How will your team fare for the new season? Let MirrorFootball's
Mystic Martin Lipton guide you through the next nine months...
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger is under pressure to
deliver and the opening four games will show whether the Gunners
are serious contenders or also-rans.
Key player: Cesc Fabregas.
Prediction: 4th
Aston Villa
Villa chief Martin O’Neill has
two gaping holes to fill after the losses of Gareth Barry and
Martin Laursen. Will do well to match last term’s top four
near-miss.
Key player: Ashley Young
Prediction: 8th
Birmingham
Finding the goals to keep Blues
up is the big task for Alex McLeish and his promoted side but the
Scot has recruited midfield experience and needs his record signing
to shine.
Key player: Christian Benitez
Prediction: 17th
Blackburn
Will not be pretty but bound to
be effective, especially at Ewood Park, as Sam Allardyce does what
he did down the road at Bolton. No place for the faint-hearted to
enter.
Key player: Ryan Nelsen
Prediction: 12th
Bolton
Gary Megson has still to win over
the Wanderers fans but has added depth at the back. Will look for
more from Jonas Elmander but again reliant on familiar faces.
Key player: Kevin Davies
Prediction: 14th
Burnley
Promotion was a massive
achievement and Turf Moor will relish being back in the big time
after 33 years. Survival will be an even bigger ask of Owen Coyle
and his men.
Key player: Steven Fletcher
Prediction: 20th
Chelsea
Carlo Ancelotti has a tough act to
follow after Guus Hiddink and has to deliver or face the inevitable
consequences. Keeping Lampard, Terry and Drogba fit are absolutely
crucial.
Key player: Frank Lampard
Prediction: 3rd
Everton
Outstanding effort to be the best
of the rest and that will realistically be the aim this time around
too. Fewer injuries, though, and David Moyes could upset the top
four applecart.
Key player: Tim Cahill
Prediction: 5th
Fulham
Roy Hodgson was the real manager of
the season last term but with European demands his squad looks
dangerously thin of there are any injuries. Top half would be a
huge result.
Key player: Brede Hangeland
Prediction: 11th
Hull
Survived by the skin of their teeth
despite a terrific start but post-Christmas form is often an
indicator of the next term. Staying alive again will be a tough
fight.
Key player: Geovanni
Prediction: 18th
Liverpool
After 20 seasons, this looks
like the year for Rafa Benitez to end the Merseyside title drought.
Needs Aquilani to find his feet but more importantly Gerrard and
Torres to stay fit.
Key player: Steven Gerrard
Prediction: Champions
Manchester City
Mark Hughes has spent more
money than most of the league put together and now has to show he
has bought a team and not just a collection of players. Breaking up
the cartel is not that easy.
Key player: Gareth Barry
Prediction: 6th
Manchester United
No team in English
history has won four straight titles but if anybody can, Fergie
can. Doing it without the 101 goals Ronaldo and Tevez have
contributed over the last two seasons suggests otherwise.
Key player: Wayne Rooney
Prediction: Runners up
Portsmouth
No cash, no players, no hope?
It looks that way, for all that Paul Hart is trying to stay
positive. Rats have taken longer to desert sinking ships than the
squad exited Fratton Park.
Key player: David James
Prediction: 19th
Stoke
The Britannia Stadium fans did as
much as Tony Pulis and his team to keep them up last term and the
Potters boss will ask for the same to prevent second season
syndrome.
Key player: James Beattie
Prediction: 15th
Sunderland
Steve Bruce has got what he
always wanted - a big club and cash. Now he will try to show he
deserved the chance and give Wearside even more to crow about than
Newcastle’s plight.
Key player: Darren Bent
Prediction: 9th
Tottenham
Harry Redknapp steered Spurs
away from the relegation rocks but this time will be expected to be
knocking on the Europa League door. Should have the goals to make a
mark.
Key player: Wilson Palacios
Prediction: 7th
West Ham
Gianfranco Zola played to his
principles and made a difference but expectations of new faces have
not come to pass and the Sardinian’s smile may lose some of its
sparkle.
Key player: Mark Noble
Prediction: 10th
Wigan
Dave Whelan has sold off all the
family silver, meaning Roberto Martinez will have to transport his
Swansea style on players who have become used to a more basic
approach.
Key player: Jason Scotland
Prediction: 16th
Wolves
The Molineux fans are not the
easiest to please but Mick McCarthy has spent wisely in bolstering
his squad and should keep them off his back by surviving with
relative comfort.
Key player: Kevin Doyle
Prediction: 13th
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