EVERTON

The glory days may be returning to the blue half of Merseyside. Manager David Moyes has moulded his side into one capable of combining finesse and flair with hard graft and an exceedingly impressive work ethic.

There’s a feeling that the Toffees could creep into Europe unnoticed with their tried-and-tested formula of less is more. Even with one of the league’s smallest squads, close-season signings Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines add depth and class to the backline while the loan signing of playmaker South African Steven Pienaar from Borussia Dortmund may prove to be an inspired decision by Moyes. American goalkeeper Tim Howard, once of United fame, made his move to Everton permanent. Out of Goodison Park go flop James Beattie, utility man Gary Naysmith, goalkeeper Richard Wright and defender Alessandro Pistone, the latter spending more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.

Enigmatic midfielder Leon Osman will prove crucial with his goals from midfield. Mikel Arteta, who may be one of the most underrated playmakers in the league, is the fulcrum of the side and his partnership with Irish hardman Lee Carsley may be the key to sustained league success this season, with the latter doing the dirty work and allowing the Spaniard greater freedom to launch Everton’s attacks. Upfront, England hopeful Andy Johnson hasn’t gotten off the scoresheet yet this season, but his pace and ingenuity in the 6-yard box should ensure that statistic doesn’t remain long. Strike partner Victor Anichebe, looks good to fulfill his promise into a place in the first team.

With the irrepressible Aussie Tim Cahill and young striker James Vaughan returning from injury, Everton’s prospects for a Uefa Cup place look decent. Add to that the robust, rock-like partnership of Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott in the heart of the defence and they look more than certain to clinch a European place come May.

Player to watch: Arteta. At just 25, the Spaniard will be banging hard on the door of the Spanish national team if he keeps performing well.

LIVERPOOL

Over at the other half of Merseyside, this may just be the season Liverpool go all out for domestic honours, evident by the uncharacteristic splurging on big-money attacking signings by manager Rafael Benitez.

Undoubtedly, the biggest name is young, pacy and goal-hungry Spaniard Fernando Torres, prised from his beloved Athletico Madrid for a record £26.5 million ($79.5 million). The move has sparked many of the Liverpool faithful into expecting a prolonged assault on the league title which has eluded them since 1990. The Spaniard got off the mark with a trademark storming run and finish against title rivals Chelsea, and if he can pick up 20 goals this season, Liverpool will be in there or thereabouts come May .

But it isn’t only about Torres, as far as Benitez is concerned. Benitez has strengthened his side’s attacking prospects with a host of other promising signings, with Ukrainian Andriy Voronin, Ajax’s Dutch starlet Ryan Babel, West Ham’s Israeli matchwinner Yossi Benayoun, all arriving at Anfield with the purpose of creating and scoring goals.

This season, Liverpool haven’t lapsed into their usual sluggish start, but hit the ground running, just failing to beat Chelsea at Anfield thanks to some poor officiating by referee Rob Styles. In addition to their strike force, the backline is likely to be as stingy as ever with Scouser Jamie Carragher as anchor. His defensive partner, Danish youngster Daniel Agger’s flair for the spectacular is a bonus, and Kop beloved Steven Gerrard as energetic and inspiring as ever.

Most importantly, if the Reds can remain consistent, they might just do well this season.

Player to watch: Torres. The arrival of El Nino has sent pulses racing among the Kop faithful, and should he reach his target of 20 goals, Liverpool will be able to stay in the title race.

MANCHESTER UNITED

The champions haven’t had much luck lately, with star Wayne Rooney ruled out for the next couple of months with a broken foot in the season opener against Reading, and Cristiano Ronaldo incurring a 3-match ban for his youthful brashness in his retaliatory headbutt against Portsmouth’s Richard Hughes.

An uncharacteristic stuttering start to the season (they’ve yet to win in 3 matches) wouldn’t be as damaging if rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea hadn’t started as well, with all 3 sides still unbeaten and the first 2 having only played twice. With this season looking to be one of the most closely-fought title races yet, Ferguson could ill afford to drop so many points that early in the season, and his mounting injuries does little to help the cause.

Argentinian star Carlos Tevez finally made his move to Old Trafford after a long drawn-out transfer wrangle with West Ham, but the stocky forward was meant to play alongside Rooney, not replace him and looked lost in his lone role upfront in the games against Portsmouth and Man City. Similarly, pricey summer signings Luis Nani and Anderson (clinched for a combined total of approximately £31 million ($93 million)) will need time to settle, and the latter is still out with injury.

However, United have shown their famous fighting spirit when the chips are down, and it would be a fool who dismisses their title credentials so early. The less-lauded signing of Owen Hargreaves looks to be a shrewd move by Ferguson, as the midfielder can pass, shoot and most importantly, tackle, providing the perfect foil for the less-defensively inclined Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes to work their magic upfront.

Nevertheless, they need to get their act together sooner rather than later, or the typical surge at the turn of the year may not even be enough to make up the deficit to win the league.

Player to watch:Tevez. It’ll be interesting to see if he can shoulder the burden of firing his new club back into title contention, or if he’ll wilt in the pressure-cooker atmosphere among the elite.

ARSENAL

Manager Arsene Wenger’s decision to sell his star player and Arsenal’s record goalscorer, Theiry Henry may be vindicated. The Gunners haven’t set the Premier League alight as yet, but they haven’t exactly imploded gleeful fans of the rival clubs were visualising.

Wenger has shown his managerial skill by fearlessly letting go of players whom he feels have reached their peak, (see Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Robert PiresPatrick Vieira). Dutchman Robin van Persie, touted to be the next Dennis Bergkamp, has already stepped up to the plate with 2 goals in as many games. Well-known for being a scorer of great goals, he will have to become a great goalscorer this season. His only hindrance in his rise to stardom is his rashness and suspect temperament which probably comes with his youthful age. and

Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, has been handed the reins and responsibility of driving the side forward. Still only 20, the cultured midfielder seems to have been around for ages, and his impeccable vision and enormous array of passing, coupled with maturity beyond his years, will be invaluable to Arsenal’s search for silverware this season.

This season, Wenger’s ‘team in transition’ have shown so far that they have the ability to stand up to and even prevail over the rough, physical and usually over-the-top play from opponents like Blackburn.

That said, the squad still lacks depth, with only 3 signings so far this season, forward/winger Eduardo da Silva, fullback Bacary Sagna and stand-in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. Dark horses they might be, but injuries to key men on the flanks and the centre of defence, not to mention the enforced departure of players for the African Nations’ Cup next Jan could cause them dear. Unless Wenger strengthens his side with one or two more signings (read: Nicholas Anelka), his promising side look to remain just that—promising, at least for one more season.

Player to watch:van Persie. Henry’s departure means that the Dutchman will now have to take on the scoring responsibility with a minimum 20 goals.

CHELSEA

Having started the mind games early with Liverpool, big-mouth Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho created greater controversy after the Liverpool game when he described his players as not being divers and cheats because they are a “naïve team”. With Didier Drogba still on the club’s books, many others will beg to differ.

Mourinho himself hasn’t gone out and spent a fortune on his usual summer spree this time around, but instead choosing to consolidate with free transfers and the odd purchase. Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro, Reading’s midfielder Steve SidwellBolton’s Israeli centreback Tal Ben-Haim arrived at Stamford Bridge with no transfer cost, while French World Cup winger Florent Malouda joined for around £13 million ($39 million).The latter already has made an instant impact in his new blue colours, scoring in the Community Shield loss to Man United and his Premiership debut against promoted Birmingham. and

Another new signing Pizarro also scored against Birmingham, and has linked up well with Didier Drogba so far. This could spell doom for costly flop Andriy Shevchenko, who already looks consigned to the bench. At the back, John Terry proved just how vital a player he is to Chelsea, as without him, Chelsea leaked 4 goals in their opening 2 games. With England boss Steve McClaren also needing the England captain to aid an ailing England’s Euro 2008 qualification campaign, a spat between McClaren and Mourinho looks impending should Terry get injured playing for his country.

Midfielder Lampard, the other cog in the Chelsea wheel, also faces the same situation with England. However, if these 2 and last season’s Golden Boot winner Drogba can stay fit over the course of the season, Chelsea look good for at least one piece of silverware this season.

Player to watch: Malouda. A vital part of the French set-up, the lwinger has adapted to the hurly-burly of the Premiership in no time and will be a key player with his goals and assists from the flanks.