The new season got underway at the weekend, and here we predict how the table will look come May 11th. With two weeks left until the end of the transfer window, squads are set to strengthen even further, with some needing reinforcements more than others. The first list of picks looks at last seasons top six:
MANCHESTER UNITED
Having reclaimed the Premier League trophy from neighbours Manchester City, United began a new era under former Everton manager David Moyes with victory over Swansea City.
Largely thanks to the goals of Robin Van Persie, the club eased to their twentieth top flight title last season, though with no major new signings at Old Trafford so far this summer while the majority of their rivals have strengthened, they could well find things more difficult this time around.
They do however have promising winger Wilfred Zaha, though they look increasingly likely to lose striker Wayne Rooney, who looked uninterested at setting up his sides last two goals at the weekend.
Last season: Champions
Key player: Robin Van Persie
Prediction: 3rd
Pick: Manchester United to finish 3rd or worse @ 2.2 (6/5) with Sky Bet.
MANCHESTER CITY
As they did in their title winning campaign two years ago, City began the season with a convincing 4-0 home victory, this time at the hands of Newcastle United.
The result has fired them to the top of the table at this early juncture, and has seen them become out an out favourites to reclaim the Premier League crown.
With four new internationals, all of which with goals in them, arriving during the summer no team has spent more this summer though it was the stars of the last two seasons that wrapped up the points on Monday evening.
Last season: 2nd
Key player: Yaya Toure
Prediction: 2nd
Pick: Manchester City to be the highest scoring team in the division at 2.38 (11/8) with Stan James.
CHELSEA
Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge of the Blues somewhat predictably started with a solid victory against newly promoted Hull City at Stamford Bridge.
Petr Cech, Ashley Cole John Terry and Frank Lampard all played the whole ninety minutes, and those players, all tried and trusted by Mourinho will play a key part in the clubs challenge for a first title in four years.
New boys Andre Schurrle and Marco Van Ginkel made cameo appearances at the weekend, and with the club expected to make one final marquee signing before the transfer window closes, added to Mourinho’s midas touch, few will bet against them finishing on top of the pile.
Last season: 3rd
Key player: Frank Lampard
Prediction: Champions
Pick: Chelsea to win the Premier League @ 3.3 (23/10) with Ladbrokes.
ARSENAL
Arsenal fans fears were realised on Saturday as the club fell to their first opening day defeat in twenty years with Aston Villa running out 3-1 winners at the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger has once again failed to land any of his key targets before the big kick-off, and is now expected to step up his chase for new signings before September 2nd.
However, for the first time in some years they have managed to hold on to their key players and have trimmed the squad significantly by moving on a number of players who had been on the fringes of the first team.
Last season: 4th
Key player: Jack Wilshere
Prediction: 5th
Pick: Arsenal to finish outside of the top four @ 2.0 (1/1) with Bet Victor
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spurs began the campaign with a narrow victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, and having made a number of key signings look extremely likely to break into the top four and achieve Champions League qualification.
The future of Gareth Bale overshadowed the clubs preseason preparations, though even without last season’s PFA, FWA and Premier League player of the year, Andre Villas Boas has assembled a squad able to compete this season.
They appear to be close to completing the signing of Brazil international Willian having already broken their transfer record on two occasions following the arrivals of Paulinho and Roberto Soldado.
Last season: 5th
Key player: Roberto Soldado
Prediction: 4th
Pick: Tottenham Hotspur to finish in the top four @ 2.62 (13/8) with Coral
EVERTON
The Toffee’s began a new era under Roberto Martinez with a draw against Norwich City on Saturday and like most clubs who finished in the top seven last season have managed to keep hold of their key players.
However, the Spaniard faces a tough task fighting off interest in both Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, with Manchester United expected to make a renewed offer for the pair after seeing a £28m bid knocked back.
The club have finished in the top eight for the past seven seasons, and Martinez will surely be deemed to have had a successful season if they can once again repeat that feat.
Last season: 6th
Key player: Leighton Baines
Prediction: 8th
Pick: Everton to finish 8th or worse @ 1.5 (1/2) with Stan James.
Go here to read English Premier League Picks Part II.
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