The stars (and FFT) predict who'll do what in this season's Premier League

Jeff Stelling
Sky Sports' beating heart and pulsing brain

The title race will be closer than last season, but Manchester United have already struck a real psychological blow by beating City in the manner they did at Wembley on Sunday. City might bear the scars of that for a while.

United have certainly bought well and their younger players Ã¢ÂÂ Smalling, Nani, Hernandez, the Da Silva twins Ã¢ÂÂ will all have learnt and improved too. They would certainly be my tip for the title.
City will be up there again, and exactly how they do may depend on how well Aguero slots in, but I see them finishing second. I think Liverpool's feelgood factor could see them finish third and we saw glimpses at the end of last season of how much of a handful Luis Suarez is going to be for opposition defences. I donÃ¢ÂÂt necessarily think Chelsea and Arsenal are that much, if any stronger than last season.

There are a few question marks around Chelsea, the new manager is very inexperienced Ã¢ÂÂ so can he achieve the same success as somebody like Carlo Ancelotti? TheyÃ¢ÂÂll also need Fernando Torres to score some goals, and IÃ¢ÂÂm not entirely convinced he will. But they still have a solid look about them and weÃ¢ÂÂll see more of Ramires this season. They should have enough know-how to pip Arsenal to fourth.

Everybody knows the kind of players Arsenal need to buy Ã¢ÂÂ solid defensive players, and itÃ¢ÂÂs almost like Arsene Wenger cocks a snook at them by going out and signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. HeÃ¢ÂÂs undoubtedly a fantastic prospect, but heÃ¢ÂÂs the last thing they need at the moment. God knows what Arsenal fans must make of that. IÃ¢ÂÂm a big fan of Arsene Wenger, but IÃ¢ÂÂm left scratching my head at times.

IÃ¢ÂÂll also be interested to see how Tottenham get on. I know they havenÃ¢ÂÂt really strengthened but if Ledley King and Gareth Bale can stay fit and they keep Luka Modric they could do well. I canÃ¢ÂÂt imagine Jermain Defoe struggling as badly as he did last season and I can see HarryÃ¢ÂÂs team having a good year.
IÃ¢ÂÂve got a funny feeling Norwich might do OK too. TheyÃ¢ÂÂve always scored goals Ã¢ÂÂ last season they scored in 20 of their 23 away games Ã¢ÂÂ and itÃ¢ÂÂll be interesting to see if Grant Holt can do it at the top level.

But itÃ¢ÂÂs hard to see their fellow promotees QPR surviving. DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroy will get a modicum of goals, but itÃ¢ÂÂll be a bit of a miracle if Neil Warnock keeps them up. I think Blackburn will go down too Ã¢ÂÂ I just donÃ¢ÂÂt think the owners have a real grip on reality. Wigan, meanwhile, canÃ¢ÂÂt keep scraping out of it forever.
If you asked me to put money on somebody to win the Golden Boot IÃ¢ÂÂd go with Suarez Ã¢ÂÂ I was really impressed with him last season, heÃ¢ÂÂll get great service and I think heÃ¢ÂÂll work well with Andy Carroll.

I think Tottenham might surprise people and push on a bit, but not into the top four. I also fancy Wolves to be better than last year - they've got Roger Johnson in, and they'll keep more clean sheets. I think Bolton might be a surprise name to be involved in the relegation fight: they've lost some key attacking players. As for top scorer, I'll go for Robin van Persie, though for an outside bet, maybe Jermain Defoe...

Blackburn also worry me. Players now just want to leave, IÃ¢ÂÂm not sure what the owners are doing. I they'll regret sacking Sam Allardyce, no disrespect to Steve Kean. He could well be the first manager sacked: the owners have dropped him right in it. Once you start selling players without giving the manager the budget to buy you the kind of quality to keep you in the Premier League, heÃ¢ÂÂs got no chance.

I'm not convinced Aston Villa will have a particularly good season, but given everything will be going through Darren Bent, he'll be a good shout for the Golden Boot. I've got a nagging feeling that Spurs may start slowly, particularly now they'll be playing catch-up in terms of games played and starting up at Old Trafford. Let's see how they react to that. Across North London, it'll be interesting to see how Arsenal fit in Gervinho, and more specifically what his arrival means for Theo Walcott.

I don't think Newcastle will do as badly as many others are suggesting. They're not the only side to lose players this summer, and they've brought in a few interesting-looking signings and hopefully Hatem Ben Arfa will be back from his latest knock sooner rather than later. They won't get near that top six from last season, but if they hit the ground running I think they could still finish in the top eight.

It's always tough for the side that comes up via the play-offs and I don't think it will be any different for Swansea. Despite being considered one of the richest clubs, QPR haven't made any significant signings and you always sense things could go wonky there. All the promoted sides will try and play the right way but with Norwich also not making any real proven Premier League signings I think they will struggle to get the goals to keep them up.

Top Four, in order, will be Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool. Bottom three, not in order: Wigan, Blackburn and Swansea. Top scorer will be Manchester City's Sergio Aguero Ã¢ÂÂ the man is an all round superstar. Wonderful technique, superb speed and the nous to play a bit further forward than Carlos Tevez and cause absolute havoc. Just need to make sure Roberto Mancini doesn't tinker with him too much and that he gets enough games.

I think Fulham could have a decent season under Martin Jol as well; he's an astute manager with experience of doing pretty well in this division (something that's often overlooked), and has made a decent signing in John Arne Riise. If you look at the players they have at their disposal, they can easily challenge for a European place if they keep them fit: Mark Schwarzer, Brede Hangeland, Riise, Danny Murphy, Damien Duff, Clint Dempsey, Bobby Zamora.

I can see Manchester City winning the title. Bonkers, I know. Especially after the Community Shield lesson (if that matters). But I think last seasonÃ¢ÂÂs Champions League final is key. Manchester United were so far behind Barcelona, and what do they really have to prove by winning another Premier League title? Winning another Champions League is the only thing that can really reaffirm FergieÃ¢ÂÂs greatness. City, on the other hand, will have the hunger of winning their first league crown for ages. If Mario Balotelli stays fit and focused, if they can hold firm at centre-back and if Mancini can stop being so Italian and go for it a bit more (they have the players, after all), they can win it. Three big ifs, though...

People are getting carried away about Liverpool. Sure, there'll be a feelgood factor, but they have a lot of new players to bed in, and the majority of the new signings are unproven for any team used to anything above mid-table. Chelsea are still strong but needed to freshen up more in terms of personnel and tactics, and I'm not sure Andre Villas-Boas will be brave enough to risk upsetting all the big egos. Arsenal have been written off, but will have a point to prove. Still loads of clout going forward, Aaron Ramsey could be an adequate replacement for Cesc. They'll still be Champions League material if they sign a decent centre-back by the end of August. Why oh why did Wenger not sign Shay Given, though?!

Blackburn have sold Phil Jones, Jermaine Jones has gone back to Germany after loan spell and Chris Samba might have gone by the end of the month. And theyÃ¢ÂÂve signed... Er... No, me either. Swansea will be well organised, have a plan and momentum. I'm just not sure they have the players to stay up (especially now QPR have signed a couple of decent strikers). The Toon, well, theyÃ¢ÂÂre always a crisis waiting to happen and have sold Kevin Nolan, Jose Enrique and could also lose Joey Barton. The players they have signed will also need time to bed in. The crowdÃ¢ÂÂs anxiety, as usual, will get through to players and manager.

As for relegation, it's not an easy one to predict this year, given the quality of the sides coming up into the Premier League. I think QPR will be safe, and Swansea won't be too far behind them. Swansea may surprise a few this season, a la Blackpool last year, but I think they have the quality to sustain a decent performance throughout the season and survive the season. Norwich have some decent players but overall I don't think they have the quality to achieve anything more than a survival fight, and I expect them to be one of the three going down.

Top scorer? Tough question this year, with a lot of quality candidates. Wayne Rooney will be there or thereabouts as he is every year, as will Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Darren Bent, Carlos Tevez if he stays and Fernando Torres, who I think will explode this season. But my nod goes to Javier Hernandez, who I think is one of the most natural goalscorers there is anywhere in Europe at the minute. If he plays, even if it's only a matter of coming off the bench, he'll score goals.

Champions will be Man United, without any doubts. I think City will push them close this year. For the top four IÃ¢ÂÂm going for United, City, Chelsea, Liverpool; I think Arsenal will slip out. For relegation, IÃ¢ÂÂm going to go for Swansea, Blackburn and QPR. For other strugglers, youÃ¢ÂÂve got to look at Norwich, and possibly Villa: McLeish has done well for Birmingham, but heÃ¢ÂÂs going to be under massive pressure.

Wayne Rooney will be top scorer, but I'm looking forward to watching Adel Taarabt. I think heÃ¢ÂÂll surprise people, I think he'll struggle. In the Championship he looked like a was a world-beater but it's going to be a big season for him to show people if he can do it in the Premier League. He struggled at Spurs, so let's see how good he really is. You canÃ¢ÂÂt be that good in the Championship and fail in the Premier League.

For the thick end of two decades, barring an interregnum imposed by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, it has been a surprise if Manchester United aren't champions. No alarms this year, either. Alex Ferguson has once again bought players who improve the strength of the team and depth of the squad without threatening the structure of the club, including laying the groundwork for the medium-term replacement of the Vidic/Ferdinand defensive axis. Their only problem is in goal, where they must hope David de Gea is more of a Pepe Reina than a Ricardo.

Fourth place is up for grabs, as is thankfully becoming the norm. After doing what they do best Ã¢ÂÂ buying young forwards, selling maturing assets, ignoring defensive crises Ã¢ÂÂ Arsenal will score and concede with pleasing regularity; if he can stay fit, Robin van Persie's a good Golden Boot bet. Spurs will be up the right end, as long as Harry Redknapp doesn't lie back and think of England, and Everton will make their annual organised charge from just slightly too far back. To their chagrin, neighbours Liverpool look to have the squad, management, ownership and Europe-free fixture list to push on; their development may be measured by how long they stay in the title race.

Down at the tradesmen's exit, it could be a disastrous season for Lancashire. Blackburn seem in disarray under new management, Wigan can't survive forever on Roberto Martinez's top-flight average of 1.06 points per game, and Bolton face a tough start without their two best players (three if Gary Cahill goes). This season's Big Clubs Facing Trouble could be Newcastle and Villa, while the three promoted sides will face some soul-searching if it goes wrong: billionaire-backed QPR have spent nothing, Norwich may get vertigo and Swansea's passing patterns may not bedazzle the country's elite. But they'll offer some surprises, and that's a good thing, right?

It may be said every year, but the new Premier League season looks like being one of the most unpredictable yet Ã¢ÂÂ top and bottom. ItÃ¢ÂÂs hard to see anyone doing a Lady Godiva and streaking away with the title; Manchester United are favourites as ever, but they have to adapt to a changing squad. That includes a talented but inexperienced goalkeeper who will have less of a nerve-settling aura about him than the departed Edwin van der Sar. Ashley Young and Phil Jones Ã¢ÂÂ and also Tom Cleverley, returning from an accomplished loan spell at Wigan Ã¢ÂÂ appear ready to slot right into an otherwise settled team, however, and a 20th title looks likely.

Likely, but not guaranteed. Chelsea and Manchester City will be hacking away at UnitedÃ¢ÂÂs ladder with money-made machetes. Teams will especially fear Chelsea as Andre Villas-Boas is something of an unknown quantity: no English side has ever faced one of his outfits. Tactical change will be gradual rather than dramatic, but if they can overcome Stoke at the Britannia in their first game, expect a flying start from then on.

For the first time in years, everyone's tipping Blackburn for the drop Ã¢ÂÂ and they're right to. With an unproven, under-pressure manager having to handle his clueless owners asking him to buy Lionel Messi for ÃÂ£5 and a bargain bucket, heÃ¢ÂÂll have too much on his plate to lead his team to good results, and is a strong bet for the first managerial casualty too (depending on the situation at QPR).

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