He's back! Jose Mourinho. Image: katatonia82 / Shutterstock.com

The Premier League returns with some new old faces

Although it never really goes away, the Premier League returns to action today (Saturday 17 August) as the new season kicks off with the lunchtime fixture between Liverpool and Stoke City.

Notwithstanding the summer's intriguing - some would say tedious - ongoing transfer business, the top division will have a new look; not just via BT Sport's shared coverage with Sky but with new faces at the helm of last seaon's top three clubs.

David Moyes steps into Sir Alex Ferguson's shoes - a daunting task, but one the former Everton manager will relish. Manchester United have yet to make the midfield signing they need though seem not to have thrown in the towel on Cesc Fabregas quite yet. With Robin van Persie, they have the league's top striker, but Moyes may need time to impose his own mark on the team. However they remain contenders in what appears an unpredictable three-way battle.

Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea was what the club's supporters had been wishing for. They are many people's favourites to win the title though the purchase of another striker - Rooney or otherwise - may be necessary unless the gifted Fernando Torres finally finds some consistency.

Manuel Pellegrini replaces Roberto Mancini at Manchester City whose early summer transfer business was completed swiftly and impressively. If they can gel as a team, they have the biggest pool of talent and are my - slightly tentative - prediction for champions.

So what transfer business remains before the end of August? Rooney to Chelsea? Luis Suarez to Arsenal? Both seem increasingly far from fruition - their respective clubs insisting they will not be sold.

Arsenal surely still have business to do, while Spurs have bought top quality players in Paulinho and Soldado, though could lose Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. As it stands, Spurs may finally achieve their supporters' dream of outgunning their north London rivals to finish above them and regain a Champions League spot. That has been predicted before though and the canny Arsene Wenger has a remarkable record of top four finishes - so often at the expense of their neighbours.

Everton should survive Moyes' departure but Liverpool have bought well enough to overtake them. Yet the Suarez trouble is an ominous sign for a club still yet to shrug off the shortcomings that have produced an indifferent few seasons.

Swansea have, in Michael Laudrup, one of the world's most talented young managers and with the likes of Michu, genuine quality in their squad.

Newcastle remain unpredictable, with a potential to finish top ten that could just as easily turn into a back-flop too close to the wrong end of the table. Villa seem to be improving, West Ham have sufficient talent and considerable Sam Allardyce-driven backbone to progress. Southampton, Fuham, Stoke and West Brom all look solid enough, though the latter two may slip a little from their punch-above-their-weight achievements of recent years.

Norwich, a relatively small club, have invested wisely and have a strong team ethos that should see them through sone inevitable rough patches.

The three promoted teams - Hull, Cardiff and Crystal Palace - will have some job on their hands to stay up, with perhaps only Sunderland of last season's survivors, looking as equally vulnerable at this stage. The controversial Paulo di Canio will not lack passion, but are his squad up to the challenge?

Predictions in sport are a mug's game but here goes...

With a strong disclaimer that signings made by clubs in the remaining transfer window could change this, my Premier League predictions are as follows:

Champions: Manchester City

Runners-up: Chelsea

3rd: Manchester United

4th: Tottenham Hotspur

5th: Arsenal

6th: Liverpool

7th: Everton

8th: Swansea City

9th: Newcastle United

10th: Aston Villa

11th: West Ham United

12th: Southampton