With the biggest signing of the  summer happening on the eve of the new season, Manchester United fans will have to wait until Monday to see if Robin Van Persie can justify the £24m and help bring the trophy back to the red side of Manchester. United meet an Everton side who have signed no one and sold their best two players on Monday night. With Jack Rodwell going to the other side of Manchester and Tim Cahill leaving for the States, it is hard see any other result than a Manchester United victory.
Champions City face newly promoted Southampton at home on Sunday. Other than Rodwell, City have been remarkably quiet by their standards in the transfer market although the wealth of talent they already have should be able to mount a serious campaign to regain the title. Argentine rebel of last season Carlos Tevez, looks ready for action as he returned from pre-season a stone lighter than last season.
Chelsea also play Sunday as they travel to Wigan. The big talking point of that game will be Victor Moses, a summer target for the Blues. He looks set to start for the Latics in what could be his last game before joining Chelsea for a fee rumoured to be around £10m.
The most interesting Premier League game of opening day promises to be Newcastle and Spurs at the Sports Direct Arena. Both teams looked destined for Champions League football last season, but both ended up this seasons Europa League. With last seasons Tyne side heroes, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse both doubtful for the curtain raiser, Toon manager Alan Pardew will be wishing he had managed to regain the services of £35million reject Andy Carrol from Liverpool.
New Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas will be hoping hoping for an improvement in his reputation after his ill fated time at Stamford Bridge.
Ambitious QPR will of course be without Joey Barton but could field a host of new signings including Park ji Sung and Junior Hoilett. They face Swansea at Loftus Road as the Swans play their first competitive game since losing highly rated manager Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool. Michael Laudrop takes charge of Swansea for his first managerial game in the Premier league.
Meanwhile Rodgers kicks off his first season as Reds boss as Liverpool travel to Steve Clarke's West Brom at the Hawthornes.

In the Championship, Niel Warnock's Leeds United start at home to newly relegated Wolves, who start life back in the second tier under new manager Stale Solbakken.
Newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday return to the Championship after two seasons in league 1, away at Derby, hoping the good run of form they found at the end of last season continues. Dave Jones' summer recruit Chris Kirkland is due to start at Pride Park.
Birmingham are at home to last seasons League one run away champions Charlton while Steve Bruce starts his reign as Hull manager at home to Gus Poyet's Brighton. Both teams could be favourites for promotion at the end of the season.
Blackburn manager, Steve Keen will be hoping for victory away at Ipswich as he was apparantly told earlier in the week that he will be sacked from the Lancashire side, relegated last season, if they lose their opening few games.
Watford boss Gianfranco Zola should push the others with the Udinese backing his club enjoys.

In League 1, Sheffield United look to overcome two penalty shoot out defeats in the last two games as the welcome Shrewsbury Town to Bramall Lane.
Coventry start life in the third tier for the first time in over 40 years away to Yoevil.
Portsmouth start the day at home to Bournemouth after releasing all of their senior players and fielding a team of teenagers in the league cup defeat last week.

Who will take the honours this season?
I think the Premier League will be a two horse Manchester race, with the signing of Van Persie proving the difference. I expect Ferguson's United to take the title. City should be runners up and i would like to Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea contending the top spots while i think Liverpool will take a while to adjust to life after King Kenny. With Everton looking vulnerable too, a glum season is in store for Mersey side. Watch out for Fernando Torres to rub salt in the wounds with a good season at Chelsea.
At the other end i think Reading will find the step up a step too far, and i can see a former really big club like Aston Villa fighting for survival again. Many will hope that the unpopular QPR will join them, but i suspect the summer signings and the possibility of the cheque book coming out again in January,will steer them clear of danger.
The top of the Championship should be a good  battle this season with Steve Bruce and Niel Warnock looking to build on their track records for promotion and don't rule out Milan Manderic's Owls to surprise a few and mount a challenge to return to the Premiership.
Birmingham and Charlton will be hard to beat also.
In League 1 I don't see Sheffield United repeating last seasons form, with no money they will struggle this season and i would expect the founders of the football league, Notts County to dominate that division and Coventry looking to bounce back at the first attempt.

My Tips for the season
Premier League Champions.         Manchester United.
Runners up .                                   Manchester City

Whipping boys                               Reading

Top scorer in Premier League-        Fernando Torres


Championship
Champions                                       Hull
Runners up                                       Sheffield Wednesday
Bottom                                              Bristol City