Manchester Utd

Last season: Champions.

1 They've been criticised for not flashing the chequebook over the summer months, but Alex Ferguson has shown himself to be a good judge of when to buy and when not to. The increased demands of the new Champions League could prove a problem, but then that's a problem the only two other realistic contenders have to face up to, too. South America might be more disruptive, but otherwise they will once again be the side to beat.

Chelsea

Last season: Third.

Gianluca Vialli has more options now in every department than before the summer and quite possibly has the best squad in the division. Of critical importance, though, will be whether Chris Sutton can produce more than 20 goals and whether Gustavo Poyet makes it through the season without picking up a serious injury. Assuming his team make it through the qualifying round of the Champions League, Vialli will also have to rotate places in a way which the club have managed to become for famous for without actually doing.

Arsenal

Last season: Second.

It's a little difficult to gauge Arsenal's chances just yet because of the lateness of Nicolas Anelka's departure to Spain. Currently the squad is better, although not dramatically so, than last season when even Arsene Wenger conceded it lacked depth. Suker and Henry look like good recruits up front and there is likely to be anything up to £15 million left in the kitty for further purchases. The arrivals of Luzhny and Silvinho as well as the settling in of Kanu should also have a positive impact. If a quality defender and midfielder were added, then Wenger's side could dramatically improve on last season's showing, particularly in Europe.

Liverpool

Last season: Seventh.

It's been quite a while since Liverpool had a season that could be viewed with any great pride around Anfield and the run without a league title - their last was in 1990 - is a source of growing anguish. It's not a run that's likely to end this season, but after spending around £25 million during the summer Gerard Houllier has at least got a panel of players that he believes in and one which wants to play for him. The Frenchman has impressed since the day he arrived on Merseyside - now we'll discover how good a manager he really is.

Leeds

Last season: Fourth.

The last minute departure of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has greatly upset Dave O'Leary's preparations for the new campaign. The club is now being linked with just about every halfdecent striker in the game. If a prolific replacement can be found in time, then United will be at least as good as last year. The return of Gary Kelly and the signing of Duberry, Mills and Bridges will broaden 'Leary's options.

Newcastle

Last season: 13th.

Another club to have seen a lot of comings and goings over the last few months but, like Houllier at Anfield, Ruud Gullit now appears to have a squad of players that he can more or less call his own. Both of his big British purchases, Duncan Ferguson and Kieron Dyer, look over-priced and the former's ongoing injury problems will be a worry for the Dutchman. But Gullit always bought well from overseas when at Chelsea and if Elena, Goma and Dumas settle in well then this should be a far better league season.

Tottenham

Last season: 11th

They are still the proverbial two or three good players short of being capable of mounting something approaching a title challenge, but things are at least moving in the right direction again at White Hart Lane - even if they are going there under a man once widely regarded as the lord of darkness by the club's fans. Predictably enough, they are far more solid at the back, but there is still considerable work to be done in other departments.

West Ham

Last season: Fifth.

Some managers don't have so much as a Plan B when things go wrong. Harry Redknapp is currently on plan M or N and finally things seem to be going rather nicely. The current blend of foreign talent and young English players helped Redknapp's side to the InterToto Cup last time around and while further progress might have been achieved had more money been spent over the summer, the further emergence of home-grown talent from one of the most aggressive youth schemes in the Britain should at least help the East End club to consolidate.

Aston Villa

Last season: Sixth.

Last year's early season form dramatically misrepresented the strength of the Villa squad and the speed with which they fell away exaggerated their weaknesses. At the back, however, there are clearly problems and they seem unlikely to be helped much by the replacement of Mark Bosnich with David James. At the other end Dion Dublin can blow very hot or very cool while Paul Merson is almost as unpredictable. John Gregory, as his regular pursuits of big money signings would suggest, knows he is still short a star or two.

Middlesbrough

Last season: Ninth.

Like Villa there is money unspent at Middlesbrough and, like John Gregory, Bryan Robson knows that more needs to be done. Paul Ince will add strength in midfield, but his reputation for being a disruptive influence makes him an odd choice for Paul Gascoigne's partner. Christian Ziege looks to be a better piece of business for the club, but the best they can hope for is a trip to Wembley that doesn't end with a depressing train journey home.