Premier League 2009

Another season of high hopes, over achievers, sacked managers and controversy that is the Premier League, how will the top four finish up, well lets take a look.

Manchester United:
They may have lost Ronaldo, but if there’s one thing Alex Ferguson knows how to do and that’s build a team. Less face it, Ronaldo was becoming annoying, so to see the back of the huffy moaning diving wizard is a pleasure. That aside, United will miss his goal scoring ability, but now is the time for Rooney to step up and become the player we know he can be. The purchase of Owen will give the club experience and once he is match fit no doubt goals will follow. United can win the league, based on their ability to get results against all teams. They may find it hard against the other top four, but unlike Liverpool they'll not drop points at Burnley or Hull. Avoiding injury and not distracted by Europe and four in a row, United are the favourites.

Chelsea:
Not buying many players these days, but certainly know how to go through managers. If Chelsea manage to keep their manager for at least one season they can win. There’s not much separating Chelsea and United on the pitch. Off the pitch, Chelsea going Italian this time, but Ancelotti’s lack of English experience could be Chelsea failure. To claim the spoils this year Chelsea will have to do the double on United and hit the ground running, but the big man Abramovich wants Europe and this could see Chelsea finish a close second.

Liverpool:
Benitez has more control than ever before, he has a team that contains all his buys except for the local lads, there’s no excuse but to deliver the title. There’s no hiding now, this is make or break season, and if Benitez fails to deliver then the door is wide open for him to walk out. Europe can't be a distraction this year, the fans need and demand a League Title and the sniff off success last year has feed that hunger. No more losing or dropping points to lowly teams, its a title winning season or Benitez is gone. Verdict Benitez is gone, Liverpool to take third.

Aresenal:
The learning curve is over, the young boys are not all that young now, time to deliver on this potential. Like Benitez, Wenger is hanging onto old excuses, no silverware in four years is too long a drought. Wenger needs to claim a prize this year and it needs to be big, Premier League or Europe. Given there legion of foreign players I believe Arsenal are more suited to Europe, but whatever happens Wenger needs to deliver or the door beckons, past success and future possibility are no excuse for failure in the present. Arsenal to fight and hold fourth.

Manchester City we all await in anticipation to what will come, they may claim fourth spot but fifth a more likely position given they have no experience on closing out a competitive season. This lack of experience killed Aston Villa last season, and with no major investment, Villa will fall to mid table, expect the same from Everton, these teams have not got the strength or deep and money to sustain back to back successful seasons. Tottenham Hotspurs are the ones to watch and will fight Arsenal all the way, Harry is a footballing genius, and if they manage to do a double over Arsenal they may claim fourth, but it could be a season to early for Harry's team.