1. Man United. The current champions, therefore the team to beat. Four key signings in and a wealth of talent at their disposal. On top of that, Scholes back to full fitness and Giggs playing as well as ever.

2. Chelsea. Molouda could solve their problems down the left hand side and it will be interesting to see whether Pizzaro and Drogba can play together up front. Sidwell and Ben Haim chose Chelsea over Newcastle this summer, will they be rewarded with silverware?

3. Liverpool. Benitez has bought Torres, Babel and one or two others, so again he has turned a strong squad into a very strong one. They made the Champions League Final once again last year, but can they repeat their European success in the league?

4. Tottenham Hotspur. Jol blew a small fortune on Darren Bent, but has four top strikers at the club. Again, they look solid if not spectacular in midfield and could secure a top four finish.

5. Arsenal. Talismanic Thierry Henry has gone to Barcelona. Freddie Ljungberg off to West Ham. It will be a season of change and rebuilding at the Emirates Stadium.

6. Everton. Andy Johnson leading their attack. Leighton Baines signed alongside Phil Jagielka. If Cahill can overcome his injury problems, they could go very well once again.

7. Newcastle. The signings are starting to arrive, but we don’t have enough experienced players of good enough quality to launch a serious attack. But as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Big Sam can and will get it right, just give him the time and money to do so. Cacapa must be decent if he was at Lyon for 5 years as skipper, Sanchez is highly rated and Rozenhal looks to be reliable in defence. Geremi has settled in well and Smith and Viduka have quality written all over them.

8. West Ham. Another chairman spending lots of money, but how quickly will West Ham gel into a team. Will Kieron Dyer be reunited with Bowyer, Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy – I hope not. Dean Ashton back after a season out with a broken ankle.

9. Bolton. Big Sam replaced by Little Sammy. Respected on their day, but I think they will be in mid-table..

10. Aston Villa. 12 months on after their take over, the dust is finally settling at Villa Park. Martin O’Neill is pulling together his squad, but looks to b eone or two players short of mounting a European challenge.

11. Portsmouth. Harry Redknapp continues to scour the transfer market and has assembled a useful squad. If England veterans Campbell and James hold their form and fitness, it could lead to another decent season at Fratton Park.

12. Reading. Surprised many last season, but can they repeat the trick second time around. Sidwell has gone, but one man doesn’t make a team – and Reading do play as a team.

13. Blackburn. Did better than I expected last season, despite losing Savage and Reid to injury. They may do well in Europe and it will be interesting to see how Roque Santa Cruz adapts to English football.

14. Man City. Sven Goran Erikkson is their new manager and he has brought in a bus load of new players. I don’t know why, but I feel this Is not going to be a good season at Eastlands.

15. Sunderland. Quinn as Chairman, Keane as manager and £27 million spent so far this summer. Sunderland’s signings are better than those made in previous seasons as they have the infrastructure at the club to enable them to move on. They will be safe this year I reckon.

16. Fulham. Lawrie Sanchez is ringing the changes. Their season may depend on how quickly he finds his best starting eleven and gets points on the board.

17. Birmingham. Lots of new personnel at St. Andrews, but I think that Steve Bruce’s experience of previous dogfights will just about keep City’s head above water.

18. Middlesbrough. I liked Gareth Southgate as a player and thought that he’d have done a great job at Newcastle. His first Premiership season was a mixture of highs and lows, but this season, even with the signings of Sanli Tuncay, Alliadiere and Mido, I think they will struggle.

19. Wigan. Finances available, money spent but has it been spent well enough. Bramble and Sibierski have arrived amongst others. They look like they’ve got a long season ahead of them.

20. Derby. Titanic, Mary Rose, Derby County…. Davy Jones’ locker awaits.

Paul Laverick – Sports Editor.