MANCHESTER UNITED (1st)
Winning the Champions League and Premier League last season
required a number of battling performances from United but
perhaps their toughest challenge has been fending off Real
Madrid's courting of Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bulgaria and Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov has
been heavily linked with a transfer to Old Trafford but even
without him United remain the team to beat.
MIDDLESBROUGH (13th)
Manager Gareth Southgate has brought in France Under-21
midfielder Didier Digard from Paris St Germain and Dutch striker
Marvin Emnes from Sparta Rotterdam after another mid-table
finish last season.
However, without the creativity of the departed Fabio
Rochemback (Sporting Lisbon) and the safe hands of goalkeeper
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), it is hard to see Middlesbrough doing
anything more than making up the numbers again.
NEWCASTLE UNITED (12th)
Kevin Keegan's return in January sparked jubilation among
Newcastle fans but after a two-month wait for a first victory
and little sign of the attacking football employed in his first
spell another season of mediocrity looks likely.
Keegan has agreed to give midfielder Joey Barton a second
chance following his release from prison for attacking a
teenager but few signings and a consistently underachieving
squad does not offer much hope for the new season.
PORTSMOUTH (8th)
A first venture into European competition awaits Portsmouth
after their FA Cup triumph over Cardiff City in May gave them a
place in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
Striker Peter Crouch has joined from Liverpool and will
start his second spell with the club in a potential England
strike force alongside Jermain Defoe.
Despite the loss of Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari
(Inter Milan) qualifying for the UEFA Cup is likely.
STOKE CITY (promoted)
Stoke have returned to the top-flight after a 23-year
absence but will likely struggle to survive.
A robust side, they have added Dave Kitson, who scored 10
Premier League goals last season for relegated Reading, and
Danish international goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
SUNDERLAND (15th)
Manager Roy Keane has been busy spending money as his side
look to build on a solid first season back in the top flight.
Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda and Teemu Tainio have all
joined from Tottenham Hotspur, but a new striker is still needed
to avoid a season battling relegation.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (11th)
The departure of Robbie Keane to Liverpool and possible loss
of Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United) has left the fans of the
League Cup holders frustrated after manager Juande Ramos had
been praised for a number of high profile signings.
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb), England
winger David Bentley (Blackburn), creative Mexican Giovani dos
Santos (Barcelona) and goalkeeper Gomes (PSV Eindhoven) have all
joined but Champions League qualification looks beyond them.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (promoted)
FA Cup semi-finalists last season, West Bromwich Albion look
the most likely of the promoted sides to avoid relegation back
to the Championship (second division).
England goalkeeper Scott Carson has joined from Liverpool
but the loss of Hungarian winger Zoltan Gera (Fulham) and
experienced striker Kevin Phillips (Birmingham City) could be
costly.
WEST HAM UNITED (10th)
After a campaign plagued by injuries last year it has been a
quiet close season for West Ham United.
Swiss utility player Valon Behrami has joined from Lazio but
another mid-table finish is likely unless than can keep their
squad away from the treatment room.
WIGAN ATHLETIC (14th)
Manager Steve Bruce has raided former club Birmingham City
for Frenchman Olivier Kapo and Dutch striker Daniel de Ridder as
Wigan look to build on a strong finish last season which saved
them from relegation.
Egypt striker Amr Zaki has signed on loan, which should give
Wigan enough attacking options to avoid a relegation battle.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)