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The dawning of another thrilling season of Barclays Premier League football is almost upon us. A season that is set to ask several key questions.

Will the loss of Ronaldo prove fatal to United's ambitions? Can Liverpool build on last season's challenge despite a lack of harmony among key players? Is Hughes able to gel a team of new arrivals into a serious threat? Will the traits that bore Ancellotti's success in Italy transcend in the Premiership? Is Arshavin the man to fire Arsenal to glory?

Manchester United have shown an ability to bounce back following the departure of a superstar. However, never under Ferguson has the world’s best player been stripped from his side. The void left will be detrimental to United. Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen will provide goals and creativity, but not as many or as much as Ronaldo mustered.

It will not only be the goals and creativity that will be missed. Ronaldo’s presence demoralised the opposition. They knew that regardless of how much they stifle United’s attack, he was capable of producing a moment of unstoppable magic to win a game.

United will challenge without him, however, a third place finish is not unforeseeable.

Liverpool are serious contenders. Much will depend on the availability of Gerrard and Torres. Starting alongside each other on only 12 occasions last season proved definitive. The two are irreplaceable. There is a lack of naturally gifted attackers in reserve at Anfield, perhaps because that would be their status – reserve.

The apparent disharmony shown by Mascherano and Alonso will bear an affect. Alonso appears set for a move to Real Madrid within the week. His subsequent replacement will prove pivotal to their challenge. Alonso was arguably Liverpool’s most consistent performer last season, controlling the pace and direction of play almost every time he pulled on the red jersey.

A top two finish is within their reach. And is expected on Merseyside.

The spending spree embarked upon by Manchester City signals the owner, Sheikh Mansour’s intent. Qualification for the Champions League is vital for boss Mark Hughes.

The signings have been plentiful in both number and ability. City will be an entirely different proposition next season. How Hughes will accommodate Adebeyor, Santa Cruz, Tevez, and Robinho will be intriguing to watch.

City have strengthened all over the pitch. I believe Toure will regain the form he showed earlier in his Arsenal career, prior to stagnating and arguing on and off the field with William Gallas. Should Lescott’s imminent arrival materialise, the club will boast a defensive partnership to rival the ‘big four’ – especially Arsenal’s.

City are an unknown entity, should the team gel...Arsenal will suffer. I cannot envisage the London club being able to fend off the challenge, and United may also prove susceptible to their city rivals.

Carlo Ancelotti could be the man who decides the league title’s destination.

He is a manager of undoubted ability. A master tactician able to boast an impressive haul of trophies. Should his affect prove as great as that imposed by Guus Hiddink, Chelsea will be those celebrating come May.

Chelsea possess a squad full of experience and ability. Their signings thus far have been uninspiring, the capture of the skilful Zhirkov being most notable. Although, Andrea Pirlo Looks increasingly likely to join him.

Paper talk has linked Chelsea with the sensational signings of Sergio Aguero and Franck Ribery. Should the talk hold more fact than fiction, they would be difficult to look past for title favourites.

Arsenal are in trouble.

The departures of Adebeyor and Toure to Man City may prove disastrous. Less so by their void from the side, more so by their strengthening of ‘big four’ rivals, City. The arrival of Vermaelen should fill the gap left by Toure, whether Wenger decides to ship in a replacement for Adebeyor remains to be seen.

The form of Arshavin is extremely promising. He will definitely enjoy a highly productive season, perhaps productive enough to maintain Arsenal’s status in the top four.

The promising youth starlets at the Emirates appear to be coming into fruition. I predict telling contributions from Aaron Ramsey and Jack wilshere; along with an improvement in Walcott’s game.

The Gooners will regard a top four finish as a successful season, and I’m not convinced their team will achieve it.

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A season of surprises

It has been another sensational season in the Barclay's Premier League so far - with only Sunday's final fixtures remaining - and once again there have been players and teams that have surprised me.

Stilian Petrov - Aston Villa's Bulgarian midfielder - has surprised me greatly. Not only proving he can perform in a competitive league (his previous clubs being Celtic of the SPL and CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria) but perform to a standard that almost drove Villa into a Champions League place - only to miss out to Arsenal due to a lack of squad depth.

I am delighted for Martin O'Neill that his signing has come to fruition following two innocuous seasons. It was the signing of Petrov along with Shaun Maloney - both coming from O'Neill's former club Celtic - that left me questioning his ability in the transfer market, however, with one in the form of his life and the other shipped back from whence he came, my view has changed.

Another surprise has been just how good Stephen Ireland has become. He clearly isn't the brightest of lads and has done some strange things - claiming his grandmother had died in order to avoid playing an international fixture for the Republic of Ireland being one example.

Ireland's performances throughout the season have been sublime. He has the potential to become World-class and will surely be Man City's talisman during their money-fuelled quest for greatness.

Other players deserved of a mention are 17-year-old Federico Macheda - bursting on to the scene with his curling debut winner for Man Utd against Aston Villa that put United firmly on top of the table - and Brede Hangeland - a towering, rock-solid centre-half and cornerstone of Fulham's success this season.

Hull City surprised everyone during the first half of the season - notably beating Arsenal at the Emirates - only for that state of surprise to turn into shock following Hull boss Phil "who wants an interview?" Brown forcing his side to face a humiliating tirade of abuse on the pitch after their poor first-half performance against Man City (gifting them a 4-0 lead). All this for a team well above their station at sixth in the Premier League table - results since that game leaving them one point off the drop-zone.

Fulham have been my surprise team of the season - playing attractive, free-flowing football throughout.

Opinions were few and far between when Roy Hodgson was appointed Fulham boss (often replaced with a casual shrug) but he has installed a great footballing philosophy at the club - bringing the best out of Danny Murphy, who had hidden his talent like a Greek soldier in a horse during his spells at Charlton and Tottenham.

Hodgson miraculously saved the club from the depths of relegation despair on the final day of last season - Fulham winning four of their last five games - and brought them to the brink of European football this season. A great achievement for a great bloke.

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Brand & Gallagher Talk Sport

Well, Football anyway. Having downloaded and listened to the show last night, I felt it worth more than a mention.

Being a huge Brand fan, in a comedy sense and in appreciation of his football columns published in The Guardian, I was eager to hear his return to 'the wireless' in a one-off show special for TalkSPORT since "Sachsgate" (the real crime of which being the end of his ridiculously funny weekly Radio 2 show).

Those who tuned in on sunday night, and there was a 250% boost in web traffic due to its online popularity, were treated to not only hilarious banter between Russell and co-host Noel Gallagher, but also an insight into their footballing beliefs; Noel championing Sven-Goran Eriksson's philosophy on football after Sven phised, post 6-0 defeat at Chelsea, "It is better to lose one game 6-0, than to lose six games 1-0."

Also broadcast were anecdotes involving figures in the game. One of which I particularly enjoyed, as a Liverpool fan, being Noel's history of guitar signing for Manchester United players; consisting of Mrs. Rooney sending Noel a £2,000 Les Paul guitar for him to enscribe with a message for Wayne's forthcoming 21st birthday, to which Noel responded returning the gift re-sprayed blue with "Dear Spongebob" and the lyrics to Blue Moon scrawled over it. Wayne returned this favour by sending Noel a press shot of him scoring in the latest Manchester derby, only for Noel to send it back with a Spongebob sticker over his face.
Gary Neville also sent Noel a guitar for which he was to sign. Noel simply reposted, along with the guitar, proclaiming "How you ever got 50 caps for England is beyond me!".

The one-off show featured ex-Man City and West Ham player Steve Lomas, who, via a string of offbeat questions such as "Who had the best bus driver?", announced City to be a better club than 'The Hammers'. It was also revealed how Lomas was involved in a no holds barred brawl backstage at an Oasis gig, battling the likes of Neil Lennon and Keith Curle, the night before City lost to Aston Villa and were relegated from the Premier League.

All in all, it was a fantastic show, combining insightful football chat and Russell's unique humour between the hours of 9 and 11 pm. I am definitely hoping it returns with a regular slot on TalkSPORT, and am sure it will.

For those yet to listen to the Brand & Gallagher show on TalkSPORT, just follow the download link: http://new.talksport.net/blogs/view.asp?id=110588

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