PREMIER LEAGUE

Can anyone stop Man City winning a fourth title in five years? Will Brentford do a Leeds? Do pies still taste good?

A four- way fight for the title, stronger competition than ever before and one new club joining the party. Bring it on...

So, how was your summer? Just a month on from the gut punch finale to England’s joyous Euro 2020, the Premier League is ready to wrestle back the limelight – and there’s plenty to get excited about.

Let’s be honest: 2020- 21 wasn’t a vintage season. The games came thicker and faster than your nan’s dodgy Sunday custard, while the vast majority were played at empty arenas as fans were forced indoors. It wasn’t without its memorable matches – Aston Villa 7- 2 Liverpool, anyone? – but we can all be glad it’s gone. Fans are finally back where they belong.

We might even get a title race this time – not that Manchester City would mind another procession. Ruben Dias added steel to City’s silk last term, and Pep Guardiola was rewarded with a third title in four years after his side finished 12 points clear of the chasing pack. They’re still the team to beat.

Manchester United came closest to mounting a challenge, and will hope to go one better as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer retakes his position at the wheel. New arrival Jadon Sancho will inject more quality to a mouth- watering attack, but can Solskjaer really end nine years of post- Fergie hurt come next May?

Chelsea and Liverpool certainly won’t be satisfied with another top- four tussle. Thomas Tuchel won the

Champions League within four months of arriving at Stamford Bridge, and is now ready to challenge for domestic honours after transforming his side into a mean blue machine.

Liverpool will pray their bad luck was used up last year; Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both back from injury, while Ibrahima Konaté’s signing has further boosted Jurgen Klopp’s defensive ranks. Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah had the summer off, and with key men restored to a settled side, the Reds look poised to rev up their engines and burn some rubber in a far more exciting race.

Tottenham briefly topped the Premier League last term, but their sights are set lower a few months on. A 72- day managerial hunt eventually ended in the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo, who took the job knowing Harry Kane’s future in north London was far from certain. The England captain carried Spurs in 2020- 21: it’s no stretch to suggest their top- four ambitions depend entirely on his presence again.

For the first time since 1995- 96, Arsenal will be absent from Europe. That could prove a blessing in disguise – but only if they take advantage in the Premier League. A slow start for Mikel Arteta doesn’t bear thinking about.

For the second year running, Leicester are picking themselves up after falling at the final hurdle to Champions League football. The Foxes have done some quietly impressive business this summer, though, and will be there or thereabouts come May.

West Ham might find it more difficult to sustain a second successive top- four challenge, but they’ll be looking to disrupt the top seven at least. Leeds, Everton and Aston Villa, fresh off an ambitious summer in the transfer market, will have similar ambitions. Perhaps more than anyone, Rafa Benitez needs a fast start.

Brighton, Southampton and Wolves will strive to improve on last season; Graham Potter and Ralph Hasenhuttl are looking to make good on their glowing reputations, while Portuguese ( obviously) tactician Bruno Lage has taken the reins at Molineux.

Crystal Palace are also under new management, but Patrick Vieira could be really up against it on his Premier League return – particularly as Ebere Eze is out until 2022 with a torn Achilles. Sean Dyche and Steve Bruce will just want to repeat last season’s trick of steering Burnley and Newcastle clear of the drop.

And what of the new boys? Norwich are hoping to ditch the yo- yo tag once and for all, but after storming the Championship last term they’ve lost string- puller Emi Buendia to Aston Villa. Watford also return at the first time of asking, but boss Xisco Munoz will know that goodwill doesn’t last long with the Pozzos.

Brentford are the division’s debutants following play- off success in May. Don’t expect Thomas Frank to abandon his principles – Marcelo Bielsa showed how positivity can trump pragmatism last season.

Best of all, we shouldn’t hear the words ‘ behind closed doors’ all campaign. Let’s go to work...