Mark Viduka to win the Golden Boot
Torres and Ronaldo head this market for obvious reasons, but there is no point backing a top scorer at short prices with injury always a risk. Mark Viduka looks good value, as he has flourished since Kevin Keegan’s arrival at Newcastle. If the big Aussie can stay fit, the goals will come. And, at each way, a finish in the top four returns…

Chelsea TO win the Premier League
The Blues will be spurred on by the arrival of Big Phil and the painful memory
of Moscow in May. The departure of Claude Makelele could well see a more attacking style at the Bridge which, coupled with all the disruption of the Cristiano Ronaldo saga at Old Trafford, might just help Chelsea lift the title.

Blackburn to be relegated
Two of the three relegation spots look almost certain to be filled by Hull and Stoke. West Brom’s more expansive football could help them to survive – and a long shot to drop are Blackburn, who have lost manager Mark Hughes and look as though they’ll also have to cope without a host of star names.

Peter Cech to keep more than 17.5 clean sheets
Chelsea hold the record for the highest number of clean sheets in a Premier League season with 25, the most consecutive clean sheets during a league season with 10 and the most consecutive clean sheets from the start of a league season with six. With the likes of John Terry, Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole at the back, Cech will have some of the best cover in world football.

Alan Curbishley the first Premier League Gaffer to go
West Ham’s boss will be under massive pressure from the Upton Park faithful if the Hammers get off to a poor start. Curbishley hasn’t won the fans over with the style of football he has brought to Upton Park, so if he doesn’t produce the goods early in the season, it would be no surprise to see him shown the door.

Ipswich to win the Championship
This is probably the most difficult league to predict as almost every side will be thinking they can achieve at least a play-off position this season. Queens Park Rangers and the newly-relegated Birmingham City share the favourites tag, but plump for Jim Magilton’s free-scoring Ipswich Town to upset the apple cart.

Rangers to win the SPL
A two-horse race with the Old Firm battling it out for the title. But Rangers have to be favourites to pip Celtic this season after missing out last term, despite holding a commanding lead. With continuing tightened purse strings, expect a resurgence of local lads to come through into first team contention.