Manchester United (5/4 at Ladbrokes) will go into battle this season playing for their third Premier League title in a row. The Red Devils, who are out for their 17th top flight crown, know that one more would break Liverpool's (6/1 Ladbrokes) currently-held record of 18 triumphs.
Sir Alex Ferguson has made no significant changes to the squad which triumphed on both domestic and European fronts last season, but a move for a striker is expected before the closure of the transfer window, with Louis Saha expected to find another club and Wayne Rooney out injured.
Chelsea (13/8 Ladbrokes) will once again be expected to provide United's main threat. The captures of Portuguese stars Jose Bosingwa and Deco, who could be joined by Brazilian Robinho, are bound to keep last year's runners-up on their toes. A mini clear-out has rid the Blues of some dead wood, with new coach Luis Felip Scolari over the moon that midfield mainstay Frank Lampard has recently committed his long-term future to the club.
Supporters on the red half of Merseyside will be hopeful of staying in contention in the title race for longer this season, after seeing previous campaigns fizzle out by as early as Christmas. The £20 million signing of Robbie Keane is intended to give hotshot Fernando Torres the support he needs to keep up a fantastic strike rate of 24 goals in 33 games. Spain 's Euro 2008 hero is 4/1 favourite to finish as the Premier League's top scorer of 2008/09.
Last season's leading marksman was Cristiano Ronaldo (7/1), whose ankle injury will keep him out of the United side for the opening part of the campaign. Didier Drogba (7/1), who won the Barclay's Golden Boot in 2006/2007, has insisted he will stay at Stamford Bridge and will be relied upon heavily for goals by the Blues, who could yet lose both Andriy Shevchenko (66/1) and Claudio Pizarro.
The other member of the same top four which has made up the Premier League table at the end of four of the last five seasons is Arsenal (6/1). Gunners fans may look back in annoyance at a summer which has seen them lose key midfielders Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini. But arguably the Emirates' greatest talents, Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas will play in this season's Premier League, giving a young but cultured Arsenal squad the basis for a title push.
Down at the bottom, fans of newly-promoted Hull City (3/10), Stoke City (4/11) and West Bromwich Albion (10/11), will be disappointed but not surprised to know that their clubs have been made favourites for the drop.
Hull could be the team that avoids the clutches of relegation, with manager Phil Brown's astute pre-season signings - such as ex-Barcelona man Geovanni and former Middlesbrough captain George Boateng - giving the Tigers hope
Other outfits deemed at risk are last season's escapees Fulham (11/4), Bolton Wanderers(3/1) and Wigan Athletic (3/1).
