This time last year (with no politics to write about), I wrote that former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres would be the Premier Leagues top goal scorer. I was wrong. This season I’m tipping another Anfield favourite, Luis Suarez will have the biggest impact on the league. If he finally joins the Gunners he could give Arsenal the teeth they have been looking for in recent years. Suarez who cost Liverpool £22.7m in 2011 has been the subject of speculation all pre-season but Liverpool insist the Uruguayan will remain at the club unless their £50m valuation is met. Despite the fact that he will miss the start of the season as he finishes a lengthy ban for biting, Suarez could still have a huge part to play in the Premier league story this season.

 

 

If he stays at Liverpool and manager Brendan Rodgers can get his youngsters playing the kind of football he produced at Swansea, then Liverpool should be have a much more successful season than last year. I expect at least a top 4 finish.

In Manchester it’s all change in the dug-outs.  Sir Alex has finally spat out his chewing gum and handed the reins to David Moyes. After gaining a reputation at Everton, he faces a massive challenge trying to replace the most successful Premier League manager ever. Last season’s top scorer Robin Van Persie will be vital if United are to retain the title. Although United have linked with Van Persie’s old team mate, Cesc Fabregas, which would undoubtedly be a formidable partnership again, I very much doubt the Spaniard will leave current club Barcelona. It’s unclear what role if any Wayne Rooney will play, but I still expect Manchester United to be among the top two.

On the other side of Manchester, under new boss Pellegrini, the former champions might take a while to settle. He has brought in some big names like Jesus Navas and his former Seville team mate Negredo, but for City to enjoy success he will need them to reunite quickly.

The only competition Suarez has faced for column inches in the transfer news is Tottenham’s Gareth Bale. Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid have allegedly made an £80m plus offer for the influential 24 year old. I feel the player himself could have quashed this talk by now if he didn’t want to go, but the Welshman’s camp’s comments that he wanted to speak to Madrid  indicates to me that the London club will be without him come this season. Former Spurs favourite Luka Modric could be returning to White Hart Lane as part of that deal. It is looking increasingly likely with Tottenham breaking the club record to sign Valencia striker Roberto Saldado  adding weight to the theory. Spurs however, will struggle to penetrate the top four without Bale.

London rivals Chelsea of course have much to be excited about, with the return of “the special one”, Jose Mourinho’s return. Not only do they have Mourinho back at the helm, fans’ favourite Frank Lampard remains at the club after much speculation about his future last season. If John Terry can keep injury free and Mourinho can get Torres back to the form he enjoyed at Liverpool, I think the Blues will have a very good chance of their first title since 09-10 season. I think this season will throw up a surprise or two and one such surprise could be a smaller team enjoying some success. With the much travelled Nicholas Anelka signing for West Brom, former Chelsea colleague Steve Clarke could guide his side to upset a few of the big boys. With Yousif Mulumbu signing a new contract the Baggies biggest challenge will be replacing the goals of their top marksman for last season Romelu Lukaka, who returns to Stamford Bridge.

I would like see the silky style of Michael Laudrup’s Swansea build on their cup success of last term and become an established top 6 team, but much will depend on Spanish striker Michu’s partnership with £12m Ivory Coast signing Wilfred Bony.

 

Match of the Day should be entertaining this season with the return of the highly amusing Joe Kinnear at Newcastle. The king of calamity could oversee a revitalised Toon with striker Papis Cisse apparently “raring to go” after making a stance against club sponsors Wonga. On the other hand, Kinnear could be responsible for an implosion at St James Park with the role of Alan Pardew under some scrutiny.

At the wrong end of the table it will be interesting to see how the promoted teams cope with the huge step up in class. If big spending Cardiff can build on last season’s Championship they will need to keep veteran striker Craig Bellamy firing on all cylinders. I fear even with a fit and eager Bellamy and new signings Andreas Cornelius, from Copenhagen and  Steven Caulker from Spurs respectively, it will be a big ask for the Welsh club to have little more than a relegation battle to celebrate.  The Bluebird’s will be in a dog fight with fellow new boys Crystal Palace who are tip for this season’s whipping boys. It’s hard see them putting up much of a fight against the multi-millionaire opponents in the best league in the world.

 The experience of Steve Bruce at Hull should see them improve on their last stint in the top flight in 2008/09 season when they were relegated in 2010.  While I don’t expect the sort of arrival they enjoyed on their promotion to the Premier League the first time round, I think Bruce’s knowledge of the division will be enough to secure safety.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chris Houghton’s Norwich City struggle, and they could face the drop this year. Paulo Di Canio’s  Sunderland need to improve massively from last season if they are to avoid a repeat of last season’s relegation struggle but the fiery Italian’s passion and flare could shape them into a solid mid-table side. Paul Lambert’s rebuild of Aston Villa will continue and I predict a better season from them.

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has a job to resurrect his reputation after his disastrous spell at QPR. He needs to reinvent Stoke after taking over from Tony Pulis.

 

Champions: Chelsea

Runners up: Manchester United

Third:            Manchester City

 

Relegated: Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Norwich