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NEXT GENERATION: Manchester United's Ashley Young

A NEW Premier League campaign kicks off on Saturday. The Voice of Sport’s John Portch previews what should be another enthralling season….

MANCHESTER UNITED enter the season glancing over their shoulders like no other defending champions in recent memory.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side may have finally usurped Liverpool as the most-successful side in English football but the emergence of local rivals Manchester City and the resurgence of Chelsea and a vengeful Liverpool suggest that United will not have it all their own way. And that is without taking into account the potential of both Arsenal and Tottenham.

It is a given that the champions will emerge from those six names. United have begun by strengthening in several areas.

The promising 20-year-old David De Gea replaces the retired Edwin Van Der Sar in goal, while the young Phil Jones adds a further option to an already solid defence.

Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez are eager to develop their partnership so it remains to be seen if Ashley Young can bring a spark of creativity to a midfield that often lacked in that department last season.

Cross-town rivals City provide the most prominent threat to United’s crown. The acquisition of Sergio Aguero will assuage the potential loss of Carlos Tevez but much is already in place for an assault on the title.

Joe Hart is England’s best goalkeeper for a generation, Nigel De Jong marshals an obdurate backline, while the creativity of David Silva is complemented by the domineering presence of Yaya Toure in midfield.

Add Aguero, Arabian largesse, and the title-winning credentials of boss Roberto Mancini to the mix and their rivals will be wary.

Chelsea took an age to recover from their mid-season slump last term and continue to wear the look of an ageing team reaching the end of a cycle.

New manager Andre Villas-Boas will bring fresh impetus despite reservations regarding his relative youth and much depends on how successfully he can introduce youngsters such as Josh McEachran.

Daniel Sturridge’s excellent loan spell at Bolton should serve as the motivation Fernando Torres needs to rediscover his scoring touch.

Should Villas-Boas extract imperious performances from his veterans Chelsea can pose a threat. Should he fail then Roman Abramovich will likely wield the axe once again.

Arsenal may yet lose captain Cesc Fabregas or the unsettled Samir Nasri but questions about their character and defensive durability have long haunted Arsene Wenger’s side.

The quality of a fully-fit Jack Wilshere, Robin Van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen indicate a side with the quality to challenge but doubts about Wenger’s ability to end the Gunners’ trophy drought will persist until a trophy is safely in the cabinet.

Liverpool and manager Kenny Dalglish enjoyed a renaissance in early 2011 that saw the classy Luis Suarez take to English football immediately.

With £35m Andy Carroll now fully-fit and a squad bolstered by the arrival of Jordan Henderson, Stuart Downing and Charlie Adam and the Reds will be expected to push for a Champions League spot at least.
A top-four berth represents the ceiling of Tottenham’s ambition. Harry Redknapp has assembled a gifted if goal-shy squad but Spurs lack the resources to flesh their squad out with more players of Rafael Van Der Vaart and Gareth Bale’s ability.

It is not Redknapp’s fault so much as financial reality. It is a reality that could yet see midfielder Luka Modric whisked away to Chelsea.

Economic duress also dictates that Everton will struggle to shake off their ‘sleeping giant’ tag.

The Toffees lead a group for whom Europa League qualification and a good cup run represent a realistic pinnacle.

David Moyes deserves immense credit for the results he continues to achieve at Goodison Park and should his charges, led by skipper Phil Neville, Mikael Arteta, and Tim Cahill, hit the ground running for once they will bloody a few rivals’ noses in the process.

The prospect of a Martin Jol-led Fulham promises entertainment down by the Thames and his squad has the personnel in the form of Bobby Zamora and Clint Dempsey to make their mark, although a lack of depth could prove their undoing.

Stoke are an established Premier League fixture and the blossoming of Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington add creative spark to a side too easily dismissed as being agricultural. Relegation should not be an issue as another season in mid-table beckons.

This is a prospect that Bolton face having been shorn of Daniel Sturridge and Johan Elmander. The return of injured American international midfielder Stuart Holden cannot come fast enough.

Sunderland have spent this summer acquiring Manchester United players that Sir Alex Ferguson was willing to release, such as John O’Shea and Wes Brown.

Local rivals Newcastle have brought in striker Demba Ba but Joey Barton has been released and left-back Jose Enrique is unsettled.

Greater emphasis will fall on Ivorian midfielder Cheik Tiote but little suggests either north-east side will be challenging for Europe.

KEY: Newcastle United midfielder Chiek Tiote

After steadying the ship Roy Hodgson looks set provide West Brom with the discipline and cohesion they need to survive comfortably in the top flight. The deeds of Peter Odemwingie and Youssuf Mulumbu reveal a side that is finally progressing beyond its yo-yo status.

Aston Villa have been tipped by many to struggle having lost Downing and Young, yet the additions of Shay Given and Charles N’Zogbia matched with the sharp-shooting of Darren Bent should see them avoid a relegation scrap.

Neither Wolves nor Blackburn can call upon a similar match-winner and it could prove to their detriment.

For Wolves to succeed, Matt Jarvis will need another consistent season at Molineux while Blackburn will hope that Junior Hoilett can continue where he left off.

The long-term intentions of Blackburn owners Venky’s Group will hopefully become apparent as the season progresses.

Roberto Martinez encourages his Wigan side to play attacking football and midfielder James McCarthy is an exciting prospect, but the Latics lack a proven goalscorer and may struggle to obtain the points to beat relegation.

Norwich, under Paul Lambert, are perhaps the best-placed of the promoted sides to survive.

Lambert’s team are far more unyielding than the last Canaries side to grace the top-flight in 2005 and if playmaker Wes Hoolahan shines early Norwich could build some upward momentum.

Swansea have been compared to Blackpool for their swashbuckling style yet even the goals of Scott Sinclair cannot mask their defensive concerns.

However, the Swans are a little more tactically dextrous than Ian Holloway’s side and it could prove their salvation.

The pre-season disarray at Queen’s Park Rangers will mean little if the Hoops can hit the ground running, yet it will take more than the exploits of Adel Taraabt to keep them up.

The Premier League brands itself as the most exciting league in the world and as long as a degree of uncertainty remains regarding the destiny of the title and the make-up of the relegation candidates one can indulge the hype.

Three wise men predict…

Rodney Hinds, sports editor: Premier League: Manchester United,FA Cup: Arsenal,Carling Cup: Tottenham
Relegated: Wolves, Swansea, Wigan, Top Scorer: Wayne Rooney,Champions League: Barcelona

Ben Lettman, chief sports reporter: Premier League: Manchester United, FA Cup: Chelsea, Carling Cup: Tottenham, Relegated: Swansea, Wigan, Wolves, Top Scorer: Robin Van Persie, Champions League: Barcelona

John Portch, football correspondent: Premier League: Manchester City, FA Cup: Chelsea, Carling Cup: Manchester United, Relegated: Blackburn, QPR. Wigan, Top Scorer: Javier Hernandez, Champions League: Real Madrid