It's prediction time

It feels like this football-less summer has dragged on forever but the wait is now over and Premier League is back to keep us all sane. Or, in some cases, drive us mad.

It all kicked off yesterday and there are more games today and over the course of the week as the 380 matches that make up the season start to come thick and fast.

The question is: when those 34,200 minutes of football are over, how will everyone have done? Well, as is now traditional, I have dusted off my slightly cracked crystal football and taken a dubious gaze into the future.

And this is what I have come up with. So, if you've got some spare cash you might want to bet on exactly the opposite happening...

Arsenal

It's hard to imagine that a manager of Arsene Wenger's stature could possibly find his job under threat, but I genuinely believe this is his make-or-break season. No trophies since 2005 and the natives are getting restless, something that won't have been helped by yet another transfer window where the only significant movements have been outwards. Yet I am prepared to stick my neck on the line and say this is the season where it will all come good, when the kids finally become men. I am tipping the Gunners for the top spot.

Final Position: First
Key Player: Cesc Fabregas

Aston Villa

Martin O' Neill is undoubtedly building one of the most exciting young teams in English football. Although Villa's average age is now down to about 14, some of the youngsters he has on the books are outrageously talented. I still think they need one or two more experienced players to back them up and that's why I haven't got them down for a top four finish. Maybe next season, when the midfield is out of nappies and the forwards are on solids.

Final Position: Sixth
Key Player: Ashley Young

Birmingham

Of the three promoted teams I think Birmingham are the worst. I saw them play a few times last season and they were anything but a team on a charge to regain its Premier League place. Their summer additions have totally failed to capture the imagination and I don't see anything other than a quick return to the Championship. Possibly a very quick one. Could be England's new yo-yo club here.

Final Position: 19th
Key Player: Joe Hart

Blackburn

I have to admit to having a little soft spot for Big Sam. He is not everyone's cup of tea, admittedly, and his teams may be a little bit direct. Make that a lot direct. But he is nothing if not honest and I can't see his Blackburn team faring too badly this season. They won't set the world alight but survival should not be an issue. And keep an eye on Sam's facial hair; if he grows that comedy moustache back it will make my season.

Final Position: 11th
Key Player: El-Hadji Diouf

Bolton

If Gary Megson won the treble for Bolton, I am fairly sure the fans would think it is in spite of his presence and not because of it. Despite having rescued the side from near certain relegation when he arrived, he still gets booed on a regular basis, sometimes for nothing more than turning up at the ground. Some relationships just weren't meant to be. However, despite the lack of love from the Reebok masses, he will still keep them up if only to rub it in their faces.

Final Position: 13th
Key Player: Gary Cahill

Burnley

Simple this one: Burnley are not good enough to stay up. And trust me when I say there is no hint of sour grapes in that just because they beat my lads in the play-off final. The Burnley team that won promotion did so against the odds. But, in the Premier League, pretty football and team spirit won't be enough if the players are average, and Burnley's add a whole new definition to that word. I can see them doing a Derby and effectively securing relegation by Christmas.

Final Position: 20th
Key Player: Graham Alexander

Chelsea

A lot of people are tipping Chelsea to bounce back under Ancelotti and wrestle the title back down to Stamford Bridge. However, the Italian has already pointed out that the Champions League is his main priority and I expect that to be reflected in the club's league performance. That's not to say they won't mount a challenge at the top but I think it could, like President Obama's popularity, fade away quite quickly.

Final Position: Fourth
Key Player: Frank Lampard

Everton

David Moyes is doing a magnificent job at Goodison Park despite the fact that he is spending peanuts in comparison to his rivals. Hanging on to Joleon Lescott could prove crucial to his season and that is looking increasingly unlikely now that Manchester City are batting their eyelids and flashing their wallet in the direction of the England defender. To take the next step up into the realms of Champions League football they need to buy big. Sadly they either don't have the money to do so or can't find anyone who wants to join them. Pity.

Final Position: Seventh
Key Player: Louis Saha

Fulham

Roy Hodgson has turned out to be a bit of a miracle worker at Fulham and, while he is in charge, their perpetual relegation battles appear to be over. They play some pretty decent football these days and are a force to be reckoned with at the beautifully homely Craven Cottage. Although they are not ready for a decent European challenge, I think they may just be ripe for a bit of cup success to go with their painless top flight survival.

Final Position: 12th
Key Player: Andy Johnson

Hull

Phil Brown did the unthinkable last season by keeping Hull up but it was entirely on the basis of their early season form. In fact, they only won one of their last 21 matches which shows just how important that good start turned out to be. They haven't signed anybody of any note and could end up losing their best player - Michael Turner - to a bigger club which is just about anyone in the top three divisions. Even if that doesn't happen, they are still about to board the Championship Express.

Final Position: 18th
Key Player: Jimmy Bullard

Liverpool

The problem with Liverpool is a simple one - they lack strength in depth. When their first team is fully fit they are a match for just about anyone. But when they have to deal with injuries, the players coming in are just not up to scratch. If they could keep Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres fit for the entire season then they might just end their two decades of domestic hurt. But, realistically speaking, what are the chances of that happening? About as likely as Gerrard getting away with a bar fight despite being caught on camera. Oh, hang on...

Final Position: Third
Key Player: Steven Gerrard

Man City

What can I say about Manchester City that I haven't already said? Nice things obviously. But I can't bring myself to do that. Their cheque book approach to achieving success may eventually work, but not this season. Their striker fetish has left the squad imbalanced and, while there is no possible way they can struggle, they won't be the force to be reckoned with that the owners expect. My money is on Mark Hughes being the first managerial casualty in the top flight. Considering the pay-off he would get, he might even be aiming for that.

Final Position: Eighth
Key Player: Shay Given

Man United

I didn't like him and I am glad he has finally taken his smirky pretentiousness off to Madrid, but there is no doubt that United are going to seriously miss Cristiano. It's not just the fact that he is a 30-goal-a-season player but that having him in your team takes your opponent's focus off the other players. I am very surprised that Sir Alex didn't spend more this summer but, unlike many, I think Owen will turn out to be one of the signings of the season. They won't be far off the pace as always but I think they will eventually lose out to Wenger's infants.

Final Position: Second
Key Player: Michael Owen

Portsmouth

A perfect example of what can go wrong when you try to buy yourself a bit of glory. Hefty investment did buy them a year of success when they won the FA Cup but that team has been almost entirely dismantled since then as they battle to make ends meet. They do have one or two decent players left and that should be enough to keep them up this season but, like Carlos Tevez, it won't be pretty.

Final Position: 15th
Key Player: David James

Stoke City

They bullied their way to safety last season using things like the Rory Delap long throw to unsettle their more illustrious opponents. But who can blame them? They knew their limitations and their strengths and worked around the former while playing to the latter. I expect more of the same from Tony Pulis' team this season and I also expect it to work again. Just.

Final Position: 17th
Key Player: James Beattie

Sunderland

Steve Bruce is one of the most underrated managers in English football and I am glad he finally found a club with a bit of money to spend. To me he is still a decent candidate to take over at Old Trafford when Sir Alex hangs up his chewing gum and what he manages to do with Sunderland over the next couple of years could be the key to that. A season of consolidation and progress for the northeast's only remaining top flight team.

Final Position: Ninth
Key Player: Darren Bent

Tottenham Hotspur

If any team is likely to threaten the monopoly of the top four this season then I think Spurs are it. They have quality and their purchases over the past couple of months have added to that. I have long believed Redknapp is one of the best English managers and now he has the opportunity to prove it. Ultimately I think they will just fail to make the Champions League breakthrough but I expect Tottenham fans to have 10 months of relative joy this time round. Maybe even a cup to make them really chuckle.

Final Position: Fifth
Key Player: Jonathan Woodgate

West Ham

Zola is doing his reputation as a manager no harm at Upton Park. He has the team playing some pretty nice football despite having to constantly wonder who he will find round the table when he turns up for board meetings. I don't think the club has much money to spend but he has more than enough talent on the books to keep the Hammers ticking over nicely.

Final Position: 10th
Key Player: Carlton Cole

Wigan Athletic

An untested manager at an unfashionable club who can't even attract their own supporters and who have sold their best players. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but I think Martinez has got what it takes to keep Wigan up for another year. The Spaniard got Swansea playing some eye-catching football and he will no doubt stick to his principles again this season. Just a pity there won't be anybody at the JB Stadium to witness it.

Final Position: 14th
Key Player: Scot Sinclair

Wolverhampton

Stormed through the Championship last season playing a brand of attacking football that most teams simply couldn't cope with. And that momentum will probably see them hit the ground running this season. They aren't the finished Premiership article by a long stretch but in Mick McCarthy they have a manager who has been there and done it before. And, just occasionally, managed to avoid getting relegated too.

Final Position: 16th
Key Player: Sylvan Eban-Blakes

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com