Anaylsis: Mark Lawrenson feels that, as the new season starts, the Premiership will hold few surprises

If the new season is as eventful as the summer just gone then, I suspect, there'll hardly be a dull moment. Chelsea, of course, are the big story and are likely to remain that way - they've become the club everyone loves to hate, but if Roman Abramovich's money brings them success I doubt that will concern them too much. That tag never hurt Manchester United.

Their spending spree has been amazing, but I don't think it will bring instant success in the form of the Premiership title this season. With so many options it will probably take Claudio Ranieri three months to find his best line-up - he has the players now, but he doesn't have the team.

It's all about getting the balance right, finding a way of playing, and, most importantly, learning the art of "winning ugly". United and Arsenal are capable of doing that, when required, and that's what is needed if you are to be genuine contenders.

But even while Ranieri tries to get his midfield and attack right - I find it hard to see Joe Cole and Seba Veron playing in the same team - he'll have an excellent defensive base to keep things solid while he experiments. Carlo Cudicini is a good goalkeeper and with Marcel Desailly, William Gallas and John Terry, well, there aren't many better defences about.

For now, though, I expect Chelsea to be battling it out for third with Newcastle and Liverpool, just as they did last season. And I don't see any change in the top two either, or in the order they'll finish. United have bought well, giving Alex Ferguson all the options he needs - and I think selling David Beckham was a sensible move. They'll miss that supply from the right, but I don't think they'll suffer without him.

Out of all the players who've arrived I think the goalkeeper, Tim Howard, could be the major signing. It's a massive step to go from the American league to the Premiership but it looks to me like he has it all. Kleberson has pedigree, although he was available for a year, and while Cristiano Ronaldo is very young and will have to be eased in, he's a major talent.

And Eric Djemba-Djemba will provide cover for Roy Keane and Nicky Butt.

Arsenal? Top two, definitely, but defence could be their Achilles heel again. It will really all depend on how many games they can get out of Martin Keown - if they don't get many, and they have to play Pascal Cygan or Kolo Toure alongside Sol Campbell, I can see them leaking the goals that ultimately cost them the title last season. I'm surprised they haven't bought a defender yet but Arsene Wenger was intent on getting Philippe Mexes from Auxerre - his contract is a minefield, though, so nothing has happened on that front yet.

Harry Kewell isn't the answer to all Liverpool's problems, but he should improve them, as will Steve Finnan, a genuine attacking full-back. The problem is the manager's mentality - if he could only allow his team some freedom to play, rather than persisting with this counter-attacking approach, then they could progress.

They have a young fella from Le Havre, Anthony Le Tallec, who is an outstanding prospect, a creative midfielder - if Gerard Houllier was adventurous enough to play him, alongside Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann, with Kewell, Michael Owen and one other in front, then they'd start to look the part, but he probably won't, too cautious. The best I can see for them, then, is a fight for a Champions League place.

It's déjà vu. United to win the league, Arsenal second, and Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle scrapping it out behind them. Newcastle have a good side but need a partner for Jonathan Woodgate - I'm not convinced either Andy O'Brien or Titus Bramble is good enough.

Usually one of the promoted clubs survives but the gap between the Premiership and the first division gets wider every year so I have a feeling Leicester, Portsmouth and Wolves will be going straight back down again. Bolton and Fulham will be down there with them, as will Leeds, I suspect. Their only hope is if some of their manager's aggressive spirit rubs off on them, but you just can't keep selling players and survive.

I think David O'Leary will have a decent first season with Aston Villa - they haven't a bad side and the goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is a good signing. Spurs, too, have bought well, plenty of attacking options, and if they can get a bit of steel into their midfield they should have a good season. The rest? Mid-table. The top? As you were.

In an interview with Mary Hannigan