Premier League preview: Martin Lipton's club-by-club predictions for the new season
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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