Pre-Season Ranking: Top 6

• #1. Manchester City. Why? Very simple: the same team that won last year is still impact, plus the have Carlos Tevez drama-free (so far). Key players that are making Man City the team to beat - Yaya Toure, David Silva, Carlos Tevez, Balotelli, Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart. As long as these mentioned players are wearing the sky blue colors, Man City are favored to repeat.

• #2. Manchester United. Until last night, I had Manchester United ranked third behind a resurgent Chelsea. However, after factoring the Robin Van Persie coup, it's a Manchester affair once again.

• #3. Chelsea. The Blues fans will have a lot to say about the top 2 snub, but moving from 6th to 3rd will still be a huge achievement for the Champions League winners. Make no mistake about it, this ball club has the potentials to challenge the Manchester teams for the crown this year. Investments in Oscar, Hazard, Marin to complement a liberated Torres, Mata and Ramirez is no joke. This season promises to see the return of Chelsea to the top 3

• #4. Arsenal. Every year, the 'Doctore' Arsene Wenger finds a way to prove that Arsenal has not lost it's biggest asset - himself. This year will be no different. The Professor will find a way to stay in contention. For once, he has bought well and early in the transfer market. This gives his team the advantage of being the most molded coming into the season.

• #5. Liverpool. Every new signing at Liverpool these days is greeted with relief and hope, regardless of the talent level - Brendan Rogers, Fabio Borini and Joe Allen (who?). That's how low my darling club has fallen. Nonetheless, they still have a fit-looking Steven Gerrard, an ever hungry Luis Suarez and a solid backline in Agger (if he stays), Skrtel, Johnson, Enrique and Reina. Not good enough for 4th, but they will come close. Still a work in progress.

• #6. Newcastle. Yes, I'm picking them over Tottenham. Without Luka Modric and Emmanuel Adebayor, Andres Villa Boas will not match Harry Redknapp's success at Spurs. His recent handling of the Modric affair and his very loose press comments shows he hasn't grown up from the Chelsea experience. Back to Newcastle - two words: French Connection!