Manchester City enter the new campaign attempting to do what only two teams ever have achieved by winning five titles in six but Liverpool have other plans after last season’s quadruple run ended in just a Cup double by slender margins.
Then there is the chasing pack. How much progress can Tottenham Hotspur make? What do Chelsea have in store under their new owners? Are Manchester United able to turn a page under Erik ten Hag? And can Arsenal go one better than last season’s fifth?
The mid-table should be set - though many are aiming to be surprise packages - while promoted sides Bournemouth, Fulham and Nottingham Forest will be hoping one of last season’s survivors struggle again.
On the eve of the season, here is how they rank.
1 Manchester City
Once more the team to beat. The signing of Erling Haaland could potentially transform how they play, though there is a common view that his purchase is more with the Champions League than domestic honours in mind.
Wisdom suggests leaving Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling depart to big six rivals is dangerous but a reverse view is that Pep Guardiola is so confident that his squad can continue to develop without them. The only way they fail to win is through the misfortune of a major injury crisis or Liverpool digging even deeper than before.
2 Liverpool
If there is a feeling that City’s tactical approach may be significantly altered by Haaland’s arrival, the same cannot be said with such certainty at Liverpool despite the signing of Darwin Nunez. Jurgen Klopp will demand more of the same from a well-oiled machine.
The departure of Sadio Mane is a severe blow but Luis Diaz has the potential to fill his void. They will run City close and go far in the Champions League but second spot again seems more likely.
3 Tottenham Hotspur
Bringing in Richarlison and Yves Bissouma has given Antonio Conte more options in key areas, with the former’s arrival particularly crucial because it will ease the burden on Harry Kane.
Dejan Kulusevski should kick on from an impressive second half of last season after joining from Juventus, the defence is resolute and there is a widespread acceptance that their fitness will be superior to the majority of opponents. Tottenham fans are justified to feel excited and Conte’s intense demeanour promises a strong start but will many neutrals be surprised if they fade come spring?
4 Chelsea
It has been a chaotic summer as the new owners settle in. They have pursued many players only to be snubbed or used for those players to then secure better deals elsewhere. Still, the signings of Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling are impressive and the decision to loan out Romelu Lukaku was both ruthless and logical.
But Thomas Tuchel needs a proven striker to challenge the top two and the market indicates no big names are available.
5 Manchester United
The apathy of last season has dissipated but unless another goalscorer is added to the squad it is hard to see how they can gain sufficient ground on the top two. And that is before weighing up the pros and cons of keeping Cristiano Ronaldo. Last season only he and Bruno Fernandes reached double figures.
Christian Eriksen will provide additional creativity but Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, in particular, must contribute far more on the scoresheet.
6 Arsenal
The signings of Jesus and Zinchenko from Manchester City will undoubtedly improve Mikel Arteta’s squad and there is a hope that their young core will take another step forward after last season’s late collapse denied them fourth.
Yet there remains questions about their fortitude and depth in the centre of midfield and defence. Expect them to push for fourth but fade if those above knuckle down.
7 West Ham United
David Moyes has worked wonders with a small squad and although they still lack the choice of the big six their most pressing concern has been eased by the signing of Gianluca Scamacca.
The Italian striker is a fascinating prospect after a breakout campaign with Sassuolo in Serie A last term and, crucially, he should offer Michail Antonio an opportunity to rest. Centre back signing Nayef Aguerd should further improve an already very solid defence once he recovers from injury.
8 Newcastle United
The huge spending fans may have convinced themselves of under the new owners may not have materialised and some may look at LIV Golf and worry that the Saudi group have already found a shinier toy to play with.
Still, optimism abounds relative to previous summers. There will be a distance to the big six but Newcastle ’s best XI is capable of bloodying noses. For a club that was concerned about relegation not so long ago that should be satisfaction enough.
9 Crystal Palace
For neutrals Patrick Vieira’s team were among the most intriguing last season as young talent meshed together to produce a style of football that was haute cuisine compared to the meat and two veg of Roy Hodgson’s tenure.
Repeating the trick should be considered a satisfactory campaign and if the likes of Ebere Eze, struck down by cruel luck with injuries, and Michael Olise can kick on then the loss of Conor Gallagher will not seem so great.
10 Brighton
Digging in as Manchester City and Chelsea have been enquiring about Marc Cucurella points to the club’s feeling of comfort at this level, even if at the the time of writing it looks like the full back will eventually depart.
An improved rate of scoring is desired but there is enough strength across the pitch to ensure no dramatic slump. The biggest issue is keeping a hold of Graham Potter, who will undoubtedly have bigger clubs sniffing should he deliver further signs of improvement.
11 Aston Villa
Quick out of the traps to bring in Diego Carlos from Sevilla, Villa supporters began the off-season brimming with positivity. Yet a wider appraisal of the squad a couple of days before their opener points to a little more than mediocrity and it is a challenge to settle on Steven Gerrard’s best XI.
Can Philippe Coutinho produce what is expected of him consistently? Will Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings score enough? An overwhelming yes is required for this to be anything more than an average season.
12 Wolves
More of the same.
A strong defence has added Nathan Collins from Burnley but only the bottom three scored fewer last season. Raul Jimenez looks a diminished player since his injury and Diogo Jota has thus far been irreplaceable. Fireworks will be at a premium.
13 Brentford
It is easy to envisage a cliched difficult second season and yet there is equally a feeling that Thomas Frank’s squad are capable of further improvement.
Ben Mee will bolster the backline and while Eriksen’s departure to Old Trafford is a major blow both Keane Lewis-Potter and Aaron Hickey are intriguing additions. Once Ivan Toney continues to improve mid-table should be assured with time to spare.
14 Leicester City
The club is drifting and concern from fans is warranted. Brendan Rodgers had promised a rebuild but is yet to make a signing and several stars have either left, such as Kasper Schmeichel, or are being linked with moves away like defender Wesley Fofana and midfielders Youri Tielemans and James Maddison.
There is still too much talent for them to be looking downwards with concern but as much of the division’s middle class invest a regression seems likely without some noteworthy additions.
15 Southampton
Will Ralph Hasenhuttl make it to a fourth anniversary? He is the second favourite to be first sacked.
The key to his survival rests in defensive improvements but the options available do not inspire immediate confidence. A squad crying out for experience has been topped up with youngsters who have a lot of potential to fulfil. Gavin Bazunu, signed from Manchester City, has the ability to become a top-tier goalkeeper but it may not happen overnight.
16 Everton
It is easy to see why Frank Lampard is the favourite to be the first sacking of the season considering he has already been playing the blame game and the defensive flaws to his teams dating back to Derby County - set pieces and counterattacking - have not been fixed.
The addition of James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil from Burnley should help but further attacking investment is required to compensate for the loss of Richarlison. Optimism is in short supply at Goodison Park.
17 Nottingham Forest
By some distance the most interesting of the three sides to come up. And not just because of their history. How will Steve Cooper, whose stock could hardly be higher, manage in the top tier?
Compared to the other likely strugglers their recruitment has stood out. Dean Henderson and Wayne Hennessy are both upgrades between the posts; Neco Williams’ ceiling is high, there are fascinating additions from the Bundesliga and Jesse Lingard will be a major asset should he recapture the form displayed on loan at West Ham the season before last. Even more signings could follow as August progresses.
18 Leeds United
The jury remains out on Jesse Marsch after last season’s late escape and the fact their two best players, Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, have been sold points to a season of struggle.
The £96m earned from those transactions has been invested in players with plenty of promise but zero Premier League experience. With only Chelsea and Manchester United of the big six to face in their first 10, a solid start is crucial.
19 Fulham
For the past six years Fulham have been a pendulum. Previous promotions have been fuelled by big-spending (18/19) and a sustainable approach (20/21), only for immediate relegation to follow.
This time Marco Silva is in charge and while their Championship win could hardly have been more comfortable the squad again is reliant upon Aleksandr Mitrovic to score enough to give them a fighting chance.
20 Bournemouth
The key question is whether manager Scott Parker and the core of a squad that has previously experienced relegation can learn from past mistakes.
Can Dominic Solanke prove doubters wrong having scored prolifically in the second tier having been a dud in the Cherries previous top flight campaign? The odds are stacked against them.
