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optimism that, along with Manchester United, they should have lots of attacking threat. Wolves are the next best if they can keep all of their top players. They’ve shown in their two-season return to the Premier League that they are a dangerous counter-attacking team, and can also keep it tight at the back. As for the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham, neither have a realistic chance unless there are dramatic improvements in the defensive department.

SURPRISE PACKAGE Leeds United are finally back at the top table. Out of the Premier League since 2004, they’ve got a couple of things going for them that may encourage their fans to believe that they’ll have a successful return. They have Marcelo Bielsa at the helm. With his managerial CV boasting the Argentinian national team and Athletic Bilbao, among others, as well as recently receiving praise from Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino, he may show his ability to turn this sleeping giant into Premier League regulars.

Bielsa also has a squad of players who have little experience of top-flight football. We’ve seen that in recent years, the likes of Brighton and Sheffield United have

MANAGER SACK RACE

The start of the new season brings new challenges to every team in the division, especially their highly paid managers. Premier League clubs aren’t known for their patience if things aren’t going the team’s way, so who’s head will be on the chopping block from day one?

thrived after gaining promotion. After being tipped to go straight back down, both teams did incredibly well because of their lack of top-flight experience. So will Leed’s lack of experience actually allow them to go under the radar?

RELEGATION FAVOURITES Leed’s lack of Premier League experience could work to their advantage, but it could have the opposite effect on the other two promoted teams. Unlike Leeds, Fulham and West Brom have both enjoyed recent seasons in the Premier League, to the point where one could perhaps label them ‘yo-yo’ teams, in the sense that they go up and down divisions with relative ease. And although they both showed defensive grit in the Championship last term, they both know that the Premier League is a different prospect.

Along with these two, Aston Villa could be in trouble once again, after they only narrowly escaped the drop in July. Crystal Palace could be in trouble too. After the restart, they only picked up four points from nine games and if they were to lose their star man, Wilfred Zaha, things

would look nervy for the Eagles.

H ere are our top three for the chop:

1. Jose Mourinho – Tottenham Hotspur. 2. Roy Hodgson – Crystal Palace. 3. Dean Smith – Aston Villa.