The 2016/17 Premier League: F365’s season in review

Matt Stead

We could do a normal review of the 2016/17 Premier League season, but where would be the fun in that? No, instead, we’d rather take a look at the campaign through the eyes of our writers’ pieces from throughout the season. That way, it’s easier to establish our narrative and discover exactly when we started to hate your club.


The Premier League’s elite had arguably reacted to Leicester’s remarkable title victory months before it had even come to pass. Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte’s appointments at Manchester City and Chelsea were announced earlier in the campaign, representing the first steps back towards normality.

Jose Mourinho would soon follow them, and his first press conference after being appointed Manchester United manager was typically eye-catching. Guardiola’s was slightly more low-key.

Over at Everton, Ronald Koeman was starting work on the perfect blank canvas, while we watched Italy’s first game at the European Championships and decided that Antonio Conte could put both Mourinho and Guardiola in the shade.

We implored Romelu Lukaku to seek stability, not a summer saga, predicted a difficult second series for Leicester, expected Christian Benteke to rise again at Palace, worried about Sunderland, had high hopes for Middlesbrough, argued over Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and once more predicted that the title could be headed to Stamford Bridge. And that was all before a ball was even kicked.

Manchester United kicked August off in the Community Shield as a club haunted by ghosts of their past also showed glimpses of a more promising future. Paul Pogba, the ultimate statement of intent, soon arrived.

 

 

Gameweek one (August 13-15)
Then the Premier League season began with Hull City – a club with a fighting chance – scoring a victory away at the champions. Everton’s promising union with Ronald Koeman continued as they drew with Tottenham. Liverpool ended the first gameweek with a pulsating 4-3 win over Arsenal, and we had 16 sexy Conclusions. Antonio Conte started with a Chelsea win, albeit only just. But it was Manchester United who topped the league thanks to their Juan and only.

 

Gameweek two (August 19-21)
Paul Pogba starred
on his Manchester United debut as Mourinho secured a second win in two games over Southampton, while Leicester and Arsenal continued their winless starts with a goalless draw. Elsewhere, we continued to worry about Sunderland and David Moyes, who lost to Middlesbrough. See, we aren’t always wrong.

 

Gameweek three (August 27-28)
Tottenham and Liverpool battled to a 1-1 draw with 16 Conclusions, while West Ham were crushed by Manchester City as Slaven Bilic continued to tactically bemuse. City claimed top spot, separated from Chelsea and United by goal difference alone.

 

Gameweek four (September 10-12)
After two weeks’ worth of international break, Mourinho and United suffered their first defeat in an entertaining Manchester derby, as City ended the week with the last remaining perfect record. Liverpool hammered Leicester to show signs of an inconsistent but bloody fun side. Koeman and Everton continued to impress by trouncing Sunderland. Even Diego Costa’s magnificent bastardry couldn’t help Chelsea as they dropped their first points in a draw with Swansea.

 

 

Gameweek five (September 16-18)
The first Friday Night Football of the season saw Chelsea continue to stutter as they lost their first game to Liverpool. Watford inflicted upon United their second straight defeat as cracks showed in their marriage with Mourinho. Mousa Dembele completed Tottenham’s puzzle as Spurs finished the week in third, behind Everton and a still 100% City. West Ham joined Sunderland and Stoke in the bottom three.

 

Gameweek six (September 24-26)
Manchester United earned their largest Premier League victory of the season against Leicester, while Arsenal comfortably beat Chelsea in perhaps the most important game of the whole campaign. City ended the week top by four points. West Ham stayed in the bottom three; we warned them not to run before they could walk.

 

Gameweek seven (September 30 – October 2)
Liverpool scraped a victory over Swansea, but it was difficult to ignore their flaws. Meanwhile, Tottenham put in one of the most complete performances of any side this year to beat Manchester City and close the gap at the top to one point. Pep’s side still just about led the way heading into yet another bloody international break. Sunderland and Stoke still hadn’t won; Francesco Guidolin was sacked.

 

Gameweek eight (October 15-17)
Chelsea’s resurgence in their new formation continued as Eden Hazard was afforded the freedom of London
against Leicester. Elsewhere, Monday Night Football presented a game Jose Mourinho dared not lose to a dangerous Liverpool. You forgot all about Red Monday, didn’t you? No-one will blame you.

 

Gameweek nine (October 22-23)
The top five were separated by one point after we discovered the new meaning of ‘Lads, it’s Tottenham‘, and Arsenal forgot to order cake and party hats for Arsene Wenger’s 67th birthday as they drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough. Southampton impressed in a draw with Manchester City, while Chelsea decimated Manchester United.

 

Gameweek 10 (October 29-31)
Arsenal made us fall in love with them again as they moved level on points with leaders Manchester City by crushing Sunderland. Everton grew a pair to overcome West Ham, while a different Tottenham suffered the same old problems in a draw with Leicester. The greatest unbeaten run in football history started with Manchester United’s 0-0 draw against Burnley. And Sunderland still hadn’t won.

 

 

Gameweek 11 (November 5-6)
Crystal Palace sat one point above the relegation zone after losing 3-2 to Burnley. Alan Pardew was left pleading for patience. Over in north London, Arsenal and Tottenham battled to a 1-1 draw. Manchester United would end this gameweek in sixth, and not vacate that position until April. We worried that too much was being expected of Marcus Rashford.

Sunderland won a match.

 

Gameweek 12 (November 19-21)
Liverpool drew 0-0 against a defensive Southampton side who failed to register a single shot, proving that their fear factor had returned. Olivier Giroud scored a last-minute equaliser to thwart Manchester United and keep the Gunners in fourth, one place above Spurs. A cool, calm, collected Diego Costa scored the only goal as Chelsea beat Boro to top the league for the first time. Salomon Rondon scored against Burnley, and we declared him the man every club should want, while Jack Wilshere continued to prosper at Bournemouth, apparently.

 

Gameweek 13 (November 26-27)
Philippe Coutinho suffered an injury against Sunderland, but Liverpool proved they could do it without him by winning. Chelsea earned one of the biggest wins of the season over Tottenham. Liverpool and Manchester City were just a point behind the leaders, with Arsenal still in fourth after navigating a difficult November. A bottom three of Hull, Swansea and Sunderland began to take shape.

 

Gameweek 14 (December 3-5)
A pulsating game was played out at the Etihad Stadium as Chelsea beat Manchester City. This gave Liverpool a chance to claim second for their own, but Loris Karius conspired to drop a b*llock against Bournemouth. Arsenal moved up instead after thrashing West Ham, who were left one point above the relegation zone.

 

Gameweek 15 (December 10-11)
Ronald Koeman
came under significant pressure after Everton lost to Watford. The seventh-placed Hornets were level on points with Manchester United on the Saturday, but Jose Mourinho’s side managed to pull clear with a forgettable 1-0 win over Tottenham.

 

Gameweek 16 (December 13-14)
Some sexy midweek football saw Paul Pogba finally step up to score one goal and assist another as Manchester United beat Crystal Palace. The gap to Watford was now six points. Arsenal suffered their first defeat since the opening day as they collapsed against Everton. Arsene Wenger probably said something about mental strength.

 

Gameweek 17 (December 17-19)
Chelsea found a way through against Crystal Palace, maintaining a six-point lead at the summit. Manchester City mourned the passing of Ilkay Gundogan by wearing shirts with his name on the back before coming from behind to beat Arsenal. Liverpool just about kept a grip on second place with Sadio Mane’s last-minute winner in the Merseyside derby.

The aforementioned defeat to Chelsea was Alan Pardew’s final game before being sacked by Palace, who were one point above the relegation zone and had to call in Samuel ‘Sam’ Allardyce. We said that the nature of Pardew’s failure could make him unemployable. Five months later…

 

 

Gameweek 18 (December 26-28)
David Moyes cried about Manchester United’s long-lost traditions before guiding free-falling Sunderland to defeat at Old Trafford. Liverpool continued to impress by trouncing Stoke despite conceding first at the Britannia Stadium. Tottenham’s slow rise gathered pace as the fifth-placed side hammered Southampton. Bob Bradley, appointed to replace Guidolin in October, was sacked.

 

Gameweeks 19 and 20 (December 30 – January 4)
A run of 20 games in just six days saw Manchester United evoke memories of the Fergie era with two last-gasp goals against Middlesbrough, while Liverpool showed rare defensive resilience to beat Manchester City.

Tottenham prepared for their crucial meeting with Chelsea by comfortably beating Watford. The Blues were looking to equal a record Premier League run of 14 consecutive wins, but fell at the final hurdle at White Hart Lane. Spurs moved into the top four at the expense of Arsenal, who had to rely on ‘character’ to draw against Bournemouth from 3-0 down. Swansea beat Palace with new manager Paul Clement watching from the stands, and Matty Phillips continued to shine at West Brom.

 

Gameweek 21 (January 14-15)
Two questions were asked this week. A 4-0 victory over West Brom led some to believe that Tottenham have the Premier League’s best XI, while Tom Cleverley debuted for Watford in a draw with Middlesbrough. Hull beat Bournemouth in Marco Silva’s first game, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a late equaliser for Manchester United against Liverpool.

 

Gameweek 22 (January 21-22)
Jurgen Klopp displayed his tactical inflexibility as Liverpool’s nightmare winter continued with defeat to Swansea. Neither Manchester City nor Tottenham could capitalise after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad, and so Arsenal moved into second place after triumphing in the face of absurdity against Burnley. Palace slipped into the bottom three with Hull, while Swansea’s Liverpool win left Sunderland bottom – a position they would not vacate for the rest of the season.

 

Gameweek 23 (January 31 – February 1)
Liverpool rounded off a woeful January by drawing against Chelsea at Anfield. Manchester City were the only side to capitalise, their new breed helping to defeat West Ham as Arsenal lost to Watford, Tottenham drew with Sunderland and Manchester United could not find a way past Hull.

 

Gameweek 24 (February 4-5)
Bournemouth continued to fall further towards relegation as Everton trounced them 6-3 at Goodison Park. The bizarrely under-appreciated Sergio Aguero was dropped as Gabriel Jesus scored twice to help Manchester City beat Swansea. Chelsea gained revenge on Arsenal, with David Luiz the clown who stopped the laughter. We defended Jurgen Klopp despite defeat to Hull in this, the season of manufactured crisis.

 

 

Gameweek 25 (February 11-13)
Liverpool recovered their early-season groove with a comfortable win over Tottenham. By this stage, just four points separated Manchester City in second from Manchester United in sixth. Arsenal simply got things done by beating Hull, who were enduring the oddest of odd seasons.

 

Gameweek 26 (February 25-27)
Of course, football died on February 23 when Claudio Ranieri was sacked by Leicester, and so everything that happened since is null and void. And that includes Leicester beating Liverpool in their very next game. Chelsea and Tottenham won; Middlesbrough and Sunderland lost.

 

Gameweek 27 (March 4-8)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s elbow and Tyrone Mings’ boot stole the headlines, but Manchester United’s Achilles’ heel was the most alarming of all in their draw with Bournemouth. Paul Pogba was particularly poor. Pedro – another Antonio Conte success story – helped Chelsea stay ten points clear at the top with a win over West Ham. Arsenal moved out of the top four again after losing to Liverpool. Thank f**k they didn’t finish just one point behind them come May.

 

Gameweek 28 (March 11-12)
Bastian Schweinsteiger‘s Manchester United farewell was the headline news. On the pitch, Liverpool overcame their demons to beat Burnley, while Hull closed the gap to Swansea with a win at the KCOM Stadium.

 

Gameweek 29 (March 18-19)
Middlesbrough’s first game after sacking Aitor Karanka ended in a loss against Manchester United, who were still unbeaten since October.

A wonderfully hectic 1-1 draw between Manchester City and Liverpool serviced the hopes and aspirations of both sides. Arsene Wenger’s addiction to the light that blinds him continued as West Brom bullied Arsenal into defeat. Everton moved level on points with the Gunners by thrashing Hull.

 

Gameweek 30 (April 1-2)
Manchester United drew once more, this time against West Brom, as we speculated over Luke Shaw’s situation. Liverpool moved up into third by beating Everton as Manchester City and Arsenal drew. Hull closed to within a point of 17th-placed Swansea after victory over West Ham.

 

Gameweek 31 (April 4-5)
Craig Shakespeare’s fairytale start
at Leicester continued with a win over Sunderland – his sixth straight win since being appointed. A 2-1 win over Manchester City put Chelsea seven points ahead of Tottenham with eight games remaining. Oumar Niasse was Hull’s hero as the Tigers finally vacated the bottom three by beating doomed Middlesbrough.

 

Gameweek 32 (April 8-10)
Luke Shaw
impressed for Manchester United in victory over Sunderland. Jurgen Klopp straddled a fine line between genius and madness before engineering a crucial win against Stoke. Defeat to West Ham left things looking incredibly bleak for Paul Clement and Swansea.

 

 

Gameweek 33 (April 15-17)
Beating Hull and moving to 39 points meant little in the grand scheme of things for Mark Hughes and an aimless Stoke side, but the weekend belonged to guard dog Ander Herrera and master tactician Jose Mourinho. Manchester United helped Tottenham close to within four points of Chelsea by cruising past the Blues 2-0 at Old Trafford. Arsenal tried three at the back because why bloody not?

 

Gameweek 34 (April 22-27)
Bournemouth moved clear of danger with a Josh King-inspired win over Middlesbrough, but Jack Wilshere’s future was called into question. Elsewhere, the new ‘Mr Chelsea’ was busy guiding the Blues to a huge three points against Southampton, Mauricio Pochettino earned his managerial Spurs in a win over Crystal Palace, and the Manchester derby happened. Unfortunately, we cursed it before a ball had even been kicked.

 

Gameweek 35 (April 29 – May 1)
Bournemouth pushed into the top flight thanks to Eddie Howe and a win over Sunderland. Then Marcus Rashford did a dive and collective sh*t was lost – as was Manchester United’s draw with Swansea in the aftermath. Spurs cancelled St Totteringham’s Day with a resounding north London derby win, while Emre Can’s excellence was precisely what boring Liverpool needed to beat Watford. Chelsea were four points clear at the top; United were one point off the top four; Hull were still above Swansea.

 

Gameweek 36 (May 5-8)
It all went to sh*t. Tottenham’s club-record run of nine consecutive wins was ended at the hands of West Ham. Hull’s survival hopes were dealt a devastating blow at home to relegated Sunderland, whose manager David Moyes was still fighting for tomorrow. Sure. Liverpool barely retained control of their own top-four fate, with Jurgen Klopp needing to be braver in a goalless draw with Southampton. Arsene Wenger finally secured a Premier League win over Jose Mourinho.

 

Gameweek 37 (May 10-18)
Arsenal beat Southampton, Stoke and Sunderland to keep the race to qualify for the Champions League alive into the final day. Daniel Sturridge kept Liverpool in the driving seat with a commanding performance at West Ham. Any linger hopes of Hull survival were extinguished by expert firefighter Sam Allardyce and Crystal Palace. Tottenham strolled past Manchester United in the final game at White Hart Lane.

Oh, and Chelsea won the Premier League by beating West Brom. How will history remember Conte’s champions?

 

Gameweek 38 (May 21)
The final day was really rather good fun. You should relive it here.