Whether it’s the battle for Mancunian supremacy at the top or the scrap for survival at the bottom, this year’s Premier League looks like being as exciting and competitive as ever. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson gazes into his crystal ball ahead of next weekend’s kick-off.

IF last year was all about eclipsing Liverpool to claim a record-breaking 19th league title, this will be the season when Manchester United refocus their attention on another of their long-standing rivals.

The noisy neighbours are getting noisier, and whereas Sir Alex Ferguson could once dismiss Manchester City as minor irritants, the seemingly relentless flow of investment from the Abu Dhabi Group has repositioned the Mancunian balance of power to a position approaching equilibrium.

At the moment, the scales are still titled marginally in United's favour. Ferguson's main task over the next nine months is to ensure that discrepancy remains.

The Scot will never admit it, but his decision to loosen the purse strings this summer has surely been inspired, in part, by an admission that Manchester City are rapidly closing the gap to the reigning champions.

In order to sign goalkeeper David De Gea, defender Phil Jones and winger Ashley Young, Ferguson has invested more than £56m in just three players.

Other clubs have been active participants in the transfer merry-go-round, most notably Manchester City and Liverpool, but United are set to go into the new season as England's biggest spenders.

Tellingly, they have not occupied that position for a while.

Jones is unlikely to displace Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic from the first team just yet, but De Gea and Young will instantly reinforce the side that finished nine points clear last season.

The former, for all of his abundant talent, has to be regarded as a risk, as United can attest that overseas goalkeepers do not always take the Premier League in their stride.

However, Young should be a superb addition to United's attacking ranks, which will also be swelled by the return of Danny Welbeck from a loan spell at Sunderland.

With the likes of Antonio Valencia and Park Ji-sung fit to hit the ground running, the champions should be even stronger than they were last season.

The same could be true of City, following the arrival of Gael Clichy from Arsenal and Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid.

Aguero is the most high-profile signing of the summer, and while the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Carlo Tevez remains a distraction, City will have at least one world-class Argentinian leading their line whatever happens before the transfer window closes.

Clichy is also a useful addition, while the likes of David Silva and Yaya Toure now have a season in English football under their belt.

Can City edge ahead of their rivals? Possibly. Their squad certainly looks deep enough, but it will be interesting to see how the novelty of life in the Champions League affects their domestic campaign.

Chelsea are well versed in perfecting that balancing act, but with new boss Andre Villas-Boas still finding his feet after moving from Porto, the Blues will kick off the new season with a significant degree of uncertainty shrouding their prospects.

Their pre-season form has been superb, prompting Villas-Boas to claim he is no rush to make his first addition.

However, the squad was incapable of avoiding a significant mid-season blip last term, and a number of key players are another year older as the end of their career draws near.

Much will no doubt depend on Fernando Torres. If he rediscovers his best form, Chelsea could challenge. If he plays like he did at the end of last season though, a top-four finish will be the limit of their ambition.

As a minimum, Arsenal need to finish in the top four to avoid mounting discontent turning into outright mutiny.

Gervinho has moved to the Emirates to add some attacking sparkle, but the age-old problems of defensive solidity, goalkeeping and leadership remain.

Arsene Wenger has earned plenty of leeway after almost 15 years at the helm, but the Frenchman's refusal to acknowledge his side's long-standing weaknesses looks increasingly like pig-headed intransigence. If he doesn't change his stance before August 31, Arsenal could struggle.

Liverpool could challenge them for a Champions League spot, with Kenny Dalglish having spent almost £50m to sign Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.

Luis Suarez is one of the most potent strikers in the Premier League, while the time has arrived for Andy Carroll to prove he is a £35m marksman.

The jury remains out on that one, as it does when it comes to Dalglish's spending in general. Liverpool will move forward, but how far remains difficult to ascertain.

They will hope to leapfrog Tottenham, and Harry Redknapp has been unusually quiet in the transfer market to this point. There is time for that to change, but as things stand, it is hard to imagine Spurs reclaiming a place amongst the Champions League elite.

They should claim a Europa League place, although Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland will all hope to make an impression on the top six.

For the rest of the league, survival is the primary aim as things begin, and given that there appears to be little to split almost half-a-dozen sides, the battle against relegation is set to be as keenly-contested as ever.

Of the three promoted clubs, Swansea look to be in most trouble - does Brendan Rodgers really think that Leroy Lita and Wayne Routledge with have top-flight defences quaking - but Norwich could surprise a few people under the tutelage of the canny Paul Lambert.

QPR have done well to hold on to Adel Taarabt, who could follow in the footsteps of Charlie Adam to be one of the stars of the season, but their survival could rest on Jay Bothroyd proving he does not deserve to be a one-cap wonder.

Beyond the newly-promoted clubs, Wigan look weak, and will have to do without Charles N'Zogbia, who helped keep them safe last term.

Wolves could also struggle, although Roger Johnson will help to improve their defence, while Blackburn's new Indian owners have shown little desire to put their hands in their pockets.

Rovers' players starred in a cringe-worthy advert for Venky's chicken recently. Let us hope their season is not every bit as fowl.