2015/16 season preview

The 2015/16 football season kicks off this weekend – and you can warm-up for the new campaign with our comprehensive guide to the Premier League and Football League teams. Below you’ll find links to Premier League team profiles, complete with all the transfer news, statistics, pundit views and odds on each club. We also have a in-depth look at which teams and players could be making headlines in the Championship, League One and League Two over the coming months. ARSENAL Arsene Wenger’s side have been tipped to mount a serious title tilt this season, with new signing Petr Cech adding Premier League- winning experience to the Gunners’ improving squad. Arsenal were the in-form team in the second half of the 2014/15 season – can they maintain that level for an entire campaign? ASTON VILLA Aston Villa finished just three points above the relegation zone last season and the sale of star players Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph will have come as a blow to the club’s supporters. However, boss Tim Sherwood will hope that, after a full pre-season working with his squad, he can inspire them to a more successful campaign. CHELSEA Premier League champions Chelsea will start the 2015/16 season as favourites to clinch the title once again. No team has retained the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2008/09 but Jose Mourinho will hope his side can end that streak. A return to form of on-loan Radamel Falcao could be key. EVERTON Everton endured a frustrating 2014/15 season, when they failed to build on their fifth-place finish from the year before and, after flirting with the relegation zone, ending the campaign in 11th. Roberto Martinez will expect better this time around. Could Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu provide the creativity they need? LIVERPOOL Brendan Rodgers has been busy in the summer transfer window, adding the likes of Christian Benteke, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Nathaniel Clyne and Danny Ings to his ranks, following a disappointing 2014/15 campaign. The Reds were unable to build on their second-place finish of the previous year and, following the departure of club legend Steven Gerrard, will be looking for new heroes to ignite their bid for a top-four finish. MANCHESTER CITY Manuel Pellegrini came under pressure at the end of last season following Manchester City’s failure to retain their Premier League crown or make any headway in the Champions League, but the Chilean held onto his job and will set out to prove his doubters wrong in 2015/16. The expensive recruitment of Raheem Sterling indicates City are eager to step up their title challenge this time around – but can they return to top spot? MANCHESTER UNITED For the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down, Manchester United could be realistic Premier League title contenders again in 2015/16. However, Louis van Gaal will need this season’s summer recruits – including rising Dutch star Memphis Depay, Germany stalwart Bastian Schweinsteiger and talented Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin – to deliver. With Falcao, Robin van Persie and – seemingly – Angel di Maria out of the exit door, Wayne Rooney will be key.