season serves up the most lucrative line up of managers ever seen in a single league. The press conferences are expected to give even the best of TV shows a run for their money with an array of impudent statements and clever mind games.

After putting the comments that they traded in an iPhone for multiple Chinese dupes three years ago to bed, Tottenham Hotspurs would be hoping that they can finally clench the title this time around by replicating last season's performances. Pochettino's team hasn't seen many new additions this summer and are expected to be reliant on their already proven superstars with Harry Kane leading from front with assistance from Christian Eriksen and Eric Lamela. Will Harry Kane and his teammates be able to raise destructive hurricanes against all their opponents this season again?

On the other side of North London, Arsenal have been their typical selves in the summer, being linked with Gonzalo Higuaín, Jamie Vardy, Mario Götze and ultimately resorting  to signing Nigerian Kelechi Nwakali - only to send him on loan. Yet, having finished 2nd place the previous season, many, and most certainly Wenger, would argue that the Gunners certainly are not in need of a stellar addition. Having names like Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, and Petr Cech, the Emirates will nonetheless be a tough place for any opponent to go to. Well, let's just hope Wenger's abuse of water bottles come to an end. On Sunday, they took on Liverpool in the biggest match of the opening week this season. Needless to say, it ended in disappointment for the Gunners.

Chelsea have had a rather uncharacteristically calm transfer window, making only two low key signings – Michy Batshuayi from Marseille and N'Golo Kanté from Leicester City. Probably the most significant change at Stamford Bridge has been the arrival of new boss Antonio Conte. However with superstars already in the team like Eden Hazard, Oscar, Courtois, Costa and captain John Terry – Chelsea remains a stronger contender for this season's championship. 

Arriving at the Merseyside, Liverpool had a massively disappointing start to the 2015-16 campaign which led to the departure of Brendan Rodgers and saw the arrival of Jürgen Klopp at the helm. Reaching two finals in 6 months under Klopp, the Anfield faithfuls began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although Melwood hasn't seen the arrival of a superstar, thus far, there has been a steady influx of new faces such as Loris Karius from Mainz 05 and Sadio Mane from Southampton. Will Jurgen Klopp's rock and roll philosophy result in the red men rhythmically marching to the top like the tunes of The Beatles? Well, that remains to be seen.

On Sunday, Manchester United took on Bournemouth at the Dean Court. Arguably the most polarizing manager in the premier league, Jose Mourinho, marks his return as the coach of United. After a disappointing campaign under Van Gaal consisting of dressing room meltdowns and press room controversies, the Glazers have been splashing out millions under Mourinho in the summer. Signing Ibrahimović, and re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus at a record transfer fee of £89m – the Red Devils are evidently clear about their intent of making up for the lost ground over the last few seasons. Unfortunately for the rivals, though, it means no comical dives in the side lines or seeing Rooney hovering as a deep lying midfielder appearing as clueless as Fernando Torres did most of his Chelsea career. 

Along similar lines, United's neighbours have had the rather busy summer so far. Seeing the entrance of Pep Guardiola on the wheel at the Etihad, new life has been given to the old rivalry between the managers of the respective clubs. Let's hope Raheem Sterling will finally learn to place at least 5% of his shots on target under Guardiola. Then again, the City bench does provide some decent Kompany. Having a disappointing end to last campaign, the Citizens have amped up their team with the addition of Aaron Mooy and İlkay Gündoğan.  

Finally, one of the utmost interesting aspects of this season would be to see how last season's champions, Leicester City, fare in the premier league with the weight of European football on their shoulders. Having remarkably recollected the services of their heroes from last season – Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, will Ranieri's men achieve the unbelievable once again and retain the cup? 

Curtains are about to lifted and yet another season of the best league in the world is about to unfold. Records will be made and broken. There will be blood, sweat, tears, and prayers. Who knows what surprises it may bring along? Here's to looking ahead at another season of the wonderful English Premier League.