The nation’s top football pundit gives his view of the new season

LIVERPOOL

I THINK they will challenge for the top four again – and the team spirit is going to be the key to that.

There wasn’t enough of that at Anfield last season and I think punters will forgive players if they show a willingness to work for the team and press for every ball – so I think Roy Hodgson will make sure that happens.

But I don’t think LIverpool will challenge for the title. They still haven’t solved the problem of who scores the goals when Fernando Torres isn’t available so the strength in depth still isn’t there.

EVERTON

YOU could argue that this is the best team they have had for a while.

And I think it could get even better if they take the money for Yakubu. He has become bit of a luxury and you need more than that in the Premier League these days.

If they could get in the region of £8-10millioon for him and effectively trade him in for a younger, quicker model like Loic Remy from Nice then that would be good business.

The way the league is now, teams with the resources of Everton do really well to even get in the top eight so it says a lot about how much I currently rate them that I think they can get back in the top six.

TITLE RACE

MANCHESTER UNITED are the team to beat and my tip for the title.

They had bad defensive problems last year with Ferdinand and Vidic injured but they are back and the cover in that area is also better.

Hernandez also looks like a useful addition to the forward line so if similar problems crop up at this end of the field then Alex Ferguson is well covered.

And the old guard, on the evidence of the Commbnity Shield victory, are still more than capable of making a contribution when called upon.

United will again win the majority of their games – they don’t really do draws and this often proves decisive.

I think one season further down the line for some of Chelsea’s 30-somethings like Drogba and Terry could cost them. They don’t seem to have strengthened enough this summer for me.

But if I could get something like 8/1 on Arsenal I would definitely have a bet because I think they will give the top two a run for their money.

Marouane Chamakh will be a useful addition and if Arsene Wenger could maybe add another decent centre-back before the window closes, maybe they could be contenders.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

SPURS and Manchester City will be Liverpool’s main rivals for fourth place – but in City’s case I think that’s the best they can hope for.

I just don’t see how they can get the type of unity that I think Roy Hodgson will bring to Liverpool. If Roberto Mancini wants to play all his signings, it will take time to get them all integrated, both on and off the pitch.

In the Premier League, you can no longer have a bad start and turn it round, you have to be getting results right from the off or you get left behind very quickly.

And if Mancini gets a couple of bad results then he’ll probably be out of a job and then it’s back to square one – again.

SURPRISE PACKAGE

I THINK the policy of Aston Villa in deciding to balance the books is interesting – you can spend £30-40m and only climb a couple of places so is it really worth it?

Randy Lerner clearly thinks not.

So that could open up a slot for someone to seriously challenge for Europe.

But I just don’t think the Premier league has the depth of quality to threaten some of the top sides.

Sunderland are a team I always expect to emerge, however, but that all depends if Steve Bruce’s gamble of selling Kenwyne Jones pays off.

RELEGATION

I SAY the same thing every year – look at the promoted sides and ask, ‘who is going to get you goals?’

Blackpool and West Brom will definitely struggle while Newcastle just don’t have enough up front or in their legs to avoid a scrap.

But the one I really worry about is Wigan. Too may foreign players have gone there only to move on when they’ve attracted attention of bigger clubs and this time it could finally catch up with Roberto Martinez.

ONE WISH FOR NEW SEASON...

A REFRESHING dose of honesty.

I want to see players stop diving and trying to get other players booked.

I want to hear managers come out and say ‘we were hopeless’ instead of blaming everybody else.

I want referees to admit when they’ve got it wrong.

After the World Cup, a lot of people are apathetic and sick of the ‘best league in the world’ stuff being bandied about.

Time for some people to start going some way towards proving it.