Premier League 2016-17: Who will finish where?

It is the most difficult task of the season - trying to predict who will finish where in the Premier League. Last term I was only 19 places out with my prediction for champions Leicester City, although I suspect I was not on my own getting that one badly wrong. After a summer of change in the top flight - with a whole host of new managersand top-quality players - it is a task that remains as painful as ever. But with the new season starting on Saturday, here is how I think the season will look at the very end - with the caveat that what happens in the remainder of the transfer window could yet have a significant impact. Phil McNulty's predicted 2016-17 Premier League positions at a glancePosition ClubPosition (cont)Club (cont) 1Manchester City 2Manchester United 3Chelsea 4Arsenal 5Tottenham 6Liverpool 7West Ham 8Leicester City 9Everton 10Stoke City Manchester CityThis season: Champions Last season: 4th The arrival of the world's most celebrated coach, Pep Guardiola,is the fulfilment of a long-held dream for Manchester City's owners - he is the man they have always wanted at the head of their football organisation. The Etihad house has been built waiting for him to move in. City's run to the Champions League semi-final and a Capital One Cup final win barely covered up a campaign of Premier League under-achievement with Manuel Pellegrini in charge last season. They were left hanging on until the last game of the campaign to secure a Champions League place. Guardiola is the perfect choice to get more out of a quality squad that has too often seemed short of inspiration and motivation. He is a fiercely driven perfectionist who will not let standards slip. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will add guile when he is fit while winger Nolitois a shrewd capture from Celta Vigo. Now that City have signed defender John Stonesfrom Everton, responsibility will lie with him for curing the defensive ills caused by the poor form of Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi, as well as captain Vincent Kompany's injuries. I'm backing a Guardiola-inspired City to reclaim the Premier League title.