Premier League 2014-15: Who will finish where?
The selection of Chelsea as champions is made with some conviction after manager Jose Mourinho's summer in the transfer market - but choosing who will fill the other Champions League places has never been more difficult.
So much so that the eventual finishing positions of those in contention - assuming champions Manchester City finish in the top two - may well come down to the deals done by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
At this stage you would hesitate to risk a penny with any confidence on who will finish third, fourth or fifth.
The fight for survival will be a scrap as well. The Premier League will be more competitive than ever.
Use the Twitter hashtag #plpredictions to discuss where you think teams will finish and look out for a series of votes about the Premier League.
CHELSEA (Champions)
I tipped them for the title last year when Mourinho returned but the lack of a goalscorer - and narrow defeats at places such as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace - ended their hopes.
Now that Diego Costa has arrived from Atletico Madrid and Cesc Fabregas is back in the Premier League I believe they will put that right and Mourinho will be a Premier League champion once more.
Last season: Third
MANCHESTER CITY (Runners-up)
Deserved champions last season despite not being at their superlative best for all of the campaign - an indicator of just how much quality is in manager Manuel Pellegrini's squad.
Yaya Toure seems to have got over his hissy fit about his lack of a birthday cake and Eliaquim Mangala has arrived from Porto in a £32m deal, as well as Bacary Sagna on a free from Arsenal, to strengthen their defence. It will be interesting to see whether Willy Caballero emerges as a serious challenger to Joe Hart in goal and how much Frank Lampardfigures.
City will be in the top two once more - but they will face a fierce challenge from Chelsea to hold on to their title.
Last season: Champions
MANCHESTER UNITED (Third)
The David Moyes experiment was a dismal failure so United have gone for vast experience and a proven track record in Louis van Gaal, fresh from taking the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-final.
Do not expect United to be on the outside looking in at the top-four fight again this season - but it will still be intriguing to see what Van Gaal can get out of a squad that looked in serious need of renewal last season.
Ander Herrera will provide class in midfield and Luke Shaw youthful quality at left-back, but United need to add authority in central defence (would you trust Chris Smalling and Phil Jones against opposition of the highest calibre?) and in central midfield. Van Gaal must also get the attacking partnership of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie moving smoothly.
Not title contenders just yet - there may yet be world-class additions before the transfer deadline that could change that, of course - but do not expect any repeat of the misery Old Trafford suffered under Moyes.
Last season: Seventh
LIVERPOOL (Fourth)
The start of a wonderful new Anfield era or the great missed opportunity? Time will tell how Liverpool's fatal faltering with the Premier League in their own hands last season will eventually be viewed.
There will be no more Luis Suarez, who has taken his magnificent talent but desperately flawed personality to Barcelona, but manager Brendan Rodgers has been investing heavily to ensure a 31-goal void is filled.
This will mean more responsibility for Daniel Sturridge but Rickie Lambert will hope to weigh in with his share of goals if he gets the chance, while another Southampton import Adam Lallana will be a creator when fit, along with £20m winger Lazar Markovic from Benfica.
Liverpool under Brendan Rogers |
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In Rodgers's first season in charge, Liverpool finished seventh with 61 points, winning 16 league matches, losing nine and scoring 71 goals.
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Last season they finished second, with 23 points more, winning 26 matches, losing six and scoring 101 goals.
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The most important buy of all, once again from Southampton, may yet beDejan Lovren, adding authority that has been missing from Liverpool's defence since Jamie Carragher's retirement - not helped by the uncertain efforts of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
I do not feel Liverpool will be champions and they will be in a real dogfight for a top-four place, but put money on a cup win and a decent showing on their return to the Champions League.
And, it should be added, if Liverpool do finish fourth this should not be regarded as failure after last season. Rodgers was way ahead of schedule with that one.
Last season: Second
ARSENAL (Fifth)
Arsene Wenger looks refreshed after ending his long wait for a trophy with last season's FA Cup success - and the signing of world-class forward Alexis Sanchez and the comprehensive Community Shield win over Manchester City has only increased the new optimism around Emirates Stadium.
Signings such as Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy have fleshed out the squad, but they are still short of that title quality and not yet challenging the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City over a whole season, unless a commanding defender and high-class central midfield can be added before deadline day.
The Gunners are a great bet for another cup though as there is so much talent in the squad even before you get to Sanchez.
I think they will end up battling Liverpool for a top-four place - and business done between now and deadline day could help decide it.
Last season: Fourth
EVERTON (Sixth)
It's been an excellent summer so far for manager Roberto Martinez and chairman Bill Kenwright. They have extended the contracts of outstanding youngsters such as Ross Barkley, Seamus Coleman and John Stones, while breaking their transfer record to sign £28m Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea - the sort of deal designed to end perceptions, occasionally encouraged under David Moyes, of a former giant now only aspiring to punch above its current weight.
Watch out for Muhamed Besic (not least for his tackling). The Toffees need another quality striker but will be fighting in and around the top-four places yet again under the shrewd and positive Martinez.
They will hope Europa League commitments do not debilitate a smallish squad.
Last season: Fifth
TOTTENHAM (Seventh)
Here we go again. Another season at Spurs and another new manager.Mauricio Pochettino did an outstanding job at Southampton, advocating a high-intensity, pressing, attacking style.
He will surely benefit from time and patience at Spurs. Chairman Daniel Levy's reputation could not survive another short managerial tenure.
Pochettino inherits a highly talented squad and we can expect some big-name signings before the deadline, as is the Spurs way. He may also want to see if he can get a bit more out of the players who under-achieved after the big Gareth Bale spend last season, such as fellow Argentine Erik Lamela, while hoping Dane Christian Eriksen produces more of the same.
I see them around the top six again but not in the title hunt. As usual, it might be worth a punt on a cup.
Last season: Sixth
NEWCASTLE UNITED (Eighth)
There was turmoil on Tyneside (again) last season - a situation not helped by the indiscipline of manager Alan Pardew when he abused Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and headbutted Hull City's David Meyler. He needs a good start and it is fair to say he has had a decent summer to set the Toon Army up for the new season.
There are high hopes for Remy Cabella, the attacking midfielder signed from Montpellier, as well as well Siem de Jong, the former Ajax captain.Jack Colback will also be keen to impress after making the contentious move from Sunderland.
There's enough talent in this squad to make the top 10 - but since when did any prediction involving Newcastle have logic attached?
Last season: 10th
STOKE (Ninth)
Mark Hughes achieved an excellent ninth place last season after taking over from Tony Pulis, although a little too much was made about the supposed sea change in style, which was something of an insult to Hughes's predecessor.
Hughes still did an excellent job, however, and there is no reason to suspect anything other than a similar finish this season, especially backed by magnificent support at the Britannia Stadium, intimidating and atmospheric at all times.
Plenty will be keen to see whether Hughes can revive the career of forward Bojan Krkic, still only 23, signed from Barcelona.
Last season: Ninth
SUNDERLAND (10th)
Sunderland's miraculous escape from relegation, with a draw at Manchester City and wins at Chelsea and Manchester United, was one of the stories of last season.
Now manager Gus Poyet can build on that and has invested £10m in midfielder Jack Rodwell, talented but injury-plagued, from Manchester City. He will still need extra firepower, hence his continued pursuit of Liverpool's Fabio Borini, instrumental in that remarkable conclusion to last season.
The air should have cleared on Wearside after the Paolo di Canio farcethat began their season and the great escape that ended it, so expect Sunderland to fare much better this season.
Last season: 14th
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