Premier League Preview: Chances for the 2015-16 season (PART I)

GamingZion assessed every team’s chances before the 2015-16 Premier League season.

According to many of those who bet on sports in the UK, the 2015-16 Premier League season’s main storyline will be the title race between Chelsea and Manchester City. Both teams have strong, quality squads and a world class goalscorer, who will be key in their respective campaigns.

• Chelsea favourites to defend title
• Diego Costa is key to team’s success
• Aguero to to be top scorer

There is still some time to do business, as the transfer window closes only on 1 September, and a great signing might slightly overwrite the chances. However, if there is no significant change in the squads, Chelsea and City can fight for the title. It seems that they only have to keep their top striker healthy to remain in title contention.

Chelsea to retain the title?

The reigning champions are favourites to win the 2015-16 Premier League season according to online sportsbooks in the US. Watching them winning the title last year in such a convincing fashion, using significantly different approaches in the two halves of the season makes them Number 1 title contenders in itself. Moreover, they also have a manager, Jose Mourinho, who is best in the business, and a strong, high-quality squad that is able to enforce their title claim.

They brought in Radamel Falcao to enhance their attacking options. He might ceased to be the world class striker who was worshipped in the Vicente Calderon, however the Columbian could perform a good partnership with the Blues’ other former Atletico forward, Diego Costa. If the Special One will experience with two upfront indeed, player of the year Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas could do even more damage from midfield given both the opponents’ centre backs are engaged.

But to apply intriguing plans like this, Costa need to be fit. He still seems to struggle with his hamstrings though – the same problem that meant he was out of the squad that was beaten by Arsenal 1-0 in the Community Shield. Without Costa, Chelsea might struggle up front. Maybe the striking partnership of Loic Remy and Falcao could be a solution in his absence.

However Chelsea can win big matches by their solid defence and teamwork, catching opponents on the break by lightning-quick attacking midfielders. Against weaker opponents, who sit back and defend, the magic of Hazard and co. plus anyone up front could be enough. Anyway, Chelsea are 2.5 (6/4) favourites to win the title at Bet365 Sportsbook. They might need to buy a prolific forward before the transfer window closes to boost their chances.

City to challenge Chelsea for the title

There were a lot of headlines connected to Manchester City during the summer transfer window. And virtually all of them had Raheem Sterling in it too. However, as the most annoying transfer saga in recent years is finally over, anyone, who wagers on football at online betting sites in the UK might turn to consider City’s title chances. Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini has to deliver the league title now – the Champions League trophy might do it too – in order to retain his job for one more year.

Pellegrini still has a quality squad, but after offloading nine players, he might still need a goalscorer and a class centre back to handle the long campaign. A Sergio Aguero injury, that happens from time to time, might seriously hurt them. The Argentine forward missed an average of 13 games due to injury in his last three seasons. His luckiest year was the last one, where he was absent on 8 occasions only, and managed to score 26 goals.

The most effective striker in Premier League history is key for City’s title hopes, but he needs a backup, other than Edin Dzeko and Wilfried Bony. Aguero is favourite to win the goal scoring contest with odds of 4.0 (3/1) at Bet365 Sportsbook. All in all, the Sky Blues have the potential to fight for the title and they still have some time to tinker with their squad. City are considered as top underdogs by Bet365 Sportsbook, available at 3.75 (11/4) for the title.

In the next part we will discuss those teams who are expectedly will be involved in a fight for the additional places that qualify for Champions League football. Arsenal and Manchester United might even have a shot at the title, while for Liverpool and Tottenham it would be an outstanding achievement to finish in the top four. Southampton and Everton are squarely outsiders in that regard.