I’d like to start by hoping that all of you had a good summer.

Now that the Premiership is back in swing, I’m going to discuss in this article who I think will become Barclays Premiership Champions and which three teams face relegation to the Championship and which players will shine.

Champions of the Premiership?

There are four teams who I think stand a chance of winning it this season, with that being Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. All teams have bought well over the summer.
But I believe the title will be staying in North London with the Gunners. Keeping Patrick Vieria is a massive boost to Arsenal and he has become so important for that club. He is a true leader and his power and passion is a massive factor in Arsenal being the team they are. What stands them out against the other title contenders are their youth players. Cesc Fabregas, Jeremie Alliadere, Jermaine Pennant and Gael Clichy are players who lack experience but have shown already this season and in the past they’re more than capable of doing a job.
Who could forget their other stars? Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole and Kolo Toure all produced big time last season and now they’ll want to reclaim the title.
But their biggest star this season could be the Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes. Not being selected for Euro 2004 could be one of the best decision’s made in his career. Towards the end of last season he showed us what he could do and already this season he produced the goods in the Community Shield against Manchester United.

Relegation to the Championship?

I’m going to upset Norwich City, Crystal Palace and Everton fans but I believe this will be their last season in the Prem.
Norwich and Crystal Palace care too much about the future of their clubs to jeopardise their position’s by spending too much money on wages and transfer fee’s, and as a result it will only be the one season in the top flight this time round.
And in recent years there has always been clubs that are simply “to big to go down”. (e.g.. Leeds United and West Ham)
Well the time has come for Everton. They probably have the hottest talent in Europe at the moment in Wayne Rooney and a fine young manager in David Moyes but the board room arguments and the finances suggest it will be a real struggle. Everton are extremely thin in terms of squad players and losing 2 or 3 players through injury or suspension will hit them very hard.

Players to shine?

Last season it was a pleasure to witness some fantastic talents produce week in week out like Shaun Wright-Phillips and Scott Parker, and this season their will be more.

Below is a list of players I think will have major impacts for their clubs.

Jose Antonio Reyes (ARSENAL)
Jermaine Defoe (SPURS)
Collins John (FULHAM)
Carlton Cole (ASTON VILLA)

Here’s to a good season and hopefully it will be football we talk about and not Sven Goran Eriksson's women.

Mark