1. The Rodgers revolution

Liverpool may need to be patient with Brendan Rodgers. Fully implementing the kind of possession football we saw from his Swansea City side could take a while, maybe even more than a season. Yet the signing of Joe Allen will help in that regard. If Rodgers's methods work, Liverpool will flourish.

2. The arrival of Shinji Kagawa

All the attention at Manchester United will be focused on Robin van Persie, but the Japanese midfielder could prove to be just as influential a signing as the Dutchman. Kagawa scored 17 goals and created 13 for Borussia Dortmund last season. This is one Asian footballer who has not been bought to spike shirt sales.

3. Gylfi Sigurdsson

Losing Luka Modric may not be as much of a blow for Tottenham Hotspur as some fear because in Sigurdsson they have signed a potential star. The Iceland midfielder will not exert as much control as Modric but he is more direct than the Croatian and his shooting ability from long range will delight Tottenham fans.

4. Newcastle's progression

After surprising so many people by challenging for a place in the top four last season, Newcastle United have not been pillaged by bigger clubs and have kept their side together. A young team should get better, although Alan Pardew needs to bolster his squad in order to cope with the demands of the Europa League.

5. No Alex McLeish

When Aston Villa went to Tottenham last season, their wingers were Emile Heskey and Alan Hutton. Heskey and Hutton, McLeish's Ryan Giggs and David Beckham. Paul Lambert should reintroduce old-fashioned values like entertainment and striving to win.

6. The return of Southampton

Life has rarely been simple for Southampton since their relegation from the Premier League under Harry Redknapp seven years ago. They endured administration and a spell in League One but are back now. The Saints might struggle defensively but under Nigel Adkins they will be fun to watch.

7. Watching Sergio Agüero

Foreign players are supposed to take time to adapt to English football. Not Agüero. From the moment he made his debut against Swansea to the moment he won the title for Manchester City with that goal, the Argentinian got it. And the best thing? He's only going to get better. Enjoy.

8. Can Wigan do it again?

Good old Wigan Athletic. Against all the odds, they're still around. Every year, they seem nailed-on to go down and every year, they stay up. There have been few more stylish escape acts than the one they mustered last season. Can Roberto Martínez do it again? Well, he did get Franco Di Santo scoring. Anything's possible.

9. Can Steve Clarke cut it?

Former Chelsea No2s are in vogue – one of them won the Champions League last season. Unfortunately for West Bromwich Albion, Clarke is not about to emulate Roberto Di Matteo but it will be interesting to see whether the challenge of being the manager will be a step too far.

10. A resurgent Fernando Torres

Given that Spain played most of Euro 2012 without a striker, it was amusing that Torres ended up as the tournament's top scorer. Who knows what effect that could have on his form at Chelsea? His well-taken goal in the 3-2 defeat against Manchester City in the Community Shield suggested that he is regaining his old swagger.