Can anyone knock

TOP FOUR

IT IS difficult to see anyone else but Manchester City winning the title.

City dipped after winning the championship in 2012 and 2014 but that seems highly unlikely to happen under Pep Guardiola, who says his side will not hit the 100-point mark again but does expect improvement from his players individually and collectively.

Guardiola has added Riyad Mahrez to give City even more attacking options, while a fully fit Benjamin Mendy will be like a new signing after the left-back missed nearly all of last season. January signing Aymeric Laporte has had a few months to adjust to the English game and the emergence of youngster Phil Foden provides another exciting dimension in midfield.

Certainly City’s pre-season performances, including their impressive Community Shield victory over Chelsea, indicate they will be the team to catch, although it is difficult to see them again winning the title by a 19-point margin.

Liverpool are the second favourites for most after Jurgen Klopp’s spending spree, which has brought in a much-needed new goalkeeper in Alisson, two midfielders in Naby Keita and Fabinho, and Xherdan Shaqiri, who will only increase their goalscoring potency.

Tottenham – who are the only team to have finished in the top three in each of the past three seasons – and Manchester United should win the battle for the other Champions League spots, with Arsenal and Chelsea to miss out in transition years under Unai Emery and Maurizio Sarri, respectively.

RELEGATION

DAVID WAGNER worked a miracle to keep Huddersfield up last season but, given the strength of the other teams, the Terriers will begin as favourites for the drop.

Cardiff do not look to have the same quality as their fellow promoted clubs, Wolves and Fulham, who have spent as if they are looking to do far more than simply survive on their return to the top flight.

After their great escape last season under Roy Hodgson, few expect to see Crystal Palace in the same situation.

Like in the last campaign, expect it to be very congested from seventh place downwards, with every team looking capable of taking points off each other.

Watford’s inconsistency and awful away form make them candidates for the third drop spot.

SACK RACE

WATFORD had a dismal end to last season and, if results do not show an upturn, Javi Gracia could be first to go, given the Hornets’ Italian owners are not renowned for their patience.

Claude Puel could be vulnerable if Leicester do not start well and their fans do not warm to his style of football.

But it may not be a case of who is sacked but who resigns first. Jose Mourinho has spent the summer giving off negative vibes and his record at other clubs suggests problems appear in his third season. If results do not go well and the fans turn against him, Mourinho may jump before he is pushed, even though he signed an extension to his contract last