FOWLER It’s a simple equation ... finish above City and you’ll win the title

Put it this way, if you finish above them, you win the title. I reckon Liverpool are looking the most likely to challenge the champions this season, but to get past them, they need to win five more games than last time... and City lose four more. And City are only going to get better. Mahrez will add quality, goals and importantly competition in all the forward positions, which keeps everyone on their toes. But they have such a young side, with Leroy Sane, John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Aymeric Laporte, Mendy, Ederson and Bernado Silva all 24 or under. They’ve signed a couple of top-class kids this summer too, and that’s something people don’t often recognise about City – the absolute depth of talent they have at that club. Kids like Phil Foden people know about, and I’ve been impressed by Luke Bolton too. It looks suspiciously like the start of an era and I’m 100 per cent certain it won’t be like the previous three seasons where the champions didn’t even finish in the top four the next year.

So if City are the obvious choice for top spot, then here’s my rundown of who is likely to chase them home:

I spent some time with them on their pre-season US tour and I have been impressed. To me, they look the strongest of the challengers, though I have to add the rider the transfer window isn’t closed yet, and even if Liverpool have finished their business, the others clearly haven’t.

They have signed some quality players and they already had top-class talent such as Mo Salah (above).

For me, Alisson is a big deal, because it shows that Jurgen Klopp feels he’s close, and is prepared to go out and put everything on the line for those final few players who can help them take the final step.

Salah is no prima donna, even though he joined the elite in world football last season.

Nor is Virgil van Dijk or Alisson, Sadio Mane or Naby Keita. They are what managers always used to say were the right sorts, and that spirit will be worth loads this season.

They haven’t done anything in the transfer market, but they will, inevitably in the final few days, I’m sure. They always do! And even if Spurs are largely the same as last season, then that’s no bad thing, because they were impressive. I can see them improving with their young squad and they can still stay in the top four. Spurs are consistent and good enough to be close to the top, but not quite there to actually challenge. I like the manager, I like the mentality, but maybe like Liverpool they will have to change something in the transfer market to get closer to that final step.

I’m taking a bit of a punt in suggesting Arsenal may bounce back to finish in the top four this time.

The West Ham rule applies here – it depends on how quickly the new manager can assimilate all those new players they will have signed by the time the campaign gets under way.

I like Unai Emery and the way he plays football, I think he will do decent things at Arsenal.