MAN UNITED

FORMATION: 4-4-2

TACTICS:

Although there have been no notable exits from Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson is not entirely happy with his squad.

From the look of his summer acquisitions, Fergie is reinforcing his team in three areas - youth, midfield steel and firepower.

There will not be much change in the way the Red Devils play, though. It is still going to be their usual attacking 4-4-2 with lots of dazzling wing play and rapid combination moves through the middle.

The backline remains unchanged and it is in midfield where Michael Carrick will probably pay the price for his pedestrian displays. Owen Hargreaves will usurp the starting place and his ball-winning abilities will set Paul Scholes free.

Do not expect whiz kids Anderson and Nani to go straight into battle.

Talented they may be, but they face some months in the reserves to acclimatise before they can seriously challenge Ryan Giggs and Co.

And Ferguson has claimed that Carlos Tevez has 'promised' to join United and if the Argentinian honours his word, the champions will have no shortage of firepower.

Louis Saha will be the one left quaking in his boots when Tevez signs. The Frenchman will lose his slot after refusing to play through the pain barrier last season.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer offering reliable back-up services, it is hard to see Saha staying contented for long.

STRENGTHS:

Hargreaves offers plenty of bite in midfield and is a quantum leap in improvement over a passive Carrick.

With the capture of Anderson and Nani, United will have no shortage of wing wizards, which has been such a big part of their heritage.

If anything, the arrival of these two exciting youngsters will only spur Giggs into producing his best form to retain his place.

And if Tevez does join, he will form a dream duo with Wayne Rooney, on paper, that is.

WEAKNESSES:

An excellent ball-winner Hargreaves may be, his distribution is not exactly first rate.

More importantly, just how will Tevez play alongside Rooney?

Both are similar in stature and style. Both love running at defenders and shooting from distance. And neither offers much punch in the air, a key weakness when you consider the Red Devils' reliance on wing play.

PLAYERS IN:

Alan Smith, Gabriel Heinze, Louis Saha

LIVERPOOL

FORMATION: 4-4-2

TACTICS:

Liverpool will continue their solid and pragmatic interpretation of the 4-4-2 under Rafael Benitez.

The Spanish manager has based his team on the suffocating ball-winning tactics first demonstrated by Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan team of the late 1980s.

Although Torres will be seen as the star player, it is actually Mascherano who will be the key man.

The Argentinian is a world-class holding midfielder and it is his timely interceptions and crisp passes that brings the best out of skipper Gerrard.

Benitez knows what he wants. He has already made it clear to his team what type of football he wants them to play.

The question now is: can the Reds do it?

STRENGTHS:

Liverpool have a wonderfully-balanced central midfield.

Mascherano is colossal and Alonso's passing keeps the team moving like clockwork.

And if Gerrard is on fire, he will chip in with double figures from midfield.

At the back, Benitez has a well-drilled defence that has seldom let the Kop down.

Then there is Torres. El Nino is an electrifying prospect and it is now up to him to show what he's made of.

WEAKNESSES:

Benitez has no more excuses now after a shopping spree of epic proportions.

But his record splurge on Torres may yet backfire, given Liverpool's curse with expensive strikers.

The arrival of Ryan Babel will help ease the problem on the left flank and Benitez might just bring in Ricardo Quaresma.

But how will Yossi Benayoun fit into such a stellar midfield? It is hard to see the Israeli ousting Alonso and Gerrard from the creative role and he looks set to be money wasted again.

Questions will also be raised about the identity of Torres' strike partner.

Dirk Kuyt looks set to get the nod again even if he offers plenty of industry but little cutting edge.

Peter Crouch just has to be patient - or find a new club.

PLAYERS IN:

ARSENAL

FORMATION: 4-4-2

TACTICS:

What now, Arsene?

Thierry Henry, the heart and soul of the Gunners, has left the building.

It will be a major achievement if the North London club can stay in the top four, especially when Tottenham looked to have unearthed a few gems, notably Gareth Bale.

So far, Arsenal's moves in the market have not really fired the fans up.

Then, there is the uncertainty over Arsene Wenger's future.

Nonetheless, the Professor still swears by his 4-4-2 system.

Arsenal still have a core of exciting youngsters who have clocked up considerable experience in their short careers.

It will be a big season for Fabregas, who has committed himself to the Gunners and will be looked upon as the next leader after Henry's exit.

There is nothing seriously wrong with the Gunners, who are arguably the Brazil of the Premiership. But their main problem has been getting their act together when the going gets tough.

STRENGTHS:

Youth is firmly on the Gunners' side. They have several players under the age of 25 (Fabregas, Adebayor, van Persie, Eboue, Denilson).

These young guns play with Arsenal's trademark swagger and that bodes well for the club's future.

When all else fails, it is finally time for Wenger to unleash his secret weapon - Theo Walcott.

WEAKNESSES:

Henry's exit has left a gaping hole in the club.

Not only have Arsenal lost a huge amount of firepower, morale has been seriously dampened.

Much will hinge on how soon the mourning Gunners can get the shock out of their systems.

But that's not all.

Arsenal seem obsessed with their gorgeous football to the extent that they have forgotten how to win.

So often, they do the difficult part by stringing numerous passes together only to let the chances go a-begging.

With no Henry to finish them off next season, the doom prophets have gathered outside the Emirates stadium.

PLAYERS IN:

Freddie Ljungberg, Mathieu Flamini.

CHELSEA

FORMATION: 4-5-1

TACTICS:

All eyes will be on the Blues' starting line-up on Sunday (Singapore time) when they face Club America in their first pre-season friendly.

For it will be a strong indication of how Jose Mourinho will structure his team for the coming season.

And the big talking point: Will there be a future for Andriy Shevchenko?

When Chelsea tried to play with two strikers in a 4-4-2 system last term, they were not at their potent best as Manchester United took the title.

So will The Special One revert to his tried and trusted 4-5-1?

If that's the case, that will mark the end of Shevchenko, who will be expected to play second fiddle behind top dog Didier Drogba.

Elsewhere, do not be misled into thinking that Steve Sidwell is just there to fill in the numbers.

The dynamic midfielder is there to wake Michael Ballack up from his slumber.

With the German turning in tame performances, Mourinho will want the former Reading man to provide stiff competition in the engine room.

If the former champions do revert back to their winning formula, expect lots of dour but effective football.

And that is the Chelsea that the rest of the Premiership fears most.

STRENGTHS:

The defence is Chelsea's strong point, with Cech, Terry and Carvalho all world-class players. Plus, Ben Haim and the potential arrival of Alex will give the club plenty of options at the back.

In midfield, Mourinho could finally solve the Lampard-Ballack problem by shoving the German aside.

Lampard seems more at ease with two hard-tackling midfielders (Essien and Mikel) behind him, which leaves him lots of room to execute his box to box play.

And when the Chelsea machine clicks, that means lots of opportunities crafted for Drogba, whose finishing improved beyond belief last season.

WEAKNESSES:

Mourinho loves his 4-5-1, a system that has guaranteed him results but will Roman Abramovich allow it?

The Russian owner demands attractive attacking football and quite possibly, the inclusion of Sheva. A big tussle could be in store for soap opera fans.

And the right-back slot needs some sorting out.

Neither Paulo Ferreira nor Glen Johnson have convinced and that paves the way for a big-money bid for Dani Alves or Pascal Chimbonda.

PLAYERS IN: