Team to Team Comparision

Arsenal
ARSENAL's days as a serious title contender could be numbered - at least temporarily - after an off-season that has left the most ardent fan feeling uneasy. With the leaving of Henry to Barcalona the team will lag a bit in strike force.

Aston Villa
MANAGER Martin O'Neill will not tolerate another mid-table finish this season, and he will be aiming for direct UEFA Cup qualification as a minimum.

Birmingham City
BIRMINGHAM City is back in the Premier League after just a season in the Championship, but a return to the second tier is the most likely scenario this season unless they get off the blocks as soon as they can.

Blackburn Rovers
BLACKBURN will have no excuses if it struggles to score, with Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts, Matt Derbyshire, Roque Santa Cruz and Maceo Rigters on the books.This could be a good season for the club.

Bolton Wanderers
SOME pundits believe Bolton Wanderers overachieved by finishing seventh last season, but new manager Sammy Lee is aiming for a top-four spot this season which is only a distant possibility.

Chelsea
Chelsea will define its season as successful only if it regains the title, but one suspects that Manchester United has a psychological edge.Chelsea will certainly give a strong fight and are one of the strong contenders for the title.

Derby County
DERBY County should be aiming for grim survival having gained promotion, through the play-offs, 12 months after finishing third-bottom in the Championship. But they will find the life in premiership a bit tough to handle.

Everton
EVERTON'S unbroken run in the top division - it was last relegated in 1954 - is not under threat. Indeed, most fans fancy a Champions League spot with the team already in Europe this season.

Fulham
FULHAM escaped relegation last season by just one point, and it's going to be more of the same for the Cottagers in this campaign.The manager has been busy making new signings and strengthening the squad.

Liverpool
LIVERPOOL is the club most likely to dethrone Manchester United. And after a 17-year drought, the day cannot come soon enough for Reds fans.The club has been most active in the the transfer market with the new owners backing the manager to make new signings.They will be strong contenders for the title.

Manchester City
DESPITE the signing of Sven-Goran Eriksson as manager, City fans will most likely endure another season in the shadow of Manchester United even though the club has made some good signings and with a new manager would hope to finish in the top half of the table.

Manchester United
THERE'S no prize for predicting that Manchester United will finish there or thereabouts in the title race; nine titles since 1992-1993 says it all.

Middlesbrough
MIDDLESBROUGH finished 12th last season, and the fans should be ecstatic if it can repeat that performance this time round.

Newcastle United
A NEW owner, a new manager and several big signings ... if there's going to be a shock title winner this season, it will most likely be the Magpies. They are in search for a title since 1969.

Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH is hoping for another fast start to the season as it seeks to improve on last term's efforts with an automatic UEFA Cup place for 2008-2009.

Reading
READING was one of the success stories of last season, finishing eighth, but the Royals are likely to drop back in the field this time.But with Steve Coppell as the manager they will do well

Sunderland
SUNDERLAND is renowned for fluctuating between the top two divisions, but there is a quiet confidence at the club that this season will be different. With Keane at ht helm there is a new confidence in the team that finished top of the Championship league last season.

Tottenham Hotspur
TOTTENHAM Hotspur's highest Premier League finish of fifth last season has some fans dreaming of Champions League football this time next year.they are likely to break into the top four.

West Ham United
THIS season should be one of consolidation for West Ham United, which missed relegation by the skin of its teeth in May.This season they will be more strong and with the manager and the owner trying to bring the club into europe with its strong performance.

Wigan Athletic
HAVING missed the drop last season by a single goal on the last day of the season, the Latics won't find the new campaign any less stressful.They are likely to struggle.