The Premier League season begins on Friday when Arsenal host Leicester

Chelsea begin their title defence on Saturday at home against Burnley

Sportsmail's reporters have tried to predict the upcoming campaign

Finally, the Premier League is back.

Sportsmail's expert team of reporters have run the rule over signings, scorers, the managers who are under pressure and the title contenders.

Chelsea are defending Premier League champions and begin their campaign against Burnley

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OLIVER HOLT

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Signing of the summer? Nemanja Matic (Chelsea to Manchester United, £40m). I was a big fan of his when he was at Chelsea and didn't think he got enough credit. Exactly what United have been needing for some time and will weaken a major rival, too.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola, with Jose Mourinho a close second. Both have spent a lot of money. Both loaded with sky-high expectations.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. I think it will be very close between City and United. Both look as though they will be stronger than last year. City just have the edge.

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Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham. Chelsea and Spurs will be contenders again but fear Liverpool may miss out if Philippe Coutinho leaves.

Surprise package? Watford might have a decent season under Marco Silva. Many disparaged his effect at Hull last season but I thought he lifted mood and performances for a while. Club too far gone by the time he got there.

Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Newcastle, Southampton. Think the curse of Ashley will strike Newcastle again. He needed to back Rafa Benitez properly this summer and so far, he hasn't.

Top goalscorer? Gabriel Jesus. He looked superb when he arrived at City last season. Injury disrupted his season but City have got so much going forward, he will get plenty of chances.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Chelsea. If City and United set the pace domestically, it's easy to see a situation where the Champions League becomes Chelsea's main target. If Eden Hazard plays to his potential, anything is possible.

One thing you DO want to see this season? Stockport County get promoted from the National League North. Clubs to stop ripping off their fans. Very little chance of either happening.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Constant blaming of the referee for a defeat. It's so boring. Take some responsibility yourself for a change.

Striker Gabriel Jesus flourished upon his anticipated arrival at Manchester City last season

MATT BARLOW

Signing of the summer? Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen to West Ham, £16m). Capable of 20 goals if West Ham build the right team around him and that's good value for £16m in the modern market.

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Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola: No trophy in his first season and another £200m spent on players and exacting personal standards.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. Strengthened the areas which needed strengthening although much will hinge on Ederson's adjustment to goalkeeping in England.

Who else makes up top four? Chelsea (solid and powerful first XI), Manchester United (expect significant improvement) & Arsenal (one final flourish from Sanchez, Ozil & Co).

Surprise package? Huddersfield have energy, spirit and unity and it might be enough to avoid an instant return to the Championship.

Which teams will be relegated? Brighton, Swansea, Crystal Palace - because it takes a bit longer to get there than you expect from my house.

Top goalscorer? Gabriel Jesus. Seven in 10 in the Premier League last season and City were starting to purr when he was injured in February.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Manchester City. Biggest squad, loads of options, the Pep factor and a bit more Euro-nous than before.

One thing you DO want to see this season? Diego Costa doing the Chelsea analysis on MNF.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Arsene Wenger putting on his red shoes to dance the blues.

Javier Hernandez could be the signing of the summer if he hits top form at West Ham

NICK HARRIS

Signing of the summer? Romelu Lukaku (Everton to Manchester United, £75m). The biggest price taking him to the most successful team of the Premier League era brings the biggest expectation. So it's time for him to produce now he plays for a big club, and I expect he will. Mario Lemina at Southampton will also shine.

Manager most under pressure? The biggest pressures SHOULD be at the 'top' clubs and relegation scrappers but I've got a hunch that mediocre, mid-table Stoke and West Ham might struggle so I'll take Mark Hughes and Slaven Bilic to be fretting most about their jobs long before Christmas.

Who will win the title? Manchester United. Realistically it's a four-horse race between them, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. I just don't see Tottenham maintaining the last two years of wonder; Liverpool will fall short if they sell Countinho and Everton are still far-off wannabes.

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Who else makes up top four? Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Arsenal will be runners-up as the Premier League pays homage to its peak years with a showdown between the best club in Manchester and the best in London. Quirky, I know. Chelsea to pip City for third as Pep's faltering challenge means he concentrates on Europe instead.

Surprise package? It depends on whether you mean which team will do markedly better than expected or which outside the 'big' clubs will finish highest. On that basis, Huddersfield and Southampton.

Which teams will be relegated? Blimey, it's really as case of perming three from 13 these days. You could put these names in a hat and have as good a chance of getting it right. So I have zero confidence in this: but on the basis that the promoted teams all have smart managers, I'll go for complacency, resources and cock-ups doing for Stoke, Burnley and West Ham.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku. Although until the transfer window is shut and we know the striking options for all the top teams, it's impossible to call it. You'd expect Harry Kane and Alexis Sanchez and somebody from Manchester City to fill their boots too.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League?Manchester City. But only on the basis that their owners really want to win it because they haven't done so yet and that will inevitably have filtered through to Pep Guardiola. City will be notable (again) for being behind by half-time away from home in league games and their chances popping like a burst balloon.

One thing you DO want to see this season? An eight-horse race for the title, at least, well past New Year, from which Southampton emerge as front-runners in a thrilling May finale that ends with the title. Captain Virgil Van Dijk will then pen a mea culpa that he was wrong to want away. 'Football truly is a glory game, I can see that now,' his speech will end. His words are delivered on placard to Southampton town hall by Lord Lucan aboard Shergar.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Arsenal fans whining about Arsene Wenger. It's been boring enough to stomach for the last few years, so give it a rest and get behind your club and your manager, you pampered, spoiled muppets.

Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku is expected to be a contender for top scorer

MIKE KEEGAN

Signing of the summer? Sead Kolasinac (Schalke to Arsenal, free transfer). As a fellow scribe pointed out during the Community Shield, the Bosnian looks too hard to play for Arsenal. In this ludicrous market, to get a top quality 23-year-old with international experience on a free transfer is superb business. An honourable mention for Liverpool and Dominic Solanke, who will be an absolute steal if he lives up to his exciting potential.

Manager most under pressure? Arsene Wenger. The Emirates ingrates will be at it from day one if Arsenal do not beat Leicester City on Friday night. Wenger simply has to get off to a flyer or the knives will instantly be out from the usual suspects. Elsewhere, it would not surprise me if Craig Shakespeare and Paul Clement were gone by Christmas.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. All Pep Guardiola's squad was short of last season was full backs. It's safe to say that after the summer splurge that is no longer an issue. The talent City have is frightening.

Who else makes up top four? Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool. Chelsea will come close and a fired-up Alvaro Morata will shine but European football will ultimately kill their challenge. United will improve and be in it until late on, along with Liverpool, who will perform well in Jurgen Klopp's second full year.

Surprise package? Crystal Palace. They have not spent much, but Frank de Boer is a fine appointment who has a point to prove after his joke sacking at Inter Milan. I've seen some predict a relegation battle for the Eagles. I think they'll end up in the top half.

Which teams will be relegated? Swansea, Brighton, Huddersfield. If Swansea, as expected, lose Gylfi Sigurdsson they will be in deep trouble. I would really like to see Brighton and Huddersfield stay up and I think one of them might just do it at the expense of a surprise faller.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku. It is looking like Jose's United is built for him, as it was for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He will get more chances with his new employers than he did at Everton and, if he stays free from injury, will not be far off 30 goals.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Manchester City. While Jose Mourinho has the know-how, I think Pep Guardiola has the tools to challenge both at home and in Europe. There is a very continental feel about his squad and I would say they are our best hope.

One thing you DO want to see this season? Consideration for match-going fans when it comes to arranging kick-off times. More and more it seems that the lifeblood of our game are being ignored in favour of TV audiences. I am not holding my breath on this one.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Players intentionally taking the ball to the corner flag. I have said it before and will say it again - it is blatant time wasting and should result in an immediate yellow card and free-kick to the opposition. I am not holding my breath on this one, either.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be under pressure quickly without a strong start

ROB DRAPER

Signing of the summer? Sandro Ramirez (Malaga to Everton, £5.2m). Bigger clubs than Everton were chasing the former Barcelona youth prodigy who scored 14 in 28 starts for Malaga last season. In the post-Neymar era, at £5.2m it almost doesn't matter if he doesn't make it here. But many who have watched him week in, week out believe he will. If he does, his value for money will be hard to beat

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. Comes with the territory of being the world's most-iconic manager with one of the world' biggest budgets. He said he wanted to experience England but seems to want to play like he's still in Spain, like a Brit insisting on Fish n' Chips in Magaluf. Fascinated to see whether pragmatism wins out against idealism.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. With some trepidation, I back Pep Guardiola to deal with those pressures. At times, he will make me want to eat those words. There is bound to be some calamitous defending. I'm not sure they have holding midfield right. But in a well-balanced field, with Chelsea seemingly weakened, the fact that it's too soon for Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourino, Arsenal being Arsenal and Tottenham being Tottenham, I'm left with City.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool. Really tough call this. My fear for Chelsea is that without Diego Costa, without more significant signings and with Conte grumbling, it could fall apart again. Title defences haven't gone so well in the last few years. Chelsea were brilliant last year –but to a certain extent the board got away with it. You can't keep playing that game. Tottenham could easily make me look silly.

Surprise package? Everton are the obvious choice to push the big six. But even though they will probably end up relegated, I'll go for Huddersfield. David Wagner has enough about him to make a fight of this. I don't think they'll be canon fodder

Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Brighton, Crystal Palace. You fear for Burnley losing Andre Gray and for West Brom, if Tony Pulis were to leave. Traditionally I always think Watford will go down, but they never do. And they have signed well. Newcastle could well be embroiled in this given their (lack of) summer transfers. Swansea will be, especially if Gylfi Sigudrsson and Fernando Llorente leave. Frank de Boer talks well, looks good: in reality, he's got hard, hard job

Top goalscorer? Harry Kane. Romelu Lukaku will push him close again with more chances Manchester United. Yet he'll also face new challenges against teams playing deeper against him. Kane is simply the most-consistent and it seems crazy to bet against him

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? None of them. But maybe – counter intuitively, given what I said above – Chelsea: IF Antonio Conte is appeased; IF they sign well in the next three weeks. Tactically they'll be better than most; given that I think they'll step back in the Premier league, their focus might end up being in the Champions League

One thing you DO want to see this season? Thomas Lemar at Arsenal; a young English manager such as Eddie Howe or Paul Clement making the Europa League; Marcus Rashford starting 40 games under Jose Mourinho. That's three but I never could do maths.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? John Stones doing step overs a few seconds before landing on his backside and punching the ground as the opposition score; Alexis Sanchez in a Man City shirt (NOT because there is a conspiracy against City – see above – only to maintain competitive balance); Huddersfield going down

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is likely to be a contender for the golden boot once again

DOMINIC KING

Signing of the summer? Wayne Rooney (Manchester United to Everton, free transfer). Why pick this one? Easy. So many deals leave you feeling cold now, with transfer fees like international telephone numbers becoming the norm and so much animosity and squabbling between clubs. But you would need a heart of granite not to see the joy that accompanied Rooney's return home. It remains to be seen how he plays but, for the story, nothing beats Rooney.

Manager most under pressure? Antonio Conte. Yes, he's signed a new contract and just enjoyed one of the most successful debut campaigns of any manager in the last 25 years. But all has not looked right at Chelsea this summer and Roman Abramovich has never flinched in making changes. If results don't go well early on, the heat will be turned up very quickly.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. They have spent money during this window with purpose and, frankly, anything other than finishing first will be an almighty disappointment. They have depth and quality and granted a fair run, they should win the league comfortably. They are just short of 2/1 in the betting and that seems a very fair price.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. As much as I like Tottenham and their impressive manager Mauricio Pochettino, I feel the fact they must play at Wembley and their inability to strengthen so far will leave them vulnerable. Arsenal have not improved sufficiently to get back into the Champions League places.

Surprise package? West Ham. After a difficult 12 months, a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to find improvement and the signings they have made have been good. They are trying to do more business before the window closes and, now they have adjusted to the London Stadium, they can get back to the form of Slaven Bilic's first campaign.

Which teams will be relegated? Burnley, Watford, Huddersfield. Never enjoy putting three teams to struggle forward but they are the most vulnerable. Nothing would please me more to see Huddersfield prove that that prediction wrong.

Top goalscorer? Gabriel Jesus. Here is a world star in the making and if he stays fit, the amount of chances Manchester City create could see him get beyond 30 goals. If City win the title, he will be player of the year.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Manchester City. An unoriginal selection but look through their squad and they now have two first choice XIs. They have the depth and quality to make the biggest impact. This has to be the season when their supporters embrace the fact they are serious players in the best competition.

One thing you DO want to see this season? Rooney thriving back at Everton. I don't for a minute think he will be the explosive force of nature of 10 years ago but I'd like to see him playing well, scoring goals and enjoying his football once more.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Arsenal fans in a meltdown screaming for Arsene Wenger to go after the first significant defeat. He's signed a contract, he's staying and no amount of screeching and wailing on Arsenal Fan TV is going to change that!

Wayne Rooney's return to Everton has ignited excitement among Toffees supporters

SAMI MOKBEL

Signing of the summer? Bernardo Silva (Monaco to Manchester City, £43m). I can't wait to watch this guy in action. Was a revelation in that exciting Monaco team last year. He'll light up the Premier League.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. His first season in England didn't go according to plan. Yet, the Pep reputation remains intact...just. Another season might cost him his reputation and his job.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. They've strengthened in all the areas necessary, namely full back. Much will depend on how new keeper Ederson adapts to life in the Premier League. But Guardiola knows about the Premier League now. No excuses.

Who else makes up top four? Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United. Tottenham fans will be up in arms but the lack of squad investment should catch up with them. Plus adapting to Wembley could be a problem, too.

Surprise package? Watford. Marco Silva is a good manager who will knock the Hornets into shape. They have recruited well too: Nathaniel Chalobah and Will Hughes are two excellent homegrown players. It'll be an exciting season at Vicarage Road.

Which teams will be relegated? Brighton, Swansea, Huddersfield. Newly relegated sides Brighton and Huddersfield will be among the favourites to go down. But Swansea manager Paul Clement might find this season a whole lot different despite his huge impact last term.

Top goalscorer? Harry Kane. Proven Premier League striker who will, barring injury, play every week. Knows where the goal is. That'll never change.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Man City. They have the squad to cope with challenging on all fronts. No team in Europe will relish coming against City.

One thing you DO want to see this season? For the new retrospective diving regulations to be a success. Had enough of it blighting our league. Hopefully it acts as a deterrent.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Any injuries to England players in the lead up to the World Cup. We've had our fair share in the past...please no more.

City's success may be defined by how swiftly goalkeeper Ederson adjusts to the English game

JOE BERNSTEIN

Signing of the summer? Jermain Defoe (Sunderland to Bournemouth, free transfer). Scored 15 times for a horrid Sunderland team last season, so expect at least 20 in a Bournemouth side who play on the front foot and create chances. Still lively at 34.

Manager most under pressure? Antonio Conte. The last two Premier League winners - Mourinho and Ranieri - have lost their jobs within months due to player power and Conte's super-intensity will make him enemies unless results continue

Who will win the title? Manchester City. For Pep Guardiola to finish third last time out with no goalkeeper, defensive chaos and bad injuries (Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus, Vincent Kompany) is some achievement. He's now got the energetic full-backs he needs so watch out.

Who else makes up top four? Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham. One suspects Conte is too good to let a strange transfer window affect long-term thinking. United have the two most expensive players in the league, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku, and Spurs have the two most valuable, Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

Surprise package? Watford. Defied convention over recent years by regularly changing managers and packing team with little-known foreigners. Marco Silva will offer tactical awareness and they've gone a bit Anglo this time with signings like Will Hughes.

Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Burnley, Brighton. Two promoted teams went down last time and it's going to be hard for Huddersfield and Brighton for obvious reasons. Sean Dyche is sticking to tried and trusted methods but buys like Phil Bardsley don't inspire confidence

Top goalscorer? Harry Kane. I'd be surprised if there are many other predictions. Kane has won the last two Golden Boots, is improving season-by-season and everything about Tottenham's play is designed to get him on the scoresheet

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Manchester City. City, United and Chelsea will all fancy themselves as dark horses but City can not defend as badly as they did last season when Monaco beat them on away goals. They should have won that tie.

One thing you DO want to see this season? A blanket finish to the title race. Not Chelsea's fault but their consistency and the weakness of others made it a virtual procession despite Tottenham's brave late run. Let's have five teams in it with a couple of weeks left.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Managers bragging about the 'game plan' when they win and blaming officials when they lose. You know who you are.

Marco Silva has taken over as Watford manager and they start their season against Liverpool

CRAIG HOPE

Signing of the summer? Jermain Defoe (Sunderland to Bournemouth, free transfer). I watched him score 15 times for the division's worst team last season, Sunderland. His sharpness of body and mind defies his 34 years and, given he was a free transfer, Bournemouth did well to get the deal done early, for I have no doubt he would have made a very useful squad player for a top-six club.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. He acted like a spoilt kid on occasion last season and has some growing up to do if he's to prove himself capable of dealing with the pressures of the Premier League. He's been backed more than any other boss in the transfer market and, failure to deliver the title this season, would - and should - spell the end of his time at City.

Who will win the title? Spurs. I tipped them last season and had a good run for my money, so I'm sticking with them. My two major concerns are the move to Wembley - where they have struggled in the past - and a lack of squad depth (not to mention the fact Moussa Sissoko is still there!). But their starting XI is, for me, the strongest in the league. They have everything; experience and youth, energy and aggression, pace and guile. Harry Kane and Dele Alli are the two best English players in the division and there is a solid spine to the side which has been together for several seasons now.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United. City have too much firepower not to challenge for the title. Chelsea have the best manager and a strong starting XI, while United have strength in depth.

Surprise package? Leicester. They'll come again this season minus the distraction of the Champions League. Kelechi Iheanacho is a fantastic signing and they could take seventh ahead of Everton, assuming the top six is a closed shop.

Which teams will be relegated? Swansea, Stoke, Watford. The three promoted teams will stay up but will be involved in a relegation scrap. As for the three to go down, I think their time in the top flight is up. There hasn't been much progress in recent seasons and their loss wouldn't be mourned outside of the towns and cities in which they reside.

Top goalscorer? Harry Kane. He is getting better season on season and there is an effortless genius to his goalscoring. Romelu Lukaku could rival Kane given the right service at United, but England's No.1 striker will confirm his status as the best in the league.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Manchester United. Simply because they have the strongest squad in terms of experienced options in almost every position, not to mention the influence of two-time Champions League winner Jose Mourinho.

One thing you DO want to see this season? A proper title race. We celebrate the 'top six' as breakaway superpowers yet last year only two of them bothered to live up to such billing. They can't all win every week - and no-one wants that - but let's see at least four of them running each other close for top spot. That is what makes this division different to the likes of Spain, Germany and Italy, where the winner is only going to come from one of two teams at most.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? West Brom v Stoke on TV. Who would ever pick that as a live broadcast? Wait a minute... it's already been chosen? In August? Really?! Sunday, August 27 - a day to make plans with the family.

Leicester's new striker Kelechi Iheanacho could be one to watch during 2017-18

CHRIS WHEELER

Signing of the summer? Harry Maguire (Hull to Leicester, £17m). The England Under 21 international starred in a decidedly average Hull team last season and has a real presence about him. Leicester desperately needed new blood in central defence, and considering some of the figures being paid this summer, £12m rising to £17m is a very good value.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City manager admitted after a trophyless first season at the Etihad that he would have been sacked by his old clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The pressure is on the Spaniard to deliver this time after spending more than £200million on new players.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. Guardiola is not a coach accustomed to failure. With one season in the Premier League under his belt, and the substantial backing of his employers in Abu Dhabi, he will get it right second time.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea. Jose Mourinho has won the title in his second season in each of his last five jobs but he could come up just short this time. Tottenham will again be strong contenders but champions Chelsea could drop off a little after a difficult summer.

Surprise package? Watford. Marco Silva came close enough to a great escape in his short time at Hull City last season to suggest that his reputation as a top young coach is well deserved. Given more time to make an impact at Watford, the Portuguese could take his new club close to the top half of the table.

Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Brighton, Swansea. It’s hard to see the Huddersfield fairy tale extending to a second season in the top-flight. Other newcomers, Brighton, will find life difficult and Swansea’s time could be up after a tough season.

Top goalscorer? Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian showed enough in his first few months at the Etihad that he will score goals for fun if he’s given the opportunity. With the team Guardiola has built at the Etihad, those opportunities are going to be plentiful.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Chelsea. They may struggle to retain the Premier League title, but Antonio Conte’s pedigree in Europe as a national team and club coach could give Chelsea the tactical nous needed to progress in the Champions League.

One thing you DO want to see this season? The FA making good use of the new rules to punish players retrospectively for diving. It needs to be driven out of the game, and the sooner the better.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Huddersfield’s dream being crushed by Christmas. I doubt the Premier League newcomers will emulate the likes of Burnley and Bournemouth by establishing themselves in the Premier League, but it would be nice to think they can keep the fight going until the latter stages of the season.

Harry Maguire's transfer from Hull to Leicester looks to be an astute piece of business

JACK GAUGHAN

Signing of the summer? Bernardo Silva (Monaco to Manchester City, £43m). He looked a cut above in the Champions League tie at the Etihad Stadium and is likely to be pulling the strings at Manchester City for a good few years as an eventual replacement for David Silva.

Manager most under pressure? It is hard to look beyond Pep Guardiola given the finance afforded to him and he really needs to deliver the title to City this season.

Who will win the title? Manchester City have the strongest squad and arguably the finest manager. They've strengthened to such a degree this summer that City should have enough to get over the line.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal. Tottenham will definitely have something to say about that, and it'll be interesting to see how Chelsea deal with European football, but Wembley could well be a factor.

Surprise package? Crystal Palace. Frank de Boer is looking like he could introduce a back three and much will depend on how the young loan stars do but the feelgood factor may propel them.

Which teams will be relegated? Burnley, Huddersfield, Brighton. Very worrying that Burnley haven't brought in a replacement for Michael Keane, while the two promoted sides have spent but it remains to be seen whether that'll be enough.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku. Very hard not to pick Harry Kane after his recent exploits. Lukaku should really score even more than he did for Everton given the chances United create.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League?Manchester United. Jose Mourinho is the master at managing a workload and has shown he will prioritise one competition over another.

One thing you DO want to see this season? The panel sitting to judge simulation incidents not to overdo it early. The temptation will be to make an example of certain individuals.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Hopefully Jose Mourinho does not use too many excuses or blames scheduling for results over the course of the next few months. They are on a level playing field with their rivals now.

Bernardo Silva, who signed for City from Monaco in the summer, is an exciting addition

ADAM CRAFTON

Signing of the summer? Andrew Robertson (Hull to Liverpool, £10m). I suspect the best business may still be to come (whoever signs Virgil van Dijk) but in this market, a reported £10m to solve a real problem at left-back is good business.

Manager most under pressure? It sounds odd to say it about the Champions but Chelsea managers are rarely more vulnerable then in the immediate aftermath of success. Roberto Di Matteo lasted six months after winning a Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in the year that followed his title win and Jose Mourinho was out before Christmas in 2015. The soundings of internal strife at Chelsea indicate that Antonio Conte will need a fast start to calm matters.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. They must recruit another central defender and possibly a holding midfielder but Pep Guardiola is a year wiser to the demands of the Premier League and the attacking talent is explosive. Manchester United will push them hardest.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham. If Liverpool sign Virgil Van Dijk, I might re-assess that. Then again, if they sell Coutinho, I will re-assess that once again. Thursday nights will put paid to Arsenal's domestic ambitions.

Surprise package? I'm not convinced any of the middling clubs have done particularly outstanding business but West Ham should be stronger with a guarantee of goals from Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez. Bournemouth will also impress for another season and that may be opportune timing for Eddie Howe should England toil at the World Cup next summer.

Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Swansea, Brighton. I just don't see enough quality in Huddersfield and Brighton's squad but we have seen it before where a feel-good factor and togetherness steers a promoted club to safety, so I hope they prove me wrong.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku should make a quicker start to life at his new club than Alvaro Morata on account of Premier League experience, while Harry Kane may be inhibited unless his club remember you are allowed to sign as well as sell footballers in the transfer window.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? I suspect City may be too open defensively to get away with it in Europe. Conte and Mourinho over two legs will be dangerous but I'd be amazed if the winner does not come from Spain.

One thing you DO want to see this season? For Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho to stop pretending to be friends. Last season felt like a phony rivalry up in Manchester. If those two teams start firing, expect the managers' egos to inflate.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Newcastle's already brewing in-fighting spurning a wonderful opportunity to rebuild with a very good manager in Rafa Benitez. You have a brilliant stadium and a fan base that lives for the moment the whistle blows at the weekend. It can't be THAT hard to get it right, can it?

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been a frustrated figure throughout the season

LAURIE WHITWELL

Signing of the summer? Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City to Leicester, £25m). It looks very good business by Leicester. Iheanacho broke through at a club not known for giving academy kids a chance and earned the best goals-per-minute record of any Premier League player with more than 10 strikes. He dovetailed well with Jamie Vardy in the friendly win over Borussia Monchengladbach and at 20, will improve.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. Having done little to justify the fanfare of his arrival to England last season, and spent £133million on full-backs this summer, the scrutiny will mount should Manchester City get off to a mediocre start. A genuine title challenge and deep progress in the Champions League is imperative.

Who will win the title? Manchester United. Jose Mourinho has an unerring history of winning the title in his second season at each of Porto, Inter, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, and it is down to more than chance. After one campaign to impress his methods, by year two Mourinho has shaped the squad in his image. Signing a muscular wide player would complete his summer spending.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal. Near impossible to predict but Antonio Conte's grumblings at Chelsea do not bode well, while Liverpool would suffer significantly should Philippe Coutinho depart. Spurs should have enough despite the move to Wembley.

Surprise package? Huddersfield have made a real effort in the transfer market to try to ensure their fairytale story does not have a bitter end. Just staying up in the Premier League for a club tipped for relegation to League One last season would be a surprise. David Wagner breeds confidence it can be done.

Which teams will be relegated? Brighton, Swansea, Newcastle. Chris Hughton is a fine manager but Brighton are keeping a tight budget and they may replicate Burnley in going down before bouncing back. Swansea have been circling for a few seasons and will struggle if Gylfi Sigurdsson goes. Rafa Benitez is unhappy at Newcastle's transfers and it is easy to see him walking away and the club plummeting.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku. Harry Kane has won the golden boot for two successive years but the switch from White Hart Lane may impinge his pursuits of a hat-trick. Lukaku was close last season and at United should get more chances, while inevitably starting every game he is fit for.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? City have a squad of outrageous attacking flair and a manager who has won the competition twice. They were naive last season in losing to Monaco but have the potential to beat any side in Europe and Guardiola will be especially driven this campaign.

One thing you DO want to see this season? A final day of consequence. Last season was poor for the absence of last-game drama. Flicking between channels as the title is won or relegation decided is one of the game's great joys.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Games stifled by a fear of losing. The cost of relegation is so enormous that it inhibits risk-taking but there is nothing better than watching two teams attack each other in pursuit of victory.

KIERAN GILL

Signing of the summer? Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen to West Ham, £16m). For the fee, this is one of the summer's stand-out signings and great business by West Ham. Hernandez is 29 and still has plenty to offer in the Premier League.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. He has to show why we were all so excited that he was coming to England. Another season without silverware and he's done, particularly after a £220m spending spree.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. I'm predicting that Guardiola will overcome that pressure I've mentioned and succeed to win the Premier League title. With the squad he has at his disposal, he should.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. My condolences to Tottenham, but I think they'll miss out and Arsene Wenger's Arsenal will be back where they feel they belong.

Surprise package? Newcastle. Let's see if the so-called Rafa-lution can take them into the top half of the Premier League table, despite them having not overly spent this summer.

Which teams will be relegated? Swansea (sorry), Huddersfield (sorry), Burnley (sorry). Should Swansea indeed lose Gylfi Sigurdsson, confidence in the squad will be severely low and I predict they'll finish bottom of the pile.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku. For me, this year's title will be between the two Manchester clubs, and I suspect last season's second-top goalscorer will beat Harry Kane to the Golden Boot in 2017-18.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League?Manchester City. With a mix of proven players and youngsters with attitude, as well as a manager who has won it twice before, City have the best chance of winning Europe's elite competition to me.

One thing you DO want to see this season? Progressive talks on allowing Premier League referees to speak to media post-match. They should be allowed to defend their decisions, just as players and managers are.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? While I'm not a fan of Mexican Waves, airplane banners and these videos used for unveiling signings, I'd like less cautions for overzealous celebrations. A player scores, a player celebrates, it's no crime.

Newcastle could be a surprise package under the guidance of Rafa Benitez

SAM CUNNINGHAM

Signing of the summer? Jermain Defoe (Sunderland to Bournemouth, free transfer). The 34-year-old striker has scored 15 goals in each of his last two seasons in a struggling Sunderland side. Add him to Bournemouth's younger, fresher squad and they're the goals that will push them into mid-table and well clear of relegation.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. Last season was hugely disappointing and after spending more than £200million on transfers Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour will be expecting several trophies, not scraping third place again.

Who will win the title? Manchester United. It really is pot lucky making this prediction with the strength of the top six. But you can never rule out Jose Mourinho and in £75m signing Romelu Lukaku they have a striker capable of scoring the amount of Premier League goals needed to win it.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham. While Spurs haven't concentrated on big signings, they already have some of the planet's leading players and have kept hold of them, which is just as important. Chelsea and City have matched United's spending and that should secure them the depth needed to finish above Arsenal and Liverpool.

Surprise package? West Ham showed two seasons ago that manager Slaven Bilic knows how to compile a squad able to compete for Europe. Make no mistake, last season was a disaster, but their new recruits — Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic — are cause for optimism.

Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Brighton, Watford. I would love Brighton to prove me wrong, they are a nice club with brilliant staff and fans, but staying up will be tough. Equally, Huddersfield lack the strength and quality to avoid the drop. Watford feel like a disjointed squad and have their third manager in three seasons.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku. He was close last season and close the season before that. As United's No 9, with that extra service from team-mates that wasn't there at Everton, he could well transfer that into becoming the league's most prolific striker.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Manchester City, due to the ridiculous riches at Guardiola's disposal. The depth of his team and their value is phenomenal. He will also be aware that success in the Champions League is expected, not a bonus.

One thing you DO want to see this season? Diving cut out. Hopefully the Football Association's new retrospective banning regulations, that come into force this season, will be enough to deter the cheats.

One thing you DON'T want to see this season? A plane flown over a football stadium with a message trailing from the tail. It got embarrassing towards the end of last season, peaking when Arsenal fans flew two planes with opposing 'Wenger In' 'Wenger Out' banners. Make your mind up.

OLIVER TODD

Signing of the summer? Bernardo Silva (Monaco to Manchester City, £43m). City picked out one of the jewels from Monaco’s crown and his creativity shown in their Champions League run is welcome in the Premier League.

Manager most under pressure? Pep Guardiola. Arrived with a huge reputation, has spent huge money again and now it needs to pay off. Guardiola and Jose Mourinho both must offer up the credible title challenges they abjectly failed to provide last season.

Who will win the title? Manchester City. Centre backs aside, it’s hard to see a weakness in Guardiola’s team and the former Barcelona boss will benefit from a year of Premier League experience and his array of attacking riches.

Who else makes up top four? Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal. Mourinho has bought well this summer and the likes of Romelu Lukaku will help convert home draws into wins, Chelsea have the knowhow to win games under Antonio Conte despite an iffy summer and Arsenal should benefit from a lack of Champions League football.

Surprise package? Watford. Marco Silva has an impressive record when it comes to home form and that alone should push them up the table. Nathaniel Chalobah and Will Hughes could prove to be smart buys, too.

Which teams will be relegated? Burnley, Brighton, Huddersfield. Burnley have sold their stars, failed to replace them and their home form cannot last forever, Brighton have not strengthened enough and Huddersfield may find the same fate of many other play-off winners.

Top goalscorer? Romelu Lukaku. Streaky goalscorer but will have regular, high-quality service at United. Even when his all-round game looks to be lacking, the Belgian should now find the net with regularity to finally usurp Harry Kane.

Which Premier League team has best chance of winning Champions League? Chelsea. Tactically equipped better than anyone else to withstand the attacking batterings Europe’s best can hand out. Few teams will want to draw Mourinho’s United, though.

One thing you DO want to see this season? Fixture changes to take clubs’ European ambitions into account. Too often the Premier League is unwilling to offer flexibility to aid our teams in the Champions League — and it’s costing English sides prestige on the continent.

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One thing you DON'T want to see this season? Constant moaning about a lack of VAR. It’s coming, it’s not perfect yet — as seen this summer — let’s just wait rather than have managers use it as another stick to beat referees.